Oman stagecoach lights up for the holidays

 

December 22, 2016

Diana Zimmerman

Gordon and Vera Oman stepped outside their home recently to get a good look at the stagecoach that Gordon made and their friends decorated for the holidays. Oman settled on building a stagecoach when he was looking for a project several years ago. The stagecoach has been used in a couple parades and is now part of the Christmas decorations at the Oman home.

"I don't care about presents," Vera Oman said recently, "I just like Christmas decorations."

She has more than one beautifully decorated tree lighting up her home. Some of her ceramic work is on display in Christmas arrangements set on tables here and there.

Outside, laser lights are trained on their Puget Island home, while front and center, is a display of husband Gordon's creative and unique interests.

Gordon has been a little under the weather, but thanks to friends who know and love him, the life size stagecoach he built with his own two hands sits in front of the home, thick with Christmas lights and Santa, ready to ride.

Gordon built the stagecoach eight to 10 years ago. When loggers found a log that they liked, they would bring it to him. They knew what he was up to and would ask him to mill the log for halves. Half for his project, half for theirs.

Why a stagecoach?

"It seemed like it was a simple thing to do," Oman said. "I've got a sawmill, so I could cut what I needed."

According to Vera, he found the plans for the stagecoach in a woodworking magazine. He called the number he found there, and ran straight into trouble.

The woman who answered was incredulous that he would want to build a stagecoach.

Diana Zimmerman

Surely, anything else.

Nope.

She sent him the plans.

"He already had his lumber milled," Vera said. "He went ahead and started building it. He really enjoyed it."

According to Vera, the stagecoach has been to the fair. Tractor owners would hook the stagecoach to their tractors and gave kids rides. It has also been in the Bald Eagle Days parade and in another parade at the beach.

Before he retired, Oman worked in construction and Vera worked at the school.

"I miss the little kids," Vera said. "They always called me the candy lady."

She laughed.

"Of course, the teachers ate a lot of my candy too."

 

Reader Comments(0)

 
 

Powered by ROAR Online Publication Software from Lions Light Corporation
© Copyright 2024