A one-of-a-kind dollhouse begun by G. Wesley Kessler of Marshall, Missouri, was donated to the Fitzgibbon Hospital in support of fundraising efforts to bring a new cancer wing to the community medical facility. It is a Duracraft Victorian VH600 kit with some structural changes (like the addition of the curved staircase). Mr. Kessler built most of the wood furniture in the house from House of Miniatures kits.

AUCTION: SAT AUGUST 26, 2006
1st United Methodist Church Community Center
25 East Arrow, Marshall, MO 65340

Norma Jeane Ferguson and Kathie Bennett completed the construction of the house -- using carpentry, painting, bricklaying, wallpaper hanging, computer graphics, and needlework skills -- and added many details to complete it.

The Marshall Writers Guild members are creating a little history of some of the imaginery family members who have populated the house over the years. We're planning to make a scrapbook of the writings to stay with the house.

The hospital auxilliary plans to auction the dollhouse the end of August. Norma Jeane and I are hoping an angel will appear to buy the house and then turn around and donate it back to the hospital so it can go on permanent display in the cancer wing waiting room for the enjoyment of those who will be spending many hours there.

(UPDATE 29 AUG 2006: The house sold for $4,000 to a local family, whose members are, indeed, donating it to the hospital for permanent display! It's just too good to be true!!)

And we would be named as housekeepers, of course! *big grin*

Mr. and Mrs. G. Wesley Kessler donated the unfinished dollhouse and much of the furnishings to the Fitzgibbon Hospital in support of fundraising efforts for the new cancer treatment wing. They are shown here with the finished dollhouse.

facility. It is a Duracraft Victorian VH600 kit with some structural changes (like the addition of the curved staircase). Mr. Kessler built most of the wood furniture in the house from House of Miniatures kits.

AUCTION: SAT AUGUST 26, 2006
1st United Methodist Church Community Center
25 East Arrow, Marshall, MO 65340

Norma Jeane Ferguson and Kathie Bennett completed the construction of the house -- using carpentry, painting, bricklaying, wallpaper hanging, computer graphics, and needlework skills -- and added many details to complete it.

The Marshall Writers Guild members are creating a little history of some of the imaginery family members who have populated the house over the years. We're planning to make a scrapbook of the writings to stay with the house.

The hospital auxilliary plans to auction the dollhouse the end of August. Norma Jeane and I are hoping an angel will appear to buy the house and then turn around and donate it back to the hospital so it can go on permanent display in the cancer wing waiting room for the enjoyment of those who will be spending many hours there.

(UPDATE 29 AUG 2006: The house sold for $4,000 to a local family, whose members are, indeed, donating it to the hospital for permanent display! It's just too good to be true!!)

And we would be named as housekeepers, of course! *big grin*

Mr. and Mrs. G. Wesley Kessler donated the unfinished dollhouse and much of the furnishings to the Fitzgibbon Hospital in support of fundraising efforts for the new cancer treatment wing. They are shown here with the finished dollhouse.

The overall dimensions of the house are approximately 21 x 41 x 36. The shingles were individuall applied by Mr. Kessler. Painting and brickwork was done by Norma Jeane Ferguson and Kathie Bennett, aka the Number One Ladies Construction and Interior Design Company.

aka the Number One Ladies Construction and Interior Design Company.

The living room is part of the "original" house, built in the 1890s. It retains its Victorian style, yet it has been updated with a 1950s-era telephone. A portrait of Dr. John Fitzgibbon hangs in a place of honor above the fireplace. The floor, which was laid board-by-board by Mr. Kessler, gleams with six coats of varnish.

place of honor above the fireplace. The floor, which was laid board-by-board by Mr. Kessler, gleams with six coats of varnish.

The crystal chandelier is the highlight of the dining room. All of the furniture in this room was hand-built by Mr. Kessler. The tablecloth was handmade by Norma Jeane Ferguson.

In the make-believe lives of the family who live in the house, the kitchen was remodeled in the late 1940s or early 1950s. Tiny cannisters contain tea, pepper, salt, and sweetener.

The master bedroom bed is the highlight of this room. It was built by Mr. Kessler. Norma Jeane Ferguson dressed the bed with a quilt made by Mr. Kessler's sister-in-law and added her own touch: the matching pillow cases.

matching pillow cases.

The stairwell is lighted by a second crystal chandelier. The wallpaper is a fleur-de-lis pattern. Kathie Bennett, who moved to Marshall from New Orleans with her family, found this pattern.

The quilt on the bed was made by Mr. Kessler's sister-in-law. The sculpture on the dresser is an original piece by artist Lloyd Bennett. The photos in the little frame on the dresser are Norma Jeane Ferguson and Kathie Bennett, who completed the house and furnishings.

Ferguson and Kathie Bennett, who completed the house and furnishings.

The sitting room was added to the house when the kitchen was remodeled in the 1940s. A portrait of John Marshall, for whom the town of Marshall is named, hangs on the wall. Two more original sculptures by Lloyd Bennett are displayed in this room.

sculptures by Lloyd Bennett are displayed in this room.

This room was added to the house when the kitchen was remodeled. A lovely, sunny room, it is perfect for a little botanical conservatory maintained by a family member.

The aunt who uses this bedroom has a green thumb as well as skills as a seamstress and needleworker.

As with many old houses, the attic tells its own stories about the family who lives here. Especially note the little rolls of leftover wallpaper, window screens, old newspapers (bundled and used for insulation on the roof), and the blue star mother's flag.

insulation on the roof), and the blue star mother's flag.