OWASCO - A dollhouse can be many things. It can be a bonding experience between a mother and daughter; it can be an heirloom from one generation to the next; and it can be a lifelong project. But perhaps most importantly, it can be fun.
Jennifer Meyers / The Citizen
Gracie Losani, 3, of Auburn, looks through a Victorian style dollhouse with grandmother, Barbara Loomis, while attending the Victorian Dollhouse Exhibition at the Ward O'Hara Agricultural Museum in Owasco Sunday afternoon. The dollhouse is owned by Margaret and Norm Riley of Sennett.
Gracie Losani, 3, of Auburn, looks through a Victorian style dollhouse with grandmother, Barbara Loomis, while attending the Victorian Dollhouse Exhibition at the Ward O'Hara Agricultural Museum in Owasco Sunday afternoon. The dollhouse is owned by Margaret and Norm Riley of Sennett.
Sunday afternoon various houses were on display at the Ward O'Hara Agricultural Museum for its first Victorian Dollhouse Exhibition.
Museum director George Komer said the idea originated with Norm Riley, president of the museum's board of commissioners, who along with his wife, Margaret, has been working on a house for over a decade.
“He and his wife have a Victorian dollhouse,” Komer said. “So she got the idea that maybe we should do a dollhouse display. That idea started last fall and then this spring we talked to some people and really got the idea going.”
Riley said her house has been a collective effort of her and her husband, with Norm working on the exterior shingles, windows and lighting, while she handled the interiors.
“It is our winter project,” Riley said. “That is when my husband and I really work on it. We actually got started because our son bought this for his daughters and they out grew it, and I said 'let me have it,' and we've been working on it for the past 10 years, and we'll probably be working on it for 10 more.”
Komer said the idea seemed like a good way to let people know the extent of what the museum is involved in.
“We wanted to let people that live in the city get more involved,” Komer said. “We wanted to let people know what we offer out here. I think a lot of the time people think we just have old tractors and farm equipment but really there is a lot more here.”
Judging by the steady stream of visitors that started arriving when the museum opened at 11 a.m.., Komer said he believed this was a good step in that direction.
The exhibit brought out mothers, daughters and grandmothers, all coming together for the opportunity to look through the houses on display. Among those making the trip were Carly Kane, 10, and her mother Darcy from Michigan.
“We're originally from this area,” Darcy said. “We're up here visiting Carly's grandmother, Linda Zach, who lives in Union Springs, and she called and asked Carly to come up to this with her and we thought it would be a really nice time.”
Carly said she first got interested in dollhouses when she was working with her grandmother on a house that is on display at the Frontenac Museum and is now working on her own back in Michigan.
“It was a nice bonding time with her,” Carly said. “My mom bought me a dollhouse for a dollar at a garage sale and now we are working on making it more my own. That's what I like about it, you can do things your way.”
The display, which included a wide array of houses and styles, gave Carly the perfect opportunity to see other houses and get some ideas of her own. It is this kind of expression that most appealed to Riley.
“It is a fun hobby,” Riley said. “It is nice to make something that you know is your own and I like being able to do this and let others see it and enjoy it. I'm glad that we have so many young girls out here to see this all today.”
Also displaying houses were Rande and Jill Quinn of Family Room Miniatures. The Quinns are avid fans of the miniature world, opening their store on County House Road, 12 years ago. They both agreed it is a hobby that can take on a life of its own.
“You can spend as much time on this as building a real house,” Rande said. “You can pick out furniture, tiles, linoleum, everything just like a real house.”
Jill agreed that once she got involved the hobby became much more.
“It is something for people of all ages,” Jill said. “You can spend many years collecting, whether you are an adult or a child, that is the great thing about it, it can be something for children and at the same time it can be a real family heirloom.”
Fitting right in with the theme of the day, was Owasco town historian, Laurel Auchampaugh with a presentation titled “Grandma's Attic Treasures.”
Through a collection of hats, clothing, photos and old letters, Auchampaugh has been able to retrace much of her family's history and stories. Stories she shared during the presentation - stories of love, marriage, children, grandchildren and all the ups and downs that come with these lives.
Auchampaugh's main goal was not only to share her own stories but to make others aware that everyone has a story that is important to preserve
“I try to make these people real,” Auchampaugh said. “These were all real people with fascinating stories that are important to preserve and to be remembered in every family.”
Jason Gabak
Special to The Citizen
OWASCO - A dollhouse can be many things. It can be a bonding experience between a mother and daughter; it can be an heirloom from one generation to the next; and it can be a lifelong project. But perhaps most importantly, it can be fun.
Sunday afternoon various houses were on display at the Ward O'Hara Agricultural Museum for its first Victorian Dollhouse Exhibition.
Museum director George Komer said the idea originated with Norm Riley, president of the museum's board of commissioners, who along with his wife, Margaret, has been working on a house for over a decade.
“He and his wife have a Victorian dollhouse,” Komer said. “So she got the idea that maybe we should do a dollhouse display. That idea started last fall and then this spring we talked to some people and really got the idea going.”
