Bucknell unveils gingerbread replica of library

Dec. 15—LEWISBURG — Employees of Bucknell University were greeted with a sweet treat on Friday.

A gingerbread replica of Bucknell University's Ellen Clarke Bertrand Library was on display during the university's annual campus holiday luncheon for 650 employees at the Bostwick Marketplace in the Elaine Langone Center. The replica, created by Gable House Bakery in Mifflinburg, is also the centerpiece of Bucknell's holiday video.

"I love it," said Athena Dunham, a custodian. "It's beautiful. They did a great job on it. I've never seen anything like this in person."

The replica features brick walls with windows, doors, the clock tower and the Bison weather vane. The trees and bushes are covered in snow and there's a hanging wreath. Working lights illuminate the windows.

"It's amazing," said Jesse Greenawalt, an event technology technician. "Somebody put a lot of work into this."

Brandy Kift, the director of marketing strategy at Bucknell, said the communications team works hard every year to develop a theme for the holiday video. The suggestion was made earlier this year to create a replica of the library due to its recognizability.

"A number of us are already customers of Gable House Bakery," said Kift. "We knew it would be a great partnership."

They reached out to Gable House owner Nikki Keister-Hornig and her mother Donita Keister, who has been making gingerbread kits for decades. They went over the creative process in October and Keister-Horning and Keister had the replica ready by early November.

"There's all these details," said Kift. "There are knobs and handles on the door. They nailed it. They exceeded our expectations."

Kift said they needed enough time to film the segments for the video and edit it. The gingerbread library was picked up in late November and stored at the university until it was ready for its public unveiling on Friday.

This is the largest gingerbread project Keister said she has ever undertaken. It took between 30 and 40 hours to design, bake, cure, assemble, and decorate.

"Nikki and I love a challenge," said Keister. "It wasn't a matter of can we do it, but if we had the time."

The base and the lights are the only part that's not food. No cardboard or plastic was used, said Keister.

The roof is made of fondant. The snow is either icing, powdered sugar or coconut flakes.

"Sugar in all of its forms," said Keister.

The luncheon also features an annual food drive. All donated items from employees are given to AmeriCorps food banks.