The familiar sight of a plump, cartoonish plastic turkey gracing front porches across America each November can be traced back to a single inventor: Don Featherstone, the creator of the iconic Don Featherstone Thanksgiving turkey blow mold. This quirky lawn ornament has become a beloved nostalgic tradition for many families over the past several decades.
When most of us think of Thanksgiving décor, the image that likely comes to mind is Featherstone’s famously whimsical turkey design with its vibrant fall colors and cheery expression. But who is the man behind this iconic holiday decoration? Let’s take a closer look at the history and enduring popularity of the Don Featherstone turkey.
Origins of the Don Featherstone Turkey
Don Featherstone was a newly hired designer at Union Products, a plastics manufacturing company in Leominster, Massachusetts in the 1960s. In 1964, he was tasked with creating plastic holiday-themed lawn ornaments that could be mass produced cheaply using the blow molding method.
Featherstone came up with a trio of now classic designs: the familiar kneeling pilgrim man and woman figurines, and of course, the fan-favorite turkey. The friendly, cartoonish turkey sculpture was an instant hit when Union Products introduced it in 1968 for the holiday season.
Originally rendered in shades of brown, Featherstone later tweaked the turkey’s colors to the vivid red, yellow and blue palette that would make it an iconic Thanksgiving decoration While Featherstone designed many other holiday blow molds like Santa Claus, snowmen and Easter Bunnies, the Thanksgiving turkey remains his most beloved and enduring design
Popularity Through the Years
The Don Featherstone turkey blow mold became a top-selling lawn ornament for Union Products, beloved for its kitschy charm and bright colors that complemented fall displays. Families would eagerly await its arrival each October in stores like Woolworths, Kmart, and Safeway.
A key factor was the turkey’s affordable price, allowing middle class suburban families to partake in the popular lawn ornament trend. Featherstone’s turkey captured the spirit of Thanksgiving in a cheerful, low-maintenance decoration that sidewalk passersby and neighborhood children adored spotting.
By the late 1990s over 250,000 Don Featherstone turkeys were produced annually by Union Products at its Leominster factory As the blow molding manufacturing process was phased out in favor of cheaper, lighter weight plastics, Union Products ceased production of the classic turkey design in 2006
But the company began manufacturing reproductions in 2018 due to enduring customer demand, ensuring future generations could enjoy this nostalgic Thanksgiving tradition.
Collectability and Nostalgic Charm
Vintage Don Featherstone turkeys from the 1960s-1990s have become coveted collector’s items, as the sculpture perfectly encapsulates Thanksgiving nostalgia. Online auction sites like eBay do a thriving business in vintage turkeys, which can fetch upwards of $100-200 depending on age, condition and rarity factors.
Much of the appeal lies in the happy childhood memories these turkeys represent. For those who grew up in the 1960s-1980s, seeing a Don Featherstone turkey evokes cozy Thanksgiving moments – excitedly peering out the window to see if the turkey had “landed” on the lawn yet, or admiring neighborhood holiday displays on an evening stroll.
The Don Featherstone turkey reminds us to embrace the low-tech charms of the past, when a simple, earnestly designed holiday decoration could provide such lasting magic. Though styles and technologies evolve, the whimsical appeal of Featherstone’s smiling turkey endures across the decades.
Don Featherstone’s Legacy
Donald Featherstone passed away at age 79 in June 2015, but his iconic designs live on. His turkeys and pilgrim figurines sparked an American lawn ornament tradition that delights new generations annually.
Featherstone will always be remembered for pioneering holiday-themed lawn ornaments and capturing the nostalgic joy of Thanksgiving in durable, affordable plastic. His cheerful, waving turkey is as recognizable a symbol of the season as falling leaves and pumpkin pies.
When you see a faded, leaning Don Featherstone turkey on a frosty November lawn, it’s a reminder of cherished traditions. The holidays are upon us, and it’s time to reflect on life’s simple blessings – including a goofy, nostalgic plastic turkey first conceived by a young artist over 50 years ago.
History[]
The Turkey was first made in 1996. The Turkey was one of the few Thanksgiving blow molds available at the time, and many families still buy it today for their porch and yard Thanksgiving displays. It looked great as a Thanksgiving table centerpiece because its tails were spread out. It looked especially good when paired with the Pilgrims and Native American molds. In 1999, a bigger, more realistic Turkey came out, and it was made along with the first one for the rest of its production.
When Union Products went out of business in 2005, they stopped making both turkeys and all the other Thanksgiving blow molds.