SIPS OF SPRING

Mother’s Day Tea and other events welcome season to Lake County History Center

The upcoming Mother’s Day Tea, set for May 13 at the Lake County History Center in Painesville Township, will provide a great chance to check out both old and new at the 1874 center, originally built as the County Home.

In addition to tea, scones and light sandwiches, it’s framed around the world of dolls and miniatures, showcasing several dollhouses among the most beloved of the center’s exhibits.

Women and their favorite girls will gather dressed in their Sunday best from 1 to 3 p.m. that Saturday. They’ll hear miniaturist Susan Louis tell of her hobby of making and arranging miniature household pieces for dollhouses and creating rooms.

The popularity of miniatures peaked in the 1970s when Louis herself became interested.

“That’s when I wandered into the former Betty’s Beads in Mentor and happened on a publication called ‘Diminutiques,’ about making miniatures,” she said. “I started making them and was soon hooked.”

After retiring last year from a 40-year career in nursing, Louis doubled up with her miniature lathe and saw in her basement and made even more miniatures. She also became more intensely involved as a volunteer at the History Center.

“I think the attraction of miniatures is finding or making furniture you wish you could have in life-size,” she said.

Although the tiny chairs, tables, beds and other furnishings she makes don’t have to be engineered to bear weight, the process for making them is similar to that used in furniture making.

The Lake County History Center has a dollhouse room presided over by the collection of Doris Martin of Mentor, who is 93.

“It has thousands of pieces,” Louis said.

To prepare for the spring exhibition, the longtime History Center volunteer cleaned and catalogued every item in that collection.

In her Mother’s Day Tea presentation, Louis will show off some of her own creations and talk about famous doll houses such as Colleen Moore’s “Fairy Castle,” which is on display at the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry. That dollhouse has recently undergone a $200,000 renovation.

Thanks to the hard work of many volunteers, the History Center itself has been transformed from a dilapidated old 30,000-square-foot building into a showplace for history. Those who haven’t been to the History Center in a while will discover a newly installed elevator and many expensive upgrades.

“We’ve now been here 10 years,” said Operations Director Kathie Purmal, noting the Society has served Lake County from other locations for 80 years. “Unfortunately a series of personnel changes and cashflow setback have positioned the Lake County Historical Society to dig deep and work hard to assure the next 10 years.”

Purmal retired two years ago as the Society’s executive director, but was rehired this month after Executive Director Mazie Adams resigned. Personnel changes also included the expiration of several terms among board members, so the Society is reaching out to learn about community members who may be interested in the work.

Although Purmal’s recent years have been spent traveling to visit children and grandchildren along with recovering from surgery, she’s back for good in Mentor. She has deep ties in the community and is working to build Board membership and hear ideas to direct strategic planning for the

Lake County Historical Society. .

The Center’s attic houses thousands of community artifacts under climate-controlled conditions. A large barn adjacent to the Center has become a rental facility, complete with serving counters and stage. The historic village behind the center continues to attract thousands of second through fourth graders across the region to learn about life in the Ohio frontier.

The Lake County Historical Society uses it own buildings for events but also reaches out into the community for events such as its Spring Dine Around, which presents programs on different aspects of county history.

The next Dine Around is May 17 at Pickle Bill’s in Grand River, where a program about the 193637 Great Lake Exposition will be presented. The Exposition drew 7 million visitors to Cleveland to experience the latest technology and experience the culture of 40 countries.

The Center’s own Heritage Hall, where the Mother’s Day Tea will take place, is also the setting for its annual meeting and wine reception at 5:30 p.m. May 18. The community is invited to explore the opening of several new exhibits, including a celebration of the 160th anniversary of John Rich Jewelers and an extensive exhibit about 19th century medicine.

SUBMITTED A fully decorated Christmas room, right, is a highlight of one of the dollhouses to be showcased during the Mother’s Day Tea at the Lake County History Center.