Cleveland Miniaturia Displays are Featured at Rose Hill Museum

Cleveland Miniaturia Society members are loaning miniature rooms and furniture as part of a special display at Rose Hill Museum in Bay Village.

The display, which will run from June 3 through July 8, will coincide with the 49th annual Cahoon in June event on June 16 in Cahoon Memorial Park and with the 200th birthday celebration of Rose Hill Museum. The Cleveland Miniaturia Society will also be offering free appraisals of miniatures at Cahoon in June.

In 1971, Lakewood resident Carol Wenk placed an ad in the Cleveland Plain Dealer to see if she could find others interested in her hobby of collecting dollhouse miniatures. She was thrilled to receive two replies.

The club has had a dollhouse show for 47 years with exhibits, vendors, prizes and a raffle to benefit local charities. Its members have restored dollhouses for local institutions, taught classes at libraries, and exhibited at the Cuyahoga County Fair and at the Home and Garden Show.

In 1975, the club made miniature hospital rooms for Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital. The rooms were used as a teaching tool for children, prior to surgery or treatment.

In 1983, the society restored the Clague dollhouse for the Westlake Historical Society. It is now on display at the Porter Library.

In 2005, Paul Roman built a replica of the Herrick Child’s house, circa 1890 at 12th St. and Euclid Ave., from photos obtained from the historical society. The house was part of a fundraiser with proceeds donated to Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital. In 2011, Roman made a replica of the Christmas Story House and members decorated and made furnishings that replicated those in the famous house.

Two long-time members of the club, Karen Hochradel and Lynne Rice, are loaning miniature rooms and furniture for display at Rose Hill Museum. Hochradel purchased a German tin kitchen and furnished it with antique miniatures. Her other displays are a toy shop and a Victorian living room. She if fond of antique dolls and is often a vendor at area doll shows.

In 2017, each club member was given a room box to furnish. Hochradel made a laboratory, complete with skeleton. Rice filled her room box with furniture and accessories that she has made over the years. Everything in the room, except for chairs and pottery was handmade. Rice will also display a room with a nine-patch, hexagon quilt, and a bar quilt in one-inch-to-a-foot scale. Another member, Gloria Ebratt will display a room box based on “Little Women” by Louisa May Alcott.

Rose Hill Museum in Bay Village is open free of charge every Sunday from 2 to 4:30 p.m. Group tours can be arranged. The museum will also be open during Cahoon in June on June 16.