Riley said her house has been a collective effort of her and her husband, with Norm working on the exterior shingles, windows and lighting, while she handled the interiors.
“It is our winter project,” Riley said. “That is when my husband and I really work on it. We actually got started because our son bought this for his daughters and they out grew it, and I said 'let me have it,' and we've been working on it for the past 10 years, and we'll probably be working on it for 10 more.”
Komer said the idea seemed like a good way to let people know the extent of what the museum is involved in.
“We wanted to let people that live in the city get more involved,” Komer said. “We wanted to let people know what we offer out here. I think a lot of the time people think we just have old tractors and farm equipment but really there is a lot more here.”
Judging by the steady stream of visitors that started arriving when the museum opened at 11 a.m.., Komer said he believed this was a good step in that direction.
The exhibit brought out mothers, daughters and grandmothers, all coming together for the opportunity to look through the houses on display. Among those making the trip were Carly Kane, 10, and her mother Darcy from Michigan.
“We're originally from this area,” Darcy said. “We're up here visiting Carly's grandmother, Linda Zach, who lives in Union Springs, and she called and asked Carly to come up to this with her and we thought it would be a really nice time.”
Carly said she first got interested in dollhouses when she was working with her grandmother on a house that is on display at the Frontenac Museum and is now working on her own back in Michigan.
“It was a nice bonding time with her,” Carly said. “My mom bought me a dollhouse for a dollar at a garage sale and now we are working on making it more my own. That's what I like about it, you can do things your way.”
The display, which included a wide array of houses and styles, gave Carly the perfect opportunity to see other houses and get some ideas of her own. It is this kind of expression that most appealed to Riley.
“It is a fun hobby,” Riley said. “It is nice to make something that you know is your own and I like being able to do this and let others see it and enjoy it. I'm glad that we have so many young girls out here to see this all today.”
Also displaying houses were Rande and Jill Quinn of Family Room Miniatures. The Quinns are avid fans of the miniature world, opening their store on County House Road, 12 years ago. They both agreed it is a hobby that can take on a life of its own.
“You can spend as much time on this as building a real house,” Rande said. “You can pick out furniture, tiles, linoleum, everything just like a real house.”
Jill agreed that once she got involved the hobby became much more.
“It is something for people of all ages,” Jill said. “You can spend many years collecting, whether you are an adult or a child, that is the great thing about it, it can be something for children and at the same time it can be a real family heirloom.”
Fitting right in with the theme of the day, was Owasco town historian, Laurel Auchampaugh with a presentation titled “Grandma's Attic Treasures.”
Through a collection of hats, clothing, photos and old letters, Auchampaugh has been able to retrace much of her family's history and stories. Stories she shared during the presentation - stories of love, marriage, children, grandchildren and all the ups and downs that come with these lives.
Auchampaugh's main goal was not only to share her own stories but to make others aware that everyone has a story that is important to preserve
“I try to make these people real,” Auchampaugh said. “These were all real people with fascinating stories that are important to preserve and to be remembered in every family.”
Museum director George Komer said the idea originated with Norm Riley, president of the museum's board of commissioners, who along with his wife, Margaret, has been working on a house for over a decade.
“He and his wife have a Victorian dollhouse,” Komer said. “So she got the idea that maybe we should do a dollhouse display. That idea started last fall and then this spring we talked to some people and really got the idea going.”
Riley said her house has been a collective effort of her and her husband, with Norm working on the exterior shingles, windows and lighting, while she handled the interiors.
“It is our winter project,” Riley said. “That is when my husband and I really work on it. We actually got started because our son bought this for his daughters and they out grew it, and I said 'let me have it,' and we've been working on it for the past 10 years, and we'll probably be working on it for 10 more.”
Komer said the idea seemed like a good way to let people know the extent of what the museum is involved in.
“We wanted to let people that live in the city get more involved,” Komer said. “We wanted to let people know what we offer out here. I think a lot of the time people think we just have old tractors and farm equipment but really there is a lot more here.”
Judging by the steady stream of visitors that started arriving when the museum opened at 11 a.m.., Komer said he believed this was a good step in that direction.
The exhibit brought out mothers, daughters and grandmothers, all coming together for the opportunity to look through the houses on display. Among those making the trip were Carly Kane, 10, and her mother Darcy from Michigan.
“We're originally from this area,” Darcy said. “We're up here visiting Carly's grandmother, Linda Zach, who lives in Union Springs, and she called and asked Carly to come up to this with her and we thought it would be a really nice time.”
Carly said she first got interested in dollhouses when she was working with her grandmother on a house that is on display at the Frontenac Museum and is now working on her own back in Michigan.
“It was a nice bonding time with her,” Carly said. “My mom bought me a dollhouse for a dollar at a garage sale and now we are working on making it more my own. That's what I like about it, you can do things your way.”
The display, which included a wide array of houses and styles, gave Carly the perfect opportunity to see other houses and get some ideas of her own. It is this kind of expression that most appealed to Riley.
