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St. JoSeph edition Reaching South Bend and SuRRounding countieS
Dollhouse
exhibit housed within
The History Museum
By MARISSA SWEATLAND Staff Writer South Bend’s The History Museum, 808 W. Washington St., houses “Lifting the Roof: The World of Dollhouses,” which opened to the public in June. The dollhouse exhibit showcases over 20 dollhouses collected by individuals across the county, including local collector, Mo Miller. Miller has not only collected but also constructed several of the displayed dollhouses. “I enjoy crafting together a house that looks like people could really live in,” Miller explained. “I enjoy making houses and room boxes with different themes like an AirBnB ready for snow skiers to enjoy, a southwest house, a house that only mice live in and of course, a Victorian Mansion complete with servants.” Included within the fantastic exhibit is the Guske Dollhouse, a replica of a 1904 Victorian house built by David Guske; one built by J.M. Studebaker for his daughters; one used to teach fire safety, built by Mishawaka Fire Chief Louis Ludwig; the iconic Barbie’s Dream House and Miller’s handmade Mouse Mansion. “I have always liked both very small things and huge things,” Miller said. “About 7-8 years ago I decided to concentrate on this hobby in a more focused manner. I now have about 15 dollhouses and room boxes and a few more ready to work on.” The history of dollhouses, although unclear, can be traced back to England, Germany and Holland in the 1600s. Dollhouses in its infancy were a testament to wealth and high social standing, only afforded by the fortunate elite. Historically, dollhouses displayed scenes placed behind
glass, allowing it to be viewed but not touched. Through the years, dollhouses have slowly transitioned from a symbol of high status to a common child’s play toy. Dollhouses have enamored and entertained children and adults for generations as to this day, it is hard to find someone who does not have some memory playing with a dollhouse. “When I was a child, we inherited a dollhouse that a neighbor was putting out for the trash,” Miller reminisced. “It came with a few boxes of furniture and old tiny things and I was always surprised that my mother seemed to enjoy it as much as we children liked it all.” “So many people have their own memories of their dollhouse when they were young, a dollhouse up in their own attic, a dollhouse their dad made for them,” she continued. “I knew this exhibit would have a wide appeal for both adults and children.” Miller was instrumental in making this exhibit come to life. “The thing that got this exhibit off the ground was two fold,” Kristie Erickson, deputy executive director of The History Museum, explained. “Mo Miller, an avid collector, approached us with Continued on page 3
GUSKE DOLLHOUSE — The Guske Dollhouse is a scale replica of a 1940 New York Victorian house, made by David Guske for his daughter, Nicole. Guske worked for two years on the house, using a picture he found in an architectural book he checked out from his local library as inspiration. Shown is Kristie Erickson, deputy executive director of The History Museum. Photo by Marissa Sweatland.
STUDEBAKER FAMILY DOLLHOUSE — Kristie Erickson looks at The Studebaker Dollhouse. It began as a toy barn for J.M. Studebaker III in 1910. Over two decades later, he had the barn converted and furnished as a dollhouse for his daughters, Mary and Lillian. Photo by Marissa Sweatland.
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