Gravenhurst, Muskoka - My Hometown Advantage

Antique and Collectable Pricing is an Issue

2012-02-12T16:07:00.000-08:00

FINDING THE "SLEEPERS" IS WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT THESE DAYS - GRAVENHURST'S RUBBERSET

A SUNDAY TOUR WITH SOME FRINGE BENEFITS-

THIS MORNING WE HEADED OUT ON THE OPEN ROAD, AND HAD ANOTHER GREAT FAMILY ADVENTURE, HUNTING HIGH AND LOW FOR ELUSIVE ANTIQUES AND COLLETABLES. OF COURSE, NOW WHEN I SAY OR WRITE "ELUSIVE" I MEAN IT. WE TRAVEL TWICE AS FAR TO GET THE SAME AMOUNT AS WE DID FIVE YEARS AGO. SOMETIMES THIS ISN'T EVEN POSSIBLE. TODAY WAS A GOOD EXAMPLE. A WONDERFUL NO STRESS TRIP. GENERALLY CRAPPY OUTCOME AS FAR AS FINDS. BUT REGARDLESS OF PROFIT MARGINS, WHEN WE CURRIES CAN GET TOGETHER NOW, WHICH IS A LOT HARDER WITH OUR WORK AND BUSINESS SCHEDULES, IT'S ALWAYS NOSTALGIC GOOD FUN, WHETHER WE FIND ANYTHING OR JUST ENJOY A LUNCH OUT. WE NEVER LET BUSINESS SCREW UP AN OUTING LIKE THIS. LIFE'S TOO SHORT.

WHEN WE HEAD OUT ON AN ANTIQUE HUNT, THERE'S ONE THING WE KNOW IN ADVANCE. BY TODAY'S MARKET CONDITION, WE WILL CRINGE ABOUT THE ASKING PRICES. WHETHER IT IS IN A SECOND-HAND SHOP, THRIFT SHOP OR OTHER CHARITY SHOP, CHANCES ARE, WE WILL HAVE TO TRIM OUR EXPECTATIONS. IF WE GO TO ANTIQUE SHOPS, WELL, THERE ARE SOME CO-OPS WE CAN ONLY GO TO BROWSE, BECAUSE WE CAN'T AFFORD ANYTHING. NOW DON'T GET ME WRONG. WE DON'T EXPECT ANY SHOP, OR CHARITY TO LOSE ITS PROFIT MARGIN, JUST TO PLEASE US. ON THE OTHER HAND, HOWEVER, THESE SHOPS ALSO DO PRETTY WELL IN THE PERCENTAGE GAME, WHICH ON DONATED ITEMS IS OFTEN HUGE. YOU'D BE SHOCKED TO KNOW THE ACTUAL PROFIT MARGINS, WITH STORE COSTS FACTORED IN OF COURSE. IF BREAD WAS PRICED AS SUCH, WITH THIS KIND OF STAGGERING PROFIT MARGIN, FEW WOULD BE EATING IT….EVER AGAIN. ESPECIALLY SO ON COLLECTIBLE ITEMS AND ANTIQUES, THAT ARE WAY OVER-PRICED. IN MANY CASES, PRICED THE SAME AS IF ON THE SHELF OF AN ANTIQUE SHOP. BUT THE PEOPLE STAFFING THESE THRIFT SHOPS ARE NOT TRAINED TO IDENTIFY OR PRICE ANTIQUES ACCURATELY. I'VE HAD A FEW OF THESE CLERKS POINT OUT THE PRICE GUIDES, THEY FUMBLE THROUGH FOR REFERENCE, STUFFED BEHIND THE COUNTER. I CRINGE FOR A SECOND AND THIRD TIME, BEFORE I FINALLY SHRUG AND LEAVE THE PREMISES.

MANY OF THESE SHOPS HAVE SOUGHT OUT PROPER APPRAISAL ASSISTANCE FROM THE ANTIQUE COMMUNITY, TO GET ASSESSMENTS ON SOME SIGNIFICANT PIECES. WE OFFER OUR KNOWLEDGE AND GENERAL APPRAISALS WHENEVER WE'RE ASKED. WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR YEARS. MY ONLY COMPLAINT, IS THAT A LOT OF CHARITY SHOPS, AND QUITE A FEW SECOND HAND SHOPS, TAKE THE ANTIQUE THING TO EXCESS. MANY ITEMS ARE PRICED EXCEPTIONALLY HIGH, WELL OVER WHAT THE ACTUAL MARKET VALUE REPRESENTS. THIS ISN'T GOOD BUSINESS. SOME WOULD SAY, WELL, WHAT ABOUT THE ANTIQUE PIECES THAT ARE PRICED TOO LOW? ISN'T THAT BAD BUSINESS TOO? IT'S NO TOO MUCH OF AN ISSUE, FROM OUR INVESTIGATION, STORE TO STORE. RIGHT NOW, THE PRICES IN A MAJORITY OF THESE CHARITY SHOPS, ARE SO HIGH, THAT THEY ARE DISCOURAGING ALL WALKS OF CUSTOMERS….. EVERY INCOME AND PROFESSIONAL SECTOR. BEWARE WHEN EVEN THE FOLKS OF MODEST INCOME, ARE EQUALLY THWARTED, TRYING TO PURCHASE BASIC CLOTHING AND NECESSARY HOUSEHOLD ITEMS. GETTING GOOD PRICES? NOT SO MUCH ANY MORE….ANY WHERE!

THE PEOPLE WHO SHOP THERE REGULARLY, TO BUY ANTIQUES AND COLLECTIBLES, JUST LOOK FOR ANYTHING THAT'S BEEN PRICED TOO LOW, AND SETTLE FOR MODEST GAINS. WE HAVE NO CHOICE OR SIMPLY CLOSE UP OUR BUSINESSES.

IT'S LIKE THIS. AS STEWARDS OF THE DONATIONS, IT IS INCUMBENT ON THEM, TO GET THE BEST PRICE THEY CAN FOR AN ITEM. I DON'T QUESTION THIS AT ALL. ON THE OTHER HAND, WHEN YOU START PRICING, BASED ON A COLLECTIBLE OR ANTIQUE VALUE, IT IS EQUALLY INCUMBENT, TO KNOW THE CORRECT (AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE) PRICE. YOU WILL FIND MANY OF THESE SHOP STAFFERS, RELYING FOR COMPARISON PURPOSES, ON THE ONLINE AUCTION SITES…..WHICH IS OKAY FOR REFERENCE, BUT CERTAINLY NOT ACCEPTING THE HIGHEST PRICE YOU SEE, AS THE BEST PLACE TO INK A SALE STICKER. JUST BECAUSE THERE IS A BUY-IT-NOW PRICE, DOESN'T MEAN WHAT THEY'RE OFFERING WILL SELL FOR THAT AMOUNT. THE SAME WITH STARTING AUCTION BIDS. THE BUYERS SET THE MARGINS. THE DEALERS GO "FISHING." THEY ULTIMATELY WITHDRAW THE PIECE OR DROP THE PRICE. NOT COMPLICATED BY ANY MEANS. DEALERS KNOW HOW TO PLAY-BALL IN THE PRICE-ANGLING SPORT OF SELLING ANTIQUE AND COLLECTIBLE INVENTORY.

MANY OF THESE INEXPERIENCED STAFFERS, WILL LOOK AT A "BUY-IT-NOW" PRICE, AND BELIEVE THAT GOD ESTABLISHED THAT VALUATION. ON VINTAGE VINYL, FOR EXAMPLE. THE RANGE OF PRICES ON RE-SALE RECORDS IS ALL OVER THE PLACE, AND VARIES SO MUCH FROM STORE TO STORE……YOU KNOW POSITIVELY THERE IS NO LONGER "COMPARISON SHOPPING" BETWEEN VENDORS, OFFERING SIMILAR OR IDENTICAL PRODUCTS. THESE VENDOR WIND-UP LOOKING PARTICULARLY DAFT, WHEN YOU ASK WHY A PRICE FOR A GUY LOMBARDO RECORD, IS SET AT FOUR DOLLARS HIGHER THAN RECORDS FROM "AC/DC", "THE DOORS," OR EVEN "THE BEATLES." WE SEE IT ALL THE TIME. IT'S MADDENING, BECAUSE IN MANY CASES, WE WOULD HAVE PURCHASED DOUBLE OR TRIPLE THE RECORDS, ON A BUYING TRIP, IF THERE WASN'T ABSURD PRICE DISCREPANCIES. IT'S A DISCONNECT WITH THE CUSTOMERS. PLAINLY, IT'S AN ONGOING SHORTFALL OF MANAGEMENT. IN THE OLD DAYS, YOU COULD BE PUT IN JAIL FOR OVER-PRICING MEAT OR BREAD, SUCH THAT THE CUSTOMER DIDN'T GET THE ACCURATE WEIGHT FOR THE PRICE PAID.

AS WE LIVE AND BREATH ANTIQUES AND COLLECTIBLES, IF WE APPEAR A LITTLE HARSH ABOUT THINGS LIKE PRICING, WELL, WE COULDN'T APOLOGIZE EVEN IF TORTURED. IT ISN'T AN ACROSS THE BOARD THING, BECAUSE THERE ARE MILLIONS OF ANTIQUE PIECES, JEWELLRY, FURNITURE, PAINTINGS, PRIMITIVES, THAT I HAVE NO DEFINITIVE PRICE IN MY MIND….WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, I POP MY HEAD AROUND A CORNER, AND THERE IT IS…….A NICE PIECE OF SOMETHING OR OTHER THAT IS PRICED IN THE NOSE BLEED CATEGORY. I CAN'T SAY THAT THESE PIECES ARE OVER-PRICED, BECAUSE THEY ARE WAY OUT OF MY LEAGUE. BUT ON A LOT OF OTHER STUFF, WE ARE BANG-ON, AND FRANKLY, IT MAKES US CRINGE. WE LIKE THE VENUES, AND WE DO LIKE TO BUY, BUT MORE AND MORE THESE DAYS, WE COME OUT OF THESE SHOPS AND MALLS WITH A COUPLE OF LITTLE BAGS OF THIS AND THAT…..WHEN WE'D REALLY LIKE TO FILL OUR VAN. AS ANTIQUE DEALERS, WE RESEARCH CONSTANTLY. WE WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT OUR INDUSTRY. WE WANT TO UNDERSTAND THE TRENDS, AND THE MOST POPULAR PIECES AT THE TIME. SO WHEN WE SUGGEST THAT ANTIQUES AND COLLECTIBLES ARE STARTING TO BECOME OVER-PRICED, AS RELATED TO THE STATE OF THE ECONOMY GENERALLY, IT'S BECAUSE WE'VE SEEN IT BEFORE. IF AND WHEN THINGS GET A LITTLE TIGHTER IN OUR ECONOMY…..WHEN WE FIND OUT WHAT KIND OF CUT-BACKS WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT, FROM BOTH THE FEDERAL AND PROVINCIAL BUDGETS, IN THE NEXT MONTH OR SO……MAYBE WE WILL ALL NEED TO RE-EVALUATE PRICES WE ARE WILLING TO PAY, FOR THINGS WE DON'T REALLY NEED.

THESE VENDORS, INCLUDING SECOND HAND SHOPS AND THRIFT STORES, WILL HAVE TO CHANGE THEIR PRICE STRATEGY, JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER RETAIL OPERATION. IT'S ECONOMICS 101. IF YOU OWN AN ANTIQUE PIECE, YOU CAN PUT A PRICE ON IT TO EITHER SELL, OR TO SHOW PEOPLE HOW VALUABLE YOU THINK IT IS……AND LET IT COLLECT DUST FOR EVER AND EVER. THERE ARE A LOT OF ANTIQUE ENTERPRISES WHERE THIS HAPPENS. I CAN GO IN ONE YEAR INTERVALS, AND FIND THE SAME ITEMS, OFTEN IN THE SAME FLOOR SPACE, PRICED EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE YEAR PREVIOUS. THIS ISN'T BUSINESS. AND IT'S DEFINITELY NOT THE WAY TO RUN A BUSINESS.

ONE OF THE PROBLEMS, IS THAT MANY ANTIQUE MALL VENDORS TEND TO PRICE HIGH TO MAKE SURE THEY COVER THEIR RENT, PERCENTAGES IF APPLICABLE, AND GET THEIR PROFIT. BUT ON THE FLIP SIDE, AS AN ANTIQUE DEALER MYSELF, MOST OF THE TIME WE DO GET OUR INVENTORY AT A FRACTION OF THE PRICE ON THE STICKER. WHY IS THE MARK-UP SO HIGH? IS IT BASED ON AN ACCURATE APPRAISAL OR BALL PARK ESTIMATION? HERE'S THE REAL PROBLEM. THESE SAME CO-OP SHOPKEEPS, AND SOME MALL PROPRIETORS, ARE NOT ASKING VENDORS TO JUSTIFY THEIR EXCESSIVE PRICING ON ITEMS. AND IF THEY WERE TO LOOK AROUND THEIR OWN MALLS, THEY WOULD FIND NUMEROUS IDENTICAL PIECES…..CONDITION WISE, WITH WIDELY DIFFERENT PRICES. THERE'S NOTHING THAT TURNS US OFF MORE, THAN FINDING THIS OUT FROM BOOTH TO BOOTH. IN THE OLDEN DAYS, YOU GOT TO MEET WITH SHOP OWNERS…..THE ONES WHO ACTUALLY SET THE PRICE OF INVENTORY, AND OWNED THE SHOP ITSELF. THERE WAS ALWAYS SOMEONE TO TALK WITH, AND DISCUSS A PARTICULAR PIECE. I KNOW THAT MALL STAFF TRY THEIR BEST, BUT IT DOESN'T WORK AS IT SHOULD. THERE IS A VITAL IMPORTANCE, IN ANTIQUES, TO BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT SUBJECT PIECES…..ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT ARE PRICED VERY HIGH. WHAT ABOUT THE PROVENANCE? YOU AREN'T LIKELY TO FIND MUCH ON THE PRICE TAG. HOW CAN VENDORS EXPECT TO GET MAXIMUM PRICE FOR THEIR WARES, WITHOUT DETAILED EXPLANATIONS? IF THEY WERE TO SELL THESE SAME ITEMS, ON ONLINE AUCTIONS, THEY WOULD CERTAINLY HAVE TO DO BETTER WITH THEIR BUDGET OF INFORMATION. THERE ARE A LOT OF PIECES I WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT, BUT DON'T HAVE THE TIME TO WAIT IN LINE, TO FIND A CLERK, WHO MOST LIKELY WON'T HAVE A CLUE WHAT THE PIECE IS….OR WHERE IT MIGHT HAVE COME FROM, IN A VEDOR'S INADEQUATELY REFERENCED BOOTH.

THIS IS THE REALITY OF OUR MUTUAL COMPLAINTS. AS DEALERS WANTING TO STICK WITH THE BUSINESS, AND HAVING TO CIRCUMNAVIGATE THE PRICE TRAPS OUT THERE ON THE HUSTINGS, WE HAVE HAD TO EMPLOY EVERY RESOURCE OF EDUCATION IN THE FIELD, AND ON-THE-JOB TRAINING, TO FIND THE "SLEEPER" PIECES. SIMPLY STATED, THE UNRECOGNIZED GEMS THAT FOR WHATEVER REASON, HAVE BEEN MISIDENTIFIED, MISUNDERSTOOD, AND GENERALLY UNDER-PRICED. WHILE WE WOULD LIKE TO BUY MANY MORE PIECES WE LIKE, WE JUST CAN'T ABANDON COMMON SENSE ECONOMICS….WHICH ALL BUSINESSES EVENTUALLY HAVE TO COMPLY, OR FAIL. SO WE LOOK HIGH AND LOW FOR UNDETECTED VALUES. IT'S THE ONLY WAY WE CAN RUN OUR COMBINED MUSIC AND ANTIQUE BUSINESS. AS WE WILL NOT HAGGLE WITH ANY OF THE VENDORS WE DEAL WITH…..EVER, EVER, WE ONLY HAVE ONE OTHER OPTION IF WE WANT TO MAKE EVEN THE SLIGHTEST PROFIT….AND THAT'S FINDING THE "SLEEPER" PIECES THAT FOR HIGH QUALITY, AND COLLECTIBLE VALUE, ARE PRICED EITHER SENSIBLY, OR VERY LOW.

NOW IN CASE SHOP OWNERS ARE READING THIS, DON'T THINK THAT THIS HASN'T BEEN HAPPENING FOR AS LONG AS YOU'VE HAD THE SHOP. WE DIDN'T INVENT THE "SLEEPER" SCENARIO. IT'S BEEN AROUND, AS AN OPERATIONAL STRATEGY FOREVER. IT'S WHAT DRIVES DEALERS NUTS….THINKING ABOUT THE BIG ONE THEY SOLD FOR LESS THAN IT WAS WORTH. THE RIDICULOUS ASPECT OF THIS, SIMPLY STATED, IS THAT UNLESS IT WAS AN ORIGINAL GROUP OF SEVEN, SOLD FOR FIFTY BUCKS INSTEAD OF $50,000, MOST OF THE TIME THE AMOUNT WOULDN'T BE MUCH MORE THAN THE USUAL PERCENTAGE OF A TYPICAL DEPARTMENT STORE "LOSS LEADER."

WHAT'S LOST HERE, AND SO MANY VENDORS, AND SECOND HAND SHOP FOLKS, AND OF COURSE CHARITY SHOP STAFF, MISUNDERSTAND HOW MUCH CAPITAL IS SPENT BY ANTIQUE DEALERS AND COLLECTORS, EVERY YEAR IN THEIR SHOPS. WHEN THEY START BUMPING UP PRICES, JUST BECAUSE THEY FEAR WHAT ANTIQUE BUYERS MIGHT KNOW, THAT THEY DON'T, THE CYCLE OF ECONOMICS GETS JAMMED UP REAL GOOD. THEN THE VENDOR STARTS STACKING TROPHY PIECES THAT ARE PRICED TOO HIGH TO SELL. I'VE SEEN IT OVER AND OVER FOR THE PAST THIRTY-FIVE YEARS IN THIS TRADE. INSTEAD OF TREATING ALL CUSTOMERS EQUALLY, THERE IS THIS ATTRACTION TO GOOSE "THE PATRONS WITH DEEP POCKETS." WHO BY THE WAY, WILL ALWAYS COME THROUGH, FOUR SEASONS A YEAR, IF THEY SENSE FAIRNESS AND EQUALITY TO ONE AND ALL.

ADMITTEDLY, FIVE YEARS AGO, WE COULD GO ON AN ANTIQUE HUNT, ON A TYPICAL SATURDAY OR SUNDAY, AND FILL AT LEAST HALF OF OUR LARGE VAN. SOMETIMES WE'D HAVE FIVE OR SIX PIECES OF FURNITURE STUFFED IN THE BACK. ON OTHER OCCASIONS, WE MIGHT HAVE TEN GUITARS AND FOUR OR FIVE AMPLIFIERS. MAYBE EVEN A DRUM KIT OR TWO. TODAY WE CAME BACK WITH A COUPLE OF THIN PAPER BAGS, A HANDFUL OF RECORDS, A COUPLE OF INTERESTING SMALL-FORMAT, ORIGINAL PAINTINGS, AND A LOCAL SOUVENIR FROM THE FORMER GRAVENHURST RUBBERSET PLANT…..THAT USED TO MAKE SHAVING BRUSHES FOR THE MASSES, AND BRUSHES FOR PAINTERS. IT'S BEEN GONE FOR QUITE A FEW YEARS NOW. POINT IS, THE PRICES HAVE GONE UP SO MUCH, IN ALL OUR OLD HAUNTS, WE SIMPLY HAVE TO WALK AWAY. IF YOU KNEW WHAT OUR ANNUAL BUDGET FOR INVENTORY PURCHASES IS, YOU WOULD CERTAINLY FEEL LIKE WE DO…..SOME VENDORS ARE GETTING SILLY ASS, AND IT'S COSTING THEM. IF THEY USE THE ARGUMENT THAT THEIR STORE OPERATIONAL COSTS HAVE GONE UP, AND THEIR ACQUISITION COSTS HAVE ESCALATED, WELL, THEN RELATE THAT TO CUSTOMERS WALKING AWAY WITHOUT SPENDING A DIME……WHEN IN THE PAST, THEY WERE GOOD CUSTOMERS, WHO SELDOM LEFT WITHOUT MAKING PURCHASES. IT'S A SLIPPERY SLOPE, AND LIKE I WROTE ABOUT EARLIER, THE MARKET WILL LET YOU KNOW WHEN YOU'VE PRICED TOO HIGH. I'VE SEEN A LOT OF GREAT SHOPS CLOSE, BECAUSE THEY JUST WOULDN'T BUDGE ON WHAT WAS SO OBVIOUSLY THE LOGGER-HEAD OF THE WHOLE SITUATION. IF WE LEAVE YOUR STORE WITH SEVERAL LITTLE PARCELS, WELL, YOU SHOULD BE CONCERNED. WE CURRIES ARE KEEN BUYERS BUT WE WON'T PUT UP WITH NONSENSICAL PRICING….I DON'T CARE WHERE OR WHY. BUT WE WON'T OFFER A COMPLAINT. WE JUST WON'T COME BACK. IT'S YOUR CHOICE AS A VENDOR, TO EITHER CONNECT WITH THE REALITIES OF THE MARKET PLACE, OR OPEN A MUSEUM WHERE YOU CAN EXHIBIT ALL YOUR BEST PIECES…..AND CHARGE ADMISSION. BET YOU IT WON'T FLY.

WE FOUND A NUMBER OF SLEEPERS TODAY, BASED ON THE ASKING PRICE AND THE QUALITY OF THE ITEMS. THE FIRST GREAT FIND OF THE DAY, WAS WHEN SUZANNE FOUND A BEAUTIFULLY PRESERVED SHAVING BRUSH, WITH ORIGINAL BOX AND PRINTED INSERT, FROM THE FORMER RUBBERSET COMPANY OF GRAVENHURST, WHERE FORMER PREMIER OF ONTARIO, FRANK MILLER, USED TO WORK IN HIS YOUNGER DAYS. THE INDUSTRY WAS TORN DOWN MANY YEARS AGO NOW, AND MY SONS, ANDREW AND ROBERT, ACTUALLY MADE A DAY OUT OF IT……WATCHING, AS THE CLAW USED BY THE DEMOLITION CREW, LEVELED ONE OF OUR HISTORIC INDUSTRIES…….TO MAKE WAY FOR A NEW GROCERY STORE. THE PRICE OF THE BRUSH… $20. THIS WAS ENORMOUSLY FAIR, AND WE WILL LIKELY HANG ONTO THIS WITH OUR OTHER MUSKOKA COLLECTIBLES. WE FOUND ANOTHER GEM OF ART, AN OIL ON CLOTH, DEPICTING A FLOWER, PROBABLY FROM THE EARLY 1940'S, JUDGING BY THE FRAME. IT IS A WELL EXECUTED ART PIECE. THE PRICE WAS $2.99 FROM A SECOND HAND SHOP, AND I'VE GOT NO ISSUE WITH PRICING. THEY SIMPLY DIDN'T STUDY IT WITH A MAGNIFYING GLASS, TO DETECT WHETHER IT WAS A PRINT OR AN ORIGINAL. IT WILL RETAIL EVENTUAL FOR AROUND $25.00. A NICE ORIGINAL, SIGNED, CANADIAN WATER COLOR, WITHOUT THE FRAME, BUT IN EXCELLENT CONDITION, COST US $35.00 BUT WITH THE $1.99 FRAME AND MATTING I BOUGHT YESTERDAY AT A THRIFT SHOP, I CAN NICELY MERGE THE TWO INTO A $75.00 ASKING PRICE. ADDITIONALLY TODAY, I WAS ABLE TO FIND A REALLY NICE SOOTHEBY'S AUCTION LISTING OF CANADIAN ART, THAT I COLLECT AND USE FOR REFERENCE, AND AN EXCELLENT GUIDE BOOK ON FIRST NATIONS' ART AND ARTIFACTS, WHICH I CONSULT CONSTANTLY TO RESEARCH FINDS….AND IN PREPARATION TO MAKE A FEW….AS WELL. THE BOYS GOT A FEW RECORDS BUT NARY A GUITAR, AMP OR DRUM. WE SAW THEM. JUST COULDN'T AFFORD THEM.

WHEN WE, AS A FAMILY, SELL OUR ARRAY OF ANTIQUES AND COLLECTIBLES, WHETHER IN THE FIELD OF VINTAGE MUSIC, OR CANADIANA, ART OR ARTIFACT, WE WILL EXPLAIN OUR PRICING, AND OFFER FULL DISCLOSURE OF CONDITION ISSUES AND PARAMETERS OF VALUATIONS…..COMPARISONS WITH OTHER AVAILABLE, PARALLEL, SIMILAR PIECES ON THE MARKET. AND WHILE WE WON'T HAGGLE OURSELVES, WE WILL NEVER CONDEMN ANY OF OUR CUSTOMERS FOR NEGOTIATING A FAIR PRICE.

WHILE IT MAY SEEM WE HAVE A HIGH AND MIGHTY ATTITUDE, A DEEPLY ROOTED ARROGANCE, AND PARTICULARLY CRITICAL OVERVIEW OF OUR CONTEMPORARIES IN THE BUSINESS OF BUYING AND SELLING OLD STUFF……IT COMES WITH EXPERIENCE. WE ARE NOT BRAGGARTS ABOUT WHAT WE HAVE THAT OTHERS DON'T. WE ARE JUST EAGER BUYERS WHO WANT TO SHOP IN THESE STORES, THE MALLS, THE ANTIQUE SHOPS, AND COME HOME WITH SOME INTERESTING PURCHASES…..JUST AS WE ALWAYS HAVE. I DO SUGGEST, MORE OF THESE VENDORS PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT CUSTOMERS ARE SAYING, AND NOT JUST THOSE WHO VOICE PRAISE. THE CRITICAL APPROACH IS THE BETTER WAY, TO FIND OUT JUST HOW MANY PATRONS, ARE DOING THE SAME AS US, AND LEAVING LESS AND LESS MONEY BEHIND. THRIFT AND CHARITY SHOPS SHOULD TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY, BECAUSE THEY ARE LOSING CUSTOMERS, BECAUSE OF EXCESSIVE OVER-PRICING.

Muskoka and Canadian Antique Symbols

2012-02-11T16:44:00.000-08:00

MAKING SMALL GAINS COLLECTING CANADIAN SYMBOLS - AND "REMEMBERING THE MINETT-SHIELDS WORK CABINET"

THE INTERESTING MUSKOKA COLLECTIBLES WE HAD….ONCE UPON A TIME

OUT ON THE ANTIQUE HUNT, THIS MORNING, ONE OF THE MOST STRIKINGLY BEAUTIFUL DAYS THIS WINTER, THE "PYTHONESQUE" QUEST FOR VINTAGE ITEMS, CARRYING THE NATIONAL SYMBOLS OF "THE MAPLE LEAF, THE ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE, AND THE BEAVER," WAS FUN, BUT ONLY MODESTLY SUCCESSFUL. CONSIDERING I MADE THIS A TWO TERM PROJECT, FOR SUZANNE AND I (YOU'RE WELCOME TO JOIN AS WELL), FOR SIX MONTHS, AS AN INTERIM "SHOW AND TELL," AND THEN AT YEAR'S END, WHEN IT WILL BE DETERMINED, WHICH PARTNER DID THE BEST AT FINDING OUR NATIONAL SYMBOLS…..ADORNING COLLECTIBLE, AND VINTAGE ITEMS RANGING FROM OLD TIN ADVERTISING SIGNS, ADVERTISING ON OLD FOOD, BEVERAGE AND TOBACCO TINS, WOOD CARVINGS, SOAP STONE, OR PAINTED ON EVERYTHING FROM MILK CANS TO CHUNKS OF BARN BOARD, AND OF COURSE, CANADIAN SYMBOL FOLK ART. WE WERE INSPIRED BY THE TERRIFIC BOOK BY DONNA & NIGEL HUTCHINS, ENTITLED "THE MAPLE LEAF FOREVER - A CELEBRATION OF CANADIAN SYMBOLS," WITH PHOTOGRAPHY BY MATTHEW BEVERLY; PUBLISHED BY THE BOSTON MILLS PRESS, IN 2006. IT IS A MAGNIFICENTLY ILLUSTRATED BOOK, SHOWING A PLETHORA OF VINTAGE AND NOSTALGIC SOUVENIR AND (CANADA-PROUD) PIECES, DISPLAYING THE PRIMARY, WELL RECOGNIZED SYMBOLS, OF THE ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE, THE MAPLE LEAF, AND OF COURSE, THE BEAVER (NOT "LEAVE IT TO," OR THE "BEIBER"). WE STARTED EARLY IN JANUARY, MAKING IT A LITTLE HUSBAND / WIFE COMPETITION, TO SEE WHO COULD COME UP WITH MORE QUALIFYING SYMBOLS. WE STARTED OFF PRETTY WELL, BUT IN THE OFF SEASON HERE, AND NO YARD SALES AND FLEA MARKETS TO SHOP AT, THE PICKINGS HAVE BEEN THIN. WE RESPOND TO TOUGH CIRCUMSTANCES. WE'RE MUSKOKANS! NOTHING CAN DISTRACT US FROM THE JOB AT HAND. WELL MAYBE SKOKIE, THE WINTER OTTER. (SEE YOU AT THE GRAVENHURST WINTER CARNIVAL, THE END OF FEBRUARY.) OUR BOYS HAVE NOW HIT 1,000 VIEWS, FOR THEIR YOUTUBE MUSIC VIDEO IN SUPPORT OF THE CARNIVAL. MAYBE WE SHOULD INCLUDE SKOKIE AS A CANADIAN SYMBOL OF WINTER RECREATION HERE IN GOD'S COUNTRY? (HOW'S THIS FOR SHAMEFUL, SELF-SERVING NEPOTISM) YOU CAN SEE IT BY CLICKING ON http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuwE6cFlRCg

WE HAVE RESTRICTED OURSELVES TO MUSKOKA ONLY SHOPPING, FOR THESE SYMBOLS. IF WE HAPPEN TO STRAY OUT OF THE AREA, AS WE MUST OCCASIONALLY FOR OUR BOYS' MUSIC BUSINESS, ANYTHING WE DO FIND WITH CANADIAN SYMBOLS, WILL BE PRESENTED ON THIS BLOG, BUT WON'T COUNT WHEN WE DO OUR TWO PART "EXHIBITION," FOR EVERYONE TO SEE. IT'S BEEN FUN SO FAR, AND HAS ADDED A LITTLE "FOR FUN" COMPETITION TO THE WEEKLY ANTIQUE HUNTS. JUST SO YOU KNOW, WE ARE TWO OF THE MOST COMPETITIVE PEOPLE YOU WILL MEET……WHEN PUSH COMES TO SHOVE. NO KIDDING. SUZANNE IS NOT SHY AT ALL, ABOUT PUSHING ME OUT OF THE WAY, WHEN SHE DIVES FOR A GOOD PIECE. I'VE ASKED HER NOT TO DO THIS NEAR STAIRWAYS, AFTER THE LAST TIME. "WHAT WAS ALL THE NOISE," SHE ASKED THE SALES CLERK AT THE THRIFT SHOP. "OH, IT WAS JUST YOUR HUSBAND FALLING DOWN THE STAIRS." "IS HE GOING TO BE OKAY," SHE ENQUIRED, WHILE CAREFULLY EXAMINING THE TRILLIUM CUP AND SAUCER, FOR CHIPS. "WELL, HE'S MOVING HIS LEGS, AND YUP, HE JUST TURNED HIS HEAD TO LOOK UP THE STAIRS. HE'LL BE FINE MRS. CURRIE."

