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WENDLER'S 101 MINIATURE HISTORIC BUILDINGS IN NAZARETH

Morning Call - Allentown, Pa. Author: ALYCE TEMPLETON (A free-lance story for The Morning Call)

Copyright Morning Call Apr 07, 1996

Alyce Templeton is a free-lance writer. If you have information to share through this column, please write to: Alyce J. Templeton c/o The Morning Call, 35 S. 3rd St., Easton, Pa. 18042. f

A unique one-man exhibit, "101 + Counting: Robert Wendler's Miniature Buildings," is being shown at the Whitefield House in Nazareth. The show continues through Oct. 13.

Organized by the Moravian Historical Society, the exhibits marks the first time that Wendler's entire collection of historic building models -- currently numbering 101 -- is on public display.

An opening reception in honor of Wendler will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. next Sunday in the Whitefield House in Nazareth. The public is invited and museum admission is free that day. Wendler's model buildings have been a favorite with Lehigh Valley audiences since he began constructing them in 1977. His first buildings were made shortly after his retirement from Laros Printery, and were to be used for a Christmas putz. As he continued his hobby, his goal became to create 40 buildings, 10 for each grandchild. After that, "I just kept on making them, that's all," he says. "This hobby is in my blood." Nineteen years later, Wendler has made almost 150 buildings, but he says, "I only count the ones that I keep in my collection. I don't count the ones I make for other people." His collection includes buildings from Bethlehem, Nazareth, Jacobsburg, Bath, Hellertown, and other area locations. Wendler researches carefully each building before he begins, frequently showing the structure as it looked originally or in the past. Some of his buildings no longer stand, and he used photographs or old drawings to construct them. Wendler exhibits select buildings annually at Nazareth's popular Arts and Crafts Festival in June and during December at Edgeboro Moravian Church in Bethlehem. He also demonstrates and talks about the history of the buildings to many groups and organizations each year. In addition to the April reception, other opportunities to "Meet the Maker" at the exhibit are scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 8 and July 13 and at a gallery talk 2 p.m. Sept. 22. The public can meet Wendler and inquire about his hobby or the buildings.

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