Q: I took a doll in for repair only to find that Sandra L. Mack has closed her store, Toland’s Dolls, in Fairlawn. I’ve spent several hours researching Internet sites for local doll repair, to no avail. I’m hoping Sandra may be working from her home. Do you have any information to help me?
— Melanie Messmore, Akron
A: I wasn’t able to track down Sandra Mack, but I found two other people in the area who repair dolls.
One is Gaille Ruhl, who runs the Ohio Doll Center out of her home in Boston Township, near Peninsula. She specializes in antique porcelain dolls but will repair any kind of doll if she can.
Her phone number is 330-907-5488, and her website is http://theohiodollcenter.vpweb.com. She works by appointment only.
The other is Charlie Dale, who runs C&J’s Doll Shop and Hospital out of his home in Canal Fulton. He doesn’t do extensive repairs or repair broken porcelain or mechanical elements, but he’ll do all other kinds of repairs and even makes custom doll clothing. The only catch is that he expects to be moving out of state in August to pursue a master’s degree, so he will take on only jobs he can finish by then.
His phone number is 330-854-0995.
Have a question about home maintenance, decorating or gardening? Akron Beacon Journal home writer Mary Beth Breckenridge will find answers for the queries that are chosen to appear in the paper. To submit a question, call her at 330-996-3756, or send email to mbrecken@thebeaconjournal.com. Be sure to include your full name, your town and your phone number or email address.
