Building local landmarks in miniature

PLATTSBURGH | With an eye for detail and skill for building, Joyce Bertoli decided to revisit a pastime from years ago. A retired teacher, Bertoli taught Home & Career Skills at Peru Central School. In between teaching posts, she opened The Dollhouse Shop on Margaret Street to share her enthusiasm for creating model homes "I had done the college shows for years, and I always enjoyed crafting," the local hobbyist said in a visit with The Sun. She sold accessories in miniature for dollhouse designs, some she made and some she selected from retail collections. As part of her hobby, Bertoli built "Room Boxes" as special orders for people who wanted to remember the facade of a childhood home or the room they grew up in. Protected behind glass and framed, Bertoli said the miniature still-life replicas were some of her favorite projects. A few years ago, she was drawn to create replicas of local places beloved by community, historic in some unique way. Her first model was the Old Stone Barracks, now Valcour Brewing Company. Working at 1/12 scale, she created a model of the region's first military quarters, complete with white porch rails cut from dowels, hand-painted masonry and artillery with pyramids of cannonballs. The miniature, albeit five-feet-long, is on display at Valcour Brewing, a gift to the owner, Mary T. Pearl. A love of Michigan hot dogs brought Bertoli to the next project, which was completed last summer. "I love the Michigans at Clare & Carl's," Bertoli said. "So I've been a frequent customer. That gave me lots of opportunity to study and appreciate the uniqueness of the structure. Time has only added value to its historical appeal." When the local hot dog stand opens next spring, it will enter its 82nd year. Over time, the building has leaned gracefully into its footing beside Route 9. On stops for Michigans, Bertoli said she started to envision the famed roadside eatery in miniature. And that involved asking permission from the owners and taking pictures from all sides. "I took dozens of pictures of each and every detail," the craftswoman said. "The fact that the main structure is sinking into the ground makes it more engaging, but also created a challenge to build." Working by eye, Bertoli set about cutting wood, gathering materials and painting small versions of outdoor signs that give Clare & Carl's so much character. Bertoli laughed, pointing to the seagulls perched on the peak of the replica's roof. "There's the famous sign warning patrons not to feed them." Built to look like an "outhouse" building, the restrooms are marked "Gents" and "Ladies." The wooden doors were made with inset panels, white paint antiqued expertly to achieve a classic weathered look. Bertoli even captured smudged scuff marks at the bottom of the car-hops' exit door, tell-tale signs of nudging the door open with the tip of a shoe. "Aging of materials and incorporating the repairs they've made through the years was also important," Bertoli said of capturing the details. Rooftop shingles on the Clare & Carl's miniature look like they've seen a few seasons of Lake Champlain's offshore wind. The gate enclosing space between the stand and the restrooms is affixed with strap hinges. Bertoli even replicated the electrical panel tucked inside that space. The glass block front is captured in paint, edged with red scalloped fascia that reaches around the building. A row of low hedges surround the foundation. The bold red TEXAS RED HOTS sign stretches its measured length across the roof, while chains for the placard out front dangle unattached as if the summer season has ended. Bertoli builds the models in what is usually the dining room in her Plattsburgh townhouse. The table is covered with protective plastic to keep crafting muddle off the furniture. She built the miniature Clare & Carl's on a wide wooden stand to make it more movable. "I just really enjoy the process of building in miniature," Bertoli said. "Once I get started, I won't stop until it's finished. The pleasure I've received building these models is immeasurable." The plan is to display the Clare & Carl's model alongside the Old Stone Barracks model at Valcour Brewing Co. Asked if she had another project in mind, Bertoli raised an eyebrow. Quiet and unpretentious, she smiled. "I might," she said.

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Building local landmarks in miniature

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