Pickle Barrel Museum

Two huge barrels make up this unique and much-loved local landmark, which has just been restored and opened as a museum — the culmination of a long campaign to stablize and restore the structure. The house was built for the creator of the Teenie Weenie comic cartoon feature by a grocery distributor grateful for the attention Teenie Weenies brought to its advertisements and products.

William Donahey's Teenie Weenies were tiny cartoon characters two inches tall who lived under a rosebush. From 1914 to 1970 Teenie Weenies were in the public eye in some form — the syndicated Chicago Tribune Sunday comic feature, children's books, pencil boxes, dolls, trading cards, and other related products. Teenie Weenies appeared on the labels and ads of Monarch food products — peanut butter, popcorn, toffee, and vegetables, including pickles. In one ad, the Teenie Weenies set up housekeeping in a small pickle barrel.

William Donahey and his wife, Mary (herself the author of children's books) loved nature, and the Teenie Weenie's adventures often took place in natural settings. The Donaheys spent summers on Grand Sable Lake outside Grand Marais. "From the plant life, the animlas, and the insects I get many ideas for my Teenie Weenies, for I spend much of my time roaming through the woods," wrote William Donahey.

In gratitude for the Teenie Weenies' role in promoting its Monarch-brand products, the Reid & Murdock Company of Chicago built this unusual summer cottage for the Donaheys in 1926. A two-story barrel incorporated the living/dining area downstairs, and upstairs a bedroom and the Donaheys' work areas. The kitchen occupies the smaller barrel, connected by the pantry.

The "barrel house on the lake" became something of an attraction, creating distractions for the Donaheys. In 1936 they moved the house into town. There it served as a souvenir shop, tourist information center, and gift shop and then fell into disuse and disrepair. The Grand Marais Historical Society purchased the neglected landmark and raised money for a thorough restoration, now complete. See www.grandmaraismichigan.com for photos of the restoration in process.

Today the barrel house is a museum, with photos of the Donaheys in their one-of-a-kind cottage. There's extensive material about the Teenie Weenies and William Donahey. The first room showcases William Donahey and his artwork and creations. There's a cute 7-inch barrel on display that was part of one promotion featuring Monarch sweet pickles in a keepsake container. Additional donations of Teenie Weenie material not represented in the museum are much appreciated.

The rest of the barrel house recreates its appearance when the Donaheys lived there, so visitors can see what everyday life in a barrel was like. The garden, outdoor seating, and garden path are now in place. But more remains to be done, and funds are still being raised. The $125,000 budget includes the cost to acquire and restore the house and gardens, including landscaping, fencing, and seating, plus a maintenance fund so the Barrel House can be enjoyed by future generations. Look up the pickle barrel museum at www.grandmaraismichigan.com for Teenie Weenie fundraising items, or buy them around town.

In browsing online, we discovered two richly illustrated Teenie Weenie sites — delightful in their way but not as fastidiously researched as the Grand Marais museum. Children's book collector Richard Saunders has posted many illustrations of published Teenie Weenie cartoons at www.geocities.com/myxzlpyx/teenieweenies/. John Taylor has written several essays on the Teenie Weenies on his site, www.thetws.com/. Perhaps the Teenie Weenies, which haven't been widely published in recent years, are on the brink of a revival.

Downtown at Lake/M-77 and Randolph. Open from June through September. In July and August open daily 1-4. Otherwise open Thursday through Sunday 1-4. Also open by appointment: (906) 494-2219 or (906) 494-2404. Voluntary donation; all funds go to the museum. (Staff volunteers.) Handicap access: small wheelchairs via side ramp. First floor only. Tight quarters.

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