By the time she's all done, Lisa Leubner will have spent roughly 100 hours on her gingerbread house. That amount of time may seem exorbitant, but this isn't your average gumdrop and candy cane creation.
Leubner, of Skaneateles, is currently piecing together a gingerbread house that is a replica of the late 19th-century Skaneateles fire hall. Since before Thanksgiving, she's been researching and constructing the structure - completely out of gingerbread, icing and fondant - ensuring that every last teeny, tiny brick is just right.
The gingerbread fire hall will be on display at the Creamery museum's open house from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 9. The Creamery, home of the Skaneateles Historical Society, is located at 28 Hannum St., Skaneateles.
This will be the third year that Leubner, 36, has created a gingerbread replica of a famous Skaneateles landmark for the open house. The fire hall will be displayed alongside 2006's Evergreen Manor (known to many as the Fuller house) and 2005's Creamery confections.
Standing before pieces of fire hall walls in her Old Seneca Turnpike home's kitchen, Leubner explained that she chose to replicate the old fire hall - it was torn down in 1964 - because of the rich history her family has with the Skaneateles Volunteer Fire Department.
Her great-grandfather, Robert Spearing, was a member for 67 years (20 of those as chief), while her grandfather, William Spearing, served several years as assistant chief during his 29-year membership. Her father, David Spearing, has been a member since 1969.
“The fun part was doing all the research on it,” Leubner said as she flipped through a binder full of photos and articles highlighting her family's history with the department.
When completed, the detailed gingerbread will stand about 18 inches tall, bell tower and all. Leubner worked with the historical society and a family friend to gather photos of the building from all angles to ensure historical accuracy.
“I like to be as exact as possible,” she said.
The self-taught Leubner has been creating artistic gingerbread houses for years. She's made a log cabin, a chalet and even an entire village of homes.
Two of her children - she and husband Tom have four and one on the way - enjoyed playing Godzilla when it came time to destroy the latter, but the Creamery keeps the historical creations from year to year.
“Last year, I went to check the Creamery (gingerbread) to see if it needed any touch-up, and it looked like I had just made it,” Leubner said of how well the gingerbread houses keep once the frosting dries and hardens.
The process is definitely a tedious one, particularly this year with all the brickwork and the irregular shape of the windows.
Leubner first sketched each part of the hall on paper and then cut these shapes out of the baked gingerbread dough. She has several tools that she uses to make each of the different parts, and she uses food dye to color the fondant (a Playdough-like confection), giving the fire hall its rustic red hue.
Where possible, the children also help out in the kitchen.
“It's kinda cool how you make it, Momma,” Eli, 7, said as he looked up at his mother.
On the eve of Dec. 9, residents and visitors will have an opportunity to experience this same awe. Using frosting, Leubner will glue the fire hall to a piece of plywood and, she said with a smile, “just hope it's not windy.”
The gingerbread fire hall will be on display at the Creamery museum's open house from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 9. The Creamery, home of the Skaneateles Historical Society, is located at 28 Hannum St., Skaneateles.
This will be the third year that Leubner, 36, has created a gingerbread replica of a famous Skaneateles landmark for the open house. The fire hall will be displayed alongside 2006's Evergreen Manor (known to many as the Fuller house) and 2005's Creamery confections.
Standing before pieces of fire hall walls in her Old Seneca Turnpike home's kitchen, Leubner explained that she chose to replicate the old fire hall - it was torn down in 1964 - because of the rich history her family has with the Skaneateles Volunteer Fire Department.
Her great-grandfather, Robert Spearing, was a member for 67 years (20 of those as chief), while her grandfather, William Spearing, served several years as assistant chief during his 29-year membership. Her father, David Spearing, has been a member since 1969.
“The fun part was doing all the research on it,” Leubner said as she flipped through a binder full of photos and articles highlighting her family's history with the department.
When completed, the detailed gingerbread will stand about 18 inches tall, bell tower and all. Leubner worked with the historical society and a family friend to gather photos of the building from all angles to ensure historical accuracy.
“I like to be as exact as possible,” she said.
The self-taught Leubner has been creating artistic gingerbread houses for years. She's made a log cabin, a chalet and even an entire village of homes.
Two of her children - she and husband Tom have four and one on the way - enjoyed playing Godzilla when it came time to destroy the latter, but the Creamery keeps the historical creations from year to year.
“Last year, I went to check the Creamery (gingerbread) to see if it needed any touch-up, and it looked like I had just made it,” Leubner said of how well the gingerbread houses keep once the frosting dries and hardens.
The process is definitely a tedious one, particularly this year with all the brickwork and the irregular shape of the windows.
Leubner first sketched each part of the hall on paper and then cut these shapes out of the baked gingerbread dough. She has several tools that she uses to make each of the different parts, and she uses food dye to color the fondant (a Playdough-like confection), giving the fire hall its rustic red hue.
Where possible, the children also help out in the kitchen.
“It's kinda cool how you make it, Momma,” Eli, 7, said as he looked up at his mother.
On the eve of Dec. 9, residents and visitors will have an opportunity to experience this same awe. Using frosting, Leubner will glue the fire hall to a piece of plywood and, she said with a smile, “just hope it's not windy.”
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skaneateleswiki wrote on Dec 8, 2007 2:15 AM: