Richard Schaefer, a lifelong Erie resident, began converting discarded automotive parts into sculptures on his front yard after learning welding from his father and frequenting his brother’s junkyard.
His first project fused the front halves of two Lincoln Continentals, a modest start that has grown into a collection of five main sculptures: Automan, a two‑headed dinosaur, a rocket ship, a bumblebee, and a spider.
Automan, built from an engine, a transmission, and a drive shaft, has worn many costumes—pirate, scarecrow, golfer—according to Schaefer.
The two‑headed dinosaur, its teeth fashioned from spark plugs and its paws from wrenches, stands beside Automan, drawing the eye of passersby.
Schaefer says the yard is open daily from dawn to dusk, with no admission fee, and he welcomes families to explore the sculptures.
The family maintains a website and social media pages, and a suggestion box on the property invites visitors to contribute ideas for future creations. Schaefer says he plans to add new sculptures each year, keeping the yard a living canvas of creative reuse.