MONROE - There is a version of history in Don Pfister's living room.
The 80-year-old self-described amateur woodworker and carpenter has created replicas of churches in Green and Lafayette counties. He's made five churches since he started his hobby about two years ago. Detailed models of the West Wiota Lutheran Church, East Wiota Lutheran Church, Jordan Lutheran Church, Yellowstone Church and Grace Lutheran Church sit on a table in his house.
He selected some of the churches based on their appearance, Pfister said. He built the East Wiota Lutheran Church for sentimental reasons.
"That's where I went to church when I was a little boy," he said.
He showed a picture of a church event from 1935, and pointed to a little boy among a group of church members.
"That one is me," he said with a laugh. "You probably need a magnifying glass to see me."
Older churches are special in the way they were built and in the way they look, he said. Pfister particularly likes churches made of rock or brick. They're different than the churches made of wood.
They all have something in common besides rock or brick.
"These churches are part of our history," he said.
Photographs, some he took and others he's only seen, helped him recreate the churches. After Pfister takes a picture, he draws them on a piece of paper and then sets to work cutting out the design in his wood shop. Each replica took about three months to make.
"It's fun but it's a challenge, too," he said. "You have to have both sides of the church the same."
The pieces of the churches are put together like a model. The finished churches are about the size of a shoe box. His replica of Grace Lutheran Church, Monroe, was on display at the church for a few weeks.
Most of the work was done when it was too cold to be outside.
"It's a good winter project," he said.
The finished church buildings are sort of a historical record, he said. The West Wiota Lutheran Church burned down about 20 years ago. Pfister's church is a reminder of how it looked.
Generations can look at the churches he builds to get an idea of what the they looked like, he said.
"I hope these last a long time."
The 80-year-old self-described amateur woodworker and carpenter has created replicas of churches in Green and Lafayette counties. He's made five churches since he started his hobby about two years ago. Detailed models of the West Wiota Lutheran Church, East Wiota Lutheran Church, Jordan Lutheran Church, Yellowstone Church and Grace Lutheran Church sit on a table in his house.
He selected some of the churches based on their appearance, Pfister said. He built the East Wiota Lutheran Church for sentimental reasons.
"That's where I went to church when I was a little boy," he said.
He showed a picture of a church event from 1935, and pointed to a little boy among a group of church members.
"That one is me," he said with a laugh. "You probably need a magnifying glass to see me."
Older churches are special in the way they were built and in the way they look, he said. Pfister particularly likes churches made of rock or brick. They're different than the churches made of wood.
They all have something in common besides rock or brick.
"These churches are part of our history," he said.
Photographs, some he took and others he's only seen, helped him recreate the churches. After Pfister takes a picture, he draws them on a piece of paper and then sets to work cutting out the design in his wood shop. Each replica took about three months to make.
"It's fun but it's a challenge, too," he said. "You have to have both sides of the church the same."
The pieces of the churches are put together like a model. The finished churches are about the size of a shoe box. His replica of Grace Lutheran Church, Monroe, was on display at the church for a few weeks.
Most of the work was done when it was too cold to be outside.
"It's a good winter project," he said.
The finished church buildings are sort of a historical record, he said. The West Wiota Lutheran Church burned down about 20 years ago. Pfister's church is a reminder of how it looked.
Generations can look at the churches he builds to get an idea of what the they looked like, he said.
"I hope these last a long time."