The Silsbee Bee
November 20, 2002

Retired Graphics Artist creates models of Historical Buildings
by Stacy Henry

All of the glory of the Hardin County Courthouse and the Kirby Hill House can be seen at one time thanks to the artistic abilities of a Silsbee resident.

Kathy FerDon, a retired graphics artist, has completed a total of three wooden models, including the courthouse, and is currently working on several other projects.  She created her first model in 1996 which was a foam board replica of the Kirby-Hill House.

About six years ago, FerDon rented property to build her home on from Nelda Overstreet, curator of the Kirby-Hill House.  FerDon then designed her house plans and showed Overstreet what she intended to build on the land.

"The plans were made out of tape and notebook paper," FerDon said.  "Nelda was impressed with them though and wanted to show them to her geometry students."

After Overstreet acquired the Kirby-Hill House, she wanted a model created of the mansion to bring shows and other events and celebrations, and asked FerDon to create it.

In 1997 Overstreet asked FerDon to finish a replica of the Hardin County Courthouse, which had been started by Isidro Robert Laredo.

"Mrs. Laredo had his unfinished model, which had been in his garage this whole time," FerDon said.

FerDon happily completed the model, however, the exact location of where it is today she does not know.

"I know it was supposed to be on display at the Hardin County Courthouse, but I'm not sure if it is there or not," she said.

FerDon created her third project last year while she was in New Zealand visiting her sister, who had bought a church there.

"I was there for three months," FerDon said.  "One day they gave me some balsa wood and asked me what I could so with it."

FerDon quickly went to work on building a model of her sister's church.  The church was not completely built and the model portrayed what it would look like once it was.

"Everyone was impressed with it," FerDon said.  "They showed it to the contractor and he was even impressed.  That made me think that maybe I could really do this."

Last January, FerDon began another project.  This time she created a wooden model of her own home, and decided to keep it for herself to show off her ability.

"This model was put on display at Faust Engineering in Beaumont," FerDon said.  "I had it on display for contractors to see and maybe take interest in.  I actually got one nibble."  

With the Kirby-Hill House celebrating their 100th anniversary of the building of the mansion, FerDon decided she wanted to redo the foam board model of the mansion.

"I know the foam board won't hold up," FerDon said.  "I wanted the model redone into a wooden one."

The Kirby-Hill House kicked off their year long celebration November 16th and at that time FerDon began the makings of the new and improved model.

"I will be working on this all year long, and at the last celebration the model will be complete," FerDon said. "There will be Centennial celebrations throughout the year, and at each one I will have more of the model completed."

Along with the model of the Kirby-Hill House, FerDon is also currently working on a separate project.

"I have a distant cousin that lives in Arizona, and I am making a model of her home," she said.  "I will actually paint this one once it is finished."

A lot of work goes into each of FerDon's creations, in that not only does she create the outside of the building, but also the inside.

"The special thing about these models is that the roof can be lifted up and all the rooms can be seen," FerDon said.  "A lot of models only portray the outside, nut I also design the inside of the buildings I am replicating."

On average it takes FerDon approximately three months to complete a project.

"What I like about doing this is that I can do it at home and at my own pace," FerDon said.  "If something comes up I can always stop and just pick it up again later."

FerDon hopes to one day have a collection of her models and possibly work with contractors in helping people to build their homes.

"When people go to contractors they are shown models on a computer," FerDon said.  "They are three dimensional but it's all virtual.  I want to make something for them they can actually see and touch."

FerDon's models can be viewed through her website at http://www.agalleryofartists.com/kathy.html, and she can be emailed at info@agalleryofartists.com

"The models display well for a commemoration of an old building or even for people who want to build a new home," she said.