By SUSAN EMERSON MELLISH
Antique Week Correspondent MILLERSBURG, Ohio — Want a way to bring customers to your antique shop? Take a lesson from historic Millersburg located in gorgeous Holmes County, Ohio. Working together the downtown merchants chose a Saturday, advertised heavily, and spilled their merchandise out onto the sidewalks dubbing their event Antiques in the Alley. Food vendors were contacted. Shop owners without an antique slant offered up their sidewalk space to antique dealers who did not have shops in town.
“We do this twice a year,” said Carren Starr of Starlight Antiques who helps promote the event. Shoppers were busy digging through the items crowding the sidewalks as well as filling the antique shops at times making it hard to move up and down the stores’ aisles.
The eight antique shops located in Millersburg would be worth the visit in and of themselves. Some are strictly antiques. Others showcase local artists as well. The shop 55 West & Co. which promotes itself as “Quite possibly the coolest store on the planet,” was indeed trendy. Not only were funky, retro antiques and vintage clothing in-house, the walls were filled with artwork. A jewelry artist was busy crafting beaded bracelets. For advocates of repurposing, mixed in with the antiques were loads of older, less valuable furniture that had been repainted in all manners of colors and designs. A three-piece tubular metal table and chairs having green floral padded circular backs and seats was priced at $199.
Antique Emporium had two floors packed full of antiques and collectibles, from small items to large pieces like a fantastic store counter with a one inch thick marble top. The 8ft long counter had white glass front panels and initialed cast iron legs. Made by the General Fixture & Supply Company, Columbus, Ohio, it was $1,250.
Next door to the Emporium was Village Antiques, etc. Owners Lori and Randy Ramsey offered an eclectic mix of unique items from the past including, appropriately enough, an issue of the Holmes County Republican. Priced $105, a year’s subscription to this publication was a mere $2. The paper was founded in 1879, and this edition was Vol.IX, No.51.
Cyndi Burk of Welcome to my “Nut House” filled the sidewalk space in front of the Antique Emporium with her items. Included in the mix was a late 1950s, early 1960s pinball machine. Made by the D. Gottlieb & Co. of Chicago, this “flipper skill game,” featuring a marble game theme could be had for $500.
Shaker House Antiques on the Square actually closed down for several days to decorate and prepare for Antiques in the Alley.
Found here was an Amish dry sink painted green which had feather-like carvings on the doors. Having one small dovetailed and chamfered drawer, the piece was $785. Also on hand was a complete set for eight of Vernon Ware, marked “Authentic California” in the green Gingham pattern. The grouping was available for $470.
A must stop for glass lovers would have been the Millersburg Glass Museum & Visitors Center where Millersburg Carnival glass was on display. The Museum is located right in the downtown area. The Millersburg Glass Company was in operation from 1909 to 1912.
This year will mark the seventh year for Antiques in the Alley. The next event will be held May 7, while the fall edition will be Aug. 6.
For more information, contact 330-674-5111 or go online to www.starlightantiques.com |