WE HAVE A LOT OF FUN OUT THERE, AND SOME GOOD NATURED RIBBING, ABOUT THE BIG FINDS OF THE DAY. WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS SINCE WE HITCHED-UP, ABOUT EIGHTY YEARS AGO, OR SO IT SEEMS. YOU SEE, I GET A LITTLE RECKLESS WITH THIS BLOG, BECAUSE SHE WON'T READ IT, UNLESS I ASK HER TO PROOFREAD SOME ASPECT OF IT…..SO I CAN WRITE WHAT I WANT……AND THE ONLY REAL RISK I FACE, IS WHEN ONE OF HER COLLEAGUES MENTIONS, "TED'S BEEN AT IT AGAIN SUZANNE." WHEN SHE GETS HOME FFOM WORK, SHE WALKS RIGHT THROUGH THE HOUSE INTO THE OFFICE, SITS DOWN AT THIS CLUTTERED, MOMENTOE-FILLED DESK, AND STARTS GRUMBLING ABOUT THE WRITER-IN-RESIDENCE, TAKING CHEAP SHOTS. GUILTY AS CHARGED. I DIDN'T KNOCK HER DOWN THE STAIRS, TO GET AT THE CUP AND SAUCER AHEAD OF ANYBODY ELSE. BEFORE WE WERE MARRIED, 1983 IF MEMORY SERVES, SHE STARTED COLLECTING THE ROYAL ALBERT "TRILLIUM" SET OF DISHES, AND IT HAS TAKEN THIS LONG TO GET HALF THE COLLECTION. WE'VE LITERALLY BEEN BUYING ONE PIECE AT A TIME. I CAN GET MYSELF OUT OF THE PROVERBIAL DOGHOUSE, ON MOST OCCASIONS THESE DAYS, BY FINDING A TRILLIUM CUP, SAUCER OR PLATE, WHICH IN MY APPRAISAL, ARE SELLING THESE DAY'S FOR A "KING'S RANSOM." WHEN I GIVE HER A "FOUND" PIECE, SHE JUST SMILES, SLAPS ME ON THE BACK, AND PUTS IT SAFELY AWAY IN THE CHINA CUPBOARD IN THE CORNER. SHE TELLS ME THEY'RE WORTH TOO MUCH TO ACTUALLY USE. WE'VE GOT THREE CHINA CUPBOARDS LOADED WITH STUFF WE CAN'T USE FOR THE SAME REASON. I'M EATING MY DINNER OFF "MELMAC" PLATES (MADE FAMOUS IN THE "ALF" TELEVISION SHOW, AS BEING THE PLANET HE WAS FROM), AND SIPPING MY CHEAP WINE FROM COMMEMORATIVE GLASSES FROM THE OLD 1970'S "MUSKOKA FEST" WE STILL HAVE IN ACTIVE SERVICE.

ANYWAY, WE DID MAKE SOME FINDS TODAY, IN THE CANADIAN SYMBOLS CHALLENGE, AND THEY INCLUDED FOUR VERY NICE, HIGH QUALITY SOUVENIR SPOONS, THREE WITH SILVER MAPLE LEAVES, AND ONE WITH THE RCMP LOGO. I'M WAITING FOR A FEW MORE SPOONS TO FINISH OFF THE WOODEN "MAPLE LEAF SPOON HOLDER" I FOUND LAST WEEK, AT THE SALVATION ARMY THRIFT SHOP, IN BRACEBRIDGE. WE FOUND ALL BUT TWO OF THE SOUVENIR SPOONS AT THE HABITAT FOR HUMANITY RE-STORE, ON MUSKOKA BEACH ROAD, ON THE BOUNDARY BETWEEN BRACEBRIDGE AND GRAVENHURST…..WHICH IS ABOUT A CHIP SHOT BETWEEN MUNICIPALITIES, IF YOU MEASURE IN GOLF STROKES. I DID GET A LOVELY LITTLE HEART-SHAPED, PRESSED METAL ORNAMENT, DEPICTING THE OLD "TORONTO CITY HALL", SET IN A WREATH OF FLOWERS, ONE BEING THE IRIS MOTIFF. WE'RE NOT SURE WHAT THE FLOWERS ARE AROUND THE TOP PORTION. WE FOUND THIS WHILE LOOKING FOR CANADIAN SYMBOL PIECES, BUT DARN IT ALL - THERE ISN'T A MAPLE LEAF, BEAVER OR RCMP TRACE INSIGNIA, ANYWHERE ON THE ELABORATELY DECORATED, EARLY 1900'S SOUVENIR. STILL A NICE BIT OF TORONTO HISTORY. THERE IS A DIGITAL IMAGE OF THIS COPPER COLORED PIECE PICTURED ABOVE. I ALSO FOUND A WELL CRAFTED, SILVER SOUVENIR BELL, WITH A NICE RING, WITH A MAPLE LEAF DESIGN, AND A THREE DIMENSIONAL STEAM LOCOMOTIVE, AS A FINIAL ON THE HANDLE (AT THE BRACEBRIDGE THRIFT SHOP). AT THE GRAVENHURST SALVATION ARMY THRIFT SHOP, WELL, I GOT A "THISTLE" MOLD IN PINE, THAT SUZANNE TELLS ME WAS FOR IMPRINTING SHORTBREAD. I'VE INCLUDED A PHOTOGRAPH OF THIS AS WELL. ANY IDEAS? I DON'T SUSPECT IT'S VERY OLD, BUT WHAT A NEAT PIECE TO DECORATE A HARVEST TABLE WITH, OR HOOSIER CUPBOARD…..SUZANNE HAS A NICE ONE IN THE KITCHEN. SUZANNE GOT A COUPLE OF MAPLE LEAF SOUVENIR SPOONS HERE, IN GRAVENHURST, TODAY AS WELL. THE REALLY NEAT FIND OF THE DAY, WAS A HUGE WOODEN LEVEL, FROM ABOUT THE 1930'S, WITH JUST A FEW TRACES OF ITS ORIGINAL RED PAINT. THIS IS ONE I PLAN TO RESTORE AND REFINISH IF POSSIBLE. IT HAS FOUR GLASS WINDOWS AND THE LIQUID IN THE LEVELS IS STILL VISIBLE, AS IS THE ALL IMPORTANT BUBBLE. IT CAME COURTESY THE NEAT INVENTORY OF COLLECTIBLES AND USEFUL MATERIALS ALWAYS IN STOCK AT THE RE-STORE.

DID I TELL YOU THE ONE ABOUT THE MINETT-SHEILDS WORK-ORDER CABINET? I FOUND IT!

A FRIEND CAME INTO MY SHOP ONE DAY, AND ASKED IF I HAD ANY INTEREST IN A WOOD FILING CABINET HE HAD STORED IN HIS SHED, FROM ONE OF THE OLD MUSKOKA BOAT WORKS. HE MAY HAVE SEEN THE LARGE INSURANCE MAPPING BOOK (IN HARDCOVER), I HAD ON THE SHOP COUNTER. IT WAS FROM EARLIER IN THE CENTURY, THAT SHOWED THE BREAKDOWN OF THE BUILDINGS AT MUSKOKA WHARF, HERE IN GRAVENHURST, AND HAD DETAILED PLANS OF THE FORMER DITCHBURN BOAT WORKS. IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION, HAD THE COMPANY NAME WITH AN "E" AT THE END….DITCHBURNE. I'D PICKED THE BOOK UP FROM MY OLD BOOK CHUM, DAVE BROWN OF HAMILTON. HE HAD A SECOND ONE, HE'D PURCHASED AT A CITY AUCTION, WITH SIMILAR INSURANCE MAPPING OF PORT CARLING, ALSO BACK IN THE EARLY YEARS OF THE 1900'S. I'M NOT SURE IF HE SOLD IT TO THE MUSKOKA LAKES MUSEUM IN PORT CARLING OR NOT. IT WAS HIS INTENTION. I WAS MORE INTERESTED IN THE DITCHBURN MAPPING. I SOLD IT THE FIRST YEAR WE JOINED AS VENDORS, AT THE ANNUAL ANTIQUE BOAT SHOW, HELD AT SAGAMO PARK, HERE IN GRAVENHURST. NOW GETTING BACK TO THE CABINET.

I WAS SOLD AT THE MENTION OF "OLD MUSKOKA BOAT WORKS." I ALMOST JUMPED ON THE GUY'S BACK, TO TAKE ME TO SEE THIS FABULOUS PIECE, OOZING WITH PROVENANCE. THE MULTI-DRAWER UNIT, HAD BEEN PART OF THE OFFICE FURNITURE OF THE FAMOUS MINETT-SHIELDS BOAT WORKS, ONCE LOCATED IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO BRACEBRIDGE FALLS. IT WAS MORE THAN SIX FEET TALL I BELIEVE, AND THE BONUS WAS, OF COURSE, THAT IT CAME WITH MINETT-SHIELDS "WORK ORDER" CARDS, WITH THE NAMES OF THE BOATS AND CLIENTS NOTED AT THE TOP, AND THE INDIVIDUAL STAFF MEMBER RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT PARTICULAR WATERCRAFT. THIS WAS BACK IN THE EARLY 1990'S, SO I'M A LITTLE FUZZY ON THE DETAILS, AND I DON'T REMEMBER EVER TAKING A PHOTOGRAPH OF THE PIECE. WE DID SELL SOME OF THE CARDS SEPARATELY, FOR ABOUT TWENTY DOLLARS EACH, WHICH MORE THAN PAID THE PURCHASE PRICE FOR THE CABINET.

ONE AFTENOON, MY FATHER-IN-LAW, NORM STRIPP, A WELL KNOWN MAHOGANY BOAT RESTORER, CAME INTO OUR MAIN STREET ANTIQUE SHOP, TWISTED AROUND THE TIGHT CORNER, AND STOPPED DEAD IN HIS TRACKS……JAW CLENCHED, WITH A TWINKLE IN HIS EYE, AND THE VERY REAL NECESSITY TO SAY….."BY GOLLY TED, YOU DID SOMETHING RIGHT." HE KNEW IT WAS FROM THE MINETT-SHIELDS BUILDING, AND AS HE LOOKED AT IT MORE CLOSELY, I REALLY THINK HE WAS LOOKING FOR THE SMUDGE, OR FINGERPRINTS HE'D LEFT ON IT…….LEANING UP AGAINST IT ON HIS MANY VISITS TO THE SHOP IN THE PAST. "HOW DID YOU EVER GET THIS," HE ASKED. WHEN I TOLD HIM WHO HAD SOLD IT, AND THE FAMILY MEMBER WHO HAD ONCE WORKED THERE, HE KNEW THE CONNECTION IMMEDIATELY. HE COULD EVEN REMEMBER WHERE IT STOOD IN THE BUILDING. HE OFFERED AN ALMOST IDENTICAL OBSERVATION, WHEN HE CAME INTO THE SHOP ONE DAY, AND WENT RIGHT OVER TO THE HUGE "NATIONAL" CASH REGISTER, ON AN OAK PEDESTAL STAND, WITH DRAWERS (THAT POPPED OUT WHEN THE RIGHT KEY WAS HIT), AND HE STOOD LEANING UP AGAINST IT, JUST AS HE USED TO AS A YOUNG MAN, HANGING AROUND BRACEBRIDGE'S "MUSKOKA GARAGE," ON MANITOBA STREET. WE NEVER HAD TO EXPLAIN TO NORM, WHERE IT HAD COME FROM. HE ALREADY KNEW HOW TO WORK THE DRAWERS. HE HADN'T SEEN IT IN DECADES, BUT HE KNEW ITS PRECISE PROVENANCE, AND TOLD ME WHERE IT HAD BEEN ON ITS LAST TOUR OF DUTY, AFTER MANY YEARS AT MUSKOKA GARAGE. HE WAS RIGHT. HE WAS REALLY IMPRESSED BY THE FACT WE HAD THIS OLD WORK CABINET FROM THE MINETT-SHIELDS BOAT WORKS, HE HAD BEEN SO FAMILIAR IN HIS YOUTH. AND HE KNEW ALL THE NAMES ON THE TOPS OF THE WORK-ORDER CARDS. YUP, TED DID WELL. I DIDN'T COME OUT ON TOP, DURING MANY OF THESE LITTLE HISTORY SESSIONS, BECAUSE HE COULD OBVIOUSLY "BEST" ALMOST ANYTHING I COULD MUSTER, FROM MY BRIEF PERIOD AS AN ANTIQUARIAN…..BUT THIS ONE WAS MEMORABLE FOR BOTH OF US.

THE PROUDEST MOMENT, WAS WHEN WE SOLD THE CABINET TO SOMEONE WITH AN INTIMATE KNOWLEDGE, AND LOVE FOR MUSKOKA'S OLD BOATS. BELIEVE ME. IT WASN'T SOLD AS A DECORATOR PIECE, AND I DON'T SUPPOSE THE PATINA WAS ALTERED MUCH….AS IT STILL HAD THAT AROMA OF MUSKOKA'S MARINE HERITAGE, AFTER ALL THOSE YEARS. IT'S ALWAYS NICE IN OUR BUSINESS, TO SELL THESE PIECES, WITH PROVENANCE, TO THOSE WHO HAVE ALL INTENTIONS OF PURSUING CONSERVATION AND BESTOWING ADMIRATION. I WAS SORRY TO SEE IT GO, BUT PLEASED IT WENT TO A GOOD AND CARING HOME.

I'VE JUST BEEN ADVISED SUZANNE HAS SET OUT A BOWL OF STEAMING GRUEL FOR ME, SO I MUST SIGN OFF FOR TODAY. THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING THIS BLOG. THERE ARE MANY STORIES YET TO TELL. PLEASE JOIN ME AGAIN. GOOD NIGHT!

Muskoka, Windermere and a Ditchburn

2012-02-10T17:46:00.001-08:00

NORM STRIPP, A DITCHBURN, A MARINA AND THE "BIOGRAPHER" DAUGHTER

IT TOOK A BLOG TO SHAKE-UP STATUS QUO

WHEN SUZANNE BROUGHT ME HOME TO MEET HER PARENTS, THAT FIRST TIME, MY REPUTATION AS A WRITER-KIND PRECEDED ME. THEY KNEW WHO I WAS, BECAUSE OF THE FACT I WAS EDITOR OF THE NEWSPAPER THEY SUBSCRIBED. THEY WERE ALSO RELATED, BY MARRIAGE, TO MY ASSISTANT EDITOR, BOB BOYER, A WELL KNOWN REGIONAL HISTORIAN, AND TOOK A GENUINE INTEREST IN THE WRITERS ON STAFF. ESPECIALLY ONE WHO WAS DATING THEIR DAUGHTER. WHILE I'VE MENTIONED, PREVIOUSLY, THAT SUZANNE'S MOTHER HARRIET, WAS ALSO A PART TIME WRITER, AND ARTIST, IT WAS THE BIG "IN" FOR ME; THAT AND HER GENUINE INTEREST IN LOCAL HISTORY. I GOT ALONG WITH HER FROM THE BEGINNING…….WITH NARY AN AWKWARD PREAMBLE. SHE WELCOMED ME INTO THE HOMESTEAD WITH A BIG HUG, AND THE KIND OF FRIENDLY CONVERSATION THAT TOLD ME WE WERE GOING TO BE GOOD FRIENDS, AND AS IT TURNED OUT, WRITING MATES ON A SMALL PUBLISHING PROJECT, WE CALLED "THE LEGEND OF TALL PINES."

HARRIET SHARED AN INTEREST IN LOCAL HERITAGE, AND AS HER FAMILY WERE GIANT STAKE-HOLDERS IN THE HISTORY OF THE UFFORD AND THREE MILE LAKE AREA, OF THE PRESENT TOWNSHIP OF MUSKOKA LAKES, WE HAD LOTS TO TALK ABOUT. I WAS, AT THAT POINT, A FLEDGLING HISTORIAN, WITH A FEW CREDITS….. BUT AS BOB BOYER USED TO TELL ME…."TED, YOU'VE GOT A LONG, LONG WAY TO GO." I TRUSTED BOB'S ADVICE ABOUT THIS, AND SURRENDERED TO HIS ONGOING TUTORIALS. I ALWAYS HAVE FELT QUITE PRIVILEGED, TO TELL MY CONTEMPORARIES, BOB BOYER WAS MY PROFESSOR. I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES, HE GRABBED ME OUT OF THE MAIN OFFICE, ON AN INNOCENT FLY-BY, TO READ SOME SNIPIT OF LOCAL HISTORY, HE THOUGHT OF CRITICAL IMPORTANCE AT THE TIME. POINT IS, HE WANTED ME TO KNOW ABOUT IT, AND BY GOLLY, HE'D FOLLOW UP ON IT, TO MAKE SURE I REMEMBERED. HIS OFFICE LOOKED LIKE IT WAS DESIGNED AS A STAGE, FOR A CHARLES DICKENS STORY. THE POINT OF MENTIONING THIS ONCE MORE, IS THAT THE CONNECTION, AND APPROVAL OF BOB, HELPED CONVINCE HARRIET I WAS A DECENT SORT…..SUCH THAT I DIDN'T GET THE BUM'S RUSH OUT OF THEIR WINDERMERE HOME THAT DAY. NORMAN BOWED TO HARRIET'S INSTINCTS. I THINK HE FIGURED I'D BOLT IF THE GOING GOT TOUGH. SO NATURALLY, HE DIDN'T MAKE IT AN EASY FIRST MEETING. SO I JUST TALKED TO HARRIET, AND LET HIM READ HIS NEWSPAPER. I TOO CAN BE INTUITIVE TO PENDING DISASTERS.

NORMAN WAS NOT AS FUSSY ABOUT REPORTERS, ESPECIALLY ONES SITTING ACROSS FROM HIM ON A SOFA. HE MIGHT HAVE ENJOYED READING WHAT REPORTERS WROTE ABOUT, IN HIS DAILY PAPER, BUT I WAS FROM A WEEKLY. THAT WAS DIFFERENT. I WASN'T GOOD ENOUGH TO WORK ON A DAILY. I COULD SEE THE DOUBT IN HIS EYES……WHEN HE LOWERED THE PAPER TO OCCASIONALLY GLANCE AT ME, WONDERING, I SUPPOSE NOW, WHY I WAS STILL THERE. COULDN'T I TAKE A HINT? OBVIOUSLY I LOVED HIS DAUGHTER MORE, THAN MY FEAR HE WOULDN'T APPROVE, MY INTENTION TO MARRY HER

FIRST OF ALL, I KNEW NOTHING ABOUT BOATS. SECONDLY, I DIDN'T HAVE A CLUE ABOUT ENGINES. IF HIS GRANDSONS, AND SON-IN-LAW UNDERSTOOD ENGINES, AND WHAT MAKES THEM WORK BEYOND A KEY IN THE IGNITION, THEN THE BLOKE WHO MARRIES HIS YOUNGEST DAUGHTER, SHOULD KNOW HOW TO CHANGE THE OIL IN HIS CAR. WELL SIR, I DID KNOW HOW TO DO THAT. I TOLD HIM, "I JUST MAKE AN APPOINTMENT AT THE GARAGE, AND THEY DO A DAMN FINE JOB." IF YOU KNEW NORMAN, OR KNEW OF HIM, GETTING LIPPY WAS NOT THE BEST WAY TO ENDEAR HIM…..OR TAKE THAT FIRST SENSIBLE STEP TO ASKING FOR HIS DAUGHTER'S HAND IN MARRIAGE. I WON'T SAY HE ROLLED HIS EYES, WHEN I EXPLAINED MY LACK OF KNOWLEDGE ABOUT ANYTHING MECHANICAL (INCLUDING AN ALARM CLOCK), EVEN MY MANUAL TYPEWRITER. I ALWAYS HAD TO ASK SOMEONE ELSE IN THE OFFICE POOL, IF THEY'D FIX MY BUNGED-UP TYPEWRITER FOR ME. SUZANNE CAN ATTEST TO THIS, BECAUSE SHE HAD HER HEAD IN THAT TYPEWRITER CARRIAGE, AS MUCH AS I HAD MY FINGERS ON THE KEYBOARD. SO NORM WAS WARY OF A GUY, GETTING INVOLVED WITH HIS DAUGHTER, WHO COULDN'T FIX A DAMAGED MUFFLER, REPLACE THE BRAKES, OR EVEN REPLACE A TAIL-LIGHT. I SAID TO HIM FRANKLY, "I COME FROM A LONG LINE OF FAMILY WHO HAVE NO APTITUDE FOR MAKING AUTOMOTIVE REPAIRS." NORM, BY WAY, COULD PRETTY MUCH TELL, WHAT BOAT WAS COMING DOWN THE LAKE, BY THE SOUND OF THE ENGINE. NO ONE DOUBTED HIM EITHER. MY GRANDFATHER COULD BUILD A HOUSE, BUT NOT FIX HIS OWN CAR…..EVEN IF IT WAS A MINOR REPAIR. MY OTHER GRANDFATHER, EDDIE, ON MY FATHER'S SIDE, WAS A HARD LIVING, HEAVY DRINKING IRISHMAN, WHO WOULD SIT ON THE STEP OF THEIR CABBAGETOWN BUNGALOW, AND EAT A POTATO OR AN ONION RAW, BUT NEVER OFFER TO HELP A NEIGHBOR CHANGE A TIRE. I THOUGHT I'D HOLD BACK ON THIS FAMILY HISTORY FOR THE TIME BEING. I DIDN'T WANT TO ADD TO THE CONSTERNATION.

NORM SEEMED SOMEWHAT INTERESTED IN MY CONFESSIONAL HONESTY, AND THAT WITH ME, HE WAS GOING TO GET A SON-IN-LAW WHO KNEW HIS PLACE AT LEAST. IF I COULDN'T FIX A CAR OR BOAT ENGINE, I WOULDN'T BE TRYING TO "BEST" HIM IN AN ARGUMENT ABOUT THE BEST METHODOLOGY TO EMPLOY, TO INCREASE ENGINE PERFORMANCE…..OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. I FIGURED THAT IF I DIDN'T CHALLENGE HIS NEAR-ALCHEMY KNOWLEDGE, OF ENGINE AND WOODEN BOAT RESTORATION, THEN WE WOULDN'T HAVE THOSE AWKWARD GLARING MOMENTS AT THE DINNER TABLE. I LISTENED A LOT, AND FOLLOWED SUZANNE'S SAGE ADVICE. "DON'T GIVE HIM ANYTHING TO GET MAD AT…….SO JUST SHUT UP." HEY, IT WORKED. I STAYED UNDER HIS RADAR FOR YEARS, AND HE LIKED THAT ABOUT ME. EXCEPT ONE TIME.

ONE DAY, WHEN I DID GET INTO HIS WORKSHOP, BEHIND THE FAMILY HOME IN WINDERMERE, I WAS ADMIRING THE FINAL COAT OF VARNISH HE HAD, THE DAY BEFORE, APPLIED TO A BEAUTIFUL WOODEN LAUNCH, ALTHOUGH I CAN'T REMEMBER IF IT WAS A DITCHBURN OR NOT. IN A PREVIOUS RELATIONSHIP, WITH A YOUNG LADY, I HAD FOUND MYSELF IN A SIMILAR SITUATION, AS I WAS ON THAT DAY. INSTEAD OF A NEWLY VARNISHED BOAT, GORD SMITH, A TALENTED WOOD-WORKER, WAS SHOWING ME AN EXTREMELY HANDSOME, ROUND DININGROOM TABLE, WITH PRESS-BACK CHAIRS, HE HAD STRIPPED FREE OF AT LEAST FOUR LAYERS OF ENAMEL PAINT. IT WAS A GOOD JOB, AND GORD WAS SO PROUD OF THAT PIECE. GAIL HAD ALSO WARNED ME TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT OFF-HAND COMMENTS, THAT MAY BE MISCONSTRUED BY HER FATHER AS, "THE SNEAK ATTACK" OF A SMART ASS. I FORGOT. SO AS GORD WAS CAREFULLY DUSTING THE GLIMMERING SURFACE OF THE TABLE, JUST ABOUT TO BE SET FOR THAT NIGHT'S DINNER, I HAPPENED TO MAKE ONE TINY LITTLE OBSERVATION……THAT TURNED OUT TO BE THE PROVERBIAL GAME CHANGER. "SAY GORD, TOO BAD ABOUT THAT BRUSH HAIR EH?"

IT WAS LIKE I'D KICKED A WHIRLING DERVISH. "WHAT BRUSH HAIR," HE DEMAND, JUMPING ALL OVER THE KITCHEN, TO GET A BETTER LOOK AT THE TABLE-TOP. "RIGHT THERE," I POINTED. "CAN'T YOU SEE IT GORD. I THINK THERE ARE TWO OF THEM. NO THREE!" POOR GAIL. SHE KNEW BY THE ATMOSPHERIC CHANGE IN THAT ROOM, I WAS IN DEEP, DEEP DO! HE WOULDN'T TALK TO ME FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS AFTER THAT CANDID AND UNSOLICITED OBSERVATION. HERE'S WHAT'S REALLY FUNNY, AT LEAST IN RETROSPECT. WE PLAYED EUCHRE THAT NIGHT, AND I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES…..EXCEPT TO SUGGEST "A LOT," THAT THOSE PLAYING CARDS, SLIDING ACROSS THE TABLE WHEN THEY WERE DEALT, WERE BEING THUSLY STOPPED BY THAT WEE TANGLE OF VARNISHED BRUSH HAIR. EVERY SINGLE TIME, IT STABBED HIM IN THE HEART. I SWEAR TO GOD, HE THOUGHT I PUT THEM THERE ON PURPOSE. I DON'T THINK HE EVER SACRIFICED THAT OTHERWISE BEAUTIFUL FINISH, TO REMOVE THE BRUSH HAIRS.

SO WHAT DO THINK? HOW WISE WOULD IT BE THEN, CONSIDERING THE ABOVE PASSAGE, (AND WHAT I'D PERVIOUSLY LEARNED) TO SAY TO NORM, IN THE BRIGHT LIGHTS OF THE WORKSHOP, STARING DOWN THE LOVELY LINES OF THAT GRAND LAUNCH, "IS THAT A BRUSH HAIR?" NOT QUITE THE WHIRLING DERVISH I'D STIRRED AT THE SMITH HOMESTEAD, BUT THE KIND OF MINOR PANIC A REFINISHER DOESN'T NEED AT THIS STAGE OF RESTORATION. "WHERE? WHERE? A HAIR? WHERE IS IT," HE DEMANDED, WITH HIS FACE ALMOST PRESSED AGAINST THE SHIMMERING MAHOGANY. SUZANNE HAD THAT LOOK OF SHOCK I'VE LEARNED TO LIVE WITH, FOR ALL THESE YEARS. IT WAS NEW TO ME THEN. "I WAS ONLY KIDDING NORM," I RESPONDED, WHILE ON THE FIRST ROLL OF WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A LENGTHY, AND HARDY LAUGH. FROM BEING BENT OVER, WITH HIS BAD BACK, TWISTING HIS HEAD LIKE A COBRA ABOUT TO STRIKE, HE LOOKED UP AT SUZANNE WITH THAT LOOK OF ABSOLUTE TERROR, "YOU'RE GOING TO MARRY THIS WISE GUY?" I GOT SUCH A BAD RECEPTION THAT DAY, REGARDING THE HAIR, I'VE GOT TO BE HONEST…..THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A WHOLE BRUSH VARNISHED TO THE BOAT, AND I WOULDN'T HAVE SAID A WORD. IT'S NOT THAT NORM AND I COULDN'T KID ABOUT THINGS…..JUST NOT ABOUT STUFF AS CRITICAL AS THE VARNISH ON A FULLY RESTORED MAHOGANY LAUNCH.

WHEN SUZANNE PROOFREAD THE PAST TWO BLOGS ABOUT HER FAMILY, PARTICULARLY YESTERDAY'S STORY ABOUT MY RELATIONSHIP WITH NORMAN, SHE HAD TO ADMIT, TO HAVING A RESTORED INTEREST IN DOING A SOMEWHAT MORE INVOLVED BIOGRAPHY OF HER FATHER……A PROJECT, FOLKS WHO KNEW NORMAN'S WORK, HAVE BEEN ASKING ABOUT FOR A WHILE NOW. SHE HAS LOTS OF INSIDE STORIES ABOUT THEIR YEARS OF OPERATING THE WINDERMERE MARINA, AND THE MANY BOAT RESTORATION PROJECTS THAT WENT ON IN THAT CURIOSITY SHOP……AT THE REAR OF THE HOUSE. IN THE PAST, WHEN THIS ISSUE HAS COME UP, SHE'S BEGGED-OUT, CLAIMING SHE DOESN'T KNOW ENOUGH TO WRITE A SENSIBLE, RESPONSIBLE BIOGRAPHY. I THINK A LOT OF SONS AND DAUGHTERS FEEL THIS WAY, AND ARE MORE LIKELY TO RELENT INSTEAD, TO SOMEONE UNRELATED TO THE FAMILY, TO TELL THE STORY. I CAN'T REPLICATE WHAT SHE COULD ACCOMPLISH IN SUCH A PERSONAL, INSIDER, BIOGRAPHICAL EFFORT. UNTIL NOW. SHE HAS A LOT OF OLD PHOTOGRAPHS SHE'S BEEN GOING THROUGH, WHILE DOING HER ANCESTRY RESEARCH, ON OUR FAMILY TREES, AND I THINK THIS HAS HELPED STIR UP MORE INTIMATE DETAILS OF LIFE WITH NORMAN. I'M DELIGHTED SHE HAS DECIDED TO DO SOME WORK ON IT, FOR RELEASE ON THIS BLOGSITE…..POSSIBLY AS EARLY AS JULY OF THIS YEAR. IT'S IMPORTANT TO THE HISTORY OF MUSKOKA, AND BOATING ON THE MUSKOKA LAKES GENERALLY. I THINK SHE NOW APPRECIATES, HOW NORMAN FACTORED INTO OUR MARINE HERITAGE, AND HIS FATHER BEFOR HIM. I KNOW FOR YEARS, SHE HAD THE "I'M NOT WORTHY" ATTITUDE, WHEN IT COMES TO WRITING MORE ABOUT HER FATHER'S EXPERIENCES. IN THE LATE 1990'S, SUZANNE AND I CO-WROTE A SHORT HISTORY OF "THE SKIPPER," THE UPSTAIRS SNACKBAR AT THE WINDERMERE MARINA…..WHICH HAD AN ALMOST CULT FOLLOWING, DURING THOSE WONDERFUL SUMMER SEASONS BACK IN THE MID 1960'S, INTO THE EARLY 1970'S. WE HAD A BLAST WRITING THEM, AND IT WAS QUITE THERAPEUTIC FOR SUZANNE, WHO REALLY DOES MISS THE GOOD OLD DAYS LIVING AND WORKING ON THE SHORE OF LAKE ROSSEAU, IN THE VILLAGE OF WINDERMERE.

