• Home
  • About
  • Living Simply
  • Life & Living
  • Travel
    • Our Trips
  • Movies
  • Home & Garden
    • House Tours
  • Entertaining & Holidays
  • In the Kitchen
    • Recipes
  • Archives
  • Contact
ouremptynest

living simply ♥ simply living well

winner

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
05 Feb 2023

Our Trips

When in Dover, Don’t Miss This

Sometimes the most amazing treasures can be found right in your own backyard.

Hand-carved, Great Northern steam engine by Ernest Warther.

Hand-carved, Great Northern steam engine—Ernest Warther considered this his finest work.

Case in point . . . the Warther Museum in Dover, Ohio is one of those one-tank trips that, for us, is so easy to take and so easy to miss if you’re not looking for it.

Warther Museum
330 Karl Avenue
Dover, Ohio 44622
(330) 343-7513
Open 7 days a week
9AM – 5PM / Last tour starts 3:45PM
website | facebook
Detail of hand-carved Great Northern steam engine. (Photo: Warther Museum)

Family-owned and operated, the museum houses Ernest Warther’s extensive arrowhead collection, handmade knives, and stunning miniature replicas of steam engines that Warther hand carved from walnut, ebony, and ivory.

If you love trains, you will love this!

Warther’s steam engines are spectacular. They are built-to-scale models, each with thousands of intricate pieces, that are exact in every detail. All operate mechanically just like real engines. Parts and pistons are visible, wheels move, and every piece, no matter how small—even the tiniest rivet—was carved and put into place by hand. The carvings are considered “priceless works of art” by the Smithsonian.

Though he received handsome offers for his work, Warther chose not to sell anything. Instead, he made kitchen cutlery to support his family and continued carving as a hobby. He and his wife, Freida, were content to live in their little house with their five children and lead a simple life.

Ernest Warther with his son, Dave, circa 1929. (Photo: Warther Museum)Ernest “Mooney” Warther was born in 1885. At age five, he met a hobo who showed him how to carve a working pair of pliers out of a single block of wood with just ten simple cuts. That day triggered Warther’s 79-year passion for carving. Read more

Engine front.We didn’t know what to expect.
We were on our way home from a long weekend in nearby Walnut Creek, and we knew there was a train museum in Dover. Sounded interesting, but we had never heard of Ernest Warther—have you?—and sometimes small, obscure museums turn out to be nothing more than rooms filled with memorabilia that are of no interest to anyone but the immediate family. That’s not the case here.

A Visit to the Warther Museum

Super-sized version of signature wooden pliers on front of building.

On the front left of the building is a super-sized version of Ernest Warther’s signature wooden pliers. Warther made thousands of wooden pliers that were so popular they became his calling card. The wooden pliers on the building form a perfect W for Warther.

The Warther Museum sits atop a hill in Dover, Ohio at the edge of town. A main parking lot is behind the building near the museum’s entrance. We followed the road in front of the building down to additional parking and an area that had once been a playground for Warther’s children.

The Playground

Newlyweds in 1910, Ernest and Freida Warther had virtually no money. They bought a small plot of land, which had been part of an old millstream, and built terraced walls to create a flat surface on higher ground for their home and Warther’s workshop. Warther then converted the hillside and lower millstream area, referred to as “Calico Ditch,” into a playground for his children and their friends.
Ernest Warther hauling stone for the steps up to his workshop. (Photo: Warther Museum)

Kids from all around town came to play. There was a cave in the wall and a swing hung from a high branch of a huge Elm tree in such a way that, for a kid swinging on the hillside, it felt like flying.

The hillside is park-like . . . quiet, shaded, and restful . . . with dappled sunlight peeking through the old trees.

The grassy lower level where Warther built the playground for this children was once an old millstream.

The lower parking lot is adjacent to the grassy area where Warther built the playground for his children. Through the trees, you can see the Warther home at the top of the hill.

It’s only appropriate that the playground area should have a restored telegraph office, B&O caboose, and a narrow gauge “yard” engine where small children can play and pretend to drive a train.

Restored Dover, Ohio telegraph office.

The Dover, Ohio telegraph office, restored to the late 1800’s, has real working telegraph equipment and is filled with railroad paraphernalia.

Restored B&O caboose.

The B&O caboose is restored to the Roaring 20’s era.

Narrow gauge train engine.

Narrow gauge “yard” engine where small children can play and pretend to drive a train.

Cave in the wall at Warther Museum. (Photo: Olivia and Fred Harrington)We missed it, but it’s worth seeing
Though most of the original playground is gone, a cave Warther built for his children to use as a playhouse still exists. It’s located in the wall in the hillside under the workshop and Swiss flower garden.

Warm welcome from the Warther family.

From the lower parking level there is nowhere to go, but up. A warm welcome from the Warther family greets you.

Ernest Warther's original workshop framed between the trees.
Warther home at the top of the hill.

On the way up, you can stand on a certain stone to see Ernest Warther’s original workshop framed between the trunks of two trees. It’s a photo op with a posted sign marking the spot. Stone steps continue up the terraced hillside to the house and gardens.

At the top of the hill, looking down on the playground.

At the top of the hill, looking down on the playground.

The Warther Home

The home where Ernest and Frieda Warther lived for 63 years and raised five children sits at the top of the hill on a narrow lot at the very dead end of a residential street. Warther began building the two-story house himself in 1910 using locally-made burned bricks. It took him two years to finish.

Rear entrance of the Warther home. (Photo: Warther Museum)

Rear entrance of the Warther home with Freida Warther’s vine-covered Button House [on left], the grape arbor, [on right] and Swiss flower gardens [foreground]. (Photo: Warther Museum)

Living room in the Warther home.We missed it, but it’s worth seeing
We had arrived late in the afternoon and didn’t have time to step inside, but the house is open for public viewing and its rooms have been restored to their former glory.

Rear porch with swing. (Photo: Warther Museum)

Imagine sitting on the porch swing in the summertime. Bliss. (Photo: Warther Museum)

The Button House

Freida Warther’s Button House is a small brick building directly behind the Warther’s home. A totally unexpected surprise . . . it appears that Freida, like her husband, was also a gifted artist.

Sign at the Button House tells how, when, and why it was built.

Sign at the Button House tells how, when, and why it was built. There are signs everywhere that explain what you are seeing. The signs make for an interesting, informative self-guided tour.

If you love mandalas, you will love this!

Walls and ceiling of the small building are completely covered with quilt patterns, mandalas, and other unique designs Freida created using buttons from her life-long collection.

Inside Frieda Warther's Button House.

Inside Freida Warther’s Button House.

Freida began collecting buttons when she was ten years old and amassed over 100,000 in her lifetime. She had just about every type of button including hand-painted ceramic, Goodyear rubber, pearl, brass military, celluloid, calico, and even a button from Mrs. Lincoln’s Inaugural dress.

Freida Warther at work with her buttons. (Photo: Warther Museum)
Freida Warther at work with her buttons. (Photo: Warther Museum)

After her children were grown, Freida laid the buttons out in traditional quilt patterns and her own unique designs. She then sewed each button onto the panels by hand.

Inside Freida Warther's Button House.

Tools Freida Warther used to create her button designs.

The collection is visually stunning and impressive. Over 73,000 buttons are on display. Freida arranged the buttons by color, shape, and size in elaborate patterns. It is astonishing just how intricate the patterns are.

Tools she used are also on display. Nothing fancy here . . . which makes Freida’s work all the more amazing.

Each button was sewn on by hand. (Photo: The Little Red Hen)

Each button was sewn on by hand. (Photo: The Little Red Hen)

The Grape Arbor and Gardens

Across from the Button House and nestled in a quiet corner of the flower garden is a grape arbor. Ernest Warther built it in 1916.

The Button House, the Warther home, grape arbor, and garden . . . lovely. (Photo: Living Our Dream)

The Button House, the Warther home, grape arbor, and garden . . . lovely. (Photo: Living Our Dream)

Grape arbor. (Photo: Warther Museum)

The arbor’s lush Concord grapevine is over 90 years old and provides
a beautiful canopy for visitors. (Photo: Warther Museum)

In addition to collecting buttons, Freida was an avid gardener who loved to make arrangements with the flowers she grew. She designed her gardens in traditional Swiss raised beds and converted the subsoil into topsoil using her own organic gardening techniques. The gardens are still being maintained by the Warther family in the same manner.

The Swiss gardens. Grape arbor. (Photo: Warther Museum)

Gardens at the top of the hill overlooking the lower playground and parking area. (Photo: Warther Museum)

The Workshop

Built in 1912, Warther’s workshop is located directly down the walkway from his home. It is a small, unassuming white building—just 8-feet by 10-feet—with green trim and a brick chimney. A side porch overlooks the terraced hillside and grassy area below where the playground once was.

The original workshop is now adjacent to the Warther Museum. (Photo: Living Our Dream)

The original workshop is now adjacent to the Warther Museum. (Photo: Living Our Dream)

When Warther built his workshop in 1912, he said he “stopped whittling and started carving.” He had been making canes and wooden pliers and felt that was whittling; making steam engines was carving.

Warther hand-carved everything—he never used power tools of any kind. When he couldn’t find a knife to suit his carving needs, he made his own. When his carving knives would not stay sharp, he invented one with interchangeable blades. Eventually, his knife making evolved into Warther Cutlery, which is the family’s current business.

Ernest Warther with his children in his workshop. (Photo: Warther Museum)

Ernest Warther with his children in his workshop.
(Photo: Warther Museum)

Warther's workbench, just as he left it. (Photo: Ohio Festivals)

Warther’s workshop, just as he left it . . . with his many chisels, carving knives, and an unfinished locomotive sitting on his workbench. (Photo: Ohio Festivals)

Ernest and Freida spent many Sunday afternoons taking long walks looking for American Indian arrowheads and artifacts. They had ultimately amassed over 5,000 pieces, most of which were found in Ohio. On display in the workshop are many of the arrowheads Warther collected while hiking with Freida. They are arranged in patterns much the same as Freida’s buttons.

Framed displays of the Warther arrowhead collection cover walls and ceiling in the original workshop. (Photo: Ohio Festivals)

Framed displays of the Warther arrowhead collection cover walls and ceiling in the original workshop.
(Photo: Ohio Festivals)

Warther Museum

In 1963, Warther’s son Dave built a building adjoining the original workshop to house his father’s carvings. The building now serves as a lobby for the actual museum.

Entrance to the Warther Museum. (Photo: Have Rocket, Will Travel)

Entrance to the Warther Museum. (Photo: Have Rocket, Will Travel)

With the opening of the new museum, Warther was honored with a parade and program at Crater Stadium where he was presented with a bronze bust of himself. The bust, as well as a case of arrowheads from his collection, are on display in the museum lobby.

Bronze bust of Warther on display in the museum lobby.
Case with arrowheads on display in museum lobby.

The first section of the museum is devoted to Warther’s early years. On display are photographs, memorabilia, and countless varieties and sizes of the “signature” pliers Warther made.

Ernest Warther carved about 750,000 wooden pliers in his lifetime. (Photo: Nondot)

Ernest Warther carved about 750,000 wooden pliers in his lifetime.

A working pair of pliers carved from a matchstick.After learning how to carve a working pair of pliers out of a single block of wood with just ten simple cuts, Warther carved pliers in his free time out of everything—he even carved a working pair of pliers from matchsticks!

Family trees

Wasting no wood and knowing exactly how many cuts he had to make, Warther created amazing “family” trees. The trees started out as a block of wood carved into a single pair of pliers. Then, from each handle, he carved another pair of pliers (the parents) . . . and from each of those handles, more pliers (the children) . . . and so on . . . until he was finished carving.

Family tree with 63 pair of pliers that all fold back up into one block of wood.

The Pliers Tree.

The Pliers Tree

The Pliers TreeFrom June 24 to August 28, 1913, Warther worked on the largest “family” tree he would ever make. Known as the Pliers Tree, the tree was carved from one single block of wood and has 511 interconnected, working pliers made with 31,000 cuts. The entire tree can be folded back into its original block of wood. The Pliers Tree was displayed at the Chicago World’s Fair in 1933. Professors from Case Western University studied it and declared that “one would have to have an advanced mathematical education to be able to design a block of wood of the correct shape to begin such a project.” Warther, who only went as far as the second grade, replied that he was glad he was told this after he made the tree and not before.

Mechanical model of the local steel mill where Warther worked. (Photo: Steve Brown)

Mechanical model of the local steel mill where Warther worked. (Photo: Steve Brown)

Detail of steel mill carved by Warther. (Photo: cleveland.com)

Detail of steel mill carved by Warther. (Photo: cleveland.com)

Warther worked at a local steel mill from the age of 14 until the mill shut down. A mechanized model of the mill he worked at is on display at the museum. Carved out of walnut and ivory, the model accurately depicts the daily workings of the mill in detail along with its quirkier side, including a sleeping worker, an irate foreman, and a drunken employee hiding in the corner bending his elbow to covertly down a pint of whiskey.

Unbelievable! Though he only had a second-grade education, Warther was able to engineer rotational motion into linear motion, making the various carved figures of his mill move. The complex circular and linear motions are all driven by one sewing machine motor, hooked up to a dizzying array of pulleys and gears on the underside of the display table to control the movement and speed of each figure.

Warther's masterful sense of scale and proportion are clearly evident. (Photo: Nondot)

The Big Four Atlantic was carved in 1920. Warther’s masterful sense of scale and proportion are clearly evident. Because they were carved from self-oiling South American wood, all train locomotives and cars still operate.

Ernest Warther standing in front of his workshop with an ivory tusk. (Photo: Warther Museum)

Warther was 28 years old when he began carving the “History of the Steam Engine”—the great work of his life. The collection starts with Hero’s Engine from 250 BC and ends with the Union Pacific Big Boy Locomotive of 1941. There are 64 engines in the collection, many of them with thousands of delicate interconnected moving parts.

Warther’s first fifteen steam engines were carved from bone and walnut. In 1923, he was able to purchase ivory.

Great Northern Locomotive.

In 1933, Warther completed his finest work, the Great Northern Locomotive. The engine has 7,752 individually carved pieces with a multitude of lines and rivets—each one an exact replica of the real thing—and a “goat” logo in ivory surrounded by mother of pearl. Warther’s own handwriting, inlaid in the base, is hand-carved ivory.

When railroads converted from steam to diesel power, Warther vowed he would never carve a diesel engine if he lived to be 1000. He retired for four years and, at 72, began carving his next great work, “Great Events in American Railroad History.”

The Empire State Express. (Photo: Nondot)

The Empire State Express, and the “stone” arched bridge the train sits on, [above and below] is stunning. At 8-foot long, the it is the largest working ivory carving in the world. The train is carved entirely of ivory . . . and the bridge is made from blocks of ebony with inlaid ivory “mortar.”

Empire State Express caboose. (Photo: Nondot)
Passenger seats in the Empire State Express. (Photo: Nondot)
Engine of the Empire State Express. (Photo: Nondot)

Carvings for the “Great Events in American Railroad History” include the 8-foot long Empire State Express [above], a solid ivory representation of the driving of the golden spike on the transcontinental railroad, and Lincoln’s funeral train [below] which was completed on April 14, 1965—the 100th anniversary of Lincoln’s assassination. Warther was 80 years old at the time.

The Lincoln Funeral Train commemorating the 100th anniversary of Lincoln's assassination.

The Lincoln funeral train was carved from ebony and ivory with mother of pearl accents at the bottom of each car. Eyetooth of hippopotamus, the finest grade of ivory, was used. A miniature carving of Lincoln’s body rests in a casket in the center car.

Exhibits at the Warther Museum.

Exhibits at the Warther Museum.

Union Pacific Big Boy. the largest and last of the steamers, was carved in 1953.

The Union Pacific “Big Boy.” locomotive, the largest and last of the steamers, was carved from a single walnut tree stump found in Charm, Ohio. Warther began carving the engine on January 13, 1953 and finished on his 68th birthday, October 30. 1953.

Lincoln cane with hand-carved ball in the center.

The Lincoln CaneWarther carved the Lincoln cane while sitting in front of the fireplace during a snow storm. He finished it in 16 hours over four evenings. He then invited people to try to touch the inner-most ball—yes, there is a hand-carved ball inside the cane—with their finger. He told them if they could touch it, he would give them the cane. Visitors brought in infants to try, but no one could do it.

Chess set of ebony, ivory, and pearl Warther hand-carved for comedian Henry Morgan.

Chess set of ebony, ivory, and pearl Warther hand-carved for comedian Henry Morgan, who helped get Warther on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson in 1965.

IMHO, Ernest “Mooney” Warther was a genius. His talent, time management, and goal setting skills were exceptional . . . and he could pin-point to the day when he would finish carving one of his engines. He woke up every day at 2AM, carved until 5AM, had breakfast with his family, worked a full day (first at a steel mill, then making kitchen cutlery for a living), played with his children after school (and later his grandchildren), had dinner, carved for two more hours, slept . . . and, then, would start it all over again. He did this virtually every day of his life until he died in 1979 at the age of 84. He was driven and disciplined . . . and still had time to make a living, raise a family, travel, and enjoy life, family, and friends to the fullest.

During World War II, Warther stopped carving to make hand-forged Commando knives for local servicemen. He didn’t believe in war, but felt every serviceman should have the best knife possible.

Warther hand-forged Commando knives for local servicemen during World War II.

Warther hand-forged Commando knives for local servicemen during World War II.

A giant Warther knife with the signature fine swirl design on the blade.

A giant Warther knife with the signature
fine swirl design on the blade.

Each knife he made was personalized with the serviceman’s name stamped into a brass plate in a cocobolo handle. Each also included a sheath of copper and stainless steel. When Warther heard that the war had ended, he put down the knife he was working on and never finished it. That knife remains in the museum today unfinished.

Just before leaving the building, you can view the factory for Warther Cutlery, the family business started in 1902, and stop at the delightful gift shop that carries the entire line of handcrafted cutlery as well as other high quality items.

The Warther Museum is loaded with model train and other carvings, arrowheads, knives, photographs, and other memorabilia that paint a vibrant history of an extraordinary man, his life, and family. There is a small admission fee for the hour long guided tour—it’s well-worth every penny.

If you ever have the chance to go, prepare to be amazed!


View larger map
Unless noted otherwise, photos were taken by Patricia Petro and Tom Schmidt.
Copyright © 2011 Patricia Petro/Tom Schmidt. All rights reserved.

Some photos posted were found online. Links to the source sites are provided below. I encourage you to visit these sites to read what others have to say about Ernest Warther and the Warther Museum.
cleveland.com | Craftsmanship Museum | Have Rocket, Will Travel | Living Our Dream | Nondot | Ohio Festivals | Olivia and Fred Harrington | Roadside America | Steve Brown | Teleoscope | The Country Blossom | The Little Red Hen

Similar posts you might like

A Weekend in Walnut Creek
Only Sunrise Earth would be able to capture the absolute stillness and beau...
« Crock-Pot Spaghetti Casserole
Upsizing After All These Years »

More to explore and enjoy . . .

  • Yellowstone or Bust
  • Cody to Yellowstone
  • A Weekend in Walnut Creek
  • Wild, Wondrous Wyoming
  • When in Dover, Don't Miss This
  • An Awakening
  • On the Road in Wyoming
  • An Afternoon in Yellowstone

Share Your Thoughts Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Patricia and TomHi there! Tom and I are two empty nesters who decided to downsize and simplify our lives—lose the clutter and drama, travel a little, laugh a lot, sit back, and enjoy the simple pleasures life has to offer. Read more

Subscribe to our Newsletter

The cook

From Our Kitchen

Chicken Parmezip
Cheesy Chicken 'n Tater Tot Crock-Pot Bake
Best Guacamole Ever
Sparkling Strawberry Punch
Crock-Pot Spaghetti Casserole
Crock-Pot Sour Cream and Bacon Chicken

view all recipes ...

Afternoon Tea—a good reason to get together. https://t.co/XlhQAxeRrS pic.twitter.com/fJLa88sVa6

— Our Empty Nest (@ouremptynest) January 4, 2017
Home

House Tours

  • Cottage Charm at the Beach
  • Cabin in the Woods
  • Cozy Little Guest House
  • Tiny Gardener's Cottage
  • From Little to Luxurious Loft
  • Sarah's Country Home
  • Everyone Loves a Parade
  • Maine Island Home
  • Sisse's Fab Farmhouse
  • Stunning West Seattle Redo
  • Old Garage Upcycled
  • Lovely Down Under
  • Living Like a Star
  • Going Green
  • Downsizing for $4.3 Million

view all house tours ...

Daisy in field

Simplify Simplify Simplify

For some time now I’ve been walking around with three words at the top of my To Do List—simplify simplify simplify. I know it’s just one ... continue reading ...

Trips and travels

Our Trips & Travels

Where the deer and the antelope roam.

Cody to Yellowstone

What should have been an easy one-hour drive from Cody to Yellowstone turned into a full-day affair that took us through some of the most breathtakingly beautiful country I have ever seen.

Hand-carved, Great Northern steam engine by Ernest Warther.
Oaxaca buildings
THE HORSES OF WYOMING by Tom Schmidt, watercolor, 2012.
American bison resting in Yellowstone National Park.

view all trips ...

AWARD 2015 WINNERFlipkey

Latest on Instagram


Our squirrel stealing filler from our flower pot f
Our squirrel stealing filler from our flower pot for his nest.

Exploring Arches National Park. #travel #utah #arc
Exploring Arches National Park. #travel #utah #archesnationalpark

Dinner for two. #pizza
Dinner for two. #pizza

Patio with a view. #ourhouse #ourpond #ourview #su
Patio with a view. #ourhouse #ourpond #ourview #summertime

My lunch today was a quick-and-easy combo of icebe
My lunch today was a quick-and-easy combo of iceberg lettuce, eggs, ham, turkey, shredded lettuce, and walnuts. So simple and simply delicious. #lunch #whatsforlunch #eatinghealthy

A fat bouquet from my husband. Just because. #love
A fat bouquet from my husband. Just because. #love #howdoilovethee

Once upon a time, I did embroidery. #needlework #w
Once upon a time, I did embroidery. #needlework #wallart

Room with a view.
Room with a view.

Mid-morning snack. #bananas #blueberries #cherryto
Mid-morning snack. #bananas #blueberries #cherrytomatoes



Follow on Instagram


Fine Art for Your Home

OUR EMPTY NEST

Favorite Recipes
Our Trips and Travels
Recommended Reading
Favorite Films

NEED A WEB DESIGNER?

Hire Patricia Petro
Portfolio
Praise for Patricia
New Project Questionnaire

QUICK LINKS

Newsletter
Free Downloads
Terms of Use
Original Art by Tom Schmidt

CONTACT

Patricia and Tom
Findlay, OH USA
patpetro@msn.com

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
»
«

Our Empty Nest EST.2002 • Copyright © 2023 Patricia Petro • All rights reserved • Terms of Use • Design by Sweet Solutions • Powered by WordPress and Genesis • LOGIN