WKSU News: Fourth generation preserves "master carver" Mooney Warther's train collection at Dover museum

Warther carved nearly 65 workable model locomotives during his lifetime

WKSU's Amanda Rabinowitz reports


	Reporter Amanda Rabinowitz

Just off I-77 in Tuscarawas County is a museum that houses more than 60 minutely-detailed, working steam engine models. They were made by a man dubbed the world's master carver and took nearly five decades to complete.

Mooney Warther turned down millions to preserve his carvings in his hometown of Dover. Now, a fourth generation keeps his legacy thriving.

Click to Listen

Other options:

Realplayer /

Windows Media /

MP3 Download (5:26)

(Click image for larger view.)

Ernest "Mooney" Warther with one of his carved trains in Dover.

Mooney Warther with his daughter Florence outside his woodshop in Dover. The woodshop is now part of the museum.

Listener Comments:

This is fantastic. I will visit there this winter. I am a carver but this carving!

Posted by: Joe Thomas (Glen Allen, VA) on November 2, 2009 4:16PM

This is amazing and we can't wait to visit in July.
What a marvelous and talented man.
God Bless.

The Bledsoes, Gary and Stella

Posted by: Stella Bledsoe (Jasper, Georgia) on July 2, 2009 3:39PM

Add Your Comment

More Arts and Entertainment

Pete Seeger donates banjo head to Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

Pete Seeger banjo head going to the Rock Hall after all

Deal may be dying for Ohio amusement park operator

Violinist Joshua Bell performs this week in Akron and Oberlin

Irish-American band Solas

Corbin Bernsen is back in N.E. Ohio

The brief Cleveland Orchestra musicians strike may be a prelude to full-scale discord

Tenative agreement in Cleveland Orchestra strike

Cleveland Orchestra tentative contract freezes pay, increases medical premiums

Cleveland Orchestra strike over

More by WKSU's Amanda Rabinowitz

Ocean rower Katie Spotz reaches halfway point, on pace to make history

Could soon-to-be free agents (and friends) LeBron James and Dwyane Wade team up?

Wayne County bank manager allegedly embezzles $140,000

Three Northeast Ohio counties fight to keep other counties' trash out of their landfills

Terry Pluto: Former Mount Union standout beats the odds to head to the Super Bowl

Trying to find a new way in Lorain County

President Obama talks job creation in Elyria

The Lorain President Obama will find

Terry Pluto: Why are college football coaches paid so much?

Pluto: McGwire doesn't deserve Hall of Fame honors

Stories with Recent Comments

Obama Administration announces long- and short-term fight to keep Asian carp from Great Lakes

Show me some evidence that these Asian Carp are able to get established in any lake with the limited food supply of the Great Lakes. They will eat the Larvae o...

Ocean rower Katie Spotz reaches halfway point, on pace to make history

Amanda, Thanks for the live interview of Sam at Katie's halfway point. As an ocean rower himself, his insights about her "ups and downs" are thought provoking a...

Power rates soar for all-electric homes

Thank you for reporting on this story and alerting the public to the upcoming hearings. My family experienced a 29% hike in our electric bill beginning Jan 201...

Soap Box Derby rolls on

You know, I am so bewilderd with this mess and the Soap Box Derby, for whatever reason you people think this is something new. It's not new,it has just gotten w...

Could soon-to-be free agents (and friends) LeBron James and Dwyane Wade team up?

I think D-Wade and LeBron James should both go to the Bulls with Derrick Rose as point, D-Wade at shooting guard and LeBron James at samll forward. Noah and Den...

Youngstown death row inmate executed

Execute them all, I say. One less monster among us. One less killer to pay for. He won't need breakfast, lunch and dinner TODAY, I'll tell ya that. He won't nee...

Grassroots group aims to end traffic camera use

Like Michael Corcoran, I think the Internet is a wonderful thing, and I’d give it up with cries of anguish. But I echo his concern for the indoctrination our ...

Ohio senator's bill would require corporate disclosure of political spending

Thank you Senator for your splendid work in major issues and particularly on the obcene decision by the Supreme Court which may cost the failure of many good de...

Governor Strickland seeking a second round of federal bailouts for Ohio

Predatory Lending is a major contributor to the economic turmoil we are currently experiencing. Here is an example of what I am talking about: Scott Veerk...

Biomimicry looks to nature for inspiration

I am impressed with Professor Dhinojwala's ideas and his work done at The University of Akron. The gecko tape is a creative and innovative example of biomimicr...