North Chili business to close
by Kristina Gabalski
Linda Greenfield at the “Admittance Desk” to the Chili Doll Hosptial with one of her patients, a doll belonging to a customer in South Carolina. It dates to 1890-1910, Linda says, and was made in Germany. After more than 45 years at her craft, doll doctor Linda Greenfield, owner of the Chili Doll Hospital, plans to retire and close the well-known business later this year.
And although she may be closing that charming door into a “young girl’s dream come true,” there are plenty of windows ready for Linda to open in her life.
“I can’t wait for the next chapter in my life,” Linda says, and explains she’s been planning the process of closing down her business for several years.
“I’ve thought it out,” she says. “Anyone who has a business, has a business plan. I’ve never lived in the moment. I’m a planner and I like to know where I’m going.”
Several factors helped Linda to come to her decision, she says.
“There’s been a tremendous change – the general public is more technological,” she notes. “Dolls don’t seem to play as important a role as they used to in previous years.”
Linda’s mother, Elizabeth, a fixture behind the counter in the doll collectors’ shop, died recently at the age of 94. She and Linda had always worked closely together at the business from the very beginning. With her passing, Linda says she felt, “… the time had come … it was the end of an era.”
Finally, Linda and her husband, Bob, have two young grandchildren and she says she wants to spend more time with her family.
“I want to stop and smell the roses – take life a little easier,” she says, but adds that she wants to put her skills to use volunteering at the Episcopal Church Home, where her mother received care at the end of her life.
“I got to know the residents, the staff, the gift shop. It became like a second home to me,” Linda says. She plans to help out, especially in the gift shop, where her years of business experience can continue to be put to good use.
Linda closed the Victorian Doll Museum portion of the business last September and has worked with a specialized, state-of-the-art auction firm to sell much of her extensive collection.
She has kept the dolls most dear to her and has also donated many dolls to local museums and libraries. Linda says her Susan B. Anthony dolls were donated to the Susan B. Anthony House in Rochester; nurse dolls have gone to the Rochester Medical Museum and Archives on Humboldt St; her collection of Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls and Eloise Wilkin books and dolls have been donated to the Chili Public Library. Eloise Wilkin was born in Rochester and lived in the area most of her life. She was a well-known and well-loved illustrator of Little Golden Books. Wilkin also created nine dolls including the popular “Baby Dear.” Wilkin held a signing once at the Chili Doll Hospital and Linda says the line was out the door and down the street.
Linda will also donate her extensive personal library of doll and doll repair related books to the Chili Public Library after the doll hospital closes.
Linda began repairing and restoring dolls during her teenage years. She was only 15 when she enrolled in a correspondence course in Doll Technology at the Lifetime Career Schools – she was the youngest student in their history.
That knowledge, coupled with skills she learned on her own and from her parents – sewing from her mother and air brushing, soldering, and using tools like pliers from her father – helped her to become a well-respected and well-known master of her craft.
She has the skills to repair and restore both antique and modern dolls, including the limbs of the popular American Girl® doll collection.
The nurturing aspect of dolls initially captivated her, Linda says, and led her to begin collecting. Many times she would purchase antique dolls that were affordable because they needed restoration and she began to appreciate the “workmanship and artistry” of the doll making craft as she honed her own restoration skills.
Her mother also had many antique figurines and Linda was enthralled by the similarities between them and porcelain-headed dolls.
It’s a passion that led to a long and fruitful career. “I enjoy repairing dolls forpeople,” she says, “preserving the happy memories of childhood.”
Over the years, Linda became a local celebrity, her expertise and knowledge led to her appearance in numerous local newspaper/magazine articles, on radio programs (Louise Wilson – WHAM) and television shows like the “Eddie Meath Show,” “PM Magazine,” Don Alhart’s “Bright Spot,” “Miss Rita’s Romper Room,” and a children’s program originating at Olympic Park.
National television shows like ABC’s “Home Show with Gary Collins,” and “Personal FX Collector’s Show,” traveled to North Chili to visit the Doll Museum and Hospital.
“I’ve had a lot of unique experiences,” she says.
Linda also wrote a “Doll Talk” column for the Suburban News which featured dolls from her collection.
She remembers attending local hobby shows early in her career, which enabled her to build her client base. She and her mother would also make appearances at local mother-daughter banquets.
“We had a slide show and mom would talk about the places we had been to see dolls,” Linda says. They would always take along a display of dolls from the collection and Linda would discuss aspects of doll restoration.
Linda has also done extensive doll repair work for local museums including the Strong Museum in Rochester.
On April 23, the Gates Chili Chamber of Commerce will honor Linda and the Chili Doll Hospital with the 2013 Special Recognition Award for over 40 years of outstanding service.
“It was very unexpected,” Linda says. “I’m deeply touched to be honored by my peers and to publicly be able to say thank-you.”
She has been receiving cards and letters since word got out about her plans to retire.
“I’m grateful to the community for all their support over the years,” she says. “My customers have become like family. I’ve been honored to be able to provide this service.”
Linda says the hospital has been full of patients of late, with people wanting to have dolls repaired before she closes.
She emphasizes the hospital will be open for at least another 4 to 6 months. Repairs and restorations are being done by appointment only. The gift shop is open Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Doll Hospital phone number is 247-0130.
Linda will also be taking part in the upcoming Henrietta Doll Lover’s Club Doll Show and Sale April 27.
