Mundelein man crafting model cathedrals

The most ordinary person can hide an extraordinary talent, as was the case with Polish immigrant Charles Warner of Mundelein.

In his retirement, Warner handcrafted five beautiful cathedral models in his home workshop.

Warner came to the United States in 1908, on his own, to escape from enlisting in the Russian Czar's army. He arrived at Ellis Island, and worked in Pittsburgh at a steel mill. After a short time, Warner made his way west, settling in Racine, Wis., where he truly began his new American life.

In 1922, Warner became a naturalized citizen, and the following year married Nellie Seymkewich, a Russian immigrant. The couple moved to Mundelein in 1924, where they rented a house on Prairie Avenue and had three children.

By then, Warner was working for American Steel Wire Mill in North Chicago. When the Depression hit in 1929, he lost his job, and a larger house he was planning to move his family into on Diamond Lake.

About 1932, Nellie divorced Charles, leaving him to raise their children.

During the tough times of the Depression, it was not uncommon for children to be placed in orphanages until a family got back on its feet. To his credit, Warner kept his children with him. He worked odd jobs, planted two large gardens to provide fresh produce, and had good neighbors who helped clothe and nurture the children.

Warner was hardworking and creative. He taught himself to read and write English, and taught his children to sing songs in Russian. He played the piano and encouraged his children to learn to play musical instruments, draw, and do puzzles.

Beginning in 1955, Warner did woodworking projects in his workshop behind the family home. He quickly turned his talent to building model cathedrals. He built five cathedrals, standing 3 to 5 feet tall, each taking one year to complete.

The colorful and intricately hand-carved folk art creations evoked Warner's memories of his childhood in the Old World and his Catholic upbringing. The models are considered folk art, since Warner had no formal training in the arts.

As far as we know, the models are not specific to any cathedral, but he painted them in bright colors emulating traditional Polish folk art.

Warner died in 1964, and in 1982 his daughters donated the cathedral models to the Lake County Discovery Museum. The cathedrals are on display, along with 100 historic postcard views of cathedrals from around the world, through Aug. 15, 2010.