A chicken coop once served as the design room for some of the most beloved Christmas dolls in America. The chickens moved out, and felt elves, mice, and snowmen moved in.
The woman behind it started selling her handmade dolls during the Depression. Later, when poultry farming stopped paying the bills, she went all in on dolls.
Her husband became the salesman and built wire frames so every figure could bend and pose.
I love that the whole story starts with a farm problem in New Hampshire. Most empires don’t begin with feathers and feed buckets.
Today, her dolls still have hand-painted faces full of mischief. You can even watch designers working on new collections.
So how did a coop full of hens become a holiday tradition for families across the country?
The Coop That Hatched A Holiday Legend
Barbara Annalee Davis Thorndike was born in Concord in 1915. She started making dolls as a hobby during the Depression and sold her first ones in 1934.
In 1941, she married Charles Thorndike, better known as Chip. The couple ran a chicken farm in Meredith, which sounds peaceful until the money stops coming in.
By the early 1950s, poultry farming had become unprofitable. So Annalee made a bold call and dedicated herself fully to doll making.
The old chicken coop got a brand new job as her design room. Chip took on the role of salesman, which is a pretty big switch from collecting eggs.
I can’t imagine the leap of faith it took to bet a family’s future on felt dolls. Yet that coop became the launch pad for Annalee Dolls, a name collectors still treasure today.
The business was incorporated as Annalee Mobilitee Dolls in 1955. That clever name hinted at the dolls’ biggest trick, which was their ability to move and pose.
Few companies can say their story began with hens. Even fewer can say it turned into a holiday staple.
Not bad for a building that once smelled like chicken feed, right?
Those Mischievous Little Faces Came From Real Boys
Two sons turned out to be the best design inspiration Annalee could ask for. She modeled her early dolls on their activities and their mischievous expressions.
That’s why so many early figures were skiing, swimming, and enjoying other childhood pastimes. Every doll looked like it was about to get into trouble, in the most charming way.
Chip played a big role here too. He designed the wire frames that let the dolls bend and pose.
He also crafted small wooden props to go along with them. Picture a tiny ski or a little sled, made by hand for a felt kid with attitude.
I like how this family business really was a family affair. Mom handled the faces and the felt, while Dad handled the wire and the woodwork.
Those impish grins became the signature look of Annalee Dolls. Even today, the hand-painted expressions can make you laugh or melt a little.
The magic is in the small details. A raised eyebrow here, a sneaky smile there.
Somewhere in those faces, you can still spot two New Hampshire boys being boys. Honestly, that might be the sweetest part of the whole story.
A Neighborly Way Of Making Dolls Lasted Decades
Growth didn’t mean giant factories right away. Annalee leaned on a homeworker model, where local women helped produce dolls from their own homes.
That system kept going all the way until 2001. Think about that for a second, since it ran for decades as the company grew.
It gave many Meredith-area women a way to work while staying close to home. It also kept the dolls rooted in the community that shaped them.
Every doll carried a bit of that local touch. Felt, wire, paint, and plenty of patience came together around kitchen tables.
Each figure uses dyed felt with hand-painted features and a wired body. A distinctive furrier stitch holds everything together, which helps the dolls stand up to years of decorating.
That sturdiness matters. These dolls come out every holiday season, get posed, get moved, and go back into storage.
I believe that hands-on spirit is part of why Annalee Dolls feel so personal. You’re not just buying a decoration.
You’re getting a piece of a craft tradition that spread from one coop to homes across town. That’s a lot of history packed into a few inches of felt.
A White House Moment Put These Dolls On The Map
Plenty of small businesses dream about a national spotlight. Annalee got one at the White House.
President Ford featured Annalee Christmas figures there. That moment helped introduce the dolls to the whole country.
Imagine going from a chicken coop in New Hampshire to holiday decor at the most famous address in America. That’s a glow-up worth bragging about.
After that, the brand kept growing. The 1970s brought a big focus on the popular mouse series.
Then the 1980s kicked off what fans call the collectability era. People started hunting for specific pieces, saving them, and building serious collections.
Collecting Annalee Dolls became a family tradition for many households. Kids who grew up with a felt elf on the shelf often ended up buying their own.
I love that one presidential nod helped spark that chain reaction. It turned a regional craft into a national holiday favorite.
The best part? The dolls never lost their goofy, handmade charm along the way.
Fame didn’t make them fancy. It just gave more people a chance to fall for those cheeky little faces.
Plan Your Stop At The Gift Shop On Foundry Avenue
Good news for road trippers. The Annalee Gift Shop sits at 23 Foundry Ave, Meredith, NH 03253.
The company moved here in 2016 after several stops around Meredith. Earlier homes included an outlet shop in the woods, a downtown spot on Route 104, and a building on Daniel Webster Highway.
The 2016 move finally put everything under one roof. That means the corporate offices, design studio, gift shop, and warehouse all share the same building.
The shop is open daily from 10 AM to 5 PM, year-round. It closes on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day.
Heading out near a holiday? It closes early, at 2 PM, on Thanksgiving Eve, Christmas Eve, and New Year’s Eve.
Hours can shift, so a quick check before you drive is smart. Nobody wants to stare sadly at a locked door full of felt elves.
Parking is easy, too, with plenty of free spaces. That’s a nice bonus during busy Lakes Region seasons.
I like that the whole operation now lives in one spot. It makes Annalee Dolls feel like a true home base for fans.
Designer Elves Work Right Under The Same Roof
Here’s a fun perk most gift shops can’t offer. At Annalee Dolls, guests can watch the designer elves working on exclusive collections.
The state-of-the-art design studio shares the building with the shop. So the place where ideas come to life sits just steps from where you browse.
That’s a big deal for curious visitors. You get a peek at how these felt characters move from concept to keepsake.
It’s a full-circle moment, too. Annalee once designed in a converted coop, and now her company designs in a modern studio.
The team culture is described as magical, with creative energy, informality, and a sense of humor. Honestly, that tracks, given how silly and sweet the dolls look.
I think seeing the work up close changes how you view each piece. Those painted smiles stop looking mass-produced.
Instead, they look like what they are. Small works of art made by people who clearly enjoy the job.
Bring the kids along for this part. Watching grown-ups make elves for a living might be the most convincing career pitch ever.
Good luck explaining why your own office isn’t that fun.
Signed And Numbered Treasures You Can’t Grab Just Anywhere
Collectors, this one’s for you. The Assembled in America Collection features limited edition pieces hand-assembled at headquarters in Meredith.
Each doll is numbered and signed by the person who assembled it. That’s a personal touch you won’t find on a typical store shelf.
Availability is limited, too. You can only get these at the gift shop or through the official Annalee site.
That exclusivity makes them extra special. It’s the kind of piece you point to and say, someone in New Hampshire made that by hand.
Signed collectibles also make thoughtful gifts. A numbered doll feels more meaningful than another mug or scarf.
For longtime fans, these pieces connect back to Annalee’s original handmade spirit. The faces still carry that famous playful look.
My tip? If one catches your eye, don’t overthink it for too long.
Limited means limited, after all.
Starting a collection with an Assembled in America piece feels fitting. It ties your shelf straight back to the Meredith workroom where the magic happens.
Not many souvenirs come with a signature from the maker. That alone makes this collection worth a close look.
Every Holiday Gets Its Own Felt Crew
Christmas may be the star, but it doesn’t hog the whole spotlight. Annalee Dolls makes whimsical seasonal figures for major holidays all year long.
You’ll find elves, snowmen, and Santa types for winter. Other collections cover celebrations throughout the calendar, so your mantel never has to sit empty.
Animal figures and ornaments round out the lineup. Those ornaments are an easy way to add a little Annalee to a tree.
Then there’s the famous Mouse for Every House series. These mice come with all kinds of personas and hobbies.
Love gardening, sports, or cooking? There’s a decent chance a felt mouse shares your passion.
The mouse series took off in the 1970s and remains a fan favorite. It’s easy to see why, since picking one that matches a friend is half the fun.
Because the bodies are wired, you can pose each doll however you like. Make your elf wave, peek, or flop over dramatically.
The gift shop carries the largest selection of Annalee keepsakes anywhere. So if you want variety, this is the spot to see it all in one trip.
Make A Day Of It In The Lakes Region
Meredith sits in the heart of New Hampshire’s Lakes Region. Lake Winnipesaukee is right nearby, which makes the drive feel like part of the treat.
That location helps turn a shopping stop into a full day out. Pair your Annalee Dolls visit with time by the water in town.
Leaf season and the winter holidays feel especially fitting for a trip here. Felt elves and snowy lakeside views go together nicely.
Still, the shop stays open year-round, so summer works just as well. Spring and fall bring their own seasonal dolls to browse, too.
I like that the company never left Meredith. It moved several times, but always stayed in the town where the chicken coop story began.
That loyalty gives the place real roots. You’re shopping in the same community that shaped Annalee’s first designs.
New Hampshire has plenty of charming stops. Few come with a backstory involving hens, Depression-era hustle, and a White House cameo.
So grab a map, plan a lakeside lunch, and save room in the car. You’ll probably head home with at least one grinning felt friend riding shotgun.
