Added: 1 year ago
From: demo1016
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  • wow that basement is so amazing looking. I wish my basement looked that nice...Wonderful job..

  • This basement is a amazing. I want to hang out there!

  • Dear God, what does Mike Rowe not do?

  • PM6014AM

  • MOROCCO

    UPFLOOR

    BARRISTER UK

  • Absolutely incredible - and his sawmill alone is still much larger than my workshop!!! :-D

  • Pretty amazing. This guy knows what to do with his spare time.

  • the ceiling is really depressing. he should get a better ceiling and lights

  • @helllajennifer

    When I bought the house, I replaced the yucky ceiling. The lighting, however, is supposed to be dim. There is another switch that does light up the entire basement. When I'm doing something down there, I use that rather than the "period" lighting.

  • This is an incredible piece of work, but it's more of a recreation-of-a-museum recreation than a recreation-from-real-life. Even the linoleum mimics the glazed brown brick floors seen in indoor "heritage town" exhibits in museums, particularly during the 70s and 80's, which probably corresponds to when he actually saw them. This alone makes the work all the more fascinating - he hasn't recreated the past, he's recreated a RECREATION of the past. There's something meta in all of this . . .

  • sure its all good but seems creepy plus nigga get out of the past u living in the past literaly!!! live in the present!!!

  • Great Basement - (It's Dale)

  • What a wonderful way to display keepsakes and carry out your creative ideas! I especially love how John incorporated his shop into the diorama.

    A lot of us dream about doing a large-scale project. He actually went and did it. This is museum-quality stuff.

    I recently visited the Peterson Automotive Museum. This stands up very favorably to their "History of the Automobile" main street diorama!

  • just awesome!! the MSI should hire him to expand the exhibit.

  • Very cool but sidewalk should be grey and ceiling probably black and the florescent lights need to be replaced with incandescent light bulb effect street lamps.

    I wanna drink at his bar!

  • A work of art. GREAT !!!!!

  • It would be great if we could not only *not* respond to the people who are being negative, but not to post about them either. They get double the attention that way. So i hope there will just be a ton of kind things said -- that will win the day!

  • he could have just gone to Knott's Berry Farm

  • @runtubefantasy

    Or you could go and stop making stupid posts.

  • I think this is great! very talented man!!

  • this is so cool! I can't believe how tallented this man is!

  • I can't believe how crude some of these comments are. This is a work of art!

  • Excellent Job Bobbi I guess the three people that dislike this must be very childish and will never make anything of themselves ENJOY YOUR EXCELLENT WORK

  • @TheExchangehotel

    Bobbi didn't build it. John (former owner) did. Sounds like Bobbi kept it intact though.

  • I love this! Bobbi is a true craftsman following his heart. Thank you for posting....truly inspiring!

  • @zspacegal

    Bobbi didn't build it. John (former owner) did. Sounds like Bobbi kept it intact though

  • Some of the crude comments a few have made here are truly sad. They are reflective of the times, I guess, when so many people don't care about what came before them. I'm afraid they are the ones who need to get a life ... because if you don't know where you've been, how can you know where you're going? It's no wonder creativity is at a low ebb, the country is such a mess, and our greatness is slipping through our fingers!

  • @BananasCrackersNuts

    Ah, It's just one jerk who sits in a dark corner of his mommie's basement, playing with her computer to write nasty things about other people who actually accomplish something in their lives. Well, at least he does that unitl mommie tells him it's bedtime...

  • @DjFusion17

    He had a dream to make something and he made it. You are the one who has nothing better to do that to be an asshole on YouTube. Congrats, now go spend your welfare check.

  • @martinsuper73 little bitch, raging. ROFL. Grow up.

  • @sirvegeta You can turn off the X-Box and hit puberty one day. But you are going to have to leave the house.

  • @martinsuper73 Why leave the house, it was paid off (about $211,000, actually) by the time i was 25. Go back to your apartment and stfu, plz kthx.

  • @DjFusion17 He's talented, dedicated and imaginative. But damn, there is something creepy about it all.

  • That is amazing :-)

  • That was a wonderful job!!! Congratulations!!!!

  • I hope this home stays within the family. Imagine it going on market, sells and first thing new owners do is tear it all down and convert it into an entertainment room. I suppose they could sell it or donate it to the historic society. Amazing basement.

  • this is the funniest thing i have ever seen.

  • Absolutely brilliant, what a creation! 

  • You can feel like you're in the 1800s! O.M.G. He built every single bit of the basement! The only thing they could have added is going from the top of the house into the basement! LOL :)

  • Awesome!

  • I love this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • 3 ppl dont have basement

  • My hubby and I just watched this clip. Talk about a passion for detail. This is just incredible. Thank you so much for sharing. History in a basement.

  • I am speechless. Wonderful basement. Thank you for uploading it for all to see.

  • OMG! @ 2:19 - I have that same set of play dishes. I know my mother played with them, but I think they might be older than that. I've never seen them anywhere else.

