Glenn Dykstra has been a builder since he was a small boy on his family’s South Dakota farm. This interest has been a lifetime love, and the now 84-year-old Butler, Mo., resident has proudly completed a model of the Krause Mansion, now the Ben Ferrel Platte County Museum in Platte City.
Dykstra believes he has a natural instinct for creating things.
“It has carried me through 28 years of teaching science and being an administrator at one of three U.S. Native American boarding schools for 14 years,” Dykstra said. “I was an administrator at the Flandreau Indian School that has proudly been in operation for over 100 years, located just north of Sioux Falls, S.D.”
A few years ago Dykstra happened to drive by the Ben Ferrel County Museum and was very impressed by the architecture. At the time he had no idea what it was, or its interesting history.
He was struck by the beauty of the building and he decided that it should not be forgotten in the 21st century. So he decided to create a model, not only to preserve the structure’s existence in a mini-version, but also to use it as a tool to let others know about the history of the building.
After his first impressions of seeing the building, he researched the structure and learned about its background.
The museum, which is operated by the Platte County Historical Society occupies a Victorian, Federal Empire Style brick mini-mansion.
It was built in 1882 by Frederic Krause, an immigrant from Prussia, to modestly reflect features of the governor’s mansion in Jefferson City.
The museum’s structure showcases a mansard roof, ornamental cresting, brick construction and limestone corner quoins.
Dykstra said that he would probably donate the model to someone who was interested in it.
Also a writer, creating models helps him create his written works.
“When I get interested in some historical story that I may write about, I sometimes create a model of consequence that will bring back visual awareness of what it actually looked like according to the time, or I sometimes use a preserved picture,” Dykstra said. “Other than the Krause Museum, I have my own designs of what I like. Examples would be a 1 inch = 1 foot scale of my old church (Bethania Lutheran, which no longer exists) (The Athol Game Lodge, which no longer exists) (Cornland Country School, which no longer exists) and many others, like our barn from the home place, a well-digging company business, a Madison County Bridge with living quarters and several stick-built homes with a modern look.”
He is also a sculptor and a large yard-animal designer. He designs animals such as birds and horses, which are sold to customers in the Midwest states and Canada. His Facebook page, Glenn Dykstra, has photos of large, popular birds that he has distributed around the U.S.
While he has always looked for created ways to build his models, one of his plans has proven to be not only unique, but also an artistic way to recycle, by using old, replaced telephone poles.
“First, one has to become friends with a talented sawmill guy that can take a plan and cut the lumber into segments of appropriate diameter and length,” Dykstra said. “Though I did the finish work myself, it requires proper machinery and ability by the builder to do such a thing. My home is unbelievably strong, well-built and every board in it came from an old telephone pole, even the shingles and the siding. It’s one of a kind.”
As a time-consuming and physically and mentally demanding hobby, modeling has been strictly a retirement activity for Dykstra. The average time for creating one model is about a week, depending on the intricate decor and if he can work on it full-time. He has also done a lot of restoration on old carriages.
“I’ve written 10 novels, some documentary, some silly, some biographical and a couple that actually tell a story,” Dykstra said. “Most come from my own life experiences. I’m a better builder than writer. I would recommend Hjalmer and Hilma’s Magic Cache if I were going to read one.”
In his ‘spare’, spare time, he also started the Picky-Picky Bird Seed Company. “As a science guy, I like to run experiments with plant growth and farm yields,” Dykstra said. “Check out another of my Facebook pages called ‘Creative Ideas and Inventions.’ You may find something that you can’t live without.”
As his projects continue to increase, his next project is still undecided.
“I’m 84 years-old and as a result, I do not plan very far ahead,” Dykstra said. “I’m always thinking however, for a more meaningful lifestyle.”