The New Water Feature
FINALLY…I found the right bits and pieces to create a well proportioned water feature in the center of town! The pool is the plastic end cap of a mailing tube. The Realistic Water took a few thin applications to get the realistic effect. I am really pleased! I am always looking for features that will work in a 1912 town, and “used and cheap” are my favorite things!
The Opera
I don’t know how this did not get posted, but it adds some interest after the holidays. In the 30+ years I have collected Preiser HO scale figures for Oak Valley, I never had seen this group of bridesmaids and groomsmen. I purchased them online (used) right before Christmas 2017. Since all are dressed in formal clothing, I just added a little glam to the women’s evening dresses. The minister was moved to the Protestant church.
The Green Taxi
I love finding previously owned figures at bargain prices. I had to do a little construction, and painted the cab dark “Thicket” green with antique gold seat and wheel spokes. What would have cost $35+ new, I got for $14.00!
The Carousel
This is why I save jar lids and bottle tops! It’s not perfect, but I enjoyed using cheap horses which had been in a drawer for years, and combining them with odds and ends to make a new feature for the town. It appears rather large, but it is because the original buildings are smaller than HO Scale. I think I’ll bring the carousel out now and then.
Naperville, Illinois – the inspiration for Oak Valley
Our New England ancestors arrived in Naperville (a small town near Chicago) in 1833. At that time, it was a farming community, but the evangelical college had just relocated to Naperville. It was at the college where our great-grandparents, Guy and Nannie, met and fell in love. I have great fondness for several small towns of my ancestral towns, but for Oak Valley, I needed a flat terrain with snow.
Naperville has a river, and Oak Valley only has a stream. In his diary, our great-grandfather, Guy, mentions taking Nannie for a buggy ride to see a hill, because she was so homesick for the hills and mountains of East Tennessee.
The Johnson Family
Oak Valley is an imaginary small town in northeast Illinois in 1912, and I like to believe that in 1912 there was a small, but growing, black middle class in Oak Valley. All manufactures of HO scale figures include black and Asian figures. Early 1900s figures are becoming scarce, and there are NO black figures in this era. I have “converted” several individual figures over the years, but always longed for a middle class African American family for Oak Valley. I need a little more practice with color, but hope to have more AA residents in the future. I took this photo in the middle of town, so it is fairly dark. Here’s an image of the daughter, Emeline. 
After The Funeral
For awhile, I have been considering a patio in the church yard, and I just painted it under the existing tree, and added a drive into the yard. I really like the added color and dimension. 
Mr. Miller’s Ambush
I enjoy seeing the transformation when a new citizen is placed in a natural situation. Poor Mr. Miller is chopping firewood, unaware that he’s about to be pounded with snowballs. They remind me of the boys in the neighborhood where I grew up!
The Fountain
The Fountain is the result of a boring Saturday night, when I decided to wreak havoc to the traffic patterns of Oak Valley. I save bottle and jar lids, just in case I find a use for them. I just messed around with lid sizes and colors, and did a little painting. I will look for a more historically accurate Oak Valley “Founding Father” statue, because this part of Illinois was not settled by white people until the early 1830s. I hope to update soon!
Just stopping by to say that I have ordered a small bottle of Woodland Scenic’s new Realistic Water in blue. The large bottle was ridiculously expensive for the little bit that I need. I look forward to trying it out. Since the fountain is made from bottle caps, I don’t have much to lose! When you next visit, I hope it will be in place.
Mounted Policeman in the Park
Below is the original Mounted Police photograph. Scroll below to see the difference with the new (2015) background!
Last Minute Christmas Shopping
Busy corner filled with last minute shoppers on Christmas Eve. Merry Christmas, Everyone!
Miss Mamie Stepping Lively
Miss Mamie is one of the group of physically challenged Woodland Scenics figures. Mamie was an ugly white lady with a knee length plaid skirt and sweater. I thought she needed a little more dignity, with a nice blue jacket and black skirt. I’m still struggling with the best method to lengthen a skirt. Currently, I am using multiple coats of Elmer’s Glue. It can’t be anything with texture, because texture in this scale would not be visible to the naked eye. If anyone has a better idea, let me know!
Catching the Streetcar
It’s been awhile since I’ve featured this scene, and I needed to see it with the “new” background. 
Mr. Schueler the Accordion Player
It’s always fun when Mr. Schueler entertains the diners at the outdoor cafe! Thank goodness for the unseasonably mild weather!
Mr. Schueler
The Sandwich Board
I love finding little people and elements to make scenes more interesting. Mr. Miller’s seasonal job.
Holiday Street Fair
The street fair has been fun, with residents coming in from around town. I love finding a place for unexpected characters, like Dr. Davis doctoring dolls and teddy bears.
Oak Valley, a Miniature Town in 1912 