by Ka t i e Jo h n s o n
ph o t o s b y er i c Jo h n s o n
The North Pole is in
Southern Minnesota
it’s a c l o s e l y g u a r d e d
s e c r e t : Santa’s elves do not actually
live in the North Pole. In the tiny town of
Kellogg situated in Mississippi River bluff
country off scenic U.S. Highway 61, behind
inconspicuous doors in an inconspicuous
building, you’ll find them.
The elves — or toymakers, if you will —
mold chunks of wood into cherished pos-
sessions to be passed on throughout gener-
ations.
At Lark Toys, the time-honored crafts-
manship that goes into each elephant, trac-
tor and frog has been maintained by only a
select number of woodworkers. In 24 years,
the now-20,000 square-foot toy store —
which its owners claim is one of the largest
independently owned toy stores in the
country — has evolved to accommodate
every interest, but its signature wooden
toys are still in production.
Special keepsakes
Tim Monson leans over one of only two
child-size rocking moose as he expertly
applies a polyurethane finish.
“We’re kind of bringing back some of the
stuff we used to make,” the woodworker
and “head toymaker” said. He started at
Lark Toys 22 years ago, and added his
craftsmanship to the store’s carousel and to
its pull toys and other creations.
“He doesn’t have points on his ears, but
he is kind of ’Elfin,’” said Kathy Gray, who
took over ownership of Lark two years ago
with husband Ron, son Scott and his wife,
Miranda.
Gray explained that Lark toys are not
mass-produced; in fact, they are made in
tiny quantities. Monson may only make a
few rocking rabbits at a time, and maybe 25
to 30 of the pull toys. Although the store
stopped shipping its toys to stores nation-
wide long ago, they are still in demand from
people who want to buy a special gift, espe-
cially grandparents.
Continued on next page
Winter 2009 ♦ Southern Minnesota Magazine ♦ 23
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