Dollhouse:Miller Manor Farm

In the early 1980s, retired engineer Bob Miller and his wife Tina of Cooperstown, New York, stumbled upon a show of miniatures hobbyists. Captivated by the hobby, the Millers spent the next 16 years creating their 24-room Miller Manor Farm, a dollhouse that is nearly 7 feet long and 4 feet high. The couple used the traditional 1 inch equals 1 foot scale and found many furnishings for their project. What manufactured funrishings they lacked, they made themselves. ". . . Innovation proved our most valuable tool," Mrs. Miller has said. Having finished the 24-room house, the Miller's project continued to grow. They added a barn with worker's apartment, stables, tack room, hay loft, and barnyard and animals. They situated the buildings on a 16 ft.-by-8 ft. platform that allowed space for landscaping, gardens, trees, and pond. They devised alterations for summer and winter scenes that includes a skating rink in winter amid lavish Christmas decorations and a summer scene that invites toy sailboats, a bonfire, and a birthday celebration. Mrs. Miller said of her creation: "Since it is our first attempt at miniatures, we continue the learning process. Our project proves that anyone with patience and imagination can create."