  • Dunno what the Fritzels complained about...

  • Same creepy make-up as the guy from Unwrapped

  • @napierzaza Mike Rowe is NOT from Unwrapped. Unwrapped is hosted by Marc Summers (of Double Dare game show) Mike Rowe is host/narrator of Dirty Jobs, Deadliest Catch, Ghost Hunters, and American Chopper

  • He needs to paint a fake sky on the ceiling.

  • dirty jobs ftw!!

  • A replica of the "1890's Main Street" exhibit front from the ???? and Industry

  • That is one swanky basement.  : ) love it!!

  • Came out June 2003, Google Incredible Basements

  • thanks for sharing this.

  • What year was this made? There's nothing for it on imdb: Not under "incredible basements", & not thru HGTV nor Mike Rowe's imdb info.

  • @lazur1

    Believe it was made in 2003 or 2004. I moved into the house in Nov. 2004 and happened to see it on HGTV.

  • @lazur1

    Was made in 2003 -- the HGTV show.

  • This is a great way to show collectibles and personal items beside using curio cabinets. Hobby and Storage, too!!!! Great vision and execution. Good job.

  • This man has a real passion for his hobby!

  • amazing detail... talk about taking modeling to the next level. simply stunning work

  • Wow, that is so amazing. What a great talent he has. I was born in 1965 and I think he has such a gift of preserving memories of the past. I absulutly love it.

  • I thopught it was minature unil he walked down the sidewalk. This is totally amazing. Does he open it for visitors? Charge or free?

  • @davnkatz

    John Scapes sold the house to me, Bobbi, in 2004. I have put MY things into the storefronts and the gen'l store.

  • CHARMING!

  • Wow! I love it!~ Way to go John! I wouldn't mind seeing this in person.

  • What an incredible craftsman John is. I would love to tour this in person and go back to that simpler time. 

  • Great! Thank you! Have you kept the basement the same since you have lived there? I would love to talk with you about it. I am a producer and looking for interesting stories about Chicago. Can I call you?

  • wow... tht's really amazing! he really does have a great passion! :)

  • I'm totally enchanted. This is amarvel!!!

  • To Shado2100: That's great...you must get a lot of friends visiting you, just to see that basement.

  • Wish I had the creativity of this man who has planned and developed his dream hobby. He is a special person and the envy of many.

  • Hi. I live in the house now and have put MY stuff into the storefronts. It's such a "kick" when going into the basement. Always makes me smile!

  • AWESOME!

  • You should see the Old Town in the Royal British Columbia Museum. It has a two story hotel in it that you can walk through including a saloon, printers shop, clothing store, a replica of Victoria China town, a train station, and an old movie theatre that you can watch silent movies in. One of the great detals is the street, which is made from real wood bricks.

  • What a great way to spend your spare time, remember the past and share with others so it never gets lost. Excellent work.

  • This is awesome. Never thought of anything like this existed in someone's basement. He did a terrific job!

  • @songinmyheart67 So neat that so many people have responded. I bought the house from John and have changed the "stuff" in the storefronts. It is so cool actually ENJOYING going into the basement!

  • @Shado2100

    I would love to talk to with you about your basement and do a story on it. Do you know how I could get in touch with John? Please let me know. Thank you.

  • @micrane1

    I don't have his email nor his phone number but.... John Scapes

    5762 Airport Rd.

    Boulder Junction, WI 54512

  • @Shado2100 I can only imagine how much fun it would be. :) Looks amazing!

  • not only the skills to make what we see.....but the MONEY too.......nice job

  • Mike Rowe, age 15.

  • Absolutely great!

  • Comment removed

  • I love it Bobbie!! and yes theChicago museum version of main street defiantly sticks from childhood memories as well.Yer bud Terry the spider guy

  • @spider2020 I knew you'd love it! Hey, tried to email you @ geocities but mail was ret'd -- no such address....... So, send it to me at my aol screen name...thx.

  • What a great basement. Is it still basically intact? I live in Chicago and would LOVE to see this place if possible. Is there any way this could be arranged? Any help in accomplishing this would be greatly appreciated.

  • It looks a lot bigger than 26' X 46'. It is the illusion that there is much more space behind the store fronts. This is a great idea for any room, garage, or basement.

  • @geneel169

    It gives me a warm "fuzzy" every time I go into the basement! I changed the stuff but the storefronts, general store and bar remain exactly as John built them.

  • I think this is simply wonderful! I live in So. Calif. now and my biggest loss is "a finished basement." What John did with his basement is simply wonderful! It might seem corny to some, but so much more "alive" than just packing it up and storing it away where no one can get a sense of the history of a family. Also, the guy is very talented and makes his own stuff. John MADE this stuff himself! Wow!

  • I'm confused! (what else is new). John built this in his house (unbelievable) and now it's called Bobbi's basement. Where is John and who is Bobbi? What happened to all the stuff John had in the storefronts?

