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By Julie Ball
SUN CITY CENTER — Six years after Don Crescent’s miniature woodworking of the White House was given to George and Laura Bush, he is at it again. In 2004, Shirley Carroll watched as Don worked for months and months completing his model.
She recently had déjà vu when he completed a second one. “After I saw my miniature model go around the corner and out of sight the day we gave it to the former first lady, Laura Bush, I thought to myself- oh my gosh, it is gone!” said Don.
The couple was able to visit his first model again when they were invited to the annual Christmas party held at the White House. They saw it decorated and on display in the Palm Room. They were also able to meet former President George W. Bush.
“Only dignitaries give gifts to the actual White House,” said Don. “We basically gave a gift to the sitting president at the time, which was George W. Bush.”
His model is now displayed in former President Bush’s presidential library.
Don’s next thought was he wanted a model of his own. So he was at it again. He recently completed his second mini-replica of the White House. However, this one is not without a few improvements.
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| In the top photo is Don Crescent’s mini-replica model of the White House in Washington D.C., showing the front entrance. Pictured at left is a view of the rear entrance which is rarely seen by the public and was a challenge for Don to find details for duplicating. |
“I originally only did the front half back in April of 2004 because I thought we might put it on the wall to display,” said Don.
This time around he built the entire White House, including the part rarely seen by the public — the backside.
The second model presented more challenges than the first. “It took forever to locate details and pictures for the back of the White House,” explained Don.
“We went to the SouthShore, Brandon, Riverview and even John F. Germany Library in Tampa. Finally with some help we were able to locate a book containing a picture at the Sun City Center branch.”
Then Don was able to start the process all over again.
“I thought this time he would slow down since it was staying at the house,” said Shirley. “But he didn’t! He would not go a single day without working on some aspect of it and ended up completing it in about a year.”
Don and Shirley kept it in the house for awhile. They often would have visitors from all over the neighborhood who wanted to catch a glimpse. They then brought it to the Sun City Center Fun Fest where it was on display for everyone in the community to see.
Toward the end of the Fun Fest they noticed a large crowd coming towards them. “We realized it was the workers and people in other booths who hadn’t gotten a chance to see it up close yet,” said Shirley.
That’s when Don realized the model was much more than a carving to not only him but to everyone who laid eyes on it. “I knew why I had created this. It was an act of love and personal pride in my country. However, I began to see that it was an important building to the people of America,” concluded Don.
“This building is really the heart of our country,” said Shirley. “When people view it they feel hopeful and that is what it’s supposed to symbolize.”
After visiting the Florida State Fair in previous years and seeing similar models there, Don decided that displaying it there would be a great way to let thousands of people view the carving.
They recently dropped it off with representatives for the upcoming 2010 fair. “It was like bees on honey when we arrived with it,” said Shirley. “People flocked to it when we bought it in.”
That is not their only plan for the miniature White House. Don and Shirley’s ultimate goal is for it to end up at Disney in the Hall of Presidents.
“It needs to stay in a public place. At Disney, families would be able to see it and learn from it. It would be exposed to children on a daily basis and I think that would be something wonderful,” said Shirley.
Visit Don’s miniature White House on display at the Florida State Fair in the Family Living Building. The fairgrounds are located at 4800 Highway 301 North, Tampa, FL 33610. For more information call 813-621-7821 or visit their website at www.FloridaStateFair.com. The State Fair runs from Thursday, February 4 through February 15.
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