Translating history in miniature

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Alison Hain

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November 3, 2009

Kissam's model-making talent enhances museums

By ALISON HAIN The Press Republican Wed Nov 04, 2009, 12:55 AM EST

WESTPORT — In 1971, Bill Kissam descended a mine shaft to a depth equal to 2,500 feet below the surface of Lake Champlain.

There at the bottom of the pit owned by Republic Steel near Mineville, he found a veritable "underground city."

And there he satisfied his desire to observe an operating mine, documenting his findings for future projects.

Down the road, he created a whole host of model dioramas for public display to help observers visualize working mines.

One of Kissam's earliest creations is a three-dimensional diorama developed for the Iron Museum in Port Henry. He also produced dioramas for the Kent-Delord House Museum and Champlain Valley Transportation Museum in Plattsburgh, among others. Recently, he created a canal-boat diorama of the Lois McClure for the Lake Champlain Quadricentennial project. In Vermont, there is a Kissam diorama for the Morgan Horse Farm.

MANY INTERESTS
As a young boy growing up on Long Island, Kissam learned the art of building and operating model railroads from his father. He ventured beyond model trains and extended his skills and his interest in history to include model ships and historic houses and gardens.

He graduated from Syracuse University with a degree in forestry. Working for the Weyerhaeuser Timber Company on the West Coast, he then moved back east in 1971 to take a job at International Paper in Ticonderoga. He bought a 200-year-old house in Westport that needed attention and restoration.

Once settled, Kissam began digging into local history, including the War of 1812 and its regional impact. Study of the naval battles inspired him to build models of war ships. The Lake Champlain Maritime Museum in Vermont uses his models in its displays.

Kissam began building life-size boats modeled on historic craft. One of his unique creations, a replica of a Nova Scotia fishing boat, is docked at The Normandie Club in Westport in the summer. The small but visible deck cabin and inboard motor distinguish this fishing boat from those built and used in New England.

LOST ARNOLD MINE
With friend and neighbor Rick Rockefeller, Kissam is now building a train display for the Transportation Museum. Together, they are designing and constructing two model train sets. One reflects local topographical features, buildings and local towns. The other set will be an interactive model for visitors.

The pair uses many materials found locally. Trees are simply the heads of goldenrod blooms, sprayed to hold their shape. Not far from his home, Kissam and friend Jim Davis have begun to explore what is known as the Lost Arnold Mine. In 1775, American Gen. Benedict Arnold was said to have sent his soldiers to look for iron ore needed to build naval ship fittings. Subsequently known as the Iron Ore Tract, the locale has revealed no traces of that legend, but Kissam and Davis continue their search.

Kissam donates much of his work to regional museums for exhibits. He chooses to give models and life-size boats to friends. At 78, he is still having fun keeping up with his interests, he said. All that stands in his way is workspace.

"The length of my barn prevents me from building large, full-size lake boats," he said. "It is a limitation."