THE COTTAGE AT WINDERMERE

I HAVE LIVED IN THREE AMAZING LAKESIDE COTTAGES IN MY LIFE. THE FIRST ONE, WAS ON ALPORT BAY, OF LAKE MUSKOKA, ON THE EXTENSION OF BEAUMONT DRIVE, IN BRACEBRIDGE. THE SECOND, WAS IN A MINIATURE ENGLISH MANOR HOUSE, CALLED "SEVEN PERSONS COTTAGE," AT FOOTES BAY, LAKE JOSEPH, AND THEN FINALLY, AT THE COTTAGE SAM STRIPP BUILT, ACROSS THE CHANNEL OF LAKE ROSSEAU'S "WELLSLEY ISLAND." IT'S WHERE SUZANNE AND I SPENT OUR WEDDING NIGHT, THAT BLESSED OCCASION BACK IN SEPTEMBER 1983. IT WAS A TRADITIONAL MUSKOKA COTTAGE-TYPE ABODE, EXCEPT THAT IT HAD BEEN BUILT AS A HOME BY HER GRANDFATHER SAM STRIPP, CIRCA 1914. IT SAT UP ON A ROCK FACE, ABOVE THE CHANNEL, AND FROM THE VERANDAH, IT WAS A TRULY INSPIRING VIEW ONTO THE LAKE AND ISLAND. I USED TO ENJOY SITTING IN THE SMALL "SUN ROOM," FILLED WITH NAUTICAL MEMORABILIA, AND IN THE EVENINGS, I WOULD HUNKER DOWN IN FRONT OF THE STONE FIREPLACE IN THE LIVINGROOM, AND MAKE MY COPIOUS NOTES ABOUT COTTAGE LIFE. I WROTE HUNDREDS OF MUSKOKA SUN FEATURE COLUMNS, SITTING BY THAT HEARTH, IN A CHAIR ROBERT STILL HAS IN HIS ROOM TODAY. IT WAS A SOLID HOUSE, BUILT BY CAPABLE HANDS, AND IT WAS DEARLY LOVED BY NORM AND HARRIET THAT'S FOR SURE. BUT AT A TIME WHEN THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ENJOY SUMMERS AT THE COTTAGE, HARRIET WAS SERIOUSLY ILL, WITH NO CHANCE OF RECOVERY. SHE WOULD COME OVER TO THE COTTAGE TO HOST A FAMILY BARBECUE, BUT SHE NEEDED HOME COMFORTS AT THAT STAGE OF HER ILLNESS. THE STRIPP FAMILY HOME WAS IN THE VILLAGE, ABOUT FIVE MINUTES WEST OF THE COTTAGE.

THE REASON I BRING THE COTTAGE UP, IS NOT TO BRAG ABOUT THE FAMILY I MARRIED INTO, BUT TO QUALIFY OURSELVES GENERALLY, AS ANTIQUE DEALER / COLLECTORS, WHO ARE REASONABLY WELL VERSED IN MUSKOKA LIVING, BY PROFOUNDLY DEEP IMMERSION. SUZANNE AND I SPENT MANY INCREDIBLE DAYS, IN THOSE FEW YEARS BEFORE THE KIDS ARRIVED, HOLED-UP AT THE STRIPP COTTAGE, LOUNGING ON THE BOATHOUSE DOCK, WATCHING THE PARADE OF OLD MAHOGANY BOATS GO UP AND DOWN THE CHANNEL. SUZANNE WAVING TO MOST OF THEM, AS THE OWNERS WERE, AT THAT TIME, VERY FAMILIAR WITH HER FATHER AND MOTHER, FROM BOTH THE MARINA DAYS, AND OF COURSE, AS NEIGHBOR COTTAGERS.

"DAD REFINISHED THAT ONE," SHE'D SAY. "YUP, THAT ONE TOO." WHEN A LITTLE STEAM YACHT WENT CHUGGING BY, AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME, "HE REFINISHED THAT ONE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO." IT WAS CONSTANT, AND I WAS ENJOYING EVERY MOMENT OF IT. I'D NEVER BEEN SO INVOLVED IN LOCAL HISTORY, EVEN AS DIRECTOR OF THE BRACEBRIDGE HISTORICAL SOCIETY, AND WOODCHESTER VILLA AND MUSEUM. THIS WAS BY FAR, MY OWN MOST INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP, WITH THE MARINE, COTTAGE HERITAGE OF MUSKOKA. I COULDN'T HAVE BEEN HAPPIER. IT WAS OBVIOUS, SUZANNE WANTED TO LIVE AT THE COTTAGE…..FOREVER. IT'S NOT THAT WE DIDN'T TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO THIS, AND EVEN WENT AS FAR AS PRICING INSULATION IMPROVEMENTS, AND A SNOWMOBILE TO GET US IN THROUGH THE WINTER. WE WERE JUST CRAZY NEWLYWEDS, AND HARRIET LET US KNOW IT WOULDN'T WORK, CONSIDERING THE KIND OF LIVES WE WERE LIVING AT THE TIME. SUZANNE A FLEDGLING TEACHER, ME, AN EDITOR WITH WILD HOURS. WE OFTEN PONDER THE "WHAT IFS" AND SPECULATE ON WHERE WE WOULD BE TODAY, HAD WE FOLLOWED THROUGH WITH THE IDEA OF LIVING IN THE COTTAGE OVER THE WINTER. "YOU'D NEVER HAVE MADE IT TED," SAYS SUZANNE. "YOU WOULD HAVE DIED WITHOUT CABLE TELEVISION. WE MADE THE RIGHT DECISION TO BUY A SENSIBLE HOUSE, A SHORT DRIVE TO WHERE WE WORKED." OF COURSE SHE WAS RIGHT. HARRIET WAS RIGHT. NORM NEVER OFFERED AN OPINION ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. HE KNEW HIS DAUGHTER WOULDN'T LET IMAGINARY SPLENDOR GET IN THE WAY OF SENSIBLE PROPORTION. I'D HAVE HAVE TREED A SNOWMOBILE, I CAN TELL YOU THAT…….LONG BEFORE I EITHER FELL THROUGH THE ICE, OR WAS LOST IN A BLIZZARD, BURIED SOMEWHERE IN THE PASTURE OF THE LONGHURST FARM…..BETWEEN WINDERMERE AND THE COTTAGE.

I HAVE A LOT OF REMINISCENCES ABOUT OUR SUMMER LIVING AT THE COTTAGE. WE LIVED THERE WITH ANDREW AND ROBERT, FOR THREE MONTHS IN THE LATE SUMMER AND EARLY AUTUMN OF 1989, JUST BEFORE MOVING HERE TO BIRCH HOLLOW, IN GRAVENHURST. BUT AS I'VE HALF-CONVINCED SUZANNE TO RE-TELL HER FAMILY'S WINDERMERE / LAKE ROSSEAU HISTORY, I'M GOING TO LEAVE THIS ASPECT OF OUR HERITAGE EXPERIENCES, FOR HER TO PRESENT LATER THIS YEAR, ON THIS BLOGSITE.

IF YOU ASKED SUZANNE, OR MY BOYS, ANDREW OR ROBERT, WHAT IT HAS BEEN LIKE LIVING WITH A WRITER /HISTORIAN…..ANTIQUE DEALER, FOR ALL THESE YEARS, THEY'D GET PRETTY ANIMATED, TRYING TO SORT OUT THE TUMBLE OF WORDS BANGING ABOUT THEIR MINDS. EACH COULD WRITE A "WAR AND PEACE" SIZED TEXT ABOUT "LIFE WITH FATHER." WHEN IT COMES TO NORM STRIPP HOWEVER, IT IS MARKEDLY DIFFERENT. WHEN HE WENT TO WORK, OFTEN NOT MORE THAN THIRTY OR FORTY STEPS TO THE BACK OF THE HOUSE, OR DOWN FROM THE COTTAGE VERANDAH, HE KEPT TO HIMSELF….OR CONVERSED WITH HIS HELPERS IF HE HAD ANY AT THE TIME. HIS WAS NOT A PUBLIC-DISPLAY EXISTENCE. NO SHOWMANSHIP, NO GRANDSTANDING, NO PUBLIC SPEAKING VENUES, TO TALK ABOUT THE MARINE INDUSTRY. HE KEPT TO HIS WORK SCHEDULE, AND DID NOT LIKE DISTRACTION……AND I WAS THE BIG "D". AS SUZANNE AND I WERE LEADING VERY PUBLIC LIVES, AND INVOLVED IN A LOT OF PUBLIC RELATIONS /MEDIA EVENTS, WE GOT USED TO MIXING IT UP ON THE LOCAL SOCIAL SCENE. WHEN SUZANNE'S FATHER DID THIS, ON RARE OCCASIONS, IT WAS ALWAYS AS "LION NORM," WORKING ON COMMUNITY SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE WINDERMERE AND DISTRICT LIONS CLUB. HE DIDN'T CARRY THE "BOAT REFINISHER" THING AROUND LIKE A BADGE OF HONOR. IT'S JUST WHAT HE DID AS A PROFESSION. NOTHING FANCY. NOTHING SPECIAL. AND HE CERTAINLY NEVER BRAGGED ABOUT BEING THE BEST AT THIS PROFESSION. NOT ONCE. IN FACT, IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW HIM, IT WOULD TAKE WEEKS OF DIALOGUE TO GET HIM TO ADMIT HE WORKED ON THE RESTORATION OF VINTAGE MAHOGANY BOATS. EVEN THOUGH HE WAS WELL KNOWN, AND RESPECTED, AMONGST BOAT OWNERS AND LOCAL MARINE HISTORIANS, MANY OF THEM WEALTHY COTTAGERS AROUND THE MUSKOKA LAKES; YOU'D NEVER KNOW IT BY HIS DEMEANOR. HE WOULD SOONER TALK ABOUT HOCKEY OR LIONS PROJECTS THAN WHAT HE WORKED ON, IN HIS SHED. THIS IS WHAT SUZANNE NOW REALIZES NEEDS TO BE RECTIFIED, EVEN FOR THE BENEFIT OF HIS GRANDSONS, AND THEIR EVENTUAL FAMILIES. WHEN SHE SEES ANDREW WORKING ON A VINTAGE GUITAR, SO PATIENTLY HANDLING THE INTRICATE REPAIRS, OFTEN HAVING TO BE MADE THROUGH THE SMALL SOUND HOLE OF A HOLLOW-BODY ACOUSTIC, I'M SURE SHE SEE TRACES OF HER OWN FATHER…..AS HE CAREFULLY INSERTED A REPLACEMENT BOARD IN AN ELEGANT OLD MUSKOKA BOAT.

I WILL LEAVE THE SUBJECT OF SUZANNE'S FAMILY, AND LET HER SORT OUT THE BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIAL AND CONTEXT, HOPEFULLY TO BE PUBLISHED BY ABOUT THE FIRST OF JULY, WITH SOME OF THE FAMILY PICTURES SHE HAS TUCKED INTO ARCHIVES BOXES, STACKED IN OUR BEDROOM. IT WILL BE AN INTERESTING STORY. I GUARANTEE IT!

THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING TODAY'S BLOG. PLEASE VISIT AGAIN TOMORROW, FOR ANOTHER GLIMPSE OF ANTIQUE HUNTING IN THE MUSKOKA REGION.

Ditchburn of Muskoka, Norm Stripp Boat Refinisher

2012-02-09T17:39:00.000-08:00

NORM STRIPP PORTRAIT BY GEORGE MARQUIS

ANTIQUE BOATS IN MUSKOKA, AND THE GUY WHO USED TO REPAIR THEM

NORM STRIPP, THE WINDERMERE MARINA, AND THE DITCHBURN KNOWN AS THE "SHIRL-EVON"

A NOTE OF EXPLANATION:

AS HARD AND LONG AS YOU LOOK OUT THERE, IN THE BOOK PUBLISHING INDUSTRY, PAST AND PRESENT, ONE THING IS FOR SURE. YOU WILL FIND VERY FEW ATTEMPTS, THAT BOAST BEING LESS THAN SERIOUS, BORDERING ON THE ANECDOTAL, AND ENTIRELY COMEDY-LADEN. BIOGRAPHIES OF ANTIQUE DEALERS? INTERESTING BUT NOT LIKELY TO MAKE YOU LAUGH. HERE THEN IS A DEVIATION FROM THE NORMAL, WEIGHTY, "LIFE'S A GOOD STORY" DIATRIBE, DECKED BENEATH A HARD COVER AND A FANCY WRAPPER.

HERE NOW, IS A BIOGRAPHY THAT IS BRUTALLY HONEST, FULL OF THE WILD AND WHACKY ADVENTURES, AN ANTIQUE DEALER / WRITER / HISTORIAN LIKE ME, CAN GET UP TO…..FRANKLY, WITHOUT TRYING VERY HARD. IF I ONLY PRESENTED THE HIGHLIGHTS AND THE BIGGEST OF THE BIG ANTIQUE DISCOVERIES, THEN YOU WOULD FIND THIS LIKE ALL THE OTHER BIOGRAPHIES…… THAT WHILE REMARKABLE, AND FULL OF CURIOUS ACCOMPLISHMENTS, WOULD BE MUCH LESS HUMOROUS, AND ENTIRELY VOID OF THE INTIMACY YOU'RE GOING TO GET IN THE FUTURE. I GUARANTEE THIS. AND I DON'T HOLD BACK, WHICH MAKES MY ULTRA CONSERVATIVE WIFE CRINGE. SHE ALWAYS REMINDS ME, "TED, MY MOTHER USED TO TELL ME, YOU DON'T NEED TO TELL EVERYTHING YOU KNOW." I FIRE BACK, THAT THIS WOULD CONFINE ME TO THE RANK AND FILE OF THE "DULL" AND "PLEASANTLY SATISFIED." I TELL HER BLUNTLY, "I CAN'T LET THE TRUTH GET IN THE WAY OF A REALLY GOOD STORY." SHE LOOKS AT ME, AS IF I'VE JUST HAD A STROKE. "WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH ANYTHING," SHE BARKS, IN THE NETHER REGION OF EITHER A STATEMENT OR A QUESTION. I JUST SMILE, LOOK LIKE I'M SMARTER THAN HER, BECAUSE I GOT IT AND SHE DIDN'T, AND RETURN TO WHAT I DO BEST…….LAY OUT THE FAMILY SECRETS FOR PUBLIC SCRUTINY. "WORTS AND ALL," THEY SAY.

AS I'VE OFFERED, AS AN EXPLANATION EARLIER IN THIS BLOG COLLECTION (AND PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ROAM BACK IN THE FILE OF BLOGS), IN ALL MY 35 PLUS YEARS WRITING, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF REGULAR COLUMNS ON ANTIQUES AND COLLECTIBLES, FOR SEVERAL PUBLICATIONS, I'VE NEVER EVEN CONSIDERED A BIOGRAPHICAL COLLECTION OF STORIES FOR MY FAMILY……AND THEY DESERVE AN EXPLANATION AFTER THESE MANY YEARS DEALING WITH THE MADNESS OF THE COLLECTOR. SO WHEN I WRAPPED UP MY LAST FEATURE SERIES, ON MUSKOKA ARTIST ADA FLORENCE KINTON, THAT I'D BEEN PUBLISHING OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR IN "CURIOUS: THE TOURIST GUIDE," (YOU CAN READ IT ONLINE EVERY MONTH), I ANNOUNCED THAT IT WAS TIME TO WRITE ABOUT MY EXPERIENCES…..BETTER STATED, "ADVENTURES," IN ANTIQUES AND COLLECTIBLES, FOR THE COMING 2012 PUBLISHING SEASON. WHILE IT WASN'T ALL THAT UNUSUAL TO WRITE AN ANTIQUES RELATED COLUMN, AS I'VE HAD DOZENS OVER THE DECADES, THIS WAS GOING TO BE THE FIRST BIOGRAPHICAL ACCOUNT OF MY YEARS SPENT IN THE PROFESSION. I ANNOUNCED THAT I WOULD BACK IT UP, WITH A YEAR LONG COLLECTION OF BLOGS, ALSO BIOGRAPHICAL. THE COLUMNS ARE ALL DIFFERENT THAN WHAT APPEARS ON THIS BLOG SITE. MY PRIMARY REASON, AS THE REASON FOR MOST BIOGRAPHIES….., GEEZE, I'M GETTING OLD LIKE THE ANTIQUES I COLLECT. I STARTED TO WORRY THAT I HADN'T LEFT OUR BOYS ANYTHING TANGIBLE, AS REFERENCE MATERIAL, ABOUT HOW I BEGAN COLLECTING IN THE FIRST PLACE. IT WAS WHEN I STARTED THINKING ABOUT THEIR GRANDFATHER, NORM STRIPP, MY WIFE SUZANNE'S FATHER, THAT I FOUND MY WRITING MOJO, TO START HAMMERING THESE RECOLLECTIONS DOWN…..BEFORE THE GRIM REAPER STARTS CHASING ME AROUND BIRCH HOLLOW TO FILL OUT THE NEED FOR OLD SOULS.

THE REASON NORM STRIPP CAME TO MIND, SPECIFICALLY, IS THAT WHAT WE FEARED WOULD HAPPEN….DID SO. SUZANNE AND I HAD BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT FOR YEARS AND YEARS, BEFORE NORMAN GOT SICK. WE WANTED TO TALK WITH HIM ABOUT HIS LONG-TIME WORK RESTORING THE OLD WOODEN BOATS ON THE MUSKOKA LAKES. WE WANTED HIM TO TAKE US THROUGH HIS JAMMED BOAT HOUSE, AT THE FAMILY COTTAGE ON LAKE ROSSEAU, AT WINDERMERE, AND INTO THE MYSTERIES OF HIS WORKSHOP AT HOME, JUST A FEW MILES AWAY…… A SOLID HIT WITH A ONE WOOD, (AND A COUPLE OF BOUNCES) FROM THE FIRST HOLE AT THE WINDERMERE GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB. WE WANTED HIM TO EXPLAIN THE MATERIALS HE HAD IN THE GARAGE. THE TOOLS HE CUSTOMIZED TO SUIT HIS REFINISHING CHALLENGES, ON DIFFICULT WOOD WORKING PROJECTS, TO FIX SOME OF THE MOST DISTINGUISHED VINTAGE WATERCRAFT IN THE AREA. HE WAS WELL KNOWN AS A HIGHLY SKILLED CRAFTSMAN, WHEN IT CAME TO REPAIRING THE OLD MAHOGANY LAUNCHES, WITH LEGENDARY NAMES LIKE DITCHBURN, MINNET-SHEILDS, GREAVETTE AND DUKE. SOMEWHERE IN THAT MAZE OF CONTRAPTIONS, BOAT PARTS, TOOLS, OUTBOARD AND INBOARD ENGINES, WAS, FOR EXAMPLE,…..(IF YOU CAN BELIEVE), PIECES OF THE 999TH FORD ENGINE (OF THE FIRST EVER PRODUCED), THAT HAD ONCE BEEN USED AS A BOAT ENGINE BY A FAMILY FRIEND. NORM HAD SCAVENGED IT, WHEN IT WAS NO LONGER NEEDED. WELL, NORMAN WAS A TAD RESISTANT TO THIS KIND OF INTERVENTION, AND I SUPPOSE, FIGURED THAT OFFERING THIS KIND OF BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION, MIGHT HAVE BEEN A SORT OF JINX……BAD KARMA, AS IF HE WOULD HAVE BEEN RELENTING TO THE RIGORS OF OLD AGE, BY LAYING OUT HIS PAST ACCOMPLISHMENTS. HE MAY HAVE THOUGHT IT UNLUCKY TO ADMIT REACHING RETIREMENT AGE. TRUTH WAS, NORMAN NEVER REALLY RETIRED, AND PASSED AWAY IN HIS LATE-EIGHTIES, NEVER ONCE SAYING "I'M RETIRED." SO THE REALITY IS, WE NEVER GOT A CHANCE TO DO THAT BIOGRAPHY-THING, AND WHEN WORKING ON THE DISPERSAL OF HIS ESTATE, AFTER HE PASSED AWAY, HAD NOTHING MORE THAN A SURFACE KNOWLEDGE, OF THE ITEMS HE KEPT IN HIS UNBELIEVABLE COLLECTION……INCLUDING THE FORD ENGINE, THAT WAS NEVER IDENTIFIED AS SUCH. SOMEONE FROM THAT ESTATE AUCTION, OWNS PARTS FROM THAT ENGINE AND DOESN'T KNOW IT!

I DIDN'T WANT MY BOYS TO GO WITHOUT, YOU MIGHT SAY, SO THIS BIOGRAPHY SIMPLY HAD TO BE WRITTEN. IT INCLUDES STORIES ABOUT THEIR MOM, AND THEIR GRANDPARENTS AND EVEN BEYOND……WHICH WILL EVENTUALLY LINK WITH A FAMILY TREE SUZANNE IS WORKING ON AT PRESENT, THROUGH ANCESTRY.CA, WHICH FILLS IN A HUGE NUMBER OF DETAILS ABOUT WHERE THE HECK WE CAME FROM……AND WHY, OH WHY, WE'RE SO WILDLY OBSESSED WITH OLD WAYS AND OLD STUFF. IT'S AS MUCH A RIGOROUS SELF EXAMINATION, TO OFFER OUR YOUNG LADS, A WEE EXPLANATION ABOUT THEIR OWN CURIOUS COLLECTING HABITS…….THAT JUST POSSIBLY MAY RUN IN THE FAMILY. THIS MATERIAL WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO ALL POTENTIAL DAUGHTERS-IN-LAW, WHO MAY WISH TO INFORM THEMSELVES PROPERLY, ABOUT WHAT LIFE CHALLENGES THEY MAY FACE……BEING PART OF THE CLAN "CURRIE." WE'VE CHASED A FEW AWAY ALREADY, EVEN BEFORE THEY HAD ANYTHING TO READ. I'M TELLING YOU. WE'RE "THE ADAMS FAMILY," OF COLLECTING. YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT WE'RE GOING TO SHOW YOU, ON A HOME VISIT. OF COURSE, IF WE DON'T LIKE WHO THEY BRING HOME, I WON'T LIE TO YOU. I MAY WHIP OUT MY COLLECTION OF TRIBAL MASKS WITH HORRIBLE GRIMACES…..OR SHOW THEM MY COLLECTION OF NATIVE (STONE) SCRAPERS. NOT SCARY. JUST TO LET THEM KNOW WHAT TURNS US ON AROUND HERE. THE LAST THING YOU'LL SEE OF THEM, IS THE SOLES OF THEIR SHOES, AS THEY'RE RUNNING DOWN THE LANE AS FAST AS THEY CAN……TO GET AWAY FROM THIS STRANGE ABODE, AND STRANGER CURATOR. KEEPS OUR VISITORS TO A MINIMUM, BUT IT'S NOT HELPING OUR BOYS' SOCIAL LIFE. KNOW WHAT? THEY'RE JUST AS WHACKY IN THE COLLECTING GAME AS MOM AND DAD. THEY NEED TO FIND, AS I DID IN SUZANNE, A VERY ACCOMMODATING INDIVIDUAL, WHO THINKS OF EXCESS AS AN ADVENTURE FULFILLED.

NORM STRIPP AND HIS MUSKOKA BOATS

ONE AFTERNOON, SHORTLY AFTER SUZANNE AND I BECAME ENGAGED, HER MOTHER HARRIET, DECIDED TO ARRANGE A CELEBRATORY BARBECUE OVER AT THE COTTAGE…..SITUATED ON A CHANNEL OF LAKE ROSSEAU, OPPOSITE WELLESLEY ISLAND….NOT FAR FROM THE BEACHFRONT IN WINDERMERE. WHEN SOME OF THE FAMILY MEMBERS LEFT THAT DAY, HARRIET TURNED TO NORMAN AND SAID, "GIVE TED THE KEYS TO THE S.S. SO HE CAN TAKE SUZANNE FOR A BOAT RIDE." WELL SIR, I THOUGHT NORMAN WAS HAVING "THE BIG ONE," AS REDD FOX USED TO SAY ON HIS TELEVISION SHOW. HE SPUTTERED, CHOKED A LITTLE, GOT RED FACED, AND LOOKED AT HARRIET, AS IF SHE HAD SAID THE MOST DRAMATICALLY SILLY THING, IN ALL THE YEARS THEY'D BEEN MARRIED. "GIVE HIM THE KEYS," HE ASKED, POINTING A SHAKING FINGER AT THIS FUTURE SON-IN-LAW….WHO HE ALWAYS SUSPECTED WAS KIND OF A KNOB. "NO, I DON'T THINK THAT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA," HE ANSWERED. "IT HASN'T BEEN RUNNING FOR AWHILE, AND I'D BE SCARED THEY'D GET STRANDED OUT ON THE LAKE. I'LL TAKE THEM OUT IN IT MYSELF."

FIRST OF ALL, THE BOAT HARRIET HAD REFERRED TO, WAS A BEAUTIFUL LITTLE MAHOGANY SPEED BOAT, NORM HAD BUILT WITH HIS FATHER SAM. THE "S.S" REFERRED, WE BELIEVE, TO "SAM STRIPP." NO GREAT MYSTERY. IT WAS A POWERFUL WATERCRAFT, AND WHEN HE TOOK US OUT, I FELT AS IF I WAS SITTING IN A WIND-TUNNEL, AS BOTH MY CHEEKS WERE HITTING MY EARS. TO THINK THAT HARRIET FELT I COULD HANDLE THE "S.S." WAS EITHER A MASSIVE SHOW OF CONFIDENCE IN ME, TO LOOK AFTER HER DAUGHTER AND ANTIQUE BOAT, OR JUST THE EXCITEMENT OF THE MOMENT TO WELCOME A NEW MEMBER OF THE FAMILY. NORM READ THE SITUATION CORRECTLY. I'D HAVE WRAPPED THAT BOAT AROUND A ROCK, AND ENDED OUR COURTSHIP. I THINK I HEARD NORM MUMBLE, SOMETHING OR OTHER THAT SOUNDED LIKE, "THERE'S NO WAY IN HELL, THAT GUY IS GOING TO DRIVE MY BOAT." FAIR ENOUGH. WELL BY GOLLY, THAT'S HOW OUR RELATIONSHIP CONTINUED FOR MANY YEARS. MY FACE PRESSED UP AGAINST THE WORKSHOP WINDOW……HIS DETERMINATION THAT THIS IS THE WAY IT HAD TO BE. ME AT ARM'S LENGTH OR FURTHER AWAY. I COULDN'T REALLY BLAME HIM, AS I WAS ABOUT AS "HANDY AS A FOOT," OR AT LEAST THAT'S WHAT SUZANNE HAD BEEN TELLING ME SINCE WE GOT MARRIED…….AS I TRIED TO FIX THINGS AROUND THE HOUSE, INCLUDING THE CAR…..AND CONTINUALLY FAILED.

NORM WAS JUST POSSESSIVE ABOUT THE THINGS IMPORTANT TO HIS PROFESSION. I WAS THE PAIN IN THE ASS SON-IN-LAW, ALWAYS LOOKING OVER HIS SHOULDER. "CAN I HELP NORM," I'D OCCASIONALLY ASK, BUT KNOWING THE ANSWER BEFORE I MADE THE INQUIRY IN THE FIRST PLACE. "NO, IT'S OKAY TED. JUST SIT DOWN AND RELAX……," ALWAYS POINTING TO THE FURTHEST LOCATION IN A YARD OR A ROOM….WHICH WITH ME, HE ALWAYS FOUND A LITTLE CONFINING. I WAS OKAY WITH OUR RATHER DISTANT RELATIONSHIP. HARRIET SEEMED TO LIKE ME. WE EVEN CO-AUTHORED A LITTLE BOOK, ENTITLED "THE LEGEND OF TALL PINES." WE SOLD THEM OUT WITHIN MONTHS. NORM SEEMED HAPPY I WAS PRE-OCCUPIED WITH OTHER THINGS, AND PROJECTS, SUCH THAT I NEVER ASKED TO BORROW ONE OF HIS BOATS AGAIN.

WHETHER NORM WAS WARY OF ME CALLING MYSELF AN "ANTIQUE COLLECTOR," OR PART-TIME DEALER, OR NOT, I DON'T KNOW. BUT FROM VERY EARLY ON IN OUR MARRIAGE, SUZANNE BECAME A PARTNER IN THE PROFESSION….AT FIRST RELUCTANTLY….KICKING AND SCREAMING MIGHT DESCRIBE IT BETTER. SO FOR MOST OF THE TIME I SPENT WITH NORM, FOR YEARS AFTER MARRIAGE, "HE KNEW WHAT I KNEW, AND WHAT SUZANNE HAD KNOWN FOR YEARS AHEAD OF ME." NORMAN WAS SITTING ON THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF HIGHLY DESIRABLE, EASILY MARKETED MARINE COLLECTIBLES. BUT I CAN TELL YOU ONE THING, IT WAS A SUBJECT NOT EASILY WORKED INTO A CONVERSATION. NORM HAD A PRETTY EFFECTIVE WAY OF LETTING ME KNOW IF AND WHEN I WAS GETTING INTRUSIVE WITH MY QUESTIONING. THE NEWSPAPER WOULD GET HIGHER AND HIGHER, SUCH THAT HE NO LONGER HAD TO STARE AT ME. HARRIET WAS FAR MORE PATIENT AND INTERESTED IN TALKING ABOUT HISTORY, AND HER UPBRINGING ON THE FAMILY FARM IN UFFORD. IF SHE THOUGHT I WAS A PAIN IN THE BEHIND, SHE NEVER SHOWED THAT SIDE, AND WITH SUZANNE, WE HAD QUITE A FEW MEMORABLE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT LOTS OF THINGS. THIS GAVE NORMAN A CHANCE TO SNEAK OUT TO HIS GARAGE…..AND WORK AT SOMETHING OR OTHER, OR JUST SIT AND RELAX AWAY FROM THE INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER, HUNKERED-DOWN IN HIS LIVING ROOM.

THE REASON FOR INCLUDING THIS BRIEF GLIMPSE INTO THE STRIPP AND SHEA FAMILY, IS TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA HOW DEEP OUR INVOLVEMENT IN THE HISTORY OF MUSKOKA;…… FROM HAVING FAMILY MEMBERS WHO CLEARED THE PINE OFF THOSE ROCKY ACRES, ON THE FIRST CULTIVATED FARMSTEADS, TO THE CORE-HISTORY OF BOAT BUILDING ON THE MUSKOKA LAKES, AND ALL THE INTRICATE WEAVING OF FAMILY ACTIVITIES IN SO MANY CLUBS AND ASSOCIATIONS THAT MADE UP THE SOCIAL / CULTURAL FABRIC OF OUR DISTRICT. AS MY RESEARCH PARTNER, ON MANY HISTORY-RELATED PROJECTS, SUZANNE AND I STARTED AS NEWLYWEDS, IMMERSING OURSELVES EVER-DEEPER IN REGIONAL HERITAGE, AND THERE WAS NO TELLING WHAT FIELD THE NEXT BIG ADVENTURE WOULD PRE-OCCUPY, BUSYING THE PARENTS OF TWO YOUNGSTERS, WHO HAD LITTLE CHOICE BUT TO JOIN-IN. SOMETIMES IT WAS SPORTS RELATED, AS WITH THE N.H.L.'S ROGER CROZIER, AND IRVIN "ACE" BAILEY, AND AT OTHER TIMES IT WAS BIOGRAPHICAL, IN THE ART WORLD, SUCH AS IN THE CASE OF THE TOM THOMSON MYSTERY…….AND THE STORY OF ARTIST / MISSIONARY, ADA FLORENCE KINTON, OF HUNTSVILLE. SO IT WAS THE SAME SORT OF STUDY OF NORM STRIPP, WITHOUT HIM REALLY KNOWING ABOUT IT……CAUSE I CAN TELL YOU, HE WOULDN'T HAVE APPROVED. SO ALTHOUGH WE COULDN'T REALLY SIT DOWN AND POUND OUT A MEANINGFUL BIOGRAPHY OF THE BOAT RESTORER, SUFFICE TO SAY, THE INFORMATION HE PROVIDED US, BY SHEER ASSOCIATION AND KINSHIP, HAS HELPED US IMMEASURABLY IN THE ANTIQUE TRADE IN MUSKOKA.

