Retired steel worker works to scale model historic Minnesota court houses
LE CENTER, Minn. (KEYC) - 86-year-old Gerald “Jerry” Hackett has been spending the past three years creating scale models of historic Minnesota court houses, and his latest project is the Le Sueur County Government Center.
Hackett says he started scale modeling five years ago, doing windmills, bridges and churches, after trying to find a new hobby to do during his retirement.
As a retired steel erector, Hackett says he has been able to bring transferable skills to his craft.
He made the pivot to modeling court houses three years ago, when the Washington County Court House announced it was remodeling. Since then, he has done projects in Blue Earth County, Waseca County, Dakota County and Jackson County, making him a familiar face for many county officials.
Hackett says the Le Sueur Government Center after its 2024 renovation will be one of his biggest projects yet.
As part of that renovation, the county made an effort to preserve the style of the 1896 architecture, which Hackett says is a big part of what made him interested in the project.
“The new modern ones I don’t do, because it’s like doing a cracker box, there’s nothing unique about them,” Hackett said.
For each project he does, Hackett says he goes through the original design, drone footage and elevation documents.
He then makes his own drawings that he can use as a basis to recreate the structure at a scale of one inch for every four feet.
Hackett expects the project to take three months to complete and five to 10 thousand toothpicks. Once it’s done, he’ll be donating it to the county to display.
Le Sueur County Administrator Joe Martin says the county is flattered by the gesture.
“We’re looking forward to displaying it, my next challenge will be finding a good place to display it,” Martin said.
Once the project is completed, Hackett says one of his next subjects will be the Faribault County Court House.
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