Craftsman's magic on display at Lake Co. Discovery Museum

After nearly 30 years on the shelf, a working man's compelling vision of home again is on public display.

"Charles Warner's Cathedrals" were donated to the Lake County Discovery Museum in 1982. After a brief display around that time, the collection of five hand-carved interpretations has not been seen in its entirety since.

The special exhibition, which is on display until Aug. 15, showcases the work of Charles Warner, an immigrant from Prussia who settled in Mundelein. A carpenter by trade, the elaborately detailed pieces were his way of remembering his homeland.

"Even for woodworkers, they're fascinating," said Diana Dretske, collections coordinator for the museum in the Lakewood Forest Preserve near Wauconda.

"It was his idea of passing on heritage to his children."

After coming to the United States in the early 20th Century, Warner worked as a carpenter at American Steel and Wire Co. in North Chicago.

Warner continued woodworking in retirement.

"He started out doing bird houses," Dretske said. "They got very elaborate. He joked the birds should pay rent."

Beginning in about 1955 through 1963, Warner concentrated on building elaborate cathedrals recalling his childhood memories of Europe. Using a pocket knife known as a Jack Knife and a jigsaw, he carved detailed models of cathedrals ranging from 3 to 5 feet high.

Each is illuminated and elaborately painted.

"He didn't base them on a specific cathedral but there's a sense of perspective," Dretske said.

"He also did the interiors. There are little doors. If you peek inside, there are pews and he made it look like stained glass."

Warner died in 1964. The models were donated to the museum by his daughter, Lucille, in 1982. The entire collection was on display only briefly, although one of the models was out for viewing for some time.

The decision to reintroduce the body of work was made after exhibits manager Steve Furnett noticed the models in storage.

"We get really excited when we can get more of the items out on exhibit," Dretske said. Unfortunately, no remaining family members could be located, she added.

To compliment Warner's folk art, the museum will display more than 100 postcards from the Curt Teich Postcard Archives featuring Old World cathedrals such as Notre-Dame de Paris and S. Basil's in Moscow. New World cathedrals, such as Holy Name in Chicago, also are included.

The Discovery Museum is in Lakewood, at Route 176 and Fairfield Road. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $6 for adults, $2.50 for youths up to 17 and free for those 3 and under. A discount coupon is available on the Web site.

Cost of the cathedral exhibit is included in museum admission. Call (847) 367-6640 or visit lcfpd.org.