WHILE WE AREN'T PUSHY ABOUT WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT OLD BOATS, AND THE WORK NORM USED TO GET UP TO IN ANY GIVEN WEEK, SUZANNE IS THE KEEPER OF QUITE A STORE OF INSIDER INFORMATION, THAT WE BENEFIT FROM WHENEVER WE'RE OUT ON THE ANTIQUE HUSTINGS, HERE OR ANYWHERE REALLY. NOT ONLY DO WE KNOW ABOUT MUSKOKA COLLECTIBLES AND HOMEGROWN ANTIQUES, WE CAN IDENTIFY TOOLS AND BOAT HARDWARE FAIRLY QUICKLY…..AND HAUL AWAY A MARINE ARTIFACT WITHOUT CAUSING A RIPPLE IN THE WATER. CALL IT STEALTH PURCHASES. A LOT OF SECOND HAND TRADERS HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THESE BOAT PARTS AND TOOLS LOOK LIKE, OR HOW TO SPOT AN ORNAMENT OFF A DITCHBURN, MINNET-SHIELDS, DUKE, OR SEABIRD. SUZANNE DOESN'T NEED A GUIDE BOOK. WHEN SHE WAS ALLOWED INTO THE BOAT HOUSE WORKROOM, OR IN THE GARAGE, SHE WAS PAYING ATTENTION TO DETAIL. SHE'S GOOD AT THAT. I'M MUCH SLOWER ON THE UP-TAKE. HER KNOWLEDGE OF THE INDUSTRY, FROM THE RESTORER'S POINT OF VIEW, HAS ENTITLED US TO GRAB UP A LOT OF PIECES OVER THE YEARS, FOUND AT OUT-OF-THE-WAY ESTATE SALES, FLEA MARKETS, AUCTIONS AND AT ANTIQUE SHOPS UNFAMILIAR WITH LOCAL MARINE HERITAGE.

SUZANNE GREW UP IN THE MARINE INDUSTRY. HER FATHER WAS ALWAYS WORKING ON SOME TYPE OF BOAT RESTORATION IN HIS WORKSHOP. AT A YOUNG AGE, HER FAMILY PURCHASED THE WINDERMERE MARINA, IN THE MID 1960'S, AND THE BOAT THAT CAME AS PART OF THE SALE, WAS THE LARGE, MAGNIFICENTLY APPOINTED DITCHBURN, KNOWN AS THE "SHIRL-EVON," A SLEEK MAHOGANY LAUNCH STILL CRUISING LAKE ROSSEAU. THE SHIRL-EVON WAS USED THEN, AS A LIVERY BOAT, TAKING FOLKS TO THEIR COTTAGES, MANY ON TOBIN'S ISLAND. HE ALSO USED IT AS A DELIVERY BOAT, AND ON OCCASION, IT WAS HIRED BY ONTARIO HYDRO, TO FERRY CREWS TO LOCATIONS AROUND THE LAKE NOT ACCESSIBLY BY ROAD. IT MAY HAVE SEEMED AN EXTRAVAGANT BOAT FOR THIS KIND OF SERVICE, BUT WE HAVE A SLIDE, FROM THE ESTATE OF NORM'S FRIEND, AND NEIGHBOR, BILL SKINNER, SHOWING A WATER-SKIER BEING TOWED BY ONE OF THE WIGWASAN LODGE, DITCHBURNS, KNOWN AS THE "WIGGY I" (AND THERE WERE SEVERAL OTHERS IN THE LODGE FLEET). BILL SKINNER IS DRIVING THE "WIGGY" IN OUR PHOTOGRAPH. SO DITCHBURNS WERE USED AS COMMON WATERCRAFT IN THOSE YEARS, AT THE SAME TIME AS THEY WERE PRIZED LAUNCHES, STORED SAFELY IN THE BOATHOUSES OF MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR COTTAGES. NOT MANY PEOPLE THINK OF THIS CONTRAST OF USES, WHEN THEY SEE THE BEAUTIFUL ARRAY OF RESTORED WOODEN BOATS, AT THE ANNUAL BOAT SHOWS IN MUSKOKA, EACH SUMMER SEASON.

SUZANNE IS QUITE AN AUTHORITY ON THE BOATS OF LAKE ROSSEAU, FROM HER TIME SPENT LIVING AND WORKING IN WINDERMERE. SHE KNEW THE NAMES OF THE BOATS, FROM THEIR LANDINGS AT THE MARINA, AND THEIR USAGE AT THIS TIME, FOR RECREATION, GENERAL USE, RESORT TOURS, AND THOSE WITH A MORE UTILITY FUNCTION, WORKING IN AND AROUND THE MARINA AND VILLAGE WHARF. THE FAMILY ALSO OWNED A LARGE HUNTER-MADE LAUNCH, WITH ENCLOSED CABIN, THAT HAD BEEN FORMERLY USED AS A REGATTA BOAT, TO START SAILING RACES, SPONSORED BY THE MUSKOKA LAKES ASSOCIATION. THERE WAS A SPECIAL BRACKET, MOUNTED ON THE WOODEN TOP OF THE BOAT, WHERE A SMALL CANON HAD BEEN PLACED, WHICH WAS FIRED TO START THE EVENTS.

SHE AND HER MOTHER HARRIET, RAN THE SNACK BAR ABOVE THE MARINA, KNOWN AS "THE SKIPPER." SHE HAD AN IDEAL VANTAGE POINT, TO WATCH THE LAKES AND THE BOAT TRAFFIC COMING INTO THE MARINA. THE TIME WASN'T WASTED. I REMEMBER HER TELLING ME THAT BOB BOYER HAD PHONED HER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, AFTER WE WERE MARRIED, TO ASK FOR ASSISTANCE ON A MATTER OF LAKE ROSSEAU RESORT HERITAGE, FOR SOMETHING HE WAS WRITING FOR THE MUSKOKA SUN. THIS IS FUNNY, BECAUSE I WORKED WITH BOB AT THE HERALD-GAZETTE, AT THE SAME TIME, BUT HE PREFERRED TALKING TO THE PERSON WHO INTIMATELY KNEW THE COMMUNITY'S HISTORY….WITHOUT HAVING TO FIRST CONSULT A FORMAL TEXT, OR GO SEARCHING THROUGH RECORDS. HE'D PHONE HER TO REFUTE INFORMATION PUBLISHED IN OTHER BOOKS, SUCH AS THE DEMISE OF WIGWASSAN LODGE…..WHETHER IT WAS TORN DOWN, OR BURNED IN A FIRE. BOB, AT THE TIME, WAS ONE OF THE BEST KNOWN REGIONAL HISTORIANS, AND HE WAS VERY MUCH MY TUTOR, DURING MY TENURE AS EDITOR OF THE HERALD-GAZETTE. HE PREFERRED MY STRAIGHT-SHOOTING, FACT-PERSNICKETY WIFE, SUZANNE, TO CLEAR UP MISINFORMATION, BEFORE HE'D INSERT A FRESH PAPER INTO THE TYPEWRITER CARRIAGE. NOT MANY PEOPLE KNOW THIS ABOUT MY WIFE. SHE BITES HER TONGUE A LOT, AT WORK AND WHILE WE'RE ATTENDING COMMUNITY EVENTS, WHEN HEARING FALSEHOODS ABOUT LOCAL HISTORY…..AND NOT WISHING TO START THE GREAT DEBATE, WITH FOLKS WHO ARE RELATIVE NEWCOMERS TO THE REGION.

WE HAVE LIVED AND BREATHED LOCAL HISTORY FROM THE FIRST DAYS OF OUR MARRIAGE. I HAVE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT THE EARLY DAYS IN MUSKOKA, BY READING THE BOOKS HER UNCLE BERT SHEA WROTE, ABOUT PIONEERING IN MUSKOKA…..SPECIFICALLY THE THREE MILE LAKE AREA OF THE PRESENT TOWNSHIP OF MUSKOKA LAKES. I'VE SPENT MANY ENJOYABLE HOURS IN HER GRANDFATHER, JOHN SHEA'S FARMSTEAD, IN UFFORD, VISITING WITH SUZANNE'S AUNT ADA, AND HUSBAND JACK, WHO INHERITED THE PROPERTY WHEN JOHN DIED. I'VE STOOD IN THE BARN THE SHEA FAMILY BUILT, AND WANDERED THE BEAUTIFUL LITTLE PROPERTY WITH EYES WIDE OPEN, TO THE HARSH REALITIES OF FORESTS AND ROCKY TERRAIN THEY WERE FORCED TO CONTEND WITH, IN THOSE EARLY HOMESTEAD YEARS. I'VE SAT WITH NORM AND HARRIET, AND TALKED ABOUT THEIR EARLIER DAYS, LIVING IN THIS LITTLE PARADISE KNOWN AS WINDERMERE. I LISTENED WITH GREAT INTEREST, TO NORM DESCRIBING THE PAINTING WORK HE AND HIS FATHER DID FOR THE EATON FAMILY, REFURBISHING THEIR STEAM YACHT, "THE WANDA" NOW PART OF THE FLEET OF VESSELS ON DISPLAY, AT THE WHARF, ON GRAVENHURST'S MUSKOKA BAY. HE TOLD ME ABOUT THE TIME HE WAS COMING BACK FROM GRAVENHURST, ON LAKE MUSKOKA, AT THE TIME OF THE GREAT WIND STORM, THAT OVER-TURNED THE SMALL STEAMER "WAOME," RESULTING IN A LOSS OF LIFE. HE SAVED THE BOAT HE WAS OPERATING, AND HIMSELF, BY CAREFULLY TARPING OVER THE LAUNCH, TO MAKE IT LESS WIND RESISTANT….WHILE STILL HEADING HOME TO WINDERMERE. HE MIGHT NOT HAVE LET ME PLAY AROUND IN HIS WORKSHOP, AND DOWN AT THE COTTAGE BOAT HOUSE, BUT TRUTH IS, HE WAS ENORMOUSLY GENEROUS WITH THE STORIES HE SHARED WITH BOTH OF US….AND HIS GRANDSONS, ABOUT HIS EXPERIENCES WORKING ON THE MUSKOKA LAKES, IN SO MANY DIFFERENT CAPACITIES. AS ANTIQUE DEALERS, LET ME TELL YOU, WE HAD A MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF EDUCATION, BECAUSE OF THESE REGULAR, COMFORTABLE LIVINGROOM TUTORIALS.

WHEN SUZANNE OCCASIONALLY INTERJECTS HER OPINION, WHEN ONE OF HER COLLEAGUES MISREPRESENTS SOME ASPECT OF MUSKOKA'S MARINE HERITAGE, SHE EXPECTS THE LOOK OF "OH SURE……OF COURSE YOU HAD A DITCHBURN….RIGHT…..I HAD FIVE OF THEM!" IT'S WHY SHE HAS A SORE TONGUE A LOT. "SOMETIMES IT'S JUST BETTER TO LET IT GO," SHE ADMITS. "THEY WOULDN'T BELIEVE ME ANYWAY."

THANKS FOR JOINING TODAY'S BLOG. PLEASE JOIN ME AGAIN FOR SOME ANTIQUE AND COLLECTIBLE ADVENTURES……YOU HAVEN'T READ BEFORE.

Family Heirlooms in Muskoka Collection

2012-02-08T16:53:00.001-08:00

THE HISTORY OF THE SHEAS AND PATHS OF ADVENTURE -

SUZANNE AND HER FAMILY OF MUSKOKA BUILDERS

NOTE: SUZANNE'S MOTHER, HARRIET STRIPP, NEE SHEA, AS A HEARTFELT GIFT, BEFORE SHE PASSED AWAY, GAVE ME HER FATHER JOHN SHEA'S COPY OF ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT BOOKS IN MUSKOKA HISTORY……THE 1871 RELEASE OF THOMAS MCMURAY'S "MUSKOKA AND PARRY SOUND," WHICH WAS A SETTLER'S GUIDEBOOK, MODELED AFTER EARLIER BOOKS IN CANADA, AIMED AT ATTRACTING SETTLERS TO CANADA EAST AND WEST. THIS BEGAN A LONG TERM HISTORICAL INTEREST IN COLLECTING MUSKOKA REGIONAL HISTORIES, AND LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE SETTLERS WHO CREATED OUR PIONEER HAMLETS, IN THE MOST ADVERSE CONDITIONS IMAGINABLE. HARRIET GOT US STARTED, ON THE BUILDING OF A WORTHY MUSKOKA COLLECTION, THAT WE USE ALMOST DAILY….THE MCMURRAY BOOK, BEING THE MOST PRECIOUS IN THE COLLECTION. I DEDICATE THE FOLLOWING SEVERAL BLOGS TO HARRIET STRIPP, AN ARTIST AND WRITER, WHO DEARLY LOVED HER FAMILY'S PLACE, IN THE HERITAGE OF OUR REGION OF ONTARIO.

WE HAVE A PORTRAIT OF THE ELDERLY JOHN SHEA, HANGING IN OUR LIVING ROOM, HERE AT BIRCH HOLLOW. HE WAS SUZANNE'S GRANDFATHER, WHO HAD A SMALL FARM IN UFFORD, WHERE THE SHEA AND VEITCH FAMILIES BEGAN HOMESTEADING, DATING FROM THE DECLARATION OF THE FREE GRANT LANDS, OF THE 1860'S……THE GOVERNMENT INITIATIVE TO OPEN UP NEW LANDS TO IMMIGRANTS. JOHN WAS A FORMER WATT TOWNSHIP (MUSKOKA LAKES) CLERK, AND A WELL KNOWN AND RESPECTED MEMBER OF THE ORANGE LODGE, FROM THE THREE MILE LAKE COMMUNITY……AS WERE MANY OF THE SHEAS FROM THE EARLIEST DAYS, FARMING IN MUSKOKA. ONE STORY I ALWAYS REMEMBER ABOUT JOHN, WAS HIS INITIATIVE TO FENCE A SMALL, OTHERWISE UNMARKED FAMILY GRAVES, ON THE DOUGHERTY ROAD, NEAR THE PRESENT UFFORD CEMETERY. A MAJORITY OF THE YOUNG "DOUGHERTY" FAMILY HAD PERISHED, DURING A RAGING SICKNESS ONE NIGHT, MANY DECADES EARLIER, SUCCUMBING TO DIPHTHERIA,; ALTHOUGH I HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO CONFIRM IT WAS THIS PARTICULAR ILLNESS AND NOT INFLUENZA. JOHN MAY ALSO HAVE PLANTED THE LILACS THAT MARKED THE PLOT. THE FENCE IS NOW GONE, BUT SUZANNE AND I OFTEN VISIT THE SPOT, THAT VERY FEW FOLKS KNOW ABOUT.

SHORTLY AFTER MY OWN FAMILY MOVED TO MUSKOKA, FROM BURLINGTON, ONTARIO, IN THE WINTER OF 1966, SOMEBODY MADE A COMMENT TO MY FATHER, ABOUT HOW LONG IT WOULD TAKE TO GET ACCEPTED BY THE COMMUNITY. WE'D NEVER LIVED IN A SMALL TOWN, SO ED WASN'T QUITE SURE HOW TO TAKE THE ADVICE. THE CHAP WENT ON TO EXPLAIN THAT OUR FAMILY WOULD BE "NEW TO THE AREA" BASICALLY FOREVER. IN RETROSPECT, I THINK HE WAS SAYING IT SARCASTICALLY, ALTHOUGH SIMILAR STATEMENTS WERE MADE, AT OTHER TIMES, IN OTHER PLACES, THAT SEEMED TO REINFORCE THE ADVISORY.

I GOT BEAT-UP A LOT BECAUSE I WAS NEW TO BRACEBRIDGE PUBLIC SCHOOL. THAT WAS MADE CLEAR TO ME. I REMEMBER ONE OF THE BIG-SHOT KIDS, FROM ONE OF THE UPPER ECHELON FAMILIES, KNOCKING ME OVER IN THE SCHOOL YARD JUST FOR THE HELL OF IT. HE WOULDN'T LET ME UP. OBVIOUSLY, I WAS PAYING THE PRICE OF BEING THE "FRESH FISH" TO BORROW THE LINE FROM THE MOVIE "ANDERSONVILLE," ABOUT THE BRUTALITY OF A CIVIL WAR PRISON. OUT OF NOWHERE, CAME A LARGER STUDENT, WHO INTERVENED ON MY BEHALF, KNOCKING MY ADVERSARY ON HIS BEHIND. HE LET HIM KNOW, IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS, THAT HE WAS TO LEAVE THE "NEW KID" ALONE FROM THAT POINT ON. MY DEFENDER, ON THAT DAY, WAS A KINDLY GENTLEMAN NAMED PAUL DUFF, WHO WENT ON TO BE MY PROTECTOR EVEN IN THE RANKS OF MINOR HOCKEY. WHILE MY TEAM-MATES LET ME KNOW HOW CRAPPY A GOALTENDER I WAS, WHEN A PUCK HIT THE MESH BEHIND, MY DEFENSEMAN, PAUL DUFF, WOULD COME BACK, HIT MY PADS WITH HIS STICK, AND SAY SOMETHING LIKE, "IT'S OKAY TED. IT'S JUST A GOAL. DON'T PAY ATTENTION TO THOSE GUYS." THAT WAS ABOUT 45 YEARS AGO, AND WHEN I MEET HIM AROUND THE AREA, EVEN TODAY, HE'S PRETTY MUCH THE SAME GUY AS I REMEMBER. THE ONE WHO NEVER TREATED ME DIFFERENTLY, BECAUSE I WAS A CITY KID TRANSPLANTED INTO THE RURAL WAY OF LIFE.

I DIGRESS, AS USUAL. THE POINT IS, WHETHER IT WAS TRUE THAT NEWBIES WERE TREATED AS INTERLOPERS, UPON THE TRADITIONAL RANK AND FILE CITIZENRY, WHO ALSO DOMINATED LOCAL COUNCIL, I DON'T HAVE A CLUE WHETHER THIS WAS A VALID CRITIQUE. I NEVER DID A POLL TO FIND OUT. I WAS TOO SCARED! EVEN IF THAT COMMENT CAME FROM ONE OF THE LOCAL FAMILIES, DATING BACK TO THE FIRST LOG SHANTY OF THE 1860'S HAMLET, I COULDN'T GENERALIZE THAT THE WHOLE COMMUNITY FELT THE SAME WAY. PAUL DUFF DIDN'T CARE WHERE I CAME FROM, BEFORE ARRIVING IN THE GRAVEL YARD OF BRACEBRIDGE PUBLIC SCHOOL. BUT, OTHER STUDENTS WEREN'T SO KINDLY, AS I FOUND OUT.

WHAT I CAN RELAY, WITH CONSIDERABLE KNOWLEDGE, IS THAT MY EDITORIAL TIME IN MUSKOKA, IN THE EARLY GOING OF MY CAREER, WAS HAMPERED BY THE FACT I HAD NO FAMILY ANCHOR IN THIS REGION. THIS WAS PREVALENT ESPECIALLY WHEN I WOULD ATTEMPT TO ARRANGE INTERVIEWS FOR FEATURE STORIES, FOR THE HERALD-GAZETTE. IF I WAS CONDUCTING AN INTERVIEW WITH AN OLDTIMER, I WAS GENERALLY RAKED-OVER-THE-COALS, BECAUSE THE PAPER HADN'T SENT A REPORTER WITH MUCH DEEPER ROOTS, THAN THE ONE (ME), SITTING IN THEIR KITCHEN, WHO HAD ARRIVED HERE IN THE MID 1960'S. I CAN REMEMBER COUNCILLORS, WHEN I'D GO TO CONDUCT A NEWS RELATED INTERVIEW, QUESTIONING ME BEFORE I HAD A CHANCE TO DIRECT EVEN ONE AT THEM. THEY WANTED TO KNOW WHO I WAS, WHERE I CAME FROM, AND WHY I HAD DECIDED TO LIVE IN BRACEBRIDGE. I BECAME EDITOR OF THE HERALD-GAZETTE IN THE EARLY 1980'S, AND THIS WAS A MAJOR COUP, AND I OWE IT TO MY SENSITIVITY TO LOCAL HERITAGE AND TRADITIONS, THANKS TO MY MENTOR, ROBERT BOYER, ONE OF OUR BEST KNOWN REGIONAL HISTORIANS. BOB WAS AN ASSISTANT EDITOR OF THE HERALD-GAZETTE, AND EDITOR OF THE MUSKOKA SUN. I THOUGHT SO HIGHLY OF BOB, AND WHAT HE HAD DONE FOR ME OVER THE YEARS, THAT OUR SECOND SON, ROBERT, WAS NAMED IN HIS HONOR. BOB SHOWED ME HOW TO WIN THE LOCALS OVER….AND WHEN I WENT OUT ON INTERVIEWS, USING HIS NAME, AS MY MENTOR, IT OPENED A LOT OF DOORS THAT WERE PRETTY MUCH NAILED SHUT. THEY TRUSTED THE BOYER FAMILY NAME. THEY'D KNOWN HIS FATHER GEORGE AND MOTHER VICTORIA, FROM THIER TENURE AT THE NEWSPAPER….AND THEIR FAMILY'S TIES TO THE EARLY BUILDING OF THE TOWN ITSELF.

BY THE MID 1980'S, I'D MARRIED A GAL I HAD KNOWN BRIEFLY FROM HIGH SCHOOL GEOGRAPHY CLASS, BACK IN 1974. WE HAD NEVER DATED IN THOSE YEARS, BUT BY CIRCUMSTANCE OF MUTUAL FRIENDSHIPS, WE HAD REKINDLED OUR SCHOOL DAYS, DURING AN EVENT OF THE MUSKOKA WINTER CARNIVAL. SUZANNE STRIPP AGREED TO MARRY ME, AND THE REST IS A HUGE TEXT OF FAMILY HISTORY. I WENT FROM BEING RELATED TO A VERY FEW, TO BEING RELATED TO A FAMILY BORDERING ON AN ENTIRE COMMUNITY. IT WAS HER UNCLE BERT SHEA, WHO WROTE THE ABOVE MENTIONED FAMILY CHRONICLE, "HISTORY OF THE SHEAS AND THE PATHS OF ADVENTURE," WHICH WAS THE SECOND OF HIS FAMILY TOMES. I BECAME AN IN-LAW TO MANY FROM THE SHEA AND VEITCH FAMILIES, SPREAD OUT FROM THE THREE MILE LAKE, UFFORD AREA OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MUSKOKA LAKES. I BECAME A DISTANT IN-LAW OF SEVERAL MEMBERS OF OUR NEWSPAPER STAFF, AT THE TIME, INCLUDING MR. BOYER. HIS DAUGHTER VICKY HAD MARRIED SUZANNE'S COUSIN, DOUG BILLINGSLEY. I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY OF THOSE BOLTED-SHUT DOORS STARTED TO OPEN. IT WASN'T JUST THE SHEA AND VEITCH CONNECTION, BUT THE STRIPP FAMILY INFLUENCES AS WELL. SUZANNE'S FATHER NORM, WAS KNOWN AS AN EXPERT ON VINTAGE WOODEN BOAT RESTORATIONS IN MUSKOKA. HIS FATHER, SAM STRIPP, HAD BEEN THE WELL KNOWN ICE-PAINTER, FOR MANY OF BRACEBRIDGE'S HISTORIC FIGURE SKATING CARNIVALS…..SOMETHING HE DID AS A VOLUNTEER. SAM WAS A HOUSE PAINTER, AND WORKED ON BOATS AS WELL, INCLUDING THE PRESENT DAY STEAM YACHT, "WANDA," (NOW IN GRAVENHURST), FORMERLY OWNED BY THE EATON FAMILY OF RAVENSCRAG, AT WINDERMERE. THE STRIPPS ARE LONGTIME RESIDENTS OF WINDERMERE.

I DIDN'T HAVE MUCH LOCAL HERITAGE TO BRING TO THE TABLE. I WAS A DIRECTOR OF THE NEWLY FORMED BRACEBRIDGE HISTORICAL SOCIETY, AND EDITOR OF THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER, BUT I WAS STILL A GLOWING EXAMPLE OF A NEWBIE TO TOWN. THIS WAS ABOUT TO CHANGE. AND I'M ENORMOUSLY PROUD OF OUR FAMILY CONNECTION, TO THE EARLY HERITAGE OF THE DISTRICT OF MUSKOKA. IN FACT, WHEN I'M QUESTIONED, EVEN TODAY, ABOUT MY FAMILY'S ROOTS IN MUSKOKA, I LOVE TO RESPOND, ASKING THEM WHETHER OR NOT THEY'VE SEEN THE DUG-OUT CANOE ON DISPLAY AT THE MUSKOKA LAKES MUSEUM. I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW GREAT IT IS, TO RESPOND THAT "MY BOY'S KIN CARVED OUT THAT CANOE." IT WAS MADE BY A GREAT, GREAT GRANDFATHER ON THE SHEA SIDE. NOW IF THEY WERE TO ASK ABOUT THE CURRIE CLAN, WITH SUSPICION OF OUR CONNECTION TO A BROTHEL IN THE OLD COUNTRY, I WON'T BE ABLE TO ANSWER THAT ONE THE GROUNDS IN MIGHT INCRIMINATE ME. MY FATHER WAS FROM THE LEGENDARY CABBAGETOWN NEIGHBORHOOD IN TORONTO…..AND IT WAS THE FIGHTING IRISH I'LL TELL YOU THAT. I HEARD LOTS OF STORIES ABOUT MY GRANDFATHER EDDIE, AND THE SCRAPS HE USED TO GET INTO….AND MY DAD, A SAILOR, WAS NO STRANGER TO FISTICUFFS, FIGHTING FOR ANY ONE OF A NUMBER OF THINGS…..IRISH PRIDE AND MY MOTHER'S HONOR…..AND BY THE LOOKS OF HIS CROOKED NOSE, FIGHTING JUST FOR THE HELL OF IT.

I REMEMBER TELLING OUR BOYS, BACK IN THEIR EARLY TEENS, ONE OF THE FAMOUS SHEA FAMILY STORIES, AS TOLD BY THEIR GREAT UNCLE, BERT SHEA….., AND WATCHING THEM WINCE. I LOVE DOING THAT TO FOLKS, WITH AN HISTORICAL "BELIEVE IT OR NOT." I SAID "BOYS, YOU HAVEN'T KNOWN THIS UNTIL NOW, BUT YOU ARE DESCENDANTS OF THE 'THREE MILE LAKE WOLVES'." "WHAT?" WAS ANDREW'S RESPONSE, WHILE ROBERT JUST STARED AT ME, WITH MOUTH GAPING OPEN, WAITING FOR THE PUNCH LINE. "HOW ARE WE RELATED TO WOLVES," ANDREW ASKED. I REPLIED THAT, YOU GUYS, BECAUSE OF YOUR FAMILY, ON MOM'S SIDE, ARE RELATED TO THE "THREE MILE LAKE WOLVES." "WAS IT A HOCKEY TEAM," ROBERT ASKED HIS MOM. "MORE VIOLENT," I INTERJECTED. THE THREE MILE LAKES WOLVES WERE ACTUALLY MALE MEMBERS OF THE SHEA FAMILY OF UFFORD. A FEARED GROUP OF ORANGEMEN, WITH A STORMY IRISH DISPOSITION, WHO WOULD COME INTO BRACEBRIDGE, FOR SUPPLIES, AND WALK ARM AND ARM DOWN THE CENTRE OF MANITOBA STREET (MAIN BUSINESS CORRIDOR), AS A DIRECT CHALLENGE TO ANY LOCAL PUGILIST, OR GROUP LOOKING FOR A DUST-UP, FOR ENTERTAINMENT, TO STAND IN THEIR WAY…..,WHILE CHEERFULLY HEADING DOWN TO THE QUEEN'S HOTEL FOR A BITE OF LUNCH. A FEW DID THINK IT WORTH A CHALLENGE, BUT NEVER REPEATED THE ERROR IN JUDGEMENT A SECOND TIME. THERE WAS ONE INCIDENT, DETAILED MY BERT SHEA, OF HIS KIN, WHEN A WAITOR AT THE QUEEN'S HOTEL, KICKED THEIR DOG AWAY FROM A DINING TABLE…..AND THAT CAUSED A MINOR DONNYBROOK BEFORE LUNCH COULD BE SERVED. I THINK THE BOYS REALLY DID BELIEVE THEIR FAMILY WERE ACTUALLY WOLVES. THERE WAS NO MISTAKING, THAT THEY HAVE BEEN QUITE PROUD OF THEIR HERITAGE IN THIS REGARD. NOT BECAUSE THEIR FAMILY WERE BRUTALLY HONEST WITH OPPONENTS, BUT BECAUSE THEY WERE OF HARDY PIONEER STOCK, WHO DIDN'T SHY AWAY FROM THE CHALLENGES OF THE DAY, THE MONTH OR THE YEAR.

ONE DAY, QUITE UNEXPECTEDLY, A CUSTOMER CAME INTO THE BOYS' GRAVENHURST MUSIC SHOP, AND BEGAN TALKING ABOUT THE HISTORY OF MUSKOKA. ANDREW, AFTER LISTENING TO THIS CUSTOMER'S CONNECTION TO THE PIONEER PAST, SAID WITH A WEE GRIN, "MY FAMILY WERE MEMBERS OF THE THREE MILE LAKE WOLVES." "HOW DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE THREE MILE LAKE WOLVES," SHE SHOT BACK, AS IF SHE'D SEEN A GHOST. TURNS OUT, SHE WAS ALSO RELATED TO THE SHEA FAMILY, BUT WE'RE NOT SURE JUST HOW EMBEDDED SHE WAS. THEY SEEMED QUITE DELIGHTED, THE WOMAN KNEW ABOUT THE WOLVES; WHO WAS POSSIBLY SURPRISED BY THE LIKENESS OF THE TWO LARGE LADS, STANDING IN THEIR SHOP, ARMS FOLDED, AS IF PROTECTING THE FAMILY CREST. THEY PROBABLY REMINDED HER OF THE WOLVES POSTURING, ON THOSE MAIN STREET STROLLS. SUZANNE, WHO HAS ALWAYS SHIED AWAY FROM TALKING ABOUT "THE WOLVES," WAS QUITE IMPRESSED, BY HOW PROUD THE BOYS ACTUALLY WERE, OF THEIR FAMILY HERITAGE.

SUZANNE IS CURRENTLY WORKING ON OUR COMBINED FAMILY TREES, THROUGH ANCESTRY.CA, AND WILL SOON PUBLISH HER FINDINGS, ON A NEW BLOG-SITE, WHICH WE HOPE WILL HELP OTHER DISTANT FAMILY MEMBERS, PIECE TOGETHER THEIR OWN LINKAGE TO OUR DESCENDANTS. IT'S A FASCINATING STUDY. GREAT FOR A COUPLE OF HISTORIANS, WHO ALSO HAPPEN TO BE ANTIQUE DEALERS.

THE POINT OF THIS INTRODUCTION, TO A BROADER MUSKOKA COLLECTIBLES PROFILE, IS THAT BY FAMILY CONNECTION, WE HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN MUSKOKA HISTORY, DATING BACK TO THE EARLY 1860'S. WE HAVE QUITE ENJOYED STRETCHING BACK THROUGH THE DECADES, FINDING ALL KINDS OF ASSOCIATED FAMILY RELICS TO ACCOMPANY THE WRITTEN HISTORY, CAPABLY DONE BY BERT SHEA, AND HIS SISTER (SUZANNE'S AUNT), LEAH FITTON; WHO DID A GREAT DEAL OF WORK ON THE SHEA AND VEITCH FAMILY TREE, BEFORE SHE PASSED AWAY, SEVERAL YEARS AGO. ANTIQUE COLLECTING IS SO MUCH MORE INTERESTING, IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS, WHEN YOU FEEL ATTACHED TO A TOWN AND REGION…….AS IT WAS HARD FOR ME, WHEN ALL MY CONNECTIONS WERE IN THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE OF TORONTO. NOT THAT MY FAMILY HISTORY HASN'T ALSO INSPIRED MY COLLECTING INTERESTS, BECAUSE IT HAS, BUT AS OUR BUSINESS OPERATION, AND COLLECTING AREA, IS LARGELY WITHIN THE DISTRICT OF MUSKOKA, IT IS NEAT TO HAVE THIS WEB OF FAMILY CONNECTIONS, THAT MAY ONE DAY TURN UP SOME INTERESTING FAMILY HEIRLOOMS…..FROM HOME CRAFTED TABLES AND FLAT-TO-THE WALLS, DRESSERS, CHAIRS THAT WERE MADE TO OUTFIT THOSE FIRST ROUGHLY HEWN LOG SHANTIES IN THE THREE MILE LAKE COMMUNITY OF THE PRESENT TOWNSHIP OF MUSKOKA LAKES.

