Masse, Leon

"Leon Masse, a Salem carpenter and handyman began building birdhouses that were replicas

of famous buildings from around the world. From there, Leon moved on to scale models of regional

lighthouses- he built more than 50 of them- and eventually replicas of important Salem buildings.

The latter group included the Salem Cadet Armory, which took him a year to research and build; the Old Salem Train Depot,

the Custom House at the Salem Maritime National Historic Site and the House of the Seven Gables.

Leon's final effort in this arena, a model of Salem First Church, was completed just a week before his death at age 100.

All were given away, incidentally, never sold." according to Jim McAllister in the Salem News.

Anonymous