Twirl Town, Trains, and Toys: The Joyful Legacy of the Hammond Brothers
Twirl Town Toys:
The Magical Legacy of Herald Hammond
In a city full of department stores and chain retailers, Twirl Town Toys stood out like a joyful parade—colorful, creative, and impossible to forget. Founded by Herald Hammond, Twirl Town was more than just a toy company. It was a beloved source of childhood magic that delighted generations of Utah families.
Herald Hammond had toys in his blood. The son of West Hammond, a Salt Lake businessman who ran everything from a mercantile in Moab to a candy shop on State Street, Herald followed in his father's entrepreneurial footsteps. His brothers, Gale and Marvin, had already made names for themselves with the popular Hammond Toys & Hobbies stores—but Herald charted his own course.
He launched Twirl Town Toys, a wholesale and distribution business known for its wide array of small, imaginative, and affordable toys. While many children may not have known the name Twirl Town, they certainly knew the brand’s unforgettable presence: spinning racks of prizes, bins of colorful novelties, and impulse buys that brought joy at the checkout counter. From tiny animals and magic tricks to bouncy balls, puzzles, and poppers, Twirl Town endcaps appeared in stores all over the state, transforming ordinary aisles into wonderlands of discovery.
The heart of the operation was Twirl Town’s warehouse and factory at 327 West 200 South in Salt Lake City—a building that became almost as iconic as the toys themselves. Towering four stories tall, the side of the structure featured a giant painted clown—arms open wide in playful welcome. For children and parents alike, that smiling clown became a landmark, a symbol of joy and imagination right in the heart of the city. Decades later, people still remember it vividly, a larger-than-life reminder of a time when toys were simple and magic was everywhere.
Herald Hammond had a gift for curating toys that were affordable yet memorable. Twirl Town didn't just sell playthings—they sold happiness in miniature, perfectly suited for birthdays, classrooms, parties, or just because. And behind it all was Herald—creative, thoughtful, and committed to sparking joy through every small surprise.
Though the storefronts may be gone, Twirl Town’s legacy lives on—in the memories of those who saw that towering clown downtown, and in the homes where its tiny toys once lit up the faces of children. It was, and remains, one of Utah’s most magical toy stories.
Though Twirl Town Toys and its joyful warehouse are gone—its building now home to modern condominiums—the memory of that magical place, and the four-story clown that once greeted downtown visitors, still lingers in the hearts of all who knew it.
Together, Herald, Gale, and Marvin Hammond built more than just businesses—they built a legacy of joy. From Twirl Town Toys’ spinning racks of delightful surprises to the bustling Hammond Toys & Hobbies storefronts across Utah, the Hammond brothers dedicated their lives to bringing wonder, imagination, and happiness to millions of children and families. Their shared passion for quality toys, personal service, and community connection turned simple ideas into beloved institutions. Whether it was a birthday train set, a pocket-sized puzzle, or a chance discovery at the checkout counter, the Hammond name became synonymous with smiles—and left a lasting imprint on childhood across generations.
