Citizen Spotlight: Charles Bigham

bigham-family-porch — *Charles, with Millie, Erica, and Luna (photo Mackenzie Cole).*

Charles Bigham has had a lot of adventures so far in his life and he’s continuing to add to his impressive resume while helping raise his family here in Excelsior Springs. Charles grew up not too far from here, just north of the river, and went to Oak Park High School. Even at a young age, Charles was developing his interests, exploring the outdoors, welding, and learning about construction from his father who was a carpenter at the time. When he was only 14, Charles earned his scuba diving certification. “I’d get those scuba magazines and just imagine myself working underwater like that,” he said. Each skill that he added led him to more adventures.

*Charles with his wife Erica (submitted photo).*

After graduating high school in 1981 Charles worked for several years in the area doing construction work learning a wide variety of skills. In his free time, he was learning more, rebuilding engines, becoming educated about native cultures, hunting for artifacts, and continuing his recreational diving. In 1989 he went to Seattle to study underwater welding. When he returned to the midwest he went to work helping to build dams, bridges, and nuclear power plants. Eventually, he got offered an opportunity for a big job in Hawaii. “I lived out there for a year and a half while we built over 200 bathrooms on an army barracks,” he reflected. When he returned to the midwest he and a buddy started a repair shop for exotic cars and he did that for a while until his then-wife, a television producer, decided she wanted to test the waters in California.

*Charles with his mother-in-law, Patty, his wife, Erica, and daughters Luna and Millie (submitted photo).*

In California, Charles continued his life lessons, the struggles of a divorce, the thrills of working on movie and television set construction, and the excitement of new romance. He also picked up work doing ornate trim work on Beverly Hills mansion remodels and new home builds. “I wish I had pictures of some of those homes, they were really something,” Charles said. He said the most fun he had working on a set was when he and a large crew were sent to Maine to prepare the fishing village, Eastport, Maine, for an early reality television show, called Murder in Small Town X. As part of the crew Charles helped to construct a large statue of a fisherman, that the locals fell in love with. According to the website, historybythesea.com “In 2004, Eastport citizens rallied to restore and preserve the statue, dedicating it in the memory of Ángel Juarbe, Jr., the winning contestant on the TV show, who was a firefighter killed during the 9/11 attacks. Which occurred only a week after the show’s finale aired.”

“The Eastport Fisherman” (photo courtesy of historybythesea.com)

Charles also met the love of his life in California, his wife, Erica Weiss a charismatic actress, and dancer who was also from the midwest. They began their romance in the early days of cell phone technology, and although they had sparked an intense relationship Charles had to come back to Kansas City for a family emergency. During his time away, he lost his cell phone and in doing so, he also lost Erica’s contact. When he returned to L.A. he went straight to her apartment. “A few more hours and I may have missed her completely,” said Charles “her car was packed and she was leaving L.A. that afternoon!” After a brief courtship, they got married and decided to settle down in the midwest. Charles had family in the Kansas City area and it was a central location for Erica who has relatives scattered throughout the region.

*Just a sample of the amazing work that Charles has done with the family stove restoration business (submitted photos).*

Charles’ dad had been flipping houses and found them the house they now live in. Since moving to Excelsior Springs in 2008 the Bigham’s have had two daughters, Luna (12) and Millie (9). Charles has taken over his father-in-law’s antique stove restoration business, where he rescues neglected cast-iron beauties and brings them back to life using a blend of his craftsmanship and artistry. In his free time, Charles loves to explore nature, gathering mushrooms and Native American artifacts. Although it’s been a long and winding road that brought them here the Bigham’s say they feel like they’ve hit the jackpot. “It’s the perfect place to raise a family,” said Charles, “I can’t imagine living anywhere else.”