Dec 15, 2002 By Jenny Susa 4 min read

BROWNSVILLE – To show its holiday spirit, the Brownsville Area Revitalization Corp. usually has an antique toy display around Christmas time. This year, spokesman Lou Orslene said they have a doll collection on display, courtesy of Betty Porter, an avid doll collector who has gathered dolls for her collection for more than 35 years.

“I’ve always had a great love for babies, and so I’ve just always loved collecting baby dolls,’ said Porter.

Porter said she has about 160 dolls now, 96 of which are on display at the Flatiron Building. She has dolls on display throughout her home, as well as an entire room she has designated to keep her dolls.

Porter said her oldest doll has now been passed down to three generations. She received it as a child and continued collecting through the years.

“My last doll, Shirley Temple, I received when I was 11 years old,’ said Porter. “When my oldest daughter, Jennie, turned 11, I gave it to her, and when her daughter, Jodi, turned 11, she had it restored and gave it to her.’

Porter has spent a lot of time giving most of her dolls names. Jennie is just one of the many dolls on display that is named after a family member.

“Most of the dolls I’ve named after people who mean a lot to me,’ said Porter. “Others I just gave them names that I thought fit the doll.’

She said there are dolls named after all of her children and grandchildren, as well as dolls named after her parents because the dolls reminded her of her parents’ likeness. There are only a few of the smaller dolls that she doesn’t have a name for.

Porter said she has all types of dolls that she has purchased from anywhere she could find something that held her interest.

“I’ve gotten them from antique shops, yard sales and garage sales and auctions as well as any individual who is selling what I want,’ said Porter.

With so many dolls in her collections, Porter said she has invested quite a lot of time and money into her hobby.

“I’ve picked the dolls up from all over and for all different prices,’ said Porter. “The antique dolls are usually the highest in cost.’

Once she has added the dolls to her collection, she has to spend a great deal of time keeping them in good condition.

“I try to get around to cleaning them up at least once a year,’ said Porter. “They just need freshened up and sometimes their clothes need changed. By the time I get the clothes washed and the dolls cleaned up, it has been a good two or three days. It definitely takes a lot of time, but it’s well worth it.’

Porter said that even though she has dolls “crawling up the stairs’ and in every other part of her house, there is always room for one more.

“I’m happy to have them on display for people to see because I’m just so proud of them,’ said Porter.

The Brownsville Area Revitalization Corp. will have the collection on display through Jan. 10. They are asking for viewers to vote on their favorite doll and place the number in the Christmas wrapped present box. There will be a photo of Porter taken with the winning doll that will be featured in an article in the organization’s next new letter.

“I think this will bring in a lot of people to see the collection,’ said Orslene. “It has been a long, outstanding tradition to have the antique toy display at this time of year.’