Hello Park City! We hope you have had a great week of Summer weather and July fireworks.
This week, we are updating the website with information on one of our new vendors. Park City, please meet Mr. Dave Miller, of Ole’ Dave’s Birdhouses.
Ole’ Dave make incredible birdhouses by hand. I took the liberty to upload the text from his booth flyer -here goes:
Dave Miller, born in Colorad Springs has always been creating and fixing things. During World War II he was fixing our Aircraft on Naval Ships. Shortly after the war he started creating and building homes, offices, schools and hotels. Dave does not believe in wasting any resource. He has always found a use for what was left over and sending it to a land fill was not an option. He may be one of our earlier champions for creating a “green” world.
After spending 40 years as a Superintendent for Culp Construction Company in Salt Lake City Dave retired in 1986. While their health prevailed Dave and his wife Cathryn traveled across the country enjoying the vast natural wonders of our beautiful contintent win their motor home. When Cathryn’s health declined and was eventually homebound Dave took on the role for caregiver. As caregiver for his wife and sweetheart of 64 years he also spent more time back in his work shop. This shop had been the birth place of one of a kind motorized bikes to parquet doors and paneling and beautiful log cabin birdhouses.
In recent years his eyes became the victim of macular degeneration, a disease that eventually blocks the complete central vision of ones eyesight, leaving only very little peripheral vision. Dave and others with this advance stage of macular degeneration are considered legally blind, unable to drive and read but with good habits and organization can function in their home environment on their own. This past year Dave said a temporary good bye to his wife and after laying her to her rest found he had more time to spend in his workshop. Using materials from his shop he started building bird houses, beautifully constructed log cabin style birdhouses. He used his creations as thank you gifts for those who would drop by with a batch of cookies. His children who recognize the value of his work want to give additional purpose to this labor of love and creative energy and that is the beginning of Ole’ Dave’s Birdhouses.
The housing for Dave’s foul friends should provide upscale living for them and add charm and decor for anyone who is lucky enough to purchase one of Ole’ Dave’s bird houses.
Dave has also created a variety of jewelry boxes that are again one of a kind. He takes special care at honoring the owners of some of these treasures with their name cut out of wood and adorning the front of the chest.
Earlier this year around the first week in February we became convinced that nothing will get this man down. While making a special cut for the roof of yet another unique bird house, Dave just happened to cut off most of his right index finger and into his thumb. A short trip to the ER, a very skilled surgeon, and a minimal time for recovery and Dave is back working in the shop again. His right hand almost looks just like it always had had only with three fingers.
In this time when it could be easy to complain about the economy, how age can sneak up on you and little by little take away some of your very basic faculties, Dave Miller just moves forward and makes the best of what the good Lord has not taken from him yet. He is an inspiration to us and all who know him.
For a special order birdhouse from Ole’ Dave’s Birdhouses call 801-937-4516
Thanks Park City! We hope to see you tomorrow at The Canyons Resort for the last market of July. We’re getting into a good time of the season, lots of fresh fruits and vegetables so come on out! 😀
Whenever I heard or read the word “Park City” first thing come to my mind is “luxurious ski resort” and this list definitely agree with me:http://www.mountainyahoos.com/TopTenLuxuryResorts.html
Upon reading this article, I’ve learned that Park City has another side and I’m delighted to see how creative and friendly these people are.