Revisiting an old friend

In 2009, with a lot of help and encouragement from a fellow American miniaturist, Dick Tabor, the Miniature Enthusiasts of Edmonton Club began working on a dollhouse filled with references to children's literature. Dick provided a list of literature he had used in his dollhouse with the same theme and club member, Joanne Root, who worked in the children's department of the St. Albert public library added her suggestions.

The house, an RGT Quick Build colonial, was purchased from a  MEE member who had used it as a demonstration model in her business. Members of the club were divided into geographical groups and each group was assigned a room in the house to furnish.

The house was completed at our Show and Sale on September 18, 2011, and donated to the Children's Department of the St. Albert Public library on October 11, 2011.

Original pictures are here.

After the first year, we felt that the dollhouse needed to be protected so plexiglass was added to the front of it and Joanne and I made necessary repairs to the contents.

It was a big hit with children who gravitated to it at SAPL where it remained on display until the pandemic hit in 2020 when it was temporarily put in storage where it has remained during recent SAPL renovations.

The library has decided that the dollhouse should now be moved to the Jensen Lakes branch in St. Albert and asked Joanne and I to once again go in and spruce it up a bit.

So that’s how we spent our morning today. What fun!

There were really not that many actual repairs to be made. The chimney had broken off but was easily glued back in place. The front stairs were missing for the second time so we decided not to replace them.  I will patch that area. Joanne touched up the paint on the doors and windows. There are two shingles missing so I’m trying to match the stain on the replacements.

There was a reference to one book that we could not find nor could we find any reference to the book itself so that will be deleted to the list of search items for the children. Joanne will supply two missing references and the library will add a few items that we found to the search list.

We will be going back on Thursday to finish our work and, hopefully, the refurbished dollhouse will be installed at Jensen Lakes branch library by next week. 

Many thanks to SAPL for the great care they have taken of the dollhouse and may a new generation enjoy it again at Jensen Lakes.