Self-Taught Miniature Builder Recreated His County

2018 - Volume #42, Issue #3, Page #22

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Charlie Bauer got started making miniature buildings by building a replica of his family’s dairy barn the way he remembered it as a kid. Now, 23 years later, he has built a complete village that fills two sheds on his Newton, Wis., property.
    At 1/12th-scale, the mini buildings are impressive in size, built out of rough-sawn cedar. Bauer appreciates the natural aged look - and the smell - of cedar. Cutaways reveal the tiny pieces he uses to create details such as 42 tiny desks with hinged seats.
    The Queen Ann-style school with its arches, roof peaks and valleys has been the most challenging project so far, Bauer says. But each of the replicas in his collection requires him to learn about different building styles.
    “There are 220 pins in the Dutch gambrel barn,” Bauer points out. He knows because he hand-carved every one of them out of oak, based on his careful study of a barn just a mile away. His buildings are assembled with wood joinery, lots of glue and occasionally small brad nails.
    For most of his replicas, a neighbor videotapes the real buildings while Bauer takes measurements and points out specific details. That is in addition to photos and doing research at the library and Manitowoc County Historical Society. Just as he recreated the details of his first barn, he is committed to being as accurate as possible.
    The quest began when he drove the backroads of Manitowoc County for 30 years as a mailman.
    “I’ve been doing buildings that are disappearing from the landscape,” he says. They capture parts of history that might be lost: an eight-sided dance pavilion with poplar wood floor, a general store, a summer kitchen, a water-powered grist mill, a circus wagon, a stump extractor, and a silo, for example.
    He builds them big for a couple of reasons.
    “The math is easy to handle (1 in. for 1 ft.), and the pieces are big enough, so I don’t cut my fingers off,” Bauer laughs. Even at 1/12th-scale some of the details get pretty small, such as the 9,000 plus shingles on the St. James United Church of Christ he recently completed after more than 2 years of work. It includes stained glass windows with 110 pieces, each made by a local artist.
    “I never give myself a deadline,” Bauer says. “When I’m stumped, I go for a walk. Without a challenge it wouldn’t be any fun.”
    The only replica not from Manitowoc County is a covered bridge located in Cedarburg that is the last of its kind in Wisconsin. At one time it was the link for dairy farmers to the cheese factory.
    There is room for visitors to wander through Bauer’s miniature world. Call him to set up a tour.
    Bauer isn’t interested in making replicas for sale or making money from showing them. But he is happy to share history that sparks memories for himself, his wife and their visitors.
    Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Charlie Bauer, 9911 Co. Rd. C, Newton, Wis. 53063 (ph 920 758-2120; bauercheryl127@gmail.com).

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Self-Taught Miniature Builder Recreated His County AG WORLD Charlie Bauer got started making miniature buildings by building a replica of his family’s dairy barn the way he remembered it as a kid Now 23 years later he has built a complete village that fills two sheds on his Newton Wis property At 1/12th-scale the mini buildings are impressive in size built out of rough-sawn cedar Bauer appreciates the natural aged look - and the smell - of cedar Cutaways reveal the tiny pieces he uses to create details such as 42 tiny desks with hinged seats The Queen Ann-style school with its arches roof peaks and valleys has been the most challenging project so far Bauer says But each of the replicas in his collection requires him to learn about different building styles “There are 220 pins in the Dutch gambrel barn ” Bauer points out He knows because he hand-carved every one of them out of oak based on his careful study of a barn just a mile away His buildings are assembled with wood joinery lots of glue and occasionally small brad nails For most of his replicas a neighbor videotapes the real buildings while Bauer takes measurements and points out specific details That is in addition to photos and doing research at the library and Manitowoc County Historical Society Just as he recreated the details of his first barn he is committed to being as accurate as possible The quest began when he drove the backroads of Manitowoc County for 30 years as a mailman “I’ve been doing buildings that are disappearing from the landscape ” he says They capture parts of history that might be lost: an eight-sided dance pavilion with poplar wood floor a general store a summer kitchen a water-powered grist mill a circus wagon a stump extractor and a silo for example He builds them big for a couple of reasons “The math is easy to handle 1 in for 1 ft and the pieces are big enough so I don’t cut my fingers off ” Bauer laughs Even at 1/12th-scale some of the details get pretty small such as the 9 000 plus shingles on the St James United Church of Christ he recently completed after more than 2 years of work It includes stained glass windows with 110 pieces each made by a local artist “I never give myself a deadline ” Bauer says “When I’m stumped I go for a walk Without a challenge it wouldn’t be any fun ” The only replica not from Manitowoc County is a covered bridge located in Cedarburg that is the last of its kind in Wisconsin At one time it was the link for dairy farmers to the cheese factory There is room for visitors to wander through Bauer’s miniature world Call him to set up a tour Bauer isn’t interested in making replicas for sale or making money from showing them But he is happy to share history that sparks memories for himself his wife and their visitors Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Charlie Bauer 9911 Co Rd C Newton Wis 53063 ph 920 758-2120; bauercheryl127@gmail com

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