Simon Estapa's Hobby

 

Press Journal, Vero Beach, Florida, 13 Jul 1975, Page 2

He Makes Church Models

by Ed Dangler

Put a saw in his hands along with a batch of plywood and the nimble hands and mind of Simon Estapa swing into action to produce beautiful, miniature replicas of churches, circa 1020 to you name it.

The 16-year resident of Vero Beach does not build model churches as a commercial endeavor -- it is his hobby and has been for almost 30 years. Estapa's unusual hobby was inspired by his daughter many years ago, and his works have attracted the attention of many persons in this country, primarily northern residents.

It was in Michigan where Estapa first began his construction of church models. His daughter, Janet, a Catholic school student, used to talk so much praising the school and church, her dad decided to surprise her by building a replica of a church.

Estapa's keen observation of life, his twinkling eyes and his full thatch of hair that would make men a third his age envious, belie his 76 years young. 

Before his resignation in 1946, Estapa was a toolmaker for the Big Three automobile giants: General Motors, Ford and Chrysler. His experience as a toolmaker apparently made his later hobby a breeze, production of exquisite church models, with details complete both inside and outside the structures.

Over the years the skilled craftsman has erected "40 or 50" church models of various sizes and shapes. His oldest of a church model was one seen in a publication. This church was one on the scene back n the year 1020. He built a model of the ancient structure, using its picture as a guide. The miniature was given to his son.

Other models built by Estapa include one with a wedding going on inside, with figurines of the bride, groom and priest. He constructs the models in their entirety using plywood. The figurines used in the interior of the structures are ordered from Detroit, Michigan. He said no local or area establishments carry the figurines required for his hobby.

The plywood bases which serve as foundations for the churches are actually stands for Christmas trees. Lights on the trees and lights in the church interiors create a beautiful setting during Christmas season, as many persons have attested who have viewed the spectacle, recalled Estapa. One interior of a church model shows a nativity scene which is especially eye catching in its beauty. 

Estapa's grandfather, John Estapa, came to this country from Spain back in 1821. Settling in the new-found country resulted in a marriage by the grandfather to an Irish lady. With such prominent ancestry, Estapa quips, "I'm mostly an Irishman."

Estapa is a native of Pass Christian, Mississippi. When he was less than 10 years old he met the former Alice Jean Treme, a lovely New Orleans child. About 16 years later the pair were joined wedlock. The couple will celebrate their 51st wedding anniversary in August.

Likely to be on hand for the anniversary will be the Estapas' three grown children, their families, including 11 grandchildren and one great-grandson. Before too long, Mrs. Estapa said, she and her husband will become the great-grandparents of another child due in the growing Estapa family.

What attracted the Estapas to Vero Beach? Estapa recalled that in 1958 a niece in Melbourne lost her husband. She asked Estapa to help her manage a motel owned by her and her late husband. Estapa agreed, working in Mebourne (then Eau Gallie) "for quite a while."

While in Eau Gallie, Estapa used to accompany his niece to Vero Beach on shopping trips. The rest is history. The Estapas fell in love with Vero Beach and decided this was to be the city in which to spend their retirement years.

The Estapas, after he resigned as a tookmaker, bought a grocery supermarket in Detroit. It was there that he began his unique hobby, which has obviously continued interesting to the man with the active mind and nimble hands down through years.