“It is a fun hobby,” Riley said. “It is nice to make something that you know is your own and I like being able to do this and let others see it and enjoy it. I'm glad that we have so many young girls out here to see this all today.”
Also displaying houses were Rande and Jill Quinn of Family Room Miniatures. The Quinns are avid fans of the miniature world, opening their store on County House Road, 12 years ago. They both agreed it is a hobby that can take on a life of its own.
“You can spend as much time on this as building a real house,” Rande said. “You can pick out furniture, tiles, linoleum, everything just like a real house.”
Jill agreed that once she got involved the hobby became much more.
“It is something for people of all ages,” Jill said. “You can spend many years collecting, whether you are an adult or a child, that is the great thing about it, it can be something for children and at the same time it can be a real family heirloom.”
Fitting right in with the theme of the day, was Owasco town historian, Laurel Auchampaugh with a presentation titled “Grandma's Attic Treasures.”
Through a collection of hats, clothing, photos and old letters, Auchampaugh has been able to retrace much of her family's history and stories. Stories she shared during the presentation - stories of love, marriage, children, grandchildren and all the ups and downs that come with these lives.
Auchampaugh's main goal was not only to share her own stories but to make others aware that everyone has a story that is important to preserve
“I try to make these people real,” Auchampaugh said. “These were all real people with fascinating stories that are important to preserve and to be remembered in every family.”
Jason Gabak
Special to The Citizen
OWASCO - A dollhouse can be many things. It can be a bonding experience between a mother and daughter; it can be an heirloom from one generation to the next; and it can be a lifelong project. But perhaps most importantly, it can be fun.
Sunday afternoon various houses were on display at the Ward O'Hara Agricultural Museum for its first Victorian Dollhouse Exhibition.
Museum director George Komer said the idea originated with Norm Riley, president of the museum's board of commissioners, who along with his wife, Margaret, has been working on a house for over a decade.
“He and his wife have a Victorian dollhouse,” Komer said. “So she got the idea that maybe we should do a dollhouse display. That idea started last fall and then this spring we talked to some people and really got the idea going.”
Riley said her house has been a collective effort of her and her husband, with Norm working on the exterior shingles, windows and lighting, while she handled the interiors.
“It is our winter project,” Riley said. “That is when my husband and I really work on it. We actually got started because our son bought this for his daughters and they out grew it, and I said 'let me have it,' and we've been working on it for the past 10 years, and we'll probably be working on it for 10 more.”
Komer said the idea seemed like a good way to let people know the extent of what the museum is involved in.
“We wanted to let people that live in the city get more involved,” Komer said. “We wanted to let people know what we offer out here. I think a lot of the time people think we just have old tractors and farm equipment but really there is a lot more here.”
Judging by the steady stream of visitors that started arriving when the museum opened at 11 a.m.., Komer said he believed this was a good step in that direction.
The exhibit brought out mothers, daughters and grandmothers, all coming together for the opportunity to look through the houses on display. Among those making the trip were Carly Kane, 10, and her mother Darcy from Michigan.
“We're originally from this area,” Darcy said. “We're up here visiting Carly's grandmother, Linda Zach, who lives in Union Springs, and she called and asked Carly to come up to this with her and we thought it would be a really nice time.”
Carly said she first got interested in dollhouses when she was working with her grandmother on a house that is on display at the Frontenac Museum and is now working on her own back in Michigan.
“It was a nice bonding time with her,” Carly said. “My mom bought me a dollhouse for a dollar at a garage sale and now we are working on making it more my own. That's what I like about it, you can do things your way.”
The display, which included a wide array of houses and styles, gave Carly the perfect opportunity to see other houses and get some ideas of her own. It is this kind of expression that most appealed to Riley.
“It is a fun hobby,” Riley said. “It is nice to make something that you know is your own and I like being able to do this and let others see it and enjoy it. I'm glad that we have so many young girls out here to see this all today.”
Also displaying houses were Rande and Jill Quinn of Family Room Miniatures. The Quinns are avid fans of the miniature world, opening their store on County House Road, 12 years ago. They both agreed it is a hobby that can take on a life of its own.
“You can spend as much time on this as building a real house,” Rande said. “You can pick out furniture, tiles, linoleum, everything just like a real house.”
Jill agreed that once she got involved the hobby became much more.
“It is something for people of all ages,” Jill said. “You can spend many years collecting, whether you are an adult or a child, that is the great thing about it, it can be something for children and at the same time it can be a real family heirloom.”
Fitting right in with the theme of the day, was Owasco town historian, Laurel Auchampaugh with a presentation titled “Grandma's Attic Treasures.”
Through a collection of hats, clothing, photos and old letters, Auchampaugh has been able to retrace much of her family's history and stories. Stories she shared during the presentation - stories of love, marriage, children, grandchildren and all the ups and downs that come with these lives.
Auchampaugh's main goal was not only to share her own stories but to make others aware that everyone has a story that is important to preserve
“I try to make these people real,” Auchampaugh said. “These were all real people with fascinating stories that are important to preserve and to be remembered in every family.”
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