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A woman with a penchant for the past displays her collection at the Largo Library through April.
By JULIANNE WU
© St. Petersburg Times, published April 15, 2001
LARGO -- Ever since she was a child, Betty Watts has liked all things medieval, especially dragons.
So she has collected dragon tea sets, pins, books, incense burners, chopsticks, metal boxes and other items most of her life. Her collection has been on display at the Largo Library since the Bay Area Renaissance Festival began in March.
Although the festival will end this Sunday, Watts' collection will remain at the library through the end of April.
"My daughter, Kathleen (McIlwain), gave me my very first dragon, this porcelain one," Watts said as she showed off some of the dragons temporarily housed in the library's reference department.
Watts, 73, of Largo said she's not much into the history of the pieces she has and can't even tell how many she has.
"I tell people I have lots of them," said Watts, who came from Michigan to Florida about 20 years ago. "I love them all. I don't even have a favorite."
The majority of her dragons have been given to her as gifts, many from her son-in-law, Russell McIlwain, who died four years ago.
McIlwain used to pick up dragon-related pieces for his mother-in-law whenever he went to antique shows. He especially liked war memorabilia.
One Watts' most cherished pieces is a bracelet she got from McIlwain that he told her dates from the Boxer Rebellion (1898-1900) in China. Watts also has several metal boxes from McIlwain, including one from the Chicago World's Fair of 1933.
Watts showed off some china tea sets, including a Florida-themed set with a flamingo and a dragon on it.
Her largest item is a brass tray "which I keep in front of my fireplace at home." Her smallest items are dragon-adorned earrings and a miniature silver dragon.
Although she has a dragon-bedecked Chinese checkers board and dominoes adorned with dragons, Watts said she is looking for a Chinese fan with, of course, dragons.
"I don't know why I like dragons so much," said Watts. "But, as I said before, I've always loved knights and damsels in distress . . . and of course, dragons. And, don't tell me there aren't any dragons. I believe in them."
- Julianne Wu can be reached at 445-4221 or by e-mail: wu@sptimes.com.
Betty Watts' dragon collection will be exhibited through the end of April at the Largo Library, 351 East Bay Drive, in conjunction with this year's Bay Area Renaissance Festival, which is entering its last weekend. The festival is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday through Sunday at Festival Park, 400 Central Park Drive in Largo. Advance tickets are $11.95 for adults and $4.95 for children and are available at Albertsons and Circle K stores; they are $12.95 for adults and $5.95 for children at the park. For information, call 586-5423.