  • @ElaineRuth

    My name is Bobbi and I bought the house from John. John moved to northern WI and took most of his stuff with him. I bought some of it but put my stuff into the storefront windows.

  • @fitfemcgo Why did John sell the house? He put so much work into his hobby.

  • @marlagx

    His wife wanted to move to northern WI to be closer to one of their children. He said he would only do another basement if a museum hired him to do it! This basement has so, so much skilled labor; it took him 30 yrs. OK, so he did't work on it full-time. Believe he only did it in the winter so he could enjoy the summers.

  • @ElaineRuth

    I'm Bobbi and bought the house from John. I bought some of John's things (in the general store) but put my own "stuff" into the storefront windows.

  • PURE GENIUS CREATED WITH THE PATIENCE OF AN ANGEL

  • This is really incredible -- a labour of love!

  • If this guy wants to turn my basement into such an incredible waste of space please feel free.

  • Our past is only gone if no one remembers it. Great Job.

  • I've loved the Main Street at the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry since I was seven years old when I first saw it. I'm now 67 and STILL marvel at it. For this man, reconstructing his own "Main Street" must have been a monumental undertaking. The man is a true artist, and this is obviously his hobby and his passion. He's living his dream and I salute him for it. This video is outstanding, especially when one encounters so much garbage on You-Tube. 

  • incredible waste of space............to each his own though.

  • So is this comment (a waste of space).

  • @jjakab - for you this awesome achievement is like casting pearls before swine

  • @kissmyklawz I did not mean the project as a waste of space...

    I love it, i meant it for one of the comments by nascarlung "incredible waste of space".. I said his COMMENT was a waste of space, not the work done! Sorry for any misunderstanding. I love the project and I think the man in a genius!

  • @jjakab - ahhh, a misunderstanding ... all is good now & I agree, nascarlung's comment is imbecilic

  • What an incredibly gifted man!

  • That's so cool! He should add street lights and turn the other lights out to create a night scene.

  • @Morrisseys7thFriend

    I'm the son of John, the man who did this. He actually does have lights within each window, and did, while he lived there, turn the florescent lights out and leave the window lights on. I wish HGTV caught that.

  • @jscapes11

    I'm Bobbi and own 736 now. I LOVE my basement! Put MY stuff in the storefronts and gen'l store windows. It is AWESOME and really gives me a "high" whenever I go down there! How old were you when you were allowed to play down there? How old were you when it was finished?

  • @jscapes11

    John,

    What an awesome "opus magnus" Did your Dad pass away? That is probably the ONLY way I would ever leave such a wonderful house. I am originally from Chicago and grew up in Evanston/Highland Park. Do you mind telling me what suburb your family lived in? Thanks for a lovely memory and what a tribute to an incredibly talented man.

  • Fantastic!

  • OMG! How big is the basement?

  • This is awesome!

  • Great job John... This is a fine example of someone being able to with their own hands, capture and fulfil both a happiness and a dream.

  • How fun, I really enjoyed it.

    Thanks for sharing.

  • John, you're QUITE a guy! I think it's AWESOME the amount of devotion and quality craftsmanship that has obviously gone into your 1890's basement. Do you allow visitors to go through it? That would be so much fun. I hope it will somehow remain for as long as that house stands as a testament to one man's vision, determination and TALENT. GOOD WORK!

  • @GrammyJo

    I actually bought the house from John. The storefronts and gen'l store remain but all have my stuff in them.

    Bobbi

  • amazing:)

  • Your work IS a labor of LOVE !! Wonderful way to use the special things that are a part of your family heritage. A trip back in time that's a trip back in REAL memories.

  • Bobbi you've done an incredible recreation of an old time main Street .. the part I love about this is the way you have incorporated you personal heirlooms .. just fascinating !!!!!!!..

  • unbelievable!

  • Truly fascinating! What an incredible job this man has done in creating the old fashioned Main Street!  Thanks for sharing this wonderful video and interview.

  • this is amazing and I love it! I wish I could visit!

  • It is very nice.My favorite was the Farm that the muesum had, so realistic back then.I was in the museum some years back and I was very disapointed all the changes that have been made.I suppose you have to go with the times. On exhibit is a horse drawn street car,that I use to play in as a kid.It was located (stored)in the Lawndale Bus garage at one time .My father worked for the CTA.

  • This is awesome...I think it looks nicer than the exhibit at the Museum of Science an Industry in Chicago! : )

  • Abslutely amazing! When you opened the doors you blew my mind & the storage areas were unbelievable... All I can say is FANTASTIC! My jaw was dropped thru the whole video.... Great job!

  • This is absolutely unreal! It gives the image of being so large, and so realistic! I'd hate for him to see my basement.

  • This is incredible. I was fascinated from beginning to end. It does remind me of the one at the Museum of Science and Industry and I always enjoyed that one.

  • That is an amazing basement!!!! I have wanted to do something like this too!!! Such inspiration!!!!

  • Fantastic work of art! Especially love the general store that one can enter, with all the items of the period. Great job.

  • that's pretty cool

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