Museum gives Arcola woman 'chance to be a kid again'
By Tim Mitchell
Sunday January 13, 2008
Daniel Williams
Joni Gruelle Wannamaker, owner of the Raggedy Ann & Andy Museum in Arcola, holds her cat Halloween near the museum's display of ads using the popular dolls.
Joni Gruelle Wannamaker beams with family pride as she takes a group of Japanese tourists through the Raggedy Ann and Andy Museum in Arcola.
A young-looking 65, Wannamaker shows visitors the murals, art, memorabilia and hundreds of dolls as she tells the story of how her grandpa, Johnny Gruelle, an Arcola native, created the character in 1915.
More than 100,000 tourists have visited the museum since it opened in 1999.
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