Meet Chatty Cathy form Cassatt, SC

Nothing gives me greater pleasure than meeting true originals along Route One.

Mattel came out with the “Chatty Cathy Doll” in 1960. If you pulled on a string on her back, the doll said things like: I love you. Do you love me? Please brush my hair. What can we do now? Please change my dress. Give me a kiss. I’m so tired. Let’s have a party. Please take me with you. Let’s play school. and May I have a cookie. It was fun at first, but it got pretty repetitive. More than 5 words at a time was not possible.

Well, I got to meet a non-repetitive Cathy, who was pretty chatty and lots of fun to listen to as she spun tales inside her modest store in Cassatt, SC. Out in front is a life-sized doll mounted to a hand truck. The doll gets wheeled out every morning and is stored for safekeeping inside when the store closes.

Undaunted by the recent arrival of a Dollar Store directly across Route One, Cathy sells modest convenience items, her own recipe preserves, and her original custom made dolls. While we were not in the market for a doll, we did pick up some pickled green beans, chow-chow (a kind of relish), pickled watermelon rind, and cucumbers pickled with red hot candies. All were unique and delicious!

Cathy enthusiastically gave us a private tour of the “doll room” where her grandchildren love to visit, and regaled us with stories about her family and how she began making dolls as a hobby. She is a charming and delightful original storyteller. Hats off!!!