GOCHC hosts The Miniature World of Cathrine Rowe

  • Cathrine Rowe began building the dollhouse in 1978 and created the majority of the miniatures inside, alongside buying some from miniature conventions that she used to attend.
    Cathrine Rowe began building the dollhouse in 1978 and created the majority of the miniatures inside, alongside buying some from miniature conventions that she used to attend.
  • Barbara Rowe reminisces about her mother’s miniature creations and expresses appreciation for the preservation of her mother’s work.
    Barbara Rowe reminisces about her mother’s miniature creations and expresses appreciation for the preservation of her mother’s work.
  • A miniature model of a “Townhouse in the City”. On the backside is a model of a room.
    A miniature model of a “Townhouse in the City”. On the backside is a model of a room.
  • Wanda Millans shows off Cathrine Rowe’s memory book that preserves the thought and design process for the dollhouse and multiple miniature rooms.
    Wanda Millans shows off Cathrine Rowe’s memory book that preserves the thought and design process for the dollhouse and multiple miniature rooms.
  • Wanda Millans gives David Wells a tour of Cathrine Rowe’s dollhouse inspired by Colonial Williamsburg.
    Wanda Millans gives David Wells a tour of Cathrine Rowe’s dollhouse inspired by Colonial Williamsburg.

    Georgia’s Old Capital Heritage Center at the Depot, Inc. (GOCHC) hosted The Miniature World of Cathrine Rowe opening reception April 27, at the Brown-Stetson-Sanford House.

    The Brown-Stetson-Sanford House is a historic home that is owned by GOCHC and acts as a museum and event space.

    Inside the home, multiple miniature story boxes and a large dollhouse can be found that were created by Cathrine Rowe.

    Cathrine Rowe is the mother of Barbara Rowe, who is the wife of Georgia College & State University’s historian Dr. Bob Wilson.

    While raising two children and working until retirement, Cathrine Rowe found creative outlets in sewing, knitting, needlework, stained glass, and various art projects to fill her free time.

    However, it wasn’t until the late 1970s that Rowe became fascinated with miniatures.

    A miniature is a small-scale reproduction, or a small version of something larger.

    For Rowe, many of her miniatures mimicked childhood stories, homes, and real locations. Her interest also expanded to working alongside other enthusiasts and attending miniature conventions through the Central Pennsylvania Society of Miniature Enthusiasts.

    In 1978, Cathrine Rowe began creating her dream dollhouse modeled on the real houses she admired during many visits to Colonial Williamsburg.

    According to her daughter, when the dollhouse was complete there was no space to create another large miniature, so Rowe began to make miniature room boxes instead.

    Rowe made a total of 80 room scenes and about 32 were donated to GOCHC by Barbara Rowe, along with the dollhouse. According to Barbara, the miniatures were created through a mix of her mother’s personal work and miniatures she bought at conventions.

    Barbara expressed that her mother always had an eye when looking at miniatures for sale and was always excited to find something she loved.

    “Women in that time grew up with dolls and everything my mother had at the time was built,” said Barbara Rowe. “I think creating miniatures, especially the dollhouse, may have been a way for her to revisit her childhood.”

    During the reception, a large crowd gathered and toured the many miniature rooms scattered on the first and second floors of the Brown-Stetson-Sanford House.

    Many guests discussed their favorites amongst the rooms though the eye-catcher was the larger dollhouse lit on the second floor.

    “My mother stopped making miniatures around 2013 and often would joke about what we would do with them once she was gone,” said Barbara Rowe. “I am happy to have my mother’s memory memorialized and used to teach the youth of Baldwin County.”

    Georgia’s Old Capital Heritage Center at the Depot, Inc. hosts multiple events at the Brown-Stetson-Sanford House that include retelling of stories using Rowe’s work. The small boxes also act as another memory to be added to the grander history of one of Baldwin County’s historic homes. To schedule a time to see Cathrine Rowe’s work or learn more about the home, contact GOCHC at 478-453-1803.