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Frankenmuth News

Serving Frankenmuth since 1906

Volume 120 ~ No. 28

January 14, 2026

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THE WOODCARVERS GUILD OF FRANKENMUTH . . . meets on Wednesday and Thursday mornings, about 9am to noon, in the Eagle’s Nest, located at the end of Fernreich Drive in Heritage Park. A group of 10-15 members get together at each session to carve individual projects and exchange ideas. In mid-fall 2025, the Frankenmuth Chamber of Commerce approached the Guild to clean up and repair their two, approximately six-foot tall chainsaw-carved gnomes who stood sentinel at the back entrance to the Chamber. The members have stripped down the weathered gnomes, are placing them on steel bases, creating more chiseled detail, and will apply boat-grade epoxy on them to preserve them from the elements. The two gnomes are made out of oak. At the top, Guild President Roger Schmidt of Auburn adds more detail to a male gnome with his special hammer and fine-edged chisel. Georg Keilhofer, a German-born professional wood carver, trained Schmidt. Member Jeff Sugden, also of Auburn, thanked Bavarian Inn Lodge President Michael Keller Zehnder for the use of the Inn’s lift truck to transport the heavy statues to the Nest. The goal is to have the two gnomes completed and back guarding the Chamber foyer by early summer. The Guild, established in 1975, welcomes new members and offers three free visits, including wood and carving tools. There is a fee for yearly membership. For more information, visit their Facebook page, Frankenmuth Carvers.    (News photos/John Cook)

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