44°
SOMERS, N.Y. - If you have driven along Route 6 in Somers you may have noticed a man sitting in a chair beside a red car covered in freshly painted birdhouses. The man is Dave Robinson and the birdhouses were created by his wife, Mimi and her identical twin, Rose.
The sisters have been making birdhouses together since the early 90's. They used to work at the Lakeland School in Shrub Oak, Mimi in the cafeteria and Rose in the office. They retired in 1996 and so did their husbands.
Originally, they made the birdhouses as gifts for friends or donations to fundraisers. But one thing led to another and Dave Robinson was commissioned to sit by the roadside and conduct business.
Dave works from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. It takes him about an hour to set up the stand. He used to set up at the intersection of Routes 100 and 118, near Muscoot, but his operation has now moved to Route 6 just south of the Whispering Pine Garden Center. "It's more convenient part of town," said Mimi. He sells about 250 birdhouses each season. A season runs from spring until Christmas, weather permitting.
"It's very exciting," said Mimi. "You meet such wonderful people. People ask for houses with themes, usually birds. One time somebody asked for a Harley-Davidson theme. I said I'm willing to try. And she loved it. I made a school bus theme for a bus driver. A boy who works at McDonald's ordered one to look like where he works. Sometimes we add figurines."
Every birdhouse is made from scratch. It takes about an hour to cut, nail and glue the form. Another two or three hours go into painting and spraying. Each sister tries to make two or three houses per day. They sell them for $28 to $40.
"We give Dave a cut," Mimi said. "He has to buy gas."
The twins turned 76 on July 6. They were married in a double wedding ceremony 55 years ago. Rose's husband passed away a few years ago, but Dave is still actively hawking their wares.
"For our birthdays or Mothers Day we always ask for tools," said Mimi. "Rose got an electric nail gun for Mothers Day. It's easier on your bones at this age."
What does Dave do all day while waiting for customers?
"Oh, he reads books and does the crossword puzzles. When it's hot he sits in the shade," said Mimi. "He was never the type to sit at home."
Click here to follow Daily Voice Cortlandt and receive free news updates.
