Cruikshank dollhouse finds its way back to Rockcliffe

This dollhouse, a gift to Gladys Cruikshank on Christmas 1896, is once again at home at 1000 Bird Street. Gladys and her sisters grew up in the house now known as Rockcliffe. Once it has been repaired, this dollhouse will become a part of the mansion’s permanent exhibit. Photo by Warren Bittner.

MARY LOU MONTGOMERY

Christmas, in the year 1896, was grand, indeed, for the young Cruikshank daughters: Gladys, 9, Louise, 6, Helen, 4, and Josephine, 2.

They awoke Christmas morning to find that Santa had left dolls and doll beds positioned around the tree in the parlor of their home at 302 S. Fifth St. In addition, there were customized Victorian-style dollhouses for each of the three older daughters born to the wealthy lumber baron, John J. Cruikshank Jr., and his wife, Annie Louise.

Warren Bittner and Juan Ruiz are the owners of Rockcliffe Mansion, which is the carefully restored mansion that served as home to the Cruikshank family from 1900 until Mr. Cruikshank’s death in 1924.

They first learned of the existence of the dollhouses after studying a photograph from the Cruikshank collection.

They had been in hopes that they would be able to bring at least one of these dollhouses back to the mansion at 1000 Bird St., where the girls grew up.

One of the dollhouses, they learned, is in the possession of Louise’s branch of the family in Minnesota. The whereabouts of the second dollhouse - if it still exists - is unknown.

But on Thursday evening, April 10, 2025, the third dollhouse - originally owned by Helen - arrived to take its place among the vast collection of family memorabilia at Rockcliffe Mansion.

After a few repairs and some TLC, the 128-year-old dollhouse, along with its customized brass doorplate, will go on display. “We promised to display this to the public; we will probably put it in the ballroom on the third floor, that seems to be a place where the family would have entertained and played games.”

The dollhouse

Helen Cruikshank Knighton, Warren learned, had gifted the doll house to her friend, Susan Clayton Stark, an estimated 40 years ago. Recognizing the importance of this antique, Stark, who in 1980 was acting director of the Hannibal Arts Council, carefully stored it away.

After purchasing the mansion, Warren spoke to Stark about acquiring the doll house.

After Stark’s death in November 2024, Warren contacted Stark’s daughter, Susan Rendlen Williams, who enthusiastically agreed to transfer ownership of the dollhouse to the Mansion.

She invited Warren and Juan over on Thursday afternoon to view the dollhouse.

“She told us a bunch of stories; we had a wonderful afternoon.”

The dollhouse features windows with actual glass panes. “Two of the original pieces of glass didn’t survive, but they can be easily replaced. And the frames on those windows need a little repair.”

The two-story doll house has an interior staircase with a hidden compartment closet. A newel post is attached to the hand rail.

There is wall-to wall carpeting in some of the rooms, made from a red velvet material. “The moldings are nicely done; they look like they were made with a router. The newel post was hand turned,” Warren observed.

The exterior has wooden siding, like you’d see in a Victorian home of the era.

Warren believes that each of the three dollhouses were painted in a different color scheme; otherwise, the houses are identical.

The front of the house comes off when in use, and reattaches for storage.

A yard is also included with the dollhouse. “It is sitting on a table specifically made for this dollhouse, with a front yard and side yards, and a white picket fence,” Warren said.

“An incredible amount of detail went into building these dollhouses,” he said.

During the restoration process, Warren will be searching for clues as to who the manufacturer might have been. He will also review Mr. Cruikshank’s journals from that era, for clues. “Mr. Cruikshank wrote down to the pennies how much he would give to his wife, and how much was expended on trips to Chicago.

“We are so appreciative of Susan (Rendlen Williams’) generosity in bringing this back to Rockcliffe. “It was very generous of her to part with it.

“This is a significant piece of history for Hannibal, and we’re grateful to Susan, and to her mother who preserved it for all those years. If she had not so lovingly cared for it, it wouldn’t be around for folks to appreciate. She single-handedly saved this from oblivion.”

As with other items that Warren and Juan have acquired for display in the mansion, “The dollhouse is covered by the “same covenant that we have provided to the Cruikshank Family descendants,” Warren said. “The dollhouse will be permanently displayed to the public at Rockcliffe and never sold, except to a subsequent purchaser of Rockcliffe (who must agree to the same terms), or the artifact will be returned to the provider.”

Warren also wants to acknowledge the following who contributed toward the rehoming of the dollhouse to Rockcliffe:

Mary McAvoy (1928 - 2015) - Mary, a devoted tour guide at Rockcliffe for many, many years, who in 2010 first showed us the 1896 Christmas Photo, and revealed to us that the doll house was located in Hannibal in the basement of Helen's good friend, Susan Stark.

We did not know at that time that Susan was a member of the prominent member of the Clayton family here in Hannibal;

Susan Clayton Stark (1930 - 2024) - Who lovingly cared for and safeguarded Helen's Dollhouse for at least 37 years, and possibly longer, and who spoke with us on the telephone about the dollhouse several times between 2010 and 2019;

Robert M. Clayton III - Nephew to Susan Stark, who encouraged our efforts over many years, and provided the sage advice to "be patient."

Mary Lou Montgomery - Retired editor of the Hannibal Courier -Post, who in early 2024 kindly guided us to Susan Stark's daughter, Susan Rendlen Williams.

Susan Rendlen Williams - Who graciously, and enthusiastically, allowed us to bring Helen Cruikshank's Dollhouse home to Rockcliffe on April 10, 2025.

This photo of the Cruikshank family Christmas is from 1896. The Cruikshanks were living at 302 S. Fifth Street, which is the current site of the James O’Donnell Funeral Home. Note the three doll houses; one of the dollhouses is now in the possession of Rockcliffe Mansion, 1000 Bird Street. Once renovated, it will become part of the mansion’s permanent collection. Photo contributed by Warren Bittner.