SUZANNE SAYS IN AN OFF-HAND MANNER, "SEE, I WAS THE MAKING OF YOU." IN MANY WAYS, FOR THE SAKE OF ARGUMENT, SHE'S RIGHT. AS A LOCAL HISTORIAN, THE FACT THAT SO MANY FOLKS DIDN'T TRUST AN OUTSIDER, WITH THEIR FAMILY HERITAGE IN MUSKOKA, IT CERTAINLY CUT-DOWN MY RESEARCH MATERIAL, FOR THE FEATURE ARTICLES I WAS HIRED TO WRITE FOR THE LOCAL PRESS. WHEN I'D TELL INTERVIEW SUBJECTS, THAT I MARRIED A LOCAL GIRL, FROM WINDERMERE, YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE HOW MANY OF THESE PEOPLE WANTED TO KNOW MORE…..AND MANY OF THEM KNEW THE SHEA, VEITCH AND STRIPP FAMILY……IF NOT FROM LONG-TIME ENCOUNTERS IN THE SAME COMMUNITY, THEN LIKELY BECAUSE OF ASSOCIATION WITH THE ORANGE LODGE, AND FOR MY FATHER-IN-LAW, NORMAN, THE WINDERMERE AND DISTRICT LIONS CLUB. WE HAVE ALL OF NORM'S LION PINS AND AWARDS, AND WE'RE ALL PROUD OF THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS HE MADE IN COMMUNITY SERVICE, OVER HIS LIFETIME, RESIDING IN THE VILLAGE OF WINDERMERE, ON THE SHORE OF BEAUTIFUL LAKE ROSSEAU.

THANKS FOR JOINING TODAY'S BLOG. TOMORROW, I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU TO NORM STRIPP, WOOD BOAT RESTORER, FORMER OWNER OF THE WINDERMERE MARINA, AND THE WELL KNOWN MAHOGANY LAUNCH………ONE OF THE LONGEST EVER MADE BY THE DITCHBURN BOAT WORKS, MADE IN THE TOWN OF GRAVENHURST, KNOWN AS THE "SHIRL-EVON." IT'S STILL CRUISING THE MUSKOKA LAKES. I'LL TELL YOU ABOUT ITS YEARS OF IT YEARS OF SERVICE AS A LIVERY BOAT FOR CUSTOMERS OF THE WINDERMERE MARINA.

Ontario's Historic Sites with Mom and Dad

2012-02-07T16:53:00.001-08:00

AN UPBRINGING IN ANTIQUES - NOT BLOODY LIKELY - AS MY MOTHER WOULD SAY

BUT MOM AND POP GAVE ME AN EDUCATION IN CANADIAN HISTORY -

A LOT OF PEOPLE I TALK TO THESE DAYS, ABOUT ANTIQUES, AND THE ANTIQUE BUSINESS, FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT I DIDN'T COME FROM A RELIC-LADEN HOUSEHOLD. MY BOYS HOWEVER, CAN HONESTLY CLAIM TO HAVE COME FROM AN ANTIQUE-LADEN HOUSEHOLD. IN MY DAY, ON THE WISHES OF MY MOTHER MERLE, EVERYTHING HAD TO BE NEW. OUR APARTMENT IN BURLINGTON, IN THE LATE 1950'S, TO THE MID 1960's, WAS A PHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE OF THAT PERIOD OF HOME DECORATING. THE FURNITURE, PURCHASED NEW, WAS MODEST IN STYLE, CORRECTLY PROPORTIONAL TO THE LIVING SPACE, AND FEW IN NUMBER. IN PHOTOGRAPHS I HAVE OF THIS PERIOD, THERE WAS INFINITELY MORE OPEN SPACE, THAN FURNITURE AND SUNDRY ADORNMENTS. AT CHRISTMAS, THE LIGHTLY DECORATED SPRUCE, WAS THE MOST PROMINENT "BIG THING" IN THE LIVINGROOM. WE HAD A COUPLE OF CHAIRS, A CHESTERFIELD, A FEW END TABLES, ONE COFFEE TABLE MY DAD ACTUALLY MADE, A CABINET TELEVISION, AND A COUPLE OF ART PIECES ON THE WALLS. IN COMPARISON, I HAVE MUCH LESS AIR SPACE IN OUR ROOMS HERE AT BIRCH HOLLOW. IF YOU LOOKED AT THE PICTURES THEN, AND WHAT THEIR SON HAS INFILLED, AS A COMFORT ZONE TODAY, YOU'D SWEAR I WAS ADOPTED. THESE "LESS IS BEST" PEOPLE COULDN'T POSSIBLY HAVE GIVEN BIRTH TO A HOARDER LIKE ME.

THE HINT SOMETHING WAS WRONG, WAS WHEN I HAULED SO MUCH STUFF HOME, DURING MY GAD-ABOUTS AS A KID. BROKEN HOCKEY STICKS, HALF ROLLS OF FRICTION TAPE, OLD NAILS, A FEW BRICKS, BAGS OF CHESTNUTS (WHEN IN SEASON), AND OLD CLOTHES I TOOK FROM THE SCHOOL'S LOST AND FOUND. I HAD THE HOARDER MENTALITY. "I CAN USE THIS SWEATER, AND THAT ONE OVER THERE, AND THE ONE DOWN HERE," I'D WHISPER TO MYSELF, AS I WAS LEANING HEAD FIRST IN THE GIANT BIN OF LOST ITEMS AT LAKESHORE PUBLIC SCHOOL, IN BURLINGTON. THE TEACHERS WOULD HAVE TO PULL ME OUT BY MY FEET. "IT'S TIME TO GO HOME NOW TEDDY. I'M SURE YOU'RE MOTHER WILL BE EXCITED TO SEE WHAT YOU'VE FOUND…..THAT YOU DIDN'T REALLY LOSE."

I CAN REMEMBER ONE GREAT EXCEPTION TO MY MOTHER'S RULE. FOR WHATEVER CRAZY REASON, MERLE DECIDED TO GO WITH A FRIEND, TO A YARD SALE JUST OUTSIDE THE URBAN AREA OF BRACEBRIDGE. I THOUGHT SHE'D LOST HER MIND. SHE BOUGHT A CIRCA 1930'S CHINA CUPBOARD. SHE TOLD HER FRIEND THAT SHE HAD ALWAYS WANTED ONE TO KEEP HER GOOD CHINA SAFE. WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY GOOD CHINA. SERIOUSLY. AND THAT'S EXACTLY HOW THE CABINET WAS USED. JUST AS AN ADDITIONAL CUPBOARD, TO HOUSE WHAT WE ALREADY POSSESSED. SHE JUST SPREAD IT OUT, BUT TOLD ALL HER FRIENDS, SHE HAD JUST BOUGHT "A DARLING ANTIQUE CHINA CABINET." NOT ONLY THAT! SHE ALSO BOUGHT TWO FAIRLY NICE PRESS-BACK CHAIRS FOR THE KITCHEN. FUNNY THING THOUGH. THERE WASN'T ENOUGH ROOM IN THE KITCHEN, SO SHE GAVE THEM TO ME. THUS, THE LOCAL LADS AND I, HAD TWO NICE CHAIRS, SET UP IN THE END-ZONES, TO PLAY MY MUNRO TABLE-TOP HOCKEY GAME.

WHEN MY PARENTS MOVED TO A SMALL COTTAGE, ON ALLPORT BAY, OF THE WIDER LAKE MUSKOKA, IN THE FALL OF 1974, AND I WENT OFF TO UNIVERSITY, MERLE GAVE THE CHINA CUPBOARD TO A FRIEND. EVEN THOUGH I REALLY LIKED IT, AS MODEST AS IT WAS, SHE WANTED RID OF IT ENTIRELY. NOT JUST TO SHIFT IT INTO MY BEDROOM, WHICH WOULD HAVE LOOKED GREAT WITH MY ARRAY OF COLLECTIBLES. THEN WHEN I WENT LOOKING FOR THE PRESS BACK CHAIRS, "I THREW THEM OUT." "WHAT DID YOU DO THAT FOR," I DEMANDED, ONCE AGAIN, HAVING REALLY LIKED THOSE TWO HIGH BACKED CHAIRS. "IT'S JUST OLD STUFF. WE'VE GOT ENOUGH JUNK AROUND HERE," SHE SAID, IN THAT SIGNED, SEALED AND DELIVERED MANNER, SHE HAD USED THROUGHOUT MY CHILDHOOD, TO COVER MANY TIMELY ISSUES. IN FACT, SHE ONLY THREW THOSE CHAIRS AS FAR AS THE GARBAGE BOXES OUTSIDE OF THE APARTMENT, WHERE THEY WERE SCOOPED UP BY ANOTHER RESIDENT, SENSING THERE WAS SOME VALUE HANGING ONTO THEM. JUST LIKE I WOULD HAVE, IF GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY.

YET STRANGELY ENOUGH, MERLE AND ED GAVE ME SOMETHING BETTER THAN A CHINA CUPBOARD, AND TWO PRESS-BACK CHAIRS. THEY TOOK ME PLACES. WE TRAVELLED A LOT IN MY YOUTH, BECAUSE MY DAD, LIKE ME, FOUND A SORT OF SPIRITUAL RELEASE OUT ON THE OPEN ROAD. EVEN FROM A VERY YOUNG AGE, MERLE AND ED WOULD MOTOR ME ALL OVER THE PROVINCE. I WAS AFFORDED OPPORTUNITIES TO VISIT FORT HENRY, FORT YORK, FORT NIAGARA, MACKENZIE HOUSE IN TORONTO, THE ROYAL ONTARIO MUSEUM, UPPER CANADA VILLAGE, AND HISTORIC SITES DOTTED FROM BUFFALO TO DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA. EVERY YEAR THEY TOOK ME TO THE CANADIAN NATIONAL EXHIBITION, WITHOUT FAIL, WHERE WE VISITED THE SPORTS HALL OF FAME, ED'S FAVORITE STOP IN A BUSY DAY. THEY TOOK ME TO EXPO IN MONTREAL, AND IT WAS A BLAST. WE STAYED WITH FAMILY IN LACHINE, AND WE GOT TO SEE A LOT OF THE LOCAL ATTRACTIONS, AND HERITAGE SITES. THEY JUST LOVED TO TAKE ME TO HISTORICAL SITES, AND THAT INCLUDED EVEN ROADSIDE SIGNS WE HAD TO STOP AND READ. THEY LIKED HISTORY AS LONG AS IT DIDN'T CREATE A CLUTTER IN THEIR APARTMENT, OR HOUSE.

SO IT WAS A RATHER CONTRADICTORY HOUSEHOLD. I GOT A LOT OF MY INTEREST IN ANTIQUES FROM VISITING THOSE IMPORTANT HISTORIC SITES. BUT WE NEVER, EVER CROSSED THE THRESHOLD OF AN ANTIQUE SHOP. GOD FORBID. I MIGHT WANT TO BUY SOMETHING TO CLUTTER UP THE HOUSE. I THINK MERLE, WHO HAD COME FROM A RATHER PRIVILEGED BACKGROUND, DEVELOPED A BAD ATTITUDE ABOUT POSSESSIONS, AFTER MY GRANDFATHER, STANLEY JACKSON, PASSED ON, IN THE EARLY 1970'S. SHE HAD LIVED IN A BEAUTIFUL HOUSE, STAN HAD BUILT FOR THEM, AND IT WAS LOADED WITH MANY BEAUTIFUL ANTIQUE PIECES, BROUGHT FROM THE FAMILY FARM THEY ONCE OWNED IN TRENTON, ONTARIO. STAN WAS A GIANT OF A MAN, OR HE ALWAYS SEEMED A MASSIVE HUMAN BEING, WHEN I'D LOOK UP AT HIM. HE HAD BEEN A CAREER BUILDER. IN TORONTO TODAY, NEAR JANE AND BLOOR, (OLD MILL AREA), THERE IS A STREET KNOWN AS "JACKSON AVENUE," WHICH WAS ALLEGEDLY NAMED AFTER HIM. HE BUILT MOST OF THE HOUSES ON THE STREET, SO I GUESS IT MADE SOME SENSE TO AFFORD THE NAME TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

WHEN MY GRANDMOTHER, BLANCHE DIED, STAN DECIDED TO PUT THE HOUSE UP FOR SALE. HE TOLD MY MOTHER HE COULDN'T LIVE IN THE SAME HOUSE, WITHOUT HIS WIFE….AS IT WOULD BE HAUNTED BY MEMORIES OF THEIR LIFE TOGETHER. I CAN REMEMBER HIM CALLING MY MOTHER, AND ASKING HER TO COME TO TORONTO (FROM BURLINGTON), TO PICK THINGS SHE WANTED TO HAVE, FROM HER MOTHER'S KEEPSAKES AND THE HOUSE IN GENERAL. I VIVIDLY RECALL GOING IN THE HOUSE, AND FINDING OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS RUNNING WILDLY THROUGH THE ROOMS CLAIMING THINGS THEY WANTED. THEY WERE DASHING UPSTAIRS AND DOWNSTAIRS, EVEN INTO THE BASEMENT, WITH PIECES OF TAPE, TO IDENTIFY WHAT ITEMS HAD ALREADY BEEN SPOKEN FOR. MY MOTHER WANTED ONE THING. HER FATHER'S VIOLIN. IT HAD ALREADY BEEN GIVEN TO HER SISTER'S SON. HER SECOND CHOICE, WAS A SMALL PRINT OF A PASTURE, HER MOTHER USED TO HAVE HUNG ON THE WALL, IN HER BEDROOM. AS A YOUNG GIRL SHE HAD ALWAYS ADMIRED IT. THERE WAS A BROACH AND A NECKLESS MERLE WAS ABLE TO GRAB, AMIDST THE FRENZY OF FAMILY CLAIMING THEIR HEIRLOOMS. I REMEMBER JUST SITTING ON A SOFA WITH STAN, AND WAITING FOR MY MOTHER TO COME BACK FOR ME. IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG. SHE SHOWED HER FATHER WHAT SHE WANTED OF HER MOTHERS, AND SAID, "DAD, I JUST CAN'T BE PART OF THIS ANY LONGER. I DON'T LIKE WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE. I SHOULDN'T HAVE COME. THIS IS GOING TO BE THE LAST MEMORY I HAVE OF THIS BEAUTIFUL HOUSE, AND MY MOTHER." I DON'T THINK STAN WAS IN ANY POSITION TO COMMENT, AS I'M PRETTY SURE THERE WERE TEARS ON HIS CHEEK. AT LEAST THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT AT THE TIME. I DIDN'T REALLY UNDERSTAND MUCH ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON. I KNEW MY GRANDMOTHER HAD DIED, AND WE'D BEEN HERE, AT HER PARLOR BEDSIDE, ONLY HOURS BEFORE SHE PASSED. I COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHY STAN WAS MOVING AWAY. I REALLY LIKED VISITING, ESPECIALLY WHEN HE TOOK US OUT IN HIS NEAT OLD CAR, WITH THE WIRE "CURB FINDERS" ON THE SIDE OF THE CAR. THAT'S HOW I KNEW HE'D ARRIVED AT OUR PLACE. I COULD HEAR THE WIRE "FEELERS" HITTING THE CONCRETE.

I THINK THIS WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE REASONS, MY MOTHER HAD AN AVERSION TO HAVING TOO MANY COLLECTIBLE ITEMS, AND BURDENSOME FURNITURE PIECES. I THINK THERE WERE ANTIQUE PIECES THAT REMINDED HER OF THE FAMILY HOUSE IN TORONTO, AND OF THIS, SHE WANTED NO PART. WHEN SUZANNE AND I CLEANED OUT MY PARENTS' ESTATE, SEVERAL YEARS AGO, THE ONLY OLDER PIECES AND ART, WERE ONES WE HAD GIVEN TO THEM AS GIFTS AT CHRISTMAS AND ON BIRTHDAYS. THEY HAD A FEW VALUELESS OLD CHAIRS BUT MOST PIECES WERE MODERN WITHOUT EVEN A HINT OF HEIRLOOM PATINA ANYWHERE….EXCEPT THE THREE PAINTINGS ALL FROM THE 1970'S, I'D GIVEN THEM AS GIFTS. I DID FIND THE BROACH, NECKLESS AND SMALL PASTORAL PRINT, I REMEMBER HER PICKING UP FROM STAN'S HOUSE THAT DAY, STILL TUCKED SAFELY, IN A TIGHT WRAP OF LINEN, BURIED DEEP IN A DRESSER DRAWER. OUTSIDE OF BEING MOVED AROUND A BIT, IN THE YEARS SINCE HER MOTHER'S DEMISE, I DON'T IMAGINE MUCH CHANGED WITH THOSE PIECES….LOCKED AWAY FOR SOME UNIDENTIFIED POSTERITY. WE HAVE THEM NOW, AND WILL PASS THEM ON TO OUR BOYS WHEN THE TIME COMES. THEY LOVED THEIR OWN VISITS WITH MERLE AND ED, WHO SPOILED THEM WITH SO MANY TOYS AND WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITIES, AS I HAD ENJOYED AS A YOUNGSTER.

I REMEMBER A STORY MY MOTHER TOLD ME, A FEW YEARS BEFORE HER STROKE. STAN HAD BEEN HIRED TO BUILD A CHURCH IN TORONTO. "WE DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF MONEY THEN, AS IT WAS IN THE DEPRESSION THAT HE BEGAN CONSTRUCTION. HE PUT A LOT OF PERSONAL MONEY INTO IT, THINKING THE CHURCH WOULD PAY THEIR BILLS AFTER SOME FUNDRAISING EFFORTS. HE FINISHED THE CHURCH BUILDING, HANDED OVER THE KEYS BEFORE GETTING PAID. THEY NEVER DID. IN FACT, THEY REFUSED TO PAY. STAN WAS SO MAD THAT HE DROPPED RELIGION ALL TOGETHER DURING THAT TIME, AND VOWED TO NEVER ENTER A CHURCH AGAIN." JUST AS MERLE REFUSED TO HAVE MUCH IF ANYTHING TO DO WITH ANTIQUES, BECAUSE OF A SIMILARLY BAD EXPERIENCE, FOLLOWING HER MOTHER'S DEATH. AS SOME IRONY TO THIS STORY, IS THE FACT MY GRANDFATHER DIED ON THE STEPS OF A CHURCH IN FLORIDA, AFTER SUNDAY MORNING SERVICE, AND LEFT HIS ENTIRE ESTATE TO ASSIST THE SAME CHURCH THROUGH SOME TOUGH ECONOMIC TIMES. OBVIOUSLY STAN HAD FORGIVEN RELIGION, FOR A FORMER CHURCH JOB UNPAID.

I BELIEVE THEIR RESOLVE TO GIVE ME AN EDUCATION IN CANADIAN AND AMERICAN HISTORY, PLAYED A LARGE ROLE IN MY FUTURE INTERESTS, NOT JUST IN HERITAGE MATTERS, BUT IN ANTIQUES AND COLLECTIBLES GENERALLY. WHAT I SAW AT THESE HISTORIC SITES AND MUSEUMS, I WANTED FOR MY OWN MUSEUM ONE DAY. I'VE COME CLOSE TO FULFILLING THAT AMBITION, AND IF YOU WERE TO ASK MY BOYS WHAT RECENT MOVIE IS SOMEWHAT BIOGRAPHICAL, THEY WOULD TELL YOU, WITHOUT EVEN THE SLIGHTEST GRIN, "A NIGHT AT THE MUSUEM." NOW THEY'RE REPEATING THE SINS (AS MY MOTHER MIGHT REFER) OF THE FATHER. SUZANNE IS NOT A HARD-CORE COLLECTOR, WHICH IS ALSO ODD, BECAUSE SHE COMES FROM A FAMILY THAT POSSESSED SOME AMAZING PIECES OF HISTORY….MUCH OF IT MARINE HERITAGE FROM MUSKOKA. HER MODEST RELATIONSHIP WITH ANTIQUES AND COLLECTIBLES HAS ALWAYS PUT US ON A COLLISION COURSE, HERE A BIRCH HOLLOW, ESPECIALLY WHEN I COME HOME WITH A VAN LOAD OF PRIMITIVES I'D LIKE FOR THE LIVINGROOM. "AIN'T GOING TO HAPPEN TED….GET OVER IT!" SHE YELLS FROM THE VERANDAH.

I DON'T REMEMBER EITHER MY MOTHER OR FATHER, CELEBRATING THE FACT I HAD BECOME AN ANTIQUE DEALER. THEY DID PARTNER WITH ME IN OUR FIRST BUSINESS, CALLED OLD MILL ANTIQUES, ON THE MAIN STREET OF BRACEBRIDGE, CIRCA 1977, BUT THEY KEPT TO BUYING AND SELLING GIFTWARE, EVEN THOUGH MY COLLECTION SOLD QUICKLY AND REGULARLY. I WAS WASTING MY TIME TRYING TO CHANGE MY MOTHER'S OPINION OF OLD STUFF. THEY WERE BOTH IMPRESSED THAT I GRADUATED UNIVERSITY WITH A DEGREE IN HISTORY, AND THAT I BECAME A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE BRACEBRIDGE HISTORICAL SOCIETY, AND AN EVENTUAL MANAGER OF WOODCHESTER VILLA AND MUSEUM. THIS, I THINK, WAS WHAT THEY HAD HOPED FOR, BY HAULING ME TO ALL THOSE HISTORIC SITES AS A KID. NOT TO BE AN ANTIQUE DEALER. YET I'VE BEEN AN ANTIQUE HOBBYIST FOR MOST OF MY LIFE, AND I'VE NEVER HAD A SINGLE REGRET. OH, JUST ONE. (NOT INCLUDING BEING ANGRY ABOUT LOSING THOSE PRESS BACK CHAIRS) I WENT TO A YARD SALE, ONE DAY, ABOUT TEN YEARS AGO NOW, AND I FOUND OUR OLD CHINA CUPBOARD FOR SALE. THE FOLKS WHO GOT IT FOR NOTHING, WERE SELLING IT FOR $150. I HAD ABOUT TEN BUCKS LEFT, AND A MISERABLE BUDGET FOR THE NEXT WEEK, AND HAD TO DRIVE AWAY WITHOUT IT JAMMED INTO THE VAN. IT WASN'T WORTH THE ASKING PRICE. I COULDN'T JUSTIFY PAYING THIS FOR MEMORY ALONE. WE HADN'T OWNED IT LONG ENOUGH TO DEVELOP ANY REAL HEARTFELT ATTACHMENT. IT WAS JUST A PIECE OF VINTAGE FURNITURE? WHY THEN DID I GRUMBLE ANGRILY ALL THE WAY HOME? IF YOU'RE AN ANTIQUE

OR COLLECTIBLE DEALER, YOU WILL HAVE FELT THIS EMOTION MANY TIMES, LEAVING A PIECE BEHIND….DUE TO LACK OF RESOURCES.

IN THIS MONTH'S ISSUE OF "CURIOUS; THE TOURIST GUIDE," IN MY REGULAR MONTHLY COLUMN, I MAKE REFERENCE TO THE FACT, IT HAS BEEN INCREASINGLY OBVIOUS, OVER THE PAST TWENTY YEARS, THAT YOUNG PEOPLE ARE NOT GETTING INVOLVED IN THE ANTIQUE PROFESSION, IN THE KIND OF NUMBERS THAT WILL FILL OUT THE RANKS OF DEALER-KIND IN THE FUTURE. THE AVERAGE AGE OF PRESENT ANTIQUE DEALERS SHOWS THAT THE INDUSTRY REQUIRES AN URGENT INFUSION OF YOUTH…..NEW BLOOD, NEW IDEAS, AND A NEW FUTURE FOR ALL THE OLD STUFF OUR GANG HAS CONSERVED FOR THE FUTURE. AS I BECAME INVOLVED IN THE ANTIQUE TRADE BY ABOUT EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE, AND OUR BOYS, ANDREW AND ROBERT, MUCH EARLIER THAN THIS, I CAN'T HELP BUT WONDER WHAT THE ACTUAL NUMBERS ARE, OF UNDER AGE "THIRTY" DEALERS, BREAKING INTO THE PROFESSION. I WAS INTRODUCED TO THE JOY AND ADVENTURES OF HISTORY WHILE I WAS STILL IN THE EARLY GRADES OF PUBLIC SCHOOL, AS WERE MY LADS. WHILE I'VE ALWAYS SUSPECTED WE ARE EXCEPTIONS TO WHAT IS ACTUALLY TRANSPIRING AMONGST COLLECTORS AND DEALERS, AND THEIR FAMILIES, I'M GENUINELY WORRIED THAT THIS GREAT INDUSTRY WILL ONE DAY BE SERIOUSLY UNDER STAFFED, DUE TO THE FACT IT'S NOT BEING SOLD TO YOUNG ADULTS TODAY, AS A REWARDING, ADVENTURE-FILLED CAREER OPPORTUNITY. MAYBE I'M WORRIED ABOUT NOTHING. BUT TELL ME, HOW MANY PEOPLE YOU KNOW, WOULD WANT THEIR KIDS TO GROW UP LIKE ME? STILL CHASING A HOPEFUL PROFIT, ONE DAY SOON; STILL GETTING EXCITED BY AN ANTIQUE HUNT IN THE COUNTRYSIDE; STILL BEING ENTHRALLED BY MUSEUMS AND HERITAGE SITES? WELL, MY SONS, AT LEAST, HAVE FOUND ME SOMETHING OF A ROLE MODEL, AS THEY HUSTLE OFF TO WORK EACH DAY, GLORIOUSLY HAPPY, ABOUT THE ADVENTURES THEY'RE ENJOYING WEEKLY, SELLING ANTIQUE INSTRUMENTS, COLLECTIBLE GUITARS, VINTAGE DRUMS, BANJOS, UKES AND OLD VINYL, FROM THEIR GRAVENHURST MUSIC SHOP. I'M GLAD THEY'RE HAPPY. THAT MEANS A LOT. WORK AND PLAY, ALL IN ONE CURIOSITY-FILLED, LITTLE SHOP, IN THE BEAUTIFUL HINTERLAND OF SOUTH MUSKOKA.

IN THE NEXT BLOG, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU TO MY WIFE'S FAMILY, OF WINDERMERE, AND UFFORD, ONTARIO, SOME OF THE EARLIEST PIONEERS TO THE NEWLY OPENED DISTRICT OF MUSKOKA, BACK IN THE PIONEERING BOOM OF THE 1860's. THANK FOR JOINING ME TODAY. MUCH MORE TO COME.

Antiques in Burlington and The Boat That Went Away

2012-02-06T17:34:00.001-08:00

MY OWN INDIANA JONES ADVENTURE -

WHERE THIS COLLECTING THING BEGAN - THEY CALL ME BIG-FOOT

A SIDEBAR FOR TODAY'S ANTIQUE AND COLLECTIBLE BLOG, IS THE FACT THE GRAVENHURST WINTER CARNIVAL SONG, AS WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY THE LOCAL GROUP, "PRESSURE POINT" IS NEARING 1,100 TOTAL VIEWS OVER TWO ONLINE SITES; THE SONG WITH A STATIC PHOTOGRAPH OF SKOKIE (THE MASCOT WINTER CARNIVAL OTTER) HAS REACHED CLOSE TO 300 VISITS, AND THE SITE WITH THE ACTUAL MUSIC VIDEO IS NOW NEARING 800 VIEWS, IN JUST OVER A WEEK SINCE IT WAS POSTED ON YOUTUBE. THE GROUP, WHO DID THE MUSIC VIDEO AND SONG, AS A DONATION TO THE GRAVENHURST WINTER CARNIVAL COMMITTEE, IS COMPOSED OF LEAD SINGER, DANI O'CONNOR, AARON BINDER, ROB CURRIE, ANDREW CURRIE, WITH BACK UP VOCALS BY RAY PARSONS AND JON O'CONNOR. SKOKIE WAS PLAYED BY CHRIS O'CONNOR IN THE MUSIC VIDEO. THE HOPE IS, THAT THE POPULAR VIDEO WILL HELP MARKET THE ANNUAL WINTER CARNIVAL, AND INCREASE ATTENDANCE OVER THE THREE DAYS IN LATE FEBRUARY. YOU CAN VIEW THE MUSIC VIDEO BY CLICKING ONTO http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuwE6cFlRCg

IT'S TRUE. I'M NOT PARTICULARLY HAIRY, AND THAT INCLUDES MY HEAD, ARMS AND LEGS, AND I DON'T JUMP OUT OF THICK WOODS TO SCARE UNSUSPECTING HIKERS. SO WHEN A FAMILY MEMBER CALLS ME BIG-FOOT, IT'S BECAUSE I HAVE ONE FOOT WIDER THAN THE OTHER. NO, THIS WAS NOT A NATURAL CONDITION. IT WAS HOWEVER, THE FIRST SIGN OF THE COLLECTOR-ME, AND AN EARLY CROSS-ROADS BETWEEN BEING AN HONEST COLLECTOR, AND A TOMB RAIDER. ONE INCIDENT, ONE ACCIDENT, LED ME TO TAKE THE ROAD TOWARD HONESTY, AS A FUTURE COLLECTOR. I THINK OF THIS EVERY TIME I TRY ON A NEW PAIR OF SHOES. IT'S NOT EASY OUTFITTING MY FEET, AND THAT'S BEEN A REALITY FOR ABOUT A HALF CENTURY. HERE'S HOW I BECAME SUDDENLY MISSHAPEN.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY READERS, SOME WHO ARE ANTIQUE AND COLLECTIBLE ENTHUSIASTS, AND EVEN DEALERS, SPEND MUCH TIME ANALYZING HOW THEIR INTERESTS IN THE FIELD BEGAN. AS I WROTE IN YESTERDAY'S BLOG, I KNOW THAT HANGING AROUND IN MOM AND POP CORNER VARIETY STORES, IN MY PERIOD OF THE 60'S AND EARLY 70'S, PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE IN ATTRACTING ME TO THE ANTIQUE PROFESSION. BUT I ALSO RECOGNIZE THE SEEDS WERE PLANTED LONG BEFORE THIS, DURING THE PERIOD MY FAMILY LIVED ON A TIDY LITTLE CUL-DE-SAC IN THE CITY OF BURLINGTON, ONTARIO. THIS WAS MY INITIAL FORAY AS A HUNTER-GATHERER, AND THERE WERE FEW DAYS GOING TO AND FROM LAKESHORE PUBLIC SCHOOL, THAT I DIDN'T HAVE TO BE FRISKED AT THE DOOR AT BOTH ENDS OF THE JOURNEY…… TRYING TO GET IN THE SCHOOL WITH AN ASSORTMENT OF PROHIBITED ITEMS, AND THEN AGAIN AT HOME, ATTEMPTING TO SNEAK PAST MY MOTHER, WITH EVERYTHING IN MY POCKETS FROM CHESTNUTS, TO LIVESTOCK…..FROGS, INSECTS I FOUND NEAT, AND SUNDRY OTHER BITS AND BOBBS FOUND ON, AND ALONGSIDE THE ROADS, TO AND FROM SCHOOL. I HAD DEEP POCKETS. I KNOW MY MOTHER MERLE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT MY PENCHANT FOR HAULING STUFF HOME, AND I'M SURE SHE RAN IT BY HER NEIGHBOR FRIENDS…."WHAT'S WRONG WITH MY BOY. HE'S CRAZY WITH WHAT HE BRINGS HOME." WITHOUT QUESTION, I DID BRING SOME ODD THINGS HOME. NOTHING STRANGER HOWEVER THAN THE LEGENDARY NEIGHBORHOOD RELIC KNOWN AS THE "GOOLAGONG." (NOTHING TO DO WITH THE TENNIS PLAYER). HERE'S HOW THAT DEAL WENT DOWN.

RAY GREEN AND I WERE NOT IN A GANG. WE WERE BOTH PACIFISTS. KIDS THAT ADORED BEING OUTDOORS AND PLAYING ALONG THE BANK OF OLD RAMBLE CREEK, THAT RAN THROUGH THE SIDE LOTS OF THE HARRIS CRESCENT PROPERTIES, ONE MAJOR BLOCK FROM THE SHORE OF LAKE ONTARIO…..ABOUT THREE BLOCKS FROM BRANT STREET, THE MAIN DRAG. RAY AND HIS SISTER HOLLY, WERE PART OF OUR LITTLE GANG….IF YOU COULD CALL IT THAT AT ALL. WELL, THERE WAS A SMALL GATHERING OF KIDS, WHO HAD BUILT A BOX CLUBHOUSE, NEAR A CLUSTER OF APARTMENT BUILDINGS, ON THE END OF THE HYDRO POWER LINE, ALSO ADJACENT TO RAMBLE CREEK. THEIR PLYWOOD ENCAMPMENT WASN'T TOO FAR FROM THE BORDER OF LION'S CLUB PARK. RAY HAD SOME INSIDE INFORMATION, THAT THESE LADS HAD A SPECIAL COLLECTION OF HAND HELD DEVICES, THAT HAD SOME AMAZING POWER ATTACHED. LIKE SOMETHING A WIZARD WOULD USE TO TURN AN OPPONENT INTO A HORNY TOAD OR SOMETHING. I WAS EASILY LED AS A YOUNGSTER, RAY BEING MY SVENGALI, I SUPPOSE. SO WHEN HE SUGGESTED THAT WE COULD BE MASTERS OF THIS DOMAIN, BY HAVING THOSE MAGICAL WEAPONS, HE CALLED "GOOLAGONGS," WHO WAS I TO ARGUE WITH WHAT RAY FELT WAS OUR DESTINY OF WORLD DOMINATION. I THINK I WAS PROBABLY SEVEN YEARS OLD AT THIS TIME. I KNEW THERE WERE MONSTERS UNDER THE BED, AND I DARESAY IN THE CLOSET AS WELL. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I WAS CONFLICTED IN LOVE WITH A CLASSMATE NAMED DONNA. I STALKED HER DAILY. SHE DIDN'T KNOW I WAS ALIVE, EXCEPT WHEN I ACCIDENTALLY STEPPED ON HER SHOES, WHEN I GOT TOO CLOSE. SO WHAT I DIDN'T HAVE IN RECIPROCAL LOVE, I RE-INVESTED INSTEAD, IN THIS HUGE ADVENTURE WITH MY CHILDHOOD CHUM.

SO, WITH STEALTH AND COMMITMENT, TO PREVAIL OVER THESE NEIGHBORHOOD TOUGHS, RAY AND I SNUCK UP ON THEIR CLUBHOUSE, USING THE AMPLE SHRUBBERY OF THE CREEK BASIN, TO CONCEAL OUR APPROACH. RAY HAD ALREADY OBSERVED THE GANG LEAVING THE FORT, AND CALCULATED WE HAD JUST ENOUGH TIME TO MAKE THE RAID, SECURE THE GOOLAGONGS, AND BEAT A HASTY RETREAT BACK INTO THE WOODLANDS. TO GET ACCESS TO THE BOX-FORT, YOU HAD TO CLIMB UP AN UNSECURED SHEET OF FOUR, BY EIGHT FOOT PLYWOOD, WITH SMALL BOARDS NAILED ONTO THE FRONT, AS A SORT OF LADDER TO THE TOP. AND YES IT WAS A LITTLE WOBBLY UNDER OUR WEIGHT. WE HAD TO CLIMB DOWN INTO THE BOX, WHICH DID SEEM A TAD STRANGE, AS THE DOOR WOULD NORMALLY BE ON ONE OF THE SIDES. WHEN WE BOTH USED AN INSIDE LADDER TO GET DOWN INTO THE NERVE CENTER OF THE CLUBHOUSE, WE FOUND TWO OF THE COVETED GOOLAGONGS. RAY GOT ONE, AND HANDED ME THE OTHER. "LET'S GET OUT OF HERE BEFORE THEY COME BACK," HE YELLED TO ME, ALREADY HALFWAY UP THE LADDER TO THE ROOF. IT WAS THE "COMING BACK" PART I HADN'T BEEN AWARE OF. I DIDN'T KNOW WE WERE ON A TIGHT BUDGET OF TIME, TO MAKE OUR GREAT ESCAPE. SO I HUSTLED OUT OF THE ENCLOSURE, JUST IN TIME TO WATCH RAY LITERALLY BOUNCE DOWN THE PLYWOOD. "THEY'RE COMING TED, THEY'RE COMING," HE SHOUTED, ALREADY RUNNING UP THE HYDRO FIELD, IN PLAIN VIEW OF THE THREE GANGSTERS COMING FROM LIONS PARK. FIRST OF ALL, WE HAD AGREED, OUR ESCAPE WOULD HAVE BEEN HARDER TO FOLLOW, DOWN THROUGH THE CREEK BED, AS WE COULD RUN AMONGST THE THICK SHRUBS, LIKE DEER IN FLIGHT…..ALMOST INVISIBLE IN THE ZONE WE WERE MOST FAMILIAR. HE DIDN'T FOLLOW PROTOCOL AT ALL THAT DAY.

WHEN I TOOK MY TURN TO GO DOWN THE PLYWOOD, MUCH THE SAME AS RAY HAD LEPT DOWN, (INSTEAD OF USING THE LADDER RUNGS), I DIDN'T KNOW THE PANEL HAD SHIFTED AWAY FROM THE STRUCTURE OF THE FORT. SO WHEN I TOOK THE FIRST BOUNCE DOWN, THE PLYWOOD DROPPED STRAIGHT TO THE GROUND WITH ME ON IT. THE DROP WAS ABOUT EIGHT FEET, AND I LANDED ON ONE FOOT, FRACTURING IT BADLY. THE PAIN WAS HORRIFIC. BUT I STILL HAD TO RUN, FOR FEAR OF BEING BEATEN TO A PULP. RAY HAD TOSSED DOWN HIS GOOLAGONG, BUT I REFUSED. WHILE RAY WAS HAVING HIS LUNCH, I WAS STILL TRYING TO GET AWAY FROM THESE LADS, AND AFTER SOME INTERESTING DEKES AND DIVERSIONS, I MADE IT IN THE APARTMENT DOOR WITH ABOUT TWO SECONDS TO SPARE. THE DOOR LOCKED AS THE CLENCHED FIST OF MY PURSUER, POUNDED THE HOLLOW WOOD. MERLE HAD BEEN SNEAKING A CIGARETTE, AND SHOT UP LIKE A JUMPING JACK, KNOCKING A GLOWING PORTION OF ASH ON HER BLOUSE….WHICH MOST CERTAINLY LEFT A MARK. SHE WENT TO ANSWER THE DOOR, AGAINST MY URGING NOT TO, AND TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT, WELL, SHE HANDED MY ENEMY CAPTAIN THE GOOLAGONG I HAD STOLEN, YELLED AT ME FOR ABOUT A HALF HOUR….TOLD ME THAT I WAS LUCKY TO BE ALIVE…..AS THE KID REALLY WANTED TO KILL ME…..AND THEN ASKED ME WHY MY RIGHT FOOT LOOKED LIKE I HAD A FOOTBALL TUCKED INTO MY SOCK. SO OFF TO THE HOSPITAL WE WENT. ALL FOR A GOOLAGONG I HAD TO HAVE…….BECAUSE OF ITS MAGICAL POWERS. YEA, WELL, THIS WAS TEDDY'S FOLLY. ALL I GOT WAS A REALLY BIG FOOT FOR LIFE.

I PAID DEARLY FOR THAT INDISCRETION, WHERE "WANT" CLEARLY OUTWEIGHED CONSEQUENCE. THE X-RAY AT JOSEPH BRANT HOSPITAL SHOWED A SUBSTANTIAL FRACTURE IN MY FOOT, AND DOC PRESTON CAME TO OUR APARTMENT TO WRAP MY FOOT. HE PUT A DRESSING ON MY SKIN, THAT WHEN WRAPPED, MADE IT FEEL AS IF I WAS WALKING ON HOT COALS FOR ABOUT A DAY. THAT BROUGHT TEARS TO MY EYES. WHEN MERLE EXPLAINED TO THE DOCTOR, HOW IT ALL CAME ABOUT, HE PUT HIS HAND ON MY SHOULDER AND ASKED, "WELL TED, ARE YOU GOING TO DO THAT AGAIN?" I SHOOK MY HEAD BECAUSE THE PAIN IN MY FOOT, KEPT ME SPEECHLESS FOR QUITE A WHILE.

RAY AND I WERE GOOD CHUMS RIGHT UP INTO OUR TWENTIES, BUT WE MOVED A CONSIDERABLE DISTANCE APART. I DIDN'T BLAME HIM FOR GETTING ME INTO TROUBLE. I COULD HAVE SAID NO. I DO BLAME HIM FOR LEAVING ME TO FIGHT OFF THE GANG. WHILE HE WAS HIDING UNDER THE BED, SAFELY IN HIS APARTMENT. I'M TOLD I DID MORE DAMAGE TO THE FOOT BY RUNNING AWAY, THAN IF I HAD LIMPED HOME ON RAY'S SHOULDER. IT WAS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THOUGH, WHERE SELF PRESERVATION KICKED IN, AND THE THOUGHT OF GETTING A DAMN SUBSTANTIAL BEATING FROM THE GANG RUNNING BEHIND, OUTWEIGHED THE POTENTIAL OF HAVING ONE REALLY BIG FOOT FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE. WHAT STARTED WITH AN INTEREST IN SECURING AN ENCHANTED WEAPON, ENDED WITH AN ENLARGED FOOT AND A VIVID MEMORY OF MY ONLY TIME AS INDIANA JONES, IN THE PURSUIT OF THE "HOLY GOOLAGONG."

AT ABOUT THIS AGE, I REALLY DID TURN ON TO TOYS THAT WERE MINIATURES OF THE REAL MCCOYS. YOU KNOW, A WOODEN BOAT WITH AN INBOARD ENGINE, WITH BATTERY POWER, THAT ACTUALLY DASHED ACROSS THE OPEN WATER. I CAN REMEMBER MY DAD COMING HOME WITH WHAT I ALWAYS THOUGHT WAS A CHRIS CRAFT MINIATURE, WITH A BATTERY DRIVEN INBOARD ENGINE, THAT I THINK NOW MUST HAVE BEEN FOR MY BIRTHDAY. WE DIDN'T HAVE MUCH MONEY THEN, SO I CAN'T IMAGINE, THAT HE ALL OF A SUDDEN TOOK LEAVE OF HIS SENSES, AND BOUGHT ME WHAT I THINK WOULD HAVE BEEN AN EXPENSIVE TOY. FOR WEEKS, I PLAYED WITH THAT LITTLE BOAT IN THE BATH-TUB. I KEPT BUGGING ED TO TAKE ME DOWN TO THE PARK NEAR THE OLD BRANT INN, SO I COULD RUN THE BOAT IN LAKE ONTARIO. FINALLY HE RELENTED, AND FATHER AND SON HAD A PLAY DATE WITH A REALLY NICE BOAT. NOW ED WAS IMPATIENT WITH THINGS LIKE THAT, AND HE DIDN'T APPRECIATE FULLY, THE RUDDER HAD TO BE SET TO THE DIRECTION IT WAS SUPPOSED TO GO. SUCH AS BEING POSITIONED SUCH THAT THE BOAT WOULD CRUISE IN A CIRCLE. SO HE JUST SET THE RUDDER STRAIGHT, SECURED THE BATTERIES, TURNED IT ON, WHILE STILL IN HIS HAND, PLACED IT IN THE WATER, AND IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL SIGHT TO SEE. MY LITTLE BOAT HEADING OUT TO THE OPEN LAKE. IT MANAGED TO GO SO PERFECTLY STRAIGHT, IT WENT RIGHT THROUGH THE OPENING OF THE BREAK WALL, THAT PROTECTED THE BEACHFRONT, AND WE STOOD THERE, FATHER AND SON, WAVING GOODBYE TO MY BIRTHDAY PRESENT. I DON'T REMEMBER GETTING A REPLACEMENT TOY, ALTHOUGH I MAY BE WRONG ABOUT THIS.

I ALSO HAD, AT THIS TIME, A WONDERFUL LITTLE TIN BATTLESHIP, ON WHEELS, THAT YOU COULD PLAY WITH ON A TILE OR WOOD FLOOR, AND IT WOULD CHANGE DIRECTIONS WHEN IT HIT AN OBSTACLE, OR THE WALL. I LOVED THAT SHIP BUT REPLACING THE BATTERIES WAS COSTLY. MY MOTHER GAVE IT AWAY TO ANOTHER KID IN OUR APARTMENT BLOCK, BECAUSE SHE DETERMINED I HAD OUTGROWN IT. ED ONCE BOUGHT ME A NICE LITTLE ROBOT FOR CHRISTMAS, ALSO REQUIRING BATTERIES, AND THEN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, CAME OUT OF THE BATHROOM AND CRUSHED IT UNDER-FOOT. THEN HE BOUGHT ME AN EVEN BIGGER ROBOT THAT I THINK WAS CALLED "ROBBIE THE ROBOT," AND IT WAS PRETTY MUCH INDESTRUCTIBLE. I THINK IT TOOK FOUR LARGE BATTERIES, BUT IT WAS SPECTACULAR WHEN IT WAS SWITCHED ON. IT WALKED, HAD LIGHTS ON THE INSIDE THE GLASS SHIELD, OF THE ROBOT'S HEAD, AND THE ANTENNAE ROTATED WHEN IT WALKED. ANOTHER CLASSIC TIN TOY I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE NOW, THAT MY MOTHER DECIDED WAS SURPLUS, JUST BECAUSE I GOT OLDER. I CERTAINLY WASN'T OVER-RUN BY TOYS, BUT I ALWAYS GOT A HOCKEY STICK FOR CHRISTMAS, AND THAT KEPT ME GOING THROUGH THE YEAR. I COULD USE THE STICK AS A MAKE-BELIEVE GUN IN A PINCH, IF THE NEIGHBOR KIDS DECIDED TO HAVE A WESTERN-THEME DAY. I ALSO REMEMBER A GUN AND HOLSTER, PLUS CALLING CARDS, INSPIRED BY THE TELEVISION SHOW "PALADIN," I BELIEVE, AND I WAS ALWAYS DRAWING MY GUN ON FOLKS I DIDN'T CARE FOR. I GAVE ALL MY CALLING CARDS OUT ON A DOOR TO DOOR CANVAS, ONE DAY, WHICH REALLY FREAKED OUT THE NEIGHBORS. I WAS A GUNSLINGER, YOU SEE. WHEN I FELT LIKE BEING A BAD GUY, I WAS JACK PALANCE, IN HIS HIRED GUN ROLE IN THE MOVIE "SHANE." ONCE AGAIN, I THINK THAT LONG BEFORE I GOT THE URGE TO HEAD WEST, TO JOIN THE REST OF THE HIRED GUNS, MERLE LEFT ME GUN-LESS WHEN I GOT HOME ONE DAY AFTER SCHOOL. TO COMPENSATE, I JUST KEPT FINDING NEW THINGS TO BRING HOME FOR MYSELF INSTEAD. I HAD LOTS OF CONTRABAND STASHED UNDER MY BED, AND AT THE BACK OF THE CLOSET. I WASN'T A THIEF, EXCEPT IN THE GOOLAGONG INCIDENT, BUT I HAD A FASCINATION FOR FOUND ITEMS THAT WOULD SERVE SOME FUTURE USE. THE ROOT OF THE EVENTUAL HOARDER. MAYBE IF MERLE HADN'T CHUCKED ALL MY STUFF OUT, OR DONATED IT TO NEIGHBORS' KIDS, I WOULDN'T HAVE HAD TO ENACT PLAN "B." THE HUNTING AND GATHERING OF EVERYTHING AND ANYTHING ELSE I COULD FIND ON MY GAD-ABOUTS.

WHEN I THINK BACK TO OTHER SOURCES OF INSPIRATION, BACK IN THOSE YEARS, I REMEMBER GOING WITH MY FATHER ONE DAY TO BUY MY MOTHER A CUP AND SAUCER, FOR HER BIRTHDAY. SHE WAS A BIG TEA DRINKER, AND WAS, AT THE TIME, TRYING TO COLLECT A PARTICULAR PATTERN OF CHINA, LITERALLY ONE CUP AND SAUCER AT A TIME. HE TOOK ME TO A BUSINESS, A COUPLE OF BLOCKS AWAY, NEAR THE SHORE OF LAKE ONTARIO, THAT ONLY DEALT WITH COLLECTIBLE CHINA. I WAS IN AWE. I COULDN'T BELIEVE THIS SEA OF CHINA CUPS, SAUCERS, DISHES, PLATTERS, COVERED DISHES, AND BOWLS EVERYWHERE IN THE SHOP. ED PICKED OUT THE PATTERN MERLE LIKED, AND WE GOT THE CUP AND SAUCER WRAPPED AND BOXED IN THAT INTERESTING SHOP, AND I ALWAYS REMEMBER THE SOFT ORCHESTRAL MUSIC BEING PLAYED, AND THE PERFUME SMELL OF THE AIR INSIDE….WHICH SORT OF REMINDED ME OF OUR LANDLADY'S SPRING GARDEN. I ALSO REMEMBER ED TAKING ME TO THE BURLINGTON BUS STATION, AND THE FRAGRANT SMELL OF TOBACCO FROM A SHOP CONNECTED, I BELIEVE, AND IT WAS MY FIRST INTRODUCTION TO PIPES AND TOBACCO POUCHES. I THINK THERE WAS A BARBERSHOP AS WELL, SO I GOT THE STRONG SCENT OF SHAVING FOAM, AFTER SHAVE AND BRUSH DISINFECTANT….AND THE CLEAR RECOLLECTION OF THE SOUND OF A RAZOR BEING HIT, AND RUN UP AND DOWN THE STRAP, HUNG AT THE SIDE OF THE HUGE BARBER'S CHAIR. I'M PRETTY SURE THIS IS WHERE I GOT TO GO, ONCE A MONTH, FOR MY OWN "EAR LOWERING" AS MY MOTHER USED TO CALL IT. THE BARBER USED TO PUT A BOARD ACROSS THE ARMS, AND THAT'S HOW HIGH IN THE CHAIR I HAD TO SIT, SO THE POOR BUGGER DIDN'T HAVE TO HUNCH OVER TO CUT MY CURLS. I'M PRETTY SURE THERE WAS A CHAP WHO HAD A SHOE-SHINE STAND IN THE MAIN HALL, OF THE STATION, THOUGH I MAY BE WRONG ABOUT THIS. I CAN RECALL THE SMELL OF THE SHOE POLISH, AND I'M REASONABLY SURE ED USED TO HAVE HIS DONE AT THE SAME TIME AS I GOT MY HAIR TRIMMED. THERE WAS A PLETHORA OF SIGHTS, SMELLS AND TEXTURES GOING AROUND THESE PLACES WITH MY FATHER, THAT STILL AFFECT ME TO THIS DAY……..WHEN I COME UPON AN ANTIQUE AND COLLECTIBLE SHOP, THAT HAS NOSTALGIA PIECES I REMEMBER FROM THESE CHILDHOOD VISITATIONS. I STILL GET ENTRANCED BY BARBERSHOP AROMAS, AND THE SWEET SCENT OF FRESH PIPE TOBACCO, AND THE CURL OF SMOKE FROM A NEWLY LIT PIPE BOWL. THE PERMEATING AROMA OF SHOE POLISH…..(AND NO I DON'T SNIFF IT FOR A KICK), ALWAYS REMINDS ME OF THOSE FATHER-SON MOMENTS. I HAVE SEVERAL SHOE-SHINE BOXES WITH CONTENTS…..TO ONE DAY SHOW MY GRANDKIDS WHAT PROFESSIONS USED TO EXIST, BACK IN THE GOOD OLD DAYS.

I KNOW THAT THERE ARE MANY THINGS FROM THOSE DAYS, WHICH LINGER IN MY ANTIQUE INTERESTS ALL THESE YEARS LATER. BUT I DON'T THINK THAT ANYTHING MY PARENTS DID, OR MY FRIENDS PARTICIPATED IN, OR ANYTHING I PICKED UP AT SCHOOL, HELPED ME PLANT THOSE SEEDS OF A FUTURE PROFESSION. I WAS INFLUENCED BY MANY THINGS, TO ENJOY THE PRESENT TENSE…..SO MUCH I GUESS, THAT I TRAPPED THOSE TIMES IN MY HEART AND SOUL, SUCH THAT I HAVE WANTED TO LIVE THEM OVER AND OVER AGAIN. EVEN DOWN TO THE BLACKPOOL ROCK CANDY, I USED TO BE ABLE TO GET FOR A TREAT (AND A FEW PENNIES), AT THE THEATRE MATINEES, IN BURLINGTON AND THEN BRACEBRIDGE. I STILL GO NUTS FOR THE STUFF, THAT ROTTED AND BROKE OFF MY TEETH, BUT BY GOLLY, COULD LAST A WHOLE DAY OF LICKING. I STILL LIKE TO PICK UP THE OCCASIONAL BROWN BAG OF BLACKBALLS, THAT ALSO DESTROYED MY TEETH, BUT FOR THE CASH STRAPPED KID, A THREE FOR A CENT DEAL, WAS WELL WITHIN MY BUDGET. AND WHEN I WAS IN THOSE FASCINATING CORNER SHOPS, WHERE THEY SOLD CENT CANDY, IN BURLINGTON AND BRACEBRIDGE, I WAS MOST DEFINITELY BEING INFLUENCED BY EVERYTHING I WAS SURROUNDED BY…….AND THOUGH I DIDN'T BECOME A COLLECTOR JUST BECAUSE OF THESE SHOPS, IT CERTAINLY WAS THE CRADLING OF MY IMAGINATION, AND THE FERTILIZATION OF THE SEEDS THAT HAD ALREADY BEEN PLANTED.

I CAN REMEMBER RAY GREEN AND I ENTERING AN OLD HOUSE, ON THE HILLSIDE OF TORRANCE AVENUE, AND KNOWING IT WAS ABOUT TO BE TORN DOWN, STARTED HARVESTING EVERYTHING THAT HAD BEEN LEFT LAYING AROUND. INTERESTING STUFF SCATTERED ON THE FLOOR, RANGING FROM VIVIDLY COLORED GLASS, SHATTERED OUT OF THE ELEGANTLY APPOINTED ENTRANCE-WAY, TO GLASS LIGHT SHADES, OLD WIRING, PIECES OF BOOK SHELF TORN FROM THE WALL, AND STRANGE KITCHEN UTENSILS WE FOUND ON THE CLUTTERED KITCHEN COUNTERS. WE ASSUMED THAT IT WAS A CASE OF PICKER'S RIGHTS, AT A TIME WHEN I KNEW NOTHING ABOUT PICKING, OTHER THAN WHAT I PRACTICED OUT OF INTEREST, NOT FOR PROFIT. WE CAME OUT OF THAT HOUSE WITH OUR POCKETS JAMMED TO OVERFLOWING. WHEN WE CAME UP TORRANCE AVENUE THE NEXT DAY AFTER SCHOOL, A TRACTOR WAS PULLING DOWN THE REMAINING WALL OF THE ONCE BEAUTIFUL OLD HOUSE, NESTLED AMONGST THE CHESTNUT TREES. WE COULD NOW CALL THESE ITEMS SOUVENIRS, LIKE THE ONES MY PARENTS USED TO BUY ME WHEN WE WENT TRAVELLING TO PLACES LIKE NIAGARA FALLS AND BUFFALO. IT TOOK MERLE ABOUT A MONTH TO FIND AND THROW OUT THE JUNK I'D HAULED HOME, FROM THE OLD VICTORIAN ERA HOUSE. I WAS DONE WITH IT ANYWAY. IT HAD SERVED ITS PURPOSE OF INSPIRATION. A COLLECTOR WAS BORN. SHE COULDN'T THROW OUT OR GIVE AWAY EVERYTHING. COULD SHE?

MY YOUTH WAS SPENT WITH, AS THEY SAY, "EYES WIDE OPEN." I'M GLAD OF THIS. BUT I TRULY THINK I WAS BORN THIS WAY. MY GRANDMOTHER USED TO SAY I HAD AN "OLD SOUL," BUT I NEVER KNEW WHAT SHE MEANT BY THIS. I THINK I DO NOW.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING TODAY'S BLOG. PLEASE JOIN ME AGAIN, FOR MORE STORIES ABOUT ANTIQUE AND COLLECTIBLE HUNTING.

Corner Store Antiques

2012-02-05T16:35:00.001-08:00

THE 1960'S, THE CORNER STORE WITH CRACKER JACK AND LUCKY ELEPHANT-

WHAT WERE THE INFLUENCES OF LIL & CEC'S VARIETY STORE?

I CAN TELL YOU HONESTLY, I KNEW ABOUT NOSTALGIA AND THE FEELINGS OF SENTIMENT IT INSPIRES, LONG BEFORE I KNEW WHAT IT ACTUALLY MEANT BY STRICT DEFINITION. EVEN AS A TRINKET CHASING KID, I KNEW THAT THE PLACES I VISITED TO GET MY TREATS, WERE OUT OF THE PAGES OF A HISTORY I HADN'T YET READ. LONG, LONG BEFORE I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE NEAT TO BECOME AN ANTIQUE AND COLLECTIBLE DEALER, I WAS INTUITIVELY AWARE THAT MY SURROUNDINGS WERE GOING TO CHANGE SOON. THESE OLD CORNERS STORES WERE GOING TO BE REMOVED OFF THE LANDSCAPE BY WHAT MY PARENTS USED TO TALK ABOUT……AS TRENDS IN REDEVELOPMENT AND URBAN SPRAWL. I REMEMBER WHAT THE CITY LOOKED LIKE, AND IT WAS A SERIOUS MATTER, AS FAR AS I WAS CONCERNED, IF THE CITY WAS TO INTRUDE UP THIS LITTLE TOWN I HAD COME TO ADORE……AFTER OUR OWN GREAT ESCAPE FROM SOUTHERN ONTARIO.

IT WAS THE LATE 1960'S IN BRACEBRIDGE, ONTARIO. IN BURLINGTON, WHERE WE HAD RESIDED UP UNTIL THE WINTER OF 1966, URBAN SPRAWL WAS QUITE PREVALENT, AND SACRED PLACES I'D KNOWN AS MY PLAYGROUND, HAD ALREADY BEEN SERIOUSLY COMPROMISED BY THE MID 1960'S. SO I HAD A MINOR INKLING THAT THE LITTLE "MOM AND POP" CORNER STORES, IN BRACEBRIDGE, HAD ALREADY PASSED THEIR PEAK. I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND ALL THE NUANCES OF COMPETITION, AND THE LAWS OF SUPPLY AND DEMAND, JUST THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE A REAL SHAME TO LOSE THOSE WONDERFUL OLD SHOPS……FILLED WITH SO MUCH NEAT STUFF.

I'VE ALWAYS FELT I LIVED SOME TIME BEFORE. WHEN I PASS A PLACE AND GET THAT STRANGE FEELING, AS IF I'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE, WALKED THESE SAME STREETS, PLAYED IN THE ADJACENT FIELDS AND PARK, YET HAVE NEVER BEEN IN THAT LOCALE IN THE PAST. IT WAS LIKE THIS THE FIRST TIME I WENT INTO THE FORMER "BLACK'S VARIETY," ON BRACEBRIDGE'S TORONTO STREET. IT BECAME "LIL & CEC'S," AND THEN "FRASER'S" BEFORE I LEFT THAT NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE MID 1970'S. THE SHOP, UPDATED OF COURSE, STILL OPERATES, BUT NOW IS KNOWN AS THE "QUIKEE MART." THERE WAS ANOTHER CORNER STORE, ON THE OTHER END OF THE SAME BLOCK, KNOWN AS BAMFORD'S VARIETY, AND WAS PART OF THE WOODLEY PARK GUEST COTTAGES, THAT OCCUPIED THE LARGE LOT BETWEEN THE TWO STORES. I LIVED IN THE WEBER APARTMENTS, ON ALICE STREET, WHICH WAS DIRECTLY BEHIND BOTH STORES. I HAD EASY ACCESS, YOU BET.

IT WAS DURING THE LIL & CEC YEARS THAT I SPENT MOST TIME IN THAT NEAT LITTLE SHOP, WITH ONE OF THOSE COKE MACHINES WITH THE METAL TRACKING, AND ICE COLD WATER TO NAVIGATE. NEVER GOT ONE OF THOSE POPS OUT EASILY OR WITHOUT NUMB FINGERS.

BAMFORD'S STORE WAS WHERE MY MOTHER MERLE, WORKED PART TIME, AND IT WAS JUST OUT OF THIS WORLD, AS FAR AS INTERIOR DECOR. IT WAS A SMALL SHOP, WITH A CUBBY HOLE FOR THE CLERK TO SIT, WITH THE PACKAGES OF CIGARETTES ON SHELVES BEHIND. IT WAS CROWDED WITH ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING A CORNER STORE SHOULD HAVE, PLUS A LOT OF MERCHANDISE BEST SUITED A HARDWARE AND GROCERY STORE. I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY JAMMED SO MUCH INTO SUCH A SMALL SPACE. THEY DID HAVE A STORE ROOM, BUT IN THE SHOP, EVERY INCH, EXCEPT THE NECESSARY WALKWAYS FOR CUSTOMERS, WAS OCCUPIED WITH INVENTORY DISPLAY, INCLUDING THE CEILING. THERE WAS MORE STUFF HANGING OVER YOUR HEAD THAN WAS ON THE SHELVES. IT WAS JUST A DIFFERENT KIND OF MERCHANDISE. I WOULD BUY MY COMICS OFF BAMFORDS, AND MY MOTHER USED TO TIP ME OFF WHEN THE NEW SHIPMENT HAD BEEN DELIVERED. I REALLY LIKED MAD MAGAZINE BETTER, SO I HAD HUNDREDS OF THESE AT ONE TIME IN MY LIFE. THEN, ACCORDING TO MY WIFE, I GREW UP.

THE LOCAL HUNT'S HILL LADS USED TO DIVIDE OUR ALLOWANCE MONEY UP BETWEEN THE SHOPS. THE TREAT ITEMS WERE PRICED ABOUT THE SAME, BUT THERE WAS NO PORCH TO SIT ON AT BAMFORD'S. JUST A CONCRETE PAD, AND CARS COULD DRIVE INTO A PARKING SPOT RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE SHOP, THAT LEFT YOU SUCKING EXHAUST FUMES. THAT WENT BACK TO THE STORE'S HEYDAY, AS A TOURIST AND CAMPING RESORT. SO IF YOU WANTED TO GET OUT OF THE MOTOR POOL, YOU COULD SIT ON THE STOOP AT LIL & CEC'S, AND THEY'D ONLY KICK YOU OFF AT STORE CLOSING….WHICH WAS LATE ON THOSE HOT SUMMER NIGHTS. THEY ALWAYS HAD THE AIR CONDITIONING CRANKED WAY UP, SO WE LINGERED A LOT OVER THE CENT CANDY DISPLAY, ENJOYING THE COOL RESPITE FROM THE STEAMY ENVIRONS OUTSIDE.

THE POINT IS, AND I'M NOT SURE HOW THIS WAS SEEDED IN MY MIND, BUT I LIVED WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT NOSTALGIA WAS, AND THE SENTIMENT IT INSPIRED……AND REPRESENTED, IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS, EVEN BEFORE I KNEW WHAT IT MEANT BY DICTIONARY DEFINITION. I HAD A BASIC IDEA OF HISTORY BUT THERE WAS JUST SOMETHING COMPELLING ABOUT THE OLD SHOPS, THAT BEGGED MY UNDIVIDED ATTENTION……MUCH AS IF IT WOULD ONE DAY BE OF CONSIDERABLE IMPORTANCE. EVEN THOUGH I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND MY FEELINGS ABOUT THESE PLACES, AND CERTAINLY DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT RE-INCARNATION (IF I'D BEEN A FORMER OWNER OF A SHOP LIKE THIS), I PAID ATTENTION THROUGH THIS ENTIRE PERIOD, ALMOST AS IF I FEARED MISSING SOMETHING I WOULD NEED LATER. LIKE THE RAW INFORMATION TO PUT THIS ANTIQUE BIOGRAPHY INTO PRINT. I STUDIED THESE SHOPS, TRYING TO SECURE THESE MEMORIES FOR POSTERITY. AS SOON AS I'D POP IN THE DOOR OF THOSE SHOPS, I FELT THIS TIDAL WAVE OF SENTIMENT THAT AT TIMES MADE ME SAD, FOR NO APPARENT REASON, AND AT OTHER TIMES, JOYOUS THAT I STILL HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENJOY ITS LAST FEW YEARS OF OPERATION.

SO WHAT HAPPENED AS A GENERAL PANG, OF KINSHIP TO THIS WAY OF LIFE, ALSO GOT SPECIFIC, ABOUT WHAT I WAS SECURING IN THESE CURIOUS HOLE-IN-THE-WALL CORNER STORES. WITH MATES, WE SPENT LOTS AND LOTS OF MONEY, AND INVESTED HUGE AMOUNTS OF TIME, BUYING AND ENJOYING THE MERCHANDISE WE WERE ABLE TO PURCHASE THERE. YOU KNOW, THE TREASURES FOUND IN LUCKY ELEPHANT PINK POPCORN, CRACKER JACKS, HOSTESS POTATO CHIPS, BURIED TREASURE ICE CREAM CONES, AND THE LIST GOES ON AND ON. THEN THERE WERE THE PACKAGES OF HOCKEY AND BASEBALL CARDS, WITH THE ROCK HARD, THIN CHEWING GUM. THERE WERE "MONSTER" CARDS WHEN I STARTED COLLECTING, ADDING TO MY SMALL COLLECTION OF "MUNSTER" CARDS, THE OFFSHOOT OF THE TELEVISION SHOW, AND OF COURSE "BEATLES" CARDS, OF WHICH I HAD STACKS AT ONE TIME. THIS WAS THE DAY, HOWEVER, WHEN CARDS WERE TOSSED AT SCHOOL, IN GAMES LIKE "CLOSEST TO THE WALL" WINNING THE LOT. I WAS GOOD AT THIS BUT THE CARDS WERE DESTROYED ON THE ASPHALT, AND CONCRETE SURFACES, WE SLID THEM ACROSS. THERE WERE ALSO COLLECTOR PICTURE COINS THAT CAME IN CHIP BAGS, THAT I REALLY LIKED. I'M NOT SURE OF THIS HOWEVER, THOUGH I DID GET THE JELLO PICTURE COINS AS WELL;…..CARS AND PLANES IF NOT MISTAKEN. I MAY BE WRONG ABOUT THIS. I'M NOT SURE WHAT SHERIFF PUDDINGS OFFERED IN THEIR PACKS. MY FAVORITE COLLECTIBLE FROM THIS TIME, WERE THE PLASTIC WAR PLANES FOUND IN HOSTESS CHIPS. I HAD THE WHOLE COLLECTION AT ONE TIME, UNTIL MERLE DECIDED TO GIVE THEM TO SOME LOCAL KIDS WHEN I WENT OFF TO UNIVERSITY.

THE PERIOD WHEN COKE HAD THE SPECIAL EDITION CAPS WITH NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE PICTURES ON THEM, WAS A DANDY AS WELL……AND WE STILL HAVE A FEW FROM THOSE DAYS. OUR FAVORITE, AS A FAMILY, IS THE ONE OF ROGER CROZIER, THEN OF THE DETROIT RED WINGS. AS ALL US CURRIES WORKED WITH ROGER IN LATER YEARS, WITH HIS CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION, WE ACTUALLY FOUND OURSELVES VISITING SPORTS CARD SHOPS, TRYING TO BUY BACK WHAT I HAD AS A KID. ROGER WAS A HOMETOWN HERO, THAT'S FOR SURE, AND HAD A PARADE IN HIS HONOR, AFTER WINNING THE CONN SMYTHE TROPHY, IN THE 1966 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS AGAINST MONTREAL. I REMEMBER HE WAS AWARDED A GOLD MUSTANG FOR HIS GOALTENDING PROWESS. SO WE COLLECTED EVERYTHING AND ANYTHING WITH HIS NAME ATTACHED. IN BRACEBRIDGE SPECIFICALLY, THIS ALSO GENERATED A HUGE INTEREST IN HOCKEY CARDS FOR THE REST OF THE 1960'S.

YOU KNOW, I HAVEN'T REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT THIS PERIOD, AS BEING A BIG INFLUENCE ON MY ANTIQUE HUNTING CAREER. I KNOW IT WAS, ESPECIALLY WHEN I PUT THESE RECOLLECTIONS IN PRINT, AND FORCE MYSELF TO RE-LIVE THOSE EARLY HUSTLING TIMES IN MY LIFE, HOARDING "BOUGHT AND FOUND" STUFF INTO MY PARENTS SMALL APARTMENT. IT DID SORT OF BECOME AN OBSESSION, TO COLLECT, BECAUSE OF THIS OFTEN REPEATED ISSUE OF SUPPLY AND DEMAND. WE WERE CONVINCED, YOU SEE, THAT HOSTESS WAS GOING TO RUN OUT OF WAR PLANES, OR THAT THE PROMOTION WOULD END BEFORE OUR COLLECTION WAS FILLED. WE SUSPECTED THE HOCKEY PLAYER BOTTLE CAPS WERE ALSO BEING HOARDED BY OTHERS, RUINING OUR CHANCES OF GETTING A COMPLETE SET. THE SAME FOR HOCKEY CARDS, AND ALL THE CARDS WE COLLECTED, INCLUDING "THE MONKEES" I BELIEVE. IN FACT, IT WAS A BRILLIANT STRATEGY BY THESE COMPANIES, TO CREATE COLLECTORS OUT OF THIN AIR. I DID THE EXACT SAME THING WITH CEREAL BOXES. I HAD TO BUY HONEYCOMBS, WHEN THEY CAME OUT WITH A BRILLIANT COLLECTION OF WESTERN FIGURES, AND WAGONS, AND I'M PRETTY SURE, CUT-OUTS ON THE BACK OF THE BOXES, TO MAKE FORTS FOR THE CAVALRY TO DEFEND. THE CEREALS WERE EXPENSIVE, AND WE WERE BROKE MOST OF THE TIME, SO IT WAS A LOW PRIORITY ON GROCERY NIGHT, TO BUY ME HONEYCOMBS, WHEN CORN FLAKES WERE MUCH CHEAPER. I BEGGED A LOT IN THOSE DAYS.

SO TO GET MORE MONEY TO BUY MORE PRODUCTS CONTAINING BURIED TREASURE, WE WOULD HUSTLE-UP EMPTY POP BOTTLES FOR THE REFUND. ON SOME DAYS, WE COULD GATHER UP FIVE TO TEN BUCKS WORTH OF EMPTIES, AND THAT BOUGHT A LOT MORE PRODUCT. MY MOTHER THOUGHT I WAS STEALING MONEY FROM SOMEWHERE, AS SHE COULDN'T BELIEVE I COULD FIND SO MANY EMPTIES LAYING AROUND. HERE'S THE THING. THE LOCAL "JAMES DEAN" WANNABES, USED TO HANG AROUND THOSE SAME STORES, ESPECIALLY LIL & CEC'S, DRINKING POP AND EXCHANGING GIRL STORIES. WE'D WAIT TILL COOL AND THE GANG DEPOSITED THEIR POP BOTTLES IN THE TRASH. THEY WERE TOO COOL TO CASH THOSE BOTTLES IN FOR THE SMALL REFUND. SO THEY EITHER HANDED THEM TO US, WAITING ON THE STORE PORCH, OR TOSSED THEM IN THE GARBAGE….JUST TO MAKE US GET IN TO FISH THEM OUT. LOTS OF PEOPLE WOULD SIT IN THEIR CARS, AFTER COMING OUT OF THE SHOP, READ A LITTLE OF THE PAPER, AND FINISH A BOTTLE OF POP BEFORE DRIVING AWAY. I HAD LOTS OF FOLKS YELL AT ME, "HEY, CURRIE, WANT THIS POP BOTTLE." I'D HAVE JUMPED OVER THEIR CAR TO BEAT ONE OF MY BOTTLE COMPETITORS. I'D BE RIGHT BACK AT THE COUNTER, BUYING MORE TREATS WITH THAT LITTLE EXTRA INSIDE. YES, IT WAS BONKERS, AND I COULD HAVE BOUGHT A HOUSE WITH WHAT I SPENT ON TRADING CARDS, TOY PLANES, PICTURE COINS AND BURIED TREASURE THEME-STICKS, BUT I WAS DOING WHAT MADE ME HAPPY. AND THEN SPENDING A LOT OF TIME VISITING THE DENTIST…..WHO I THINK WHOLE-HEARTEDLY SUPPORTED MY EXCESSES.

SUZANNE, ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DISTRICT, GROWING UP IN WINDERMERE, ON LAKE ROSSEAU, HAD A BIG ADVANTAGE OVER ME. HER FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED THE WINDERMERE MARINA, AND "THE SKIPPER," THE SNACKBAR IN THE UPPER LEVEL OF THE LAKEFRONT BUILDING. THEY SOLD LUCKY ELEPHANT, AMONGST OTHER TREASURE FILLED MERCHANDISE, AND PATRONS USED TO DONATE THEIR PRIZES, TO ADD TO A LARGE DISPLAY OF FOUND OBJECTS ADORNING A CAFE SHELF. WHEN WE WROTE A SMALL BOOK ABOUT THE SKIPPER, IN THE LATE 1990'S, MANY PEOPLE COMMENTED THAT THIS WAS STILL A VIVID MEMORY TO THEM……THE FAMOUS LUCKY ELEPHANT PRIZE PARADE.

SUZANNE AND I BOTH HAVE SOFT SPOTS FOR THOSE DAYS, AND THE PLACES WE WORKED, SHOPPED, OR VISITED OCCASIONALLY, THAT DIDN'T SIMPLY INSPIRE US AS TODAY'S COLLECTORS, BUT MADE US APPRECIATE THE QUALITIES OF WHAT MAKES SOMETHING COLLECTIBLE…..SOMETHING PERSONAL AND MEMORABLE. FOR ME, COLLECTING STUFF WAS ALMOST SECOND NATURE, AND IT SEEMED TO DEVELOP LIKE A PIMPLE. ONE MOMENT IT ISN'T THERE, AND THE NEXT, IT'S PART OF WHO YOU ARE. I DIDN'T THINK OF IT, AS THE BEGINNINGS OF A LIFE-LONG PROFESSION. I WROTE ABOUT IT LOTS, ESPECIALLY WHEN I HAD A COLUMN IN A PUBLICATION KNOWN AS THE MUSKOKA ADVANCE, BACK IN THE 1990'S. I DID A COLUMN ABOUT MY OWN YOUTH, GROWING UP IN BRACEBRIDGE, WHERE I DEVOTED MANY COLUMNS TO THOSE WONDERFUL CORNER STORES IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD…….WHERE TRUTHFULLY, I CUT MY TEETH AS A FLEDGLING COLLECTOR. I DIDN'T KNOW HOW SERIOUS IT WAS GOING TO BECOME. I CAN TRACE A LOT MORE INTERESTS IN ANTIQUES AND COLLECTIBLES, BACK TO THOSE EARLY DAYS, STUDYING THE CORNER STORES, AND THE INVENTORY THEY USED TO STOCK. I PARTICULARLY HAVE AFFECTION FOR THE ADVERTISING SIGNS AND DISPLAYS, FROM GUM RACKS (WE HAVE A COUPLE), TO THOSE CARDBOARD BACKDROPS SENT BY COKE AND PEPSI FOR THE CHRISTMAS PERIOD. THERE WAS A CULTURE WITHIN THOSE SHOPS, WHERE SMALL WAS GOOD, AND IT WAS GOOD TO BE SMALL……AND WE WERE VERY SATISFIED SMALL CUSTOMERS.

LIKE I NOTED EARLIER IN THIS COLUMN, MY MOTHER DECIDED TO GIVE A LOT OF MY COLLECTIBLES AWAY, WHEN I REGISTERED FOR UNIVERSITY. THERE WAS AN ELDERLY WOMAN, WHO LIVED NEAR THE STORE, WHO HAD TAKEN IN TWO GRANDCHILDREN DUE TO DOMESTIC PROBLEMS. THE KIDS ADMITTEDLY HAD LITTLE TO PLAY WITH…..AND AS MY MOTHER USED TO SAY, "YOU'VE GOT WAY TO MUCH, AND YOU NEVER PLAY WITH IT ANYMORE." MERLE USED THAT ARGUMENT THROUGHOUT MY CHILDHOOD, WHENEVER SHE PLANNED A TOY CULL. THAT MEANT I HAD TO HIDE MY "A" QUALITY MATERIAL. ON THIS OCCASION, I WAS AWAY AT THE TIME, AND WHEN I ARRIVED BACK HOME, MY FAVORITE TOY…..GAME, WAS GONE. MY MUNRO TABLETOP HOCKEY GAME. SHE GAVE IT TO THE KIDS, ALONG WITH BAGS OF MY CORNER-STORE NOSTALGIA. I WAS FURIOUS. WHY COULDN'T SHE HAVE ASKED FIRST? ONE DAY, A SHORT WHILE LATER, WHILE ON MY WAY TO GRAB A COLD BOTTLE OF POP AT THE CORNER STORE, THE GRANDMOTHER CAME OFF HER PORCH TO MEET ME…….TO THANK ME FOR HELPING OUT HER GRANDSONS, WHO HAD LEFT THEIR PARENTS HOME WITHOUT MUCH MORE THAN A CHANGE OF CLOTHES. ALL OF A SUDDEN, WHAT HAD BEEN A GRIEVANCE WITH MY MOTHER, BECAME AN ACT OF BENEVOLENCE. I'D BEEN GIVEN TOYS IN MY TIME AS WELL, SEEING AS WE WEREN'T ALL THAT WELL OFF OURSELVES. I WENT FROM FEELING ANGRY, TO BEING QUITE CONTENT, THAT WHAT I HAD COLLECTED IN MY YOUTH, WAS GOING TO BENEFIT THE ASPIRATIONS OF TWO YOUNG FELLOWS, WITH A LOT OF DISCOVERY TIME YET TO COME. THIS PROBABLY DID MORE FOR ME, AS A HUMAN BEING, THAN ANYTHING ELSE, BECAUSE OUR WHOLE FAMILY HAS BEEN WORKING WITH CHARITIES EVER SINCE, HELPING THE LESS FORTUNATE…….AND FEELING VERY GOOD ABOUT SHARING WHAT WE HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE TO ATTAIN IN OUR LIVES.

I ADMIT HOWEVER, I WOULD LIKE TO GET A CIRCA 1967 TO 69 MUNRO HOCKEY GAME, WITH THE EXPANSION TEAMS, TO PLAY IN MY RETIREMENT. IT WAS A FANTASTIC, DURABLE, HIGHLY ENTERTAINING GAME, THAT THE HUNTS HILL LADS PLAYED OVER AND OVER, IN SOME INCREDIBLE PLAYOFF HOCKEY. I WAS KNOWN AS A TABLE TOP HOCKEY "SHARK." CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? MY MATES OUTSIDE OF CALLING ME DORK, JACKASS, DROOPY DRAWERS, AND PATCHES, BELIEVED ME TO BE A "HOCKEY SHARK." THE ONLY DISADVANTAGE OF ATTAINING THIS LEVEL OF ACHIEVEMENT, WAS THAT NO ONE WOULD PLAY ME ANY MORE. IT'S JUST THE NATURE OF A SHARK TO PLAY ROUGH. THAT'S WHY MERLE GAVE IT AWAY. OH WELL, I BET THOSE KIDS HAD A BLAST. I'D LOVE TO HAVE ONE TO PLAY OUR BOYS, ANDREW AND ROBERT……UNTIL, OF COURSE, THEY TOO RECOGNIZE "THE SHARK" RESIDING COYLY, IN OLD DAD'S CLOTHING.

THANKS FOR JOINING TODAY'S BLOG. MORE ON THE WAY.

Antique Props to Movie Sets and Interior Decorators

2012-02-04T17:17:00.000-08:00

ANTIQUE SHOP HAD ITS MOMENTS - JUST NOT SO MANY

GOOD CUSTOMERS, GOOD CONVERSATION, AND SOME GOOD YEARS

I COULD NEVER DENY THAT WE HAD SOME VERY POSITIVE, HAPPY TIMES, WORKING AT OUR LITTLE ANTIQUE SHOP, IN BRACEBRIDGE, ONTARIO. IT IS TRUE THAT SOME UNFORTUNATE CIRCUMSTANCES AND NASTY CUSTOMERS DID MUDDY THE WATER, THEN, AND NOW IN THIS SO-PERSONAL RETROSPECTIVE. AS I'VE SAID BEFORE, EVEN THOUGH THERE WERE MANY MORE GOOD AND FRIENDLY CUSTOMERS, THAN KNOBS, EVEN THE THOUGHT OF JUST HAVING THOSE FEW FLIES IN THE OLD OINTMENT, SOURED ME ON THE WHOLE STORE CONCEPT. I CAN HANDLE A PARTNERSHIP, AS WITH OUR BOYS MUSIC SHOP, BUT NO MORE SOLO ACTS. I LIKE THE BUSINESS TOO MUCH, TO CHANGE HOW WE ARE WORKING TOWARD OUR RETIREMENT RELATIONSHIP WITH ANTIQUES.

IN FAIRNESS, THAT STORE GOT US OVER A LONG, LONG ROUGH PATCH, AS A PLACE TO SELL THINGS FROM, THAT IN REALITY, HELPED US REGAIN OUR FINANCIAL FOOTING. JUST BEFORE WE OFFICIALLY CLOSED THE STORE, WHEN I ACCEPTED AN ASSIGNMENT WITH THE CROZIER FOUNDATION OF MUSKOKA, I DID OFFER A HUMBLE APOLOGY ABOUT BALING ON A FRIEND. THE STORE HAD BEEN MY SOUL-MATE FOR THAT HALF DECADE, WHEN I'D TALK TO MYSELF (LIKE HOW THE HELL I GOT INTO THIS MESS) ABOUT THINGS LIKE THE ECONOMY, LOCAL POLITICS, HYDRO BILLS, WATER RATES, TAXES AND SUNDRY OTHER THINGS THAT ANNOYED ME. I CREDITED THAT BASEMENT SHOP, FOR GIVING ME A PLACE TO ESCAPE, INTO WHAT WAS MY DREAM BUSINESS/HOBBY, AFTER I LEFT THE NEWSPAPER BUSINESS IN THE SUMMER OF 1990. I'M PRETTY SURE MY GHOST IS STILL SITTING IN THEIR, WAITING FOR MY BODY TO COME BACK AND CLAIM IT. THE STORE WAS A GOOD LISTENER AND THERE WAS NO ECHO. JUST COMPASSION.

THERE WERE MANY CUSTOMERS I LOOKED FORWARD TO SEEING, BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T IMPOSING, OR PARTICULARLY DEMANDING. THEY CAME FROM A WIDE VARIETY OF PROFESSIONS AND BACKGROUNDS, CULTURES, AND PERSONAL / BUSINESS ECONOMIES. I USED TO DEAL WITH A SMALL BUT SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF INTERIOR DECORATORS, WHO WERE ALWAYS WONDERFUL TO TALK WITH, AND HELP ADVISE. I CAN REMEMBER A CHARMING WOMAN, WHO WAS A CITY BASED INTERIOR DESIGNER, WHO HAD COME TO SEE ME, WHILE VACATIONING AT HER MUSKOKA LAKES COTTAGE. WE HAD A WEE CHAT WHEN SHE CAME IN, AND THEN SHE JUST WANDERED ABOUT, OCCASIONALLY YELLING BACK AT ME A QUESTION, OR TO MAKE A GENERAL COMMENT ON THE NEWS OF THE DAY. SHE CAME UP TO THE DESK WITH A BEAUTIFUL ZITHER (MUSICAL INSTRUMENT LIKE AN AUTO-HARP), AND WAS JUST ECSTATIC SHE HAD FOUND THE PERFECT DECORATOR PIECE FOR A JOB SHE WAS DOING IN TORONTO. SHE BOUGHT ABOUT A DOZEN OTHER ANTIQUES THAT DAY, AND WHEN SHE WAS PAID UP, AND ALL THE ITEMS PACKAGED AND READY TO BE LIFTED INTO HER CAR, SHE SAID, "YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU, HOW MUCH I ENJOY VISITING YOUR SHOP. YOU'VE GOT SOME REALLY NEAT PIECES, AND I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU HAD THAT ZITHER. A CUSTOMER HAS WANTED ONE OF THOSE FOR AGES, AND I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIND ONE AS SMALL AS THIS, PERFECT FOR HANGING."

OF COURSE, THIS IS WHEN THE ANTIQUE DEALER INHALES BUT CAN'T EXHALE UNTIL THE REST OF THE EXPLANATION IS MADE. "BELIEVE IT OR NOT, MY CLIENT WANTS IT PAINTED WHITE AND HUNG ABOVE HER STEINWAY," SHE ADDED. "BLASPHEMY. HERETIC. OUT OF ORDER, OUT OF ORDER," IS PLAYING IN MY HEAD, BUT NOT LEAVING MY TIGHT LIPS. YOU SEE, I WAS THINKING ABOUT THE FOUR HOURS I STOOD IN THE HOT SUN, TO PURCHASE THAT SAME ZITHER. I'D HAVE HAD LESS OF A HICCUP IF SHE HAD SAID THE STEINWAY WAS GOING TO BE PAINTED WHITE, AND THE ZITHER…..WELL, IT IS A WORK OF ART. NO DEALER ON EARTH WANTS TO HEAR THAT A PIECE OF THE SHOP COLLECTION, IS GOING TO BE DESTROYED, SO THAT SOMEONE WILL HAVE A NICE WHITE "WHATEVER" OVER THE GRAND PIANO. DESPITE WANTING TO EARN A LIVING, AND SELLING THINGS HELPS ACHIEVE THAT END, WE STILL GET A LITTLE CHOKED-UP, WHEN WE RECALL THE MOMENT A PIECE WAS ACQUIRED….AND WHAT YOU'VE GONE THROUGH TOGETHER UNTIL THE FINANCIAL TRANSACTION THAT DRIVES US APART. WHY SHOULD I CARE IF THE ZITHER IS PAINTED WITH A WHITE ENAMEL? I WAS PAID FOR THE PIECE. MADE THE PROFIT I WANTED. SHOULDN'T I HAVE BEEN DELIGHTED TO KNOW THAT SOMETHING I PURCHASED, AT A MUSKOKA AUCTION, WAS GOING TO ADORN A BRIDAL PATH PARLOR, AND BE THE PREFERRED MATE OF A STEINWAY? HELL NO. I WAS FREAKING DEVASTATED. BUT I ALSO KNOW WHEN TO SHUT UP, TAKE THE FOLDING MONEY, AND WHISTLE WHILE ON THE WAY TO THE BANK. I HELPED HER LOAD THE ITEMS IN HER CAR, THANKED HER FOR SHOPPING AT BIRCH HOLLOW ONCE AGAIN, AND WE SHOOK HANDS ON A GOOD BUSINESS ARRANGEMENT. THEN I GRUMBLED ALL AFTERNOON. WE JUST DON'T DO STUFF LIKE THAT, AT LEAST US ANTIQUE TRADITIONALISTS. TO ME, IT WOULD BE THE SAME AS BUYING A NICELY PRESERVED 1967 MUSTANG, AND INSTEAD OF ITS ORIGINAL RED FINISH, PAINTING IT GREEN BECAUSE IT MATCHES THE TRIM ON THE GARAGE.

ON ANOTHER OCCASION, SUZANNE WAS HAVING A NICE VISIT WITH AN ANTIQUE DEALER, WHO WAS ATTENDING A LOCAL SHOW. IT WAS A GENERAL CONVERSATION ABOUT ANTIQUES AND THE FUN VISITING MUSKOKA EACH YEAR TO ATTEND THESE WEEKEND SALES. HE BOUGHT A FEW ITEMS, INCLUDING A SMALLER PINE TABLE. NOW HE WAS A NICE GUY, AND I CERTAINLY DON'T THINK HE WAS BEING PURPOSELY RUDE, ALTHOUGH SUZANNE AND SOME OTHER CUSTOMERS AT THE TIME, DID FIND IT A LITTLE INTRUSIVE. HE ASKED IF WE HAD A HAMMER IN THE SHOP HE COULD BORROW. YOU'RE GETTING THE PICTURE, RIGHT? UPON GIVING THE GENTLEMAN THE TOOL, HE WENT OVER TO THE TABLE HE HAD JUST PURCHASED, PUT THE ITEMS ON TOP, DOWN ON TO THE RUG, TURNED THE PIECE UPSIDE DOWN, AND COMMENCED, RIGHT THERE, SMASHING THE LEGS OFF THE TOP. IT WAS ONE OF THOSE BIRCH HOLLOW MOMENTS I'VE BEEN WRITING ABOUT. SUZANNE WAS SPEECHLESS. HE WHACKED THE FOUR SPINDLE LEGS OFF THE TOP, HANDED BACK THE HAMMER, TUCKED THE PARTS UNDER HIS ARM AND BID HER FAREWELL. HE CAME BACK, SAID "I'M SORRY MAM. I FORGOT TO GIVE YOU BACK YOUR TABLE TOP," HE SAID, PROPPING THE WOOD AGAINST THE COUNTER, BEFORE LEAVING ONCE MORE. DID YOU THINK HE WAS GOING TO TAKE THE OLD PINE TOP? WHEN SUZANNE WAS EXPLAINING THIS TO ME LATER, I ASSUMED HE WAS JUST BRINGING IT DOWN IN ORDER TO PACK HIS VEHICLE MORE EFFICIENTLY. SO THERE IT WAS. A PINE TABLE TOP WITH NO LEGS. HE WAS A NICE GUY. JUST KIND OF A TOOL WHEN IT COMES TO FINESS.

ANOTHER GENT, HAD A FASCINATION WITH AN ASIAN PAINTING ON SILK WE HAD, THAT WAS IN A HUGE, CUMBERSOME FRAME WITH GLASS. I WAS AWAY WHEN THE CUSTOMER CAME IN, WHO HAD PHONED US EARLIER IN THE DAY, ASKING IF WE STILL HAD IT IN THE SHOP. I HAD TALKED TO HIM ON THE WEEKEND BEFORE, AND SUSPECTED HE MIGHT STILL BE INTERESTED IN THE ART PIECE. SO SUZANNE WENT IN A LITTLE EARLIER THAT MORNING, TO CLEAN THE GLASS, AND FRAME, AND PLACE IT IN PART OF THE SHOP WHERE THERE WAS A BETTER LIGHT. WE ARE REAL FUSSY ABOUT OUR ART PIECES TO THIS DAY, AND ALWAYS PAY STRICT ATTENTION TO THE SECURITY OF FRAMING, ESPECIALLY IF IT HAS A LARGE PANE OF GLASS. THE CUSTOMER CAME IN, AND WENT DIRECTLY TO THE SILK PAINTING. WE HAD PUT A SIGN ON THE FRAME, IN ADVANCE, THAT IT WAS "ON HOLD," UNTIL HE DECIDED WHETHER HE WANTED IT OR NOT. HE CAME AROUND THE CORNER TO TALK WITH SUZANNE, AND OUTSIDE OF THE TRADITIONAL STAND-OFF FOR A BETTER PRICE, IT WAS A VERY FRIENDLY SITUATION. BUT HE WAS ONE OF THOSE CUSTOMERS, WHO JUST ISN'T GOING TO RUSH ANYTHING THROUGH, AND OVER ABOUT FIFTEEN MINUTES OR SO, HE WOULD PICK IT UP BY THE FRAME, AND MOVE IT TO A DIFFERENT LOCATION, HE THOUGHT HAD A BETTER SOURCE OF ILLUMINATION. SUZANNE WAS WORRIED ABOUT THE WAY HE WAS PICKING IT UP TO MOVE. WE MOVE SUCH HEAVY FRAMED ART WORK BY THE WIRE HANGER, NOT THE UPPER FRAMING. SO AS HE MADE YET ANOTHER SHIFT OF THE ART WORK, FOR A BETTER LOOK, THE FRAMING JUST SEPARATED, TOP FIRST. WHILE THEY BOTH TRIED TO STOP THE GLASS FROM POPPING OUT OF THE FRAMING, IT WAS TOO LATE TO DO ANYTHING MORE THAN PROTECT HUMAN FLESH FROM THE SOON-TO-BE SHARDS FLYING EVERYWHERE. SUZANNE GOT SEVERAL SUBSTANTIAL CUTS AND THE SILK ART WORK, FELL OUT AS DELICATELY AS AN AUTUMN FLOWER PETAL HITS THE GARDEN EARTH. IT WAS SPARED BEING SLICED AND DICED BECAUSE THE GLASS FELL AWAY FROM THE INTERIOR.

THE CUSTOMER OFFERED TO PAY FOR IT, THEN AND THERE, AS HE HELPED SUZANNE WRAP HER INJURED HAND. HE WAS VERY CONSIDERATE, AND ASSISTED WITH THE GLASS CLEAN-UP IN THE SHOP. THERE HAD BEEN OTHER CUSTOMERS STANDING NEARBY AT THE TIME, BUT FORTUNATELY THERE HADN'T BEEN ANY COLLATERAL DAMAGE. STRANGE THING THOUGH. THE CUSTOMER ACTUALLY LIKED THE SILK ART-WORK BETTER OUT OF THE FRAME, THAN WHEN IT WAS BEHIND THE NON-GLARE GLASS. WHILE HE DIDN'T BUY IT, ON THAT OCCASION, HE DID ARRIVE TWO WEEKS LATER, AND PURCHASED THE PIECE WITHOUT NECESSITY OF RE-FRAMING. THE ONLY DISCOUNT WAS WHAT WE WERE GOING TO GIVE HIM BEFORE THE FRAME WAS DESTROYED. IT HAD BEEN A CONSIGNMENT PIECE. WE JUST SACRIFICED OUR COMMISSION, BECAUSE AFTER ALL, WE HAD BEEN THE STEWARDS OF THE INVENTORY…..WHERE THE MISHAP OCCURRED. BUT THAT SAME GENTLEMAN, CONTINUED TO COME INTO OUR STORE FOR YEARS AFTER THIS MISADVENTURE, AND ALWAYS MADE A SIGNIFICANT PURCHASE.

THE MOST FUN I HAD AT BIRCH HOLLOW, WAS WHEN A MOVIE PRODUCTION CREW SHOWED UP, ON AN OTHERWISE BORING SATURDAY AFTERNOON, TO LOOK FOR PROPS THEY NEEDED, FOR A SUMMER CAMP MOVIE, BEING MADE ON ALGONQUIN PARK'S TEA LAKE. THE FOUR OF THEM, IN THE PROP DEPARTMENT, WERE ENJOYING EVERY MINUTE OF THE HUNT, WORKING OFF A LIST THEY HAD, ABOUT STATIC ITEMS TO ADORN THE WELL KNOWN SUMMER CAMP. I HAD A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO THEM ABOUT THEIR WORK, COMING UP WITH SIGNIFICANT PROP ITEMS FOR MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF FILMS, THEY'D WORKED ON IN THE PAST, AND HOW THEY OFTEN HAVE TO VISIT HUNDREDS OF SHOPS LIKE MINE, TO FIND THESE SMALL DECORATOR PIECES, FROM QUILTS, BLANKETS, TO OLD JACKETS, HATS, VINTAGE TOYS THAT WERE EITHER HUNG OR STREWN ABOUT TO ENHANCE THE MOOD OF THE PARTICULAR SHOT. I LEARNED A LOT ABOUT MY OWN BUSINESS, FROM THOSE ENTHUSIASTIC PROP PICKERS, WHO BESTOWED GREAT CREDIT ON MY OWN ANTIQUE SELECTIONS. THEY SPENT CLOSE TO FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS THAT AFTERNOON, AND CLEANED ME OUT OF A LOT OF INTERESTING PIECES……SOME THAT I CLEARLY SAW WHEN WE ACTUALLY WENT TO SEE THE MOVIE. THEY WERE FRIENDLY, CONSIDERATE, AND WILLING TO SHARE SOME INSIDE INFORMATION, ABOUT THE HUGE WORK-ORDER, GATHERING MOVIE PROPS….ESPECIALLY SMALLER ONES LIKE I HAD IN STOCK, THAT WERE PRICED AFFORDABLY. YES, IT WAS ON OCCASIONS LIKE THIS, I REALLY ENJOYED BEING UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH MY CUSTOMERS. THIS HAD BEEN A LEARNING EXPERIENCE, AND INSTEAD OF BEING PISSED OFF BY A CUSTOMER'S ACTIONS, I DIDN'T WANT THEM TO LEAVE WITHOUT ME. I LOVE ALGONQUIN PARK. I WOULD HAVE GLADLY OFFERED MYSELF AS A PROP FOR FREE. I COULD HAVE DONNED THE MACKINAW COAT, AND PLAYED THE ECCENTRIC….POSSIBLY DEMENTED WOODSMAN HERMIT, OR THE CRAZED AXEMAN. OH YEA, IT WAS A COMEDY. I CAN DO THAT TOO!

THE MOVIE, BY THE WAY, WAS "INDIAN SUMMER," STARRING DIANE LANE AND ALAN ARKIN (AS UNCLE LOU). THE CAMP THEY WERE FILMING AT WAS, TAMAKWA, ON TEA LAKE.

I HAD THE GENERAL ADVANTAGE OF MEETING MANY UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS, WHO LIKED TO POKE THROUGH MY OLD BOOKS, AND LECTURE ME ABOUT STUFF…..WHICH WAS OKAY BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE TO PAY A TUITION FIRST. I CHATTED WITH MANY PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS, PHOTOGRAPHERS (I ALWAYS HAD A SELECTION OF OLD CAMERA GEAR), WOOD WORKERS, AND EVEN STEAM ENGINE SPECIALISTS, WHO WORKED ON GRAVENHURST'S WELL KNOWN "R.M.S. SEGWUN" AND THE "WANDA" THE RESTORED STEAM YACHT THAT ONCE BELONGED TO THE EATON FAMILY. I HAD AN ARRAY OF HISTORIANS, REGIONAL, CANADIAN AND MILITARY, AND A FEW CELEBRITIES I VOWED ALWAYS TO PROTECT. THESE WERE GREAT MOMENTS IN A SIMPLE, NO-FRILLS ANTIQUE AND COLLECTIBLE SHOP ON THE MAIN STREET OF BRACEBRIDGE, ONTARIO. I HAD ANOTHER FRIEND CONNECTED TO THE FUNERARY ENTERPRISE, AND SHE SAID SHE'D GET ME A HORSE DRAWN HEARSE IF I REALLY WANTED ONE……AND I DID, BUT MY MARRIAGE CAME FIRST. I THINK SUZANNE WOULD HAVE BEEN OKAY WITH THE HEARSE IN THE DRIVEWAY BUT NOT THE TEAM OF HORSES I'D NEED TO PULL IT. WHAT AN IMPRESSIVE ANTIQUE-HAULING OUTFIT THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN, TO MAKE MY HUNTING ROUNDS, EVERY WEEKEND DURING YARD SALE SEASON. I'M A SHOWMAN FIRST, ANTIQUE DEALER SECOND. A WRITER, WELL, I GUESS THIRD WILL HAVE TO DO!

IT WASN'T A GREAT DAY OUT ON THE ANTIQUE HUSTINGS BUT I DID COME BACK WITH A WONDERFUL VINTAGE PRINT FROM A WELL KNOWN NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND PRINTER, IN A NICE ORIGINAL FRAME. IT IS ENTITLED "THE HILLS OF BONNIE SCOTLAND," BY WELL KNOWN ARTIST / ILLUSTRATOR, F.W. HAYES, FROM THE LATE 1800'S, WE BELIEVE, ON INITIAL RESEARCH (NOT CONCLUSIVE HOWEVER). IT WAS PRINTED BY THOMAS FORMAN & SONS OF NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND….A PLACE I HAVE FOND MEMORIES OF, DURING A TRIP IN THE MID 1970'S. HAYES WORK IS FEATURED IN MANY ADVERTISEMENTS OF THE DAY, AND WAS FEATURED ON HUNDREDS OF POST CARDS……MANY STILL BEING SOUGHT AFTER IN ONLINE AUCTIONS. THIS IS A NICE FULL COLOR PRINT AND IS IN GOOD OVERALL CONDITION. MY COST WAS $12.00. IT COULD RETAIL FOR UPWARDS OF $75.00 PLUS, DEPENDING ON PARALLEL AUCTION SALE RESULTS. THERE ARE MANY ART PRINT COLLECTORS WHO ADMIRE THE WORK THAT GENERATED FROM THAT FAMOUS NOTTINGHAM PRINTER. IT'S A "BONNIE" PRINT FOR A "BONNIE" HOUSEHOLD. I'M GOING TO HANG THIS IN MY OFFICE. SUZANNE IS DOING EXTENSIVE FAMILY HISTORY PRESENTLY, IN PREPARATION FOR HER FUTURE BLOG, DETAILING OUR RESPECTIVE FAMILY TREES, THANKS TO THE MATERIAL AND CONNECTIONS (NETWORKING OF OTHER RESEARCHERS) OF ANCESTRY.CA. I ALWAYS KNEW SHE HAD SOME SCOTTISH BLOOD IN HER…..ESPECIALLY THE TIME SHE WOULDN'T GIVE ME A QUARTER TO GET ACCESS TO A PAY-TOILET STALL, SUGGESTING INSTEAD, "AYE, YOU CAN DO THE LIMBO WEE LADDIE." I SWEAR, AT THAT MOMENT, I HEARD THE EERIE SKIRL OF A DISTANT BAGPIPE. THE PICTURE, HUNG ABOVE THE COMPUTER TABLE, WILL TAKE HER TO THE OLD COUNTRY….THE SMELL OF HEATHER IN THE AIR, AND KNOWLEDGE SHE STILL HAS THE FIRST DOLLAR SHE EVER MADE. AYE, INDEED! WHAT A THOUGHTFUL ANTIQUE DEALER HUSBAND I AM!

IN OUR WEEKLY SEARCH FOR CANADIAN SYMBOLS, ON A HOST OF ANTIQUE AND COLLECTIBLE ITEMS, IT WAS ALMOST A BUST TODAY, IF I HADN'T STUMBLED UPON A "MADE IN CANADA," MAPLE LEAF "SOUVENIR SPOON" RACK, TO GO WITH THE MAPLE LEAF SPOONS WE GOT A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. ALL ITEMS WERE FOUND LOCALLY. SOME AT THE RE-STORE, IN GRAVENHURST (BEACH ROAD), AND THE RACK, AT THE SALVATION ARMY THRIFT SHOP, IN BRACEBRIDGE. WE'RE NOT GOING OUTSIDE OF OUR REGION TO BUY THESE NATIONAL SYMBOL PIECES….WHICH INCLUDE ONLY ITEMS WITH THE IMAGE OF THE ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE, THE MAPLE LEAF, AND THE GOOD OLD BEAVER. WE'VE GOT LOTS OF TIME TO LIVE UP TO OUR BOASTING, AND MANY ENJOYABLE MILES TO TRAVEL IN THIS BEAUTIFUL DISTRICT OF MUSKOKA.

THANKS FOR JOINING TODAY'S BLOG. MUCH MORE TOMORROW. "HOW I INVESTED MY YOUNG LIFE, AND OH SO MUCH MONEY, AT LIL & CEC'S CORNER STORE, IN BRACEBRIDGE, WITH FRIENDS CRACKER JACK AND A LUCKY ELEPHANT.

Antiques and Those Who Swipe Them

2012-02-03T17:57:00.001-08:00

CREATIVE ACTIONS AND COMPELLING REACTIONS IN ANTIQUE SHOP ADVENTURES

PRICE TAG FLICKERS, SELLING HOT STUFF AND SHOPLIFTER SHENNANIGANS-

WHEN I WAS ENTRUSTED BY MY WIFE, TO RUN OUR BRACEBRIDGE ANTIQUE SHOP ON MY OWN, I WOULD FREQUENTLY TAKE EXCEPTION TO HER INCESSANT WORRYING THAT I COULDN'T HANDLE IT. HECK, I'D BEEN IN THE ANTIQUE TRADE FOR MORE THAN A DECADE BY THAT POINT. OF COURSE I KNEW I COULDN'T HANDLE IT, BUT I CERTAINLY WASN'T GOING TO SHOW THOSE CARDS. AS I MENTIONED EARLIER IN THIS SERIES OF ANTIQUE BLOGS, I WAS A GOOD HUNTER-GATHERER, BUT SUB-PAR AS THE SELLER OF ANTIQUES.

I'D JUST WALKED AWAY FROM TWO JOBS, AND LOST ANOTHER, DUE TO THE RECESSION OF THE LATE 1980'S, SO IT WAS PUT-UP, OR CLOSE-UP SHOP. COULDN'T HAVE BEEN CLEARER THAN THAT! MY PRIMARY JOB WAS AS "MR. MOM" FOR OUR TWO LADS, AND THE SECOND DAILY RESPONSIBILITY WAS TRYING, AGAINST THE ODDS OF A SEASONAL ECONOMY, TO MAKE MONEY FROM SEPTEMBER TO JUNE. SUZANNE WAS THE PRIMARY SALES PERSON DURING THE SUMMER SEASON, WHILE I KEPT THE KIDS BUSY. SEEING AS I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A BIG KID, WE FOUND LOTS TO KEEP US OCCUPIED. WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME MOTORING ABOUT THE TOWN ON THE SANTA'S VILLAGE TROLLEY. AND PLAYING ON THE SWINGS AT WILLIAMS PARK.

RUNNING THE SHOP ON MY OWN, EVENTUALLY WORKED OUT OKAY. IT TOOK ABOUT SIX MONTHS BEFORE I GOT THE HANG OF IT, AND SOMEWHAT FIGURED OUT HOW TO DEAL WITH STICKY SITUATIONS THAT DEMANDED TOP NOTCH PUBLIC RELATIONS CAPABILITIES. DID I MENTION PROBLEM-SOLVING MOXY? ONE AFTERNOON, A MOTHER WITH HER YOUNG SON, CAME INTO THE SHOP LOOKING FOR A SELECTION OF VINTAGE KIDS' BOOKS. THEY SPENT ABOUT A HALF HOUR GOING THROUGH THE BOXES OF BOOKS I'D JUST BROUGHT TO THE SHOP THAT MORNING. NOW BEING A NEW PARENT AS WELL, I ENJOYED CHATTING WITH THE YOUNG LADY, AND IT WAS A LOW-TENSION SITUATION THAT I LIKED. SOME CUSTOMERS REMINDED ME OF THE WHIRLING DERVISH, THE WAY THEY BOUNCED AROUND IN THE TIGHT SPACES, AND NARROW PATHWAYS BETWEEN BOOK SHELVES, CREATING A TENSE ATMOSPHERE FROM THE GET-GO. SO AFTER AWHILE, THE LADY COMES OVER TO THE COUNTER, AND ASKS IF I HAVE A COUPLE OF KLEENEX FOR HER SON. WITH OUR OWN LADS, WE ALWAYS KEPT A GOOD SUPPLY BEHIND THE COUNTER. SHE CAME BACK TO THE COUNTER WITH THE USED KLEENEX, EXTENDING THEM TO ME FOR DISPOSAL. OKAY, I THOUGHT. I'LL HANDLE THEM WITH GREAT CARE AND THEN WASH MY HANDS. AFTER HANDING IT TO ME, SHE JUST STARED, MUMBLED SOMETHING ABOUT AN INCIDENT HAVING JUST OCCURRED, BUT NOTHING I COULD RELATE TO WHAT REQUIRED THE KLEENEX.

SHE CLEARED HER THROAT, COUGHED, ADJUSTED HER NYLON JACKET, AND SAID, "BE CAREFUL WITH THE KLEENEX. IT'S FULL OF PEE." YOU KNOW, IF IT HAD ALL OF A SUDDEN BURST INTO FLAMES, IN MY HAND, I WOULD HAVE KNOWN WHAT TO DO WITH THAT KLEENEX. SO LIKE HER, I JUST STARED AT IT, BALANCED ON THE TIP OF MY OUTSTRETCHED FINGERS, AND WATCHED HELPLESSLY AS THE LIQUID OVERLOAD DRIPPED ONTO MY NEWSPAPER. I HADN'T FINISHED READING IT YET, BY THE WAY. "I'M SORRY SIR. I WASN'T WATCHING HIM, AND HE DECIDED TO HAVE A PEE IN THE CORNER," SHE ADDED TO OUR LIGHT CONVERSATION. "CORNER? WHAT CORNER WOULD THAT BE," I ASKED, IN A PANIC BECAUSE OF THE OLD QUILTS SUZANNE HAD ON DISPLAY IN TWO OF FOUR CORNERS IN THAT STORE. "RIGHT OVER THERE," SHE POINTED. "OH, THAT'S JUST WHERE I HAVE MY OLD BOOKS. THAT'S ALL RIGHT," I SAID, STILL HOLDING THE DRIPPING KLEENEX.

I FOUND A CONTAINER WITH A LID UNDER THE COUNTER TO DISPOSE OF THE KLEENEX, PULLED OUT THE SANITARY WIPES WE STORED FOR PARALLEL ACCIDENTS, AND WROTE UP AN INVOICE FOR THE BOOKS SHE WAS PURCHASING. I JUST DIDN'T HAVE A LOT TO SAY, SO THERE WAS AN UNCOMFORTABLE SILENCE. I WANTED TO TELL HER ABOUT THE WASHROOM SHE COULD HAVE USED, IF SHE'D JUST ASKED. AT THE TIME HOWEVER, I WAS A LITTLE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THE POOL OF URINE CONTAMINATING MY BOOK NOOK. ON THE WAY OUT OF THE STORE, "SHE DID OFFER WHAT I BELIEVE WAS A SINCERE APOLOGY FOR LITTLE BILLY'S PEEING EPISODE. "STUFF HAPPENS LADY," I SAID. 'I'M A PARENT TOO." ON THE WAY AROUND THE CORNER, I SWEAR THAT LITTLE BUGGER PULLED A FACE ON ME, AS IF TO SAY, "HEY BUDDY, I REALLY ENJOYED PISSING ALL OVER YOUR BOOKS." WELL, THAT LITTLE DICKENS HAD CONTAMINATED AT LEAST TEN BOOKS ON A BOTTOM SHELF, AND A SECTION OF CARPET THAT REQUIRED ME TO MOVE ABOUT THREE HUNDRED BOOKS, AND A HEAVY SHELF TO CLEAN PROPERLY. LET ME PUT IT THIS WAY. SELLING HER TWENTY DOLLARS WORTH OF BOOKS, DIDN'T MATCH THE SIXTY DOLLARS WORTH, COVERED IN URINE.

I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY TO SUZANNE, WHEN SHE CAME OVER TO THE STORE AFTER WORK (AT THE LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL). "SO HOW WAS YOUR DAY TED," SHE ASKED, TAKING OFF HER COAT AND SETTLING INTO ONE OF THE WOODEN CHAIRS BEHIND THE COUNTER. "AND WHY DOES IT SMELL LIKE URINE IN HERE?" I SAID IT WAS PROBABLY THE SMELL OF MUST FROM A STORAGE CLOSET I'D JUST OPENED, AND PRETTY MUCH SWALLOWED THE INCIDENT, SO AS NOT TO DRAW ATTENTION TO MY GENERAL INCOMPETENCE RUNNING THE SHOP. IF I TOLD HER THE STORY, SHE WOULD HAVE HAD TO REMIND ME,THAT I SHOULD HAVE MADE A PREAMBLE ANNOUNCEMENT TO THE WOMAN, ABOUT THE WHEREABOUTS IN THE BUILDING OF A SUITABLE WASHROOM, FOR HER CHARMING SON. I MADE IT THE NEW STORE POLICY, TO MAKE THIS ANNOUNCEMENT FOR THE VERY NEXT MOTHER OR FATHER AND CHILD TO CROSS THAT STORE THRESHOLD. THE FACT SHE COULD STILL SMELL PEE BOTHERED ME A LOT, SO I HAD TO CLEAN THE SAME AREA AGAIN THE NEXT MORNING. I SUPPOSE IT WAS GOOD THAT THE LADY CLEARLY IDENTIFIED, THAT HER CHILD HAD URINATED IN MY STORE, ALTHOUGH SHE DIDN'T MENTION DOING SO ON THE BOOKS. I JUST CAN'T FORGET THE LOOK THE KID SHOT BACK AT ME. I WONDER IF HE PISSED IN ALL THE STORES HE VISITED.

ON ANOTHER MORE SIGNIFICANT OCCASION, I EXPERIENCED "DISTRACTION THEFT," IN ALL ITS GLORY. IT WAS IN THE EARLY AFTERNOON IN ABOUT FEBRUARY, AND SUZANNE HAD GONE BACK TO SCHOOL, AFTER HAVING LUNCH AT THE SHOP. THREE YOUNG PEOPLE CAME DOWN STAIRS, TWO SEVENTEEN YEAR OLDS, AND AN OLDER GIRL. ONE OF THE LADS CAME AND TALKED TO ME FOR QUITE A WHILE, AND I THOUGHT HE WAS RATHER INFORMED AND INSIGHTFUL. WE HAD A REASONABLE CHAT ABOUT THE TOWN, AND LOCAL EVENTS, AND JUST AS QUICKLY AS THEY ARRIVED, THEY MERGED TOGETHER AT THE DOORWAY, AND EXITED LIKE A STEAM VAPOR OUT A SPOUT. I STOOD THERE FOR SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, REPLAYING WHAT I SHOULD HAVE SUSPECTED RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING. THEY DIDN'T SEEM THE ANTIQUE-TYPE, AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT, WE CAN USUALLY TELL. THESE FOLKS WEREN'T INTERESTED IN WHAT I WAS SELLING. THEY WERE INTERESTED IN THE GOODS THEY COULD GET EASILY, WITH A "FIVE FINGER DISCOUNT." SHOPLIFTING. THE MORE I THOUGHT ABOUT IT, THE GREATER THE SUSPICION, I HAD JUST BEEN THE VICTIM OF A SNATCH AND RUN. EVEN BEFORE I GOT OUT FROM BEHIND THE COUNTER, TO TAKE A QUICK GLANCE AROUND THE STORE, I NOTICED A SMALL BABY QUILT MISSING OFF A NEARBY RACK. I KNEW IT HAD TO BE MISSING, BECAUSE I'D BEEN STRAIGHTENING IT ON THE RACK THROUGHOUT THE MORNING, AS IT WAS SITUATED WHERE CUSTOMERS BUMPED INTO IT, AND DISLODGED IT FROM THE TOP RUNG. I THOUGHT THIS MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED, SO I LOOKED ON THE FLOOR, HOPING IT WOULD BE THERE. GONE.

I RAN UP THE STAIR AS FAST AS MY STUBBY LEGS WOULD ALLOW, AND IT WAS ONLY A FEW MINUTES BEFORE I WAS OUT ON THE MAIN STREET SIDEWALK, AND LOOKING NORTH AND SOUTH. IT WAS A SNOWY DAY BUT THERE WASN'T EVEN A SILHOUETTE OF ANOTHER HUMAN ON THAT STRETCH OF ROAD. CARS YES. PEDESTRIANS NO. I RAN UP TO MEMORIAL PARK AND LOOKED TO SEE IF ANYTHING HAD BEEN UNCEREMONIOUSLY STUFFED IN A GARBAGE CAN. AGAIN NOTHING. ON THE WAY BACK TO THE STORE, I STARTED THINKING ABOUT THE BABY QUILT THAT HAD OBVIOUSLY BEEN STOLEN. IT HAD BEEN ON SALE FOR AROUND FIFTY DOLLARS, AND GUESS WHAT? SUZANNE HAD MADE IT FOR THE STORE. SHE SOLD QUITE A FEW OF THESE SMALL QUILTS IN THOSE YEARS, AS KIND OF A LOSS LEADER. THEY WERE TIME CONSUMING PROJECTS AND SUZANNE DID THEM MORE AS STRESS RELIEVERS FROM HER TEACHING JOB. SHE DIDN'T GET MORE THAN A FEW BUCKS FOR HER LABOR, BUT THEY WERE IMPORTANT TO THE STORE INVENTORY. SO HERE I WAS, ALL COVERED IN SNOW, ANGRY, HURT, AND THINKING ABOUT THE TONGUE LASHING I WAS GOING TO GET…….FOR ALLOWING HER NICE LITTLE QUILT TO WALK OUT THE DOOR. I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY VENDORS LOSE QUILTS TO SHOPLIFTERS BUT IT WAS A FIRST FOR ME.

SUZANNE WAS VERY GOOD ABOUT IT. I ACCEPTED BLAME FOR NOT WATCHING THESE PEOPLE CLOSER, AND NOT GETTING OUT FROM BEHIND MY DESK FASTER. SO SHE MADE ME ANOTHER TWO BABY QUILTS JUST SO WE'D HAVE SOME COLORFUL INVENTORY FOR THE SHOP. ONE DAY, ABOUT A MONTH LATER, IT WAS A COLD BEGGAR OF A DAY, AND SUZANNE WAS GETTING READY TO GO BACK TO WORK. WE STOOD AT THE DOOR OF THE SHOP, LOOKING OUT ONTO THE WINDSWEPT MAIN STREET. JUST IN TIME TO WATCH A YOUNG MOTHER PUSHING HER BABY STROLLER PAST OUR BUILDING. "THERE'S MY QUILT," SHE YELLED OUT, STINGING MY EAR. "THERE IT IS. IT'S HANGING OUT OF THE CART. THAT'S IT ALL RIGHT. SEE THE TEDDY BEAR (DESIGN)?" WHAT TO DO. WHAT COULD WE DO? SHOULD DO? CALL THE POLICE? SUZANNE AND I JUST STOOD THERE WITH OUR MOUTHS HANGING OPEN, ABSOLUTELY STUNNED ABOUT THE SITUATION. NOT ONLY WAS IT HER QUILT, BUT IT WAS ALSO A GIRL SHE HAD TAUGHT IN FAMILY STUDIES THAT PAST SEMESTER. "I KNEW SHE WAS HAVING A BABY. I DIDN'T KNOW I WAS GIVING A SHOWER GIFT." AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT IT CAME DOWN TO, IN THE END. "I CAN'T GO AND RIP THE QUILT OUT OF THE STROLLER CAN I," SHE ASKED BUT REALLY IT WAS MORE LIKE AN IRON CLAD STATEMENT, APPEARING INITIALLY AS A QUESTION. "ALL I KNOW IS THAT MY QUILT IS WARMING THAT CHILD, AND ULTIMATELY, IT'S DOING WHAT I MADE IT FOR."

THE SAD THING ABOUT THIS, AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO KNOW US, PARTICULARLY SUZANNE, YOU'D REALIZE SHE WOULD HAVE GIVEN THAT GIRL THE QUILT AS A GIFT, IF SHE'D ASKED FOR ASSISTANCE. WE'VE DONE THIS KIND OF THING MANY TIMES, AND HAVE ALWAYS HELPED OUT LOCAL CHARITIES AND FOOD BANKS FACING HARD TIMES. IT DID HURT HER FEELINGS THOUGH, TO HAVE THIS GIRL, SHE THOUGHT HIGHLY OF, PARTICIPATE IN THE THEFT FROM OUR STORE. THEY NEVER SHOPPED IN OUR STORE AGAIN. I GUESS THAT WAS THE ONE GOOD THING.

WE SUFFERED QUITE A BIT OF THEFT OVER THE FIVE PLUS YEARS WE OPERATED THE SMALL BASEMENT SHOP. EACH TIME IT FELT AWFUL, TO LOOK AT THE SHELVES, AND REALIZE SOME ITEMS WERE MISSING. WHEN WE DECIDED, OUT OF SHEER MADNESS, TO SELL HOCKEY AND BASEBALL TRADING CARDS, IN THE EARLY 1990'S, SHOPLIFTING WAS A DAILY OCCURRENCE. BY THIS TIME, I HAD SHARPENED MY SKILLS IN THIS REGARD, AND OUT OF ABOUT TEN MAJOR INCIDENTS, I SOLVED NINE OF THE THEFTS. ON A TIP FROM A FELLOW SHOPKEEP, I GAVE THE PERPETRATORS AN OPTION WHEN I CAUGHT THEM. TO EITHER DEAL WITH THE POLICE, AS SHOPLIFTERS, OR TO COMPENSATE ME FOR THE CARDS THEY STOLE. I DIDN'T WANT THEM BACK. I WANTED THEM TO PAY FOR THE CARDS. AND AS THEY ONLY EVER TOOK THE BIG MONEY CARDS, I HAD SOME REALLY STRONG SALES THAT PERIOD, BECAUSE ALL OF THEM OPTED TO BE CUSTOMERS INSTEAD OF RIDERS IN THE BACK OF POLICE CRUISERS. FOR ONE PERSON, I MADE A TWO HUNDRED DOLLAR SALE, AND HIS MOTHER STILL MADE HIM GIVE BACK THE CARDS HE TOOK. WHILE IT TOOK A FEW OF THEM A WHILE TO PAY THEIR BILLS, I FOUND IT A TOTALLY WORKABLE ALTERNATIVE TO FILING CHARGES, AND POTENTIALLY HAVING TO GO THROUGH THE COURT PROCESS. I WAS PREPARED TO DO THIS, BUT THE YOUNG LADS WEREN'T SO KEEN. ONE KID DID MENTION THAT I WAS BLACKMAILING THEM, AND I WHOLE HEARTEDLY AGREED. THE KID LOOKED AT ME, SMILED, AND SAID, "HERE'S THE FIFTY BUCKS I OWE YOU."

IN ANOTHER CASE, I HAD A CUSTOMER WHO LOVED TO COME IN AND GO THROUGH MY BOXES OF CARDS. HE LIKED TO TRADE CARDS BUT THERE WERE CERTAIN BIG NAMES I INSISTED ON CASH-ONLY. THE CARDS WOULD BE SPREAD ON THE COUNTER IN FRONT OF ME, AND HE WOULD HAVE HIS PILE OF TRADERS SITTING TO THE RIGHT OF THE FANNING OF MY CARDS. OVER ABOUT A MONTH OF WEEKLY VISITS, I CALCULATED THE LOSS TO BE ABOUT THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS, OF CARDS I KNEW HAD BEEN IN THAT SAME BOX. HE WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO I ALLOWED ACCESS TO THIS PRIVATE STASH. I WAS HUGELY UPSET BY THE FACT MY CECIL FIELDER ROOKIE (BASEBALL) CARDS WERE MISSING. FOUR OF THEM WERE IN THAT BOX, AND IT REPRESENTED ABOUT $150 WORTH. SO THE NEXT TIME HE ARRIVED, AND DID THE SAME THING, WITH THE SAME BOX OF "A" QUALITY CARDS, I WATCHED HIS MAGIC FINGERS. HE WAS ABLE TO FAN THE CARDS OUT CLOSER TO HIS OWN PILE, THAT WHEN HE WENT TO MOVE THEM, HE WOULD ALSO GRAB UP SOME OF MINE ON THE COUNTER. IN ONLY MINUTES, PRETENDING I WASN'T WATCHING HIS HANDIWORK, I HAD LOST ABOUT TEN "MONEY" CARDS. I HAD THEM RECORDED, SO I KNOW WHAT WAS MISSING. I CONFRONTED HIM, AND GAVE A LITTLE SPIEL ABOUT ALL THE MISSING CARDS, PROBABLY ABOUT FIFTY, AND WHILE HE CLAIMED IT MAY HAVE HAPPENED ACCIDENTALLY, THERE WAS NO ARGUMENT WHATSOEVER, WHEN I MADE IT CLEAR THE CASH EQUIVALENT WOULD BE IN THE "BALL PARK" OF $350, OWING TO BIRCH HOLLOW. IT TOOK ABOUT A HALF HOUR TO GET PAID BUT IT CAME WITH AN APOLOGY. MAYBE IT SHOULD HAVE MADE ME FEEL BETTER BUT IT DIDN'T. WE HAD BECOME CASUAL FRIENDS, AND I HAD ENJOYED OUR LITTLE SPORTS TALKS. I SUGGESTED IT WAS A GOOD IDEA TO SHOP ELSEWHERE IN THE FUTURE. I THINK I LOST MORE MONEY THAN THE $350 RESTITUTION, BUT AT LEAST IT DIDN'T BECOME A CRIMINAL MATTER. HE DIDN'T GET OFF LIGHTLY. I'M PRETTY GOOD AT BROW BEATING. TO THIS DAY, HE WILL REMEMBER THE FIREBRAND OF BIRCH HOLLOW…..AN URBAN LEGEND OF THE ANTIQUE TRADE.

WHILE I DESPISED SHOPLIFTERS, FROM THE ORIGINAL QUILT INCIDENT, I ALSO HAD A MAJOR DISLIKE FOR PRICE TAG FLICKERS. I HAD ONE ELDERLY GENTLEMAN WHO FREQUENTED THE SHOP, AND HE WAS NOTORIOUS FOR REMOVING PRICE TAGS BEFORE HE GOT TO THE SALES COUNTER. IN MANY THRIFT SHOPS TODAY, THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM, BUT THERE'S ONE STEP ADDED. NOW PERPETRATORS, OF WHAT IS STILL A CRIME, REMOVE THE PRICE TAGS THEY DON'T LIKE, AND REPLACE THEM WITH OTHER PRICE TAGS, THEY'VE PAINSTAKINGLY PEELED