Blawnox native Katie Specht-Coban sees her borough as a small world filled with big-hearted people.
The daughter of the late Charles Specht, former president of the Pittsburgh Miniature Society, has carried on her father’s passion of crafting tiny locations and keepsakes.
In December 2024, the councilwoman presented miniature scenes for Blawnox police officers shortly before the department was absorbed by O’Hara as part of a public safety agreement with the township.
Last month, Christmas came early for beloved businessman and nonprofit co-founder Ronny “Moondog” Esser.
Esser, a Frazer resident, opened the bar/music lounge Moondog’s along Freeport Road in June 1988.
Countless artists have performed there through the years. Many of them are immortalized as dog musicians on a mural across from the bar. Multiple autographed guitars are mounted on the wall closest to the bar.
Esser also owns the Starlite Lounge in Blawnox.
He is co-founder of Band Together Pittsburgh, a nonprofit that showcases singer/songwriters, musicians and other artists on the autism spectrum.
Specht-Coban spent more than 100-plus hours over the better part of two years to build the miniature Moondog’s on her kitchen table.
She often would attend shows at Moondog’s to support the business.
However, some of those trips were to secretly take measurements and make mental blueprints for the project. She used a one-inch equals one-foot formula to size everything.
“I had always had a passion for miniature environments,” Specht-Coban said. “Two years ago, I decided after attending many concerts at Moondog’s and watching all the work Ron had done for Band Together Pittsburgh, I wanted to create something to showcase all the memories we have had at Moondog’s.”
Family and friends helped sneak the 27-inch-by-48-inch re-creation into Moondog’s clubhouse back room for a surprise reveal Dec. 16.
“It’s a sense of excitement for Ron,” Specht-Coban said. “How do you repay someone that does all this volunteer stuff for these kids? He put these kids on the map. These kids are incredible.”
Esser did his best to hold his emotions in check while looking over the artwork, often raising his hands to face in disbelief.
“I’m just flattered, amazed and can’t believe how beautiful it is,” he said. “I’m blessed more than I deserve. I can tell you that.
“The detail is just absolutely amazing. I’ve seen this, like, in museums, but I’ve never seen anything like this anywhere else. This even looks nicer than the stuff that’s in a museum.”
Project development
The walls are plywood, and plastic jewels were used to make the two front windows. Tongue depressors were used as flooring.
There are framed photos of Esser’s family such as his son, James; wife June; and late father Arthur Esser; and friends like the late Vincent “Superdog” Price are on the mini walls. A pair of miniature photo albums are placed in the bar’s seating area.
Esser said seeing all those images sparked a lot of memories.
“I see a lot of people that were part of this that aren’t here anymore,” he said. “A lot of memories. A lot of people that played here. The more I look at it, the more I see really beautiful memories. You know, 37 years is a long time. And I just see a bunch of people who I love on here.”
The mini stage area does not include the support beam in the real building, a detail Verona musician Cherylann Hawk appreciated.
Hawk was a constant presence at Moondog’s, performing about every Thursday from 1998-2003 and Wednesdays from 2010-12. She was among the artists amazed by the piece.
“I wanted to squeal because when I see tiny things it makes my voice go up like this,” Hawk squeaked. “This is just incredible. …
“I wish I could shrink and stand on that stage.”
Other details include two overturned Corona beer cases behind the bar, gnomes and decorative — working — lights. Guests said the model really captured the cozy, casual vibe of the place.
Specht-Coban also included food items in reference to other Esser-related things. Pieces of clay were used as pierogies, a dish Starlite Lounge is famous for, and prepackaged fudge on the bar counter represented a popular Band Together fundraising effort.
She was assisted by her husband, Dan, and family friends Melissa Shontz, Dave Layden and Michael Ninehouser.
“The hardest was getting the construction of the walls, which is what my husband did,” said Specht-Coban, a retired cafeteria worker from Fox Chapel Area School District.
“The funnest part was trying to find things and getting all the pictures and framing them all. I did a lot of painting. It was just very time consuming but very enjoyable.”
Some of the pieces she painted were from Lynlott Miniatures in Aspinwall.
Dan Coban said he enjoyed assisting with the main structure and being a part of his wife’s labor of love.
“I love helping Katie with her stuff because I know how talented she really is,” he said. “She did 99% of the work.”
Esser said he plans to keep the mini Moondog’s in the clubhouse, the back room of the business, and plans to get a glass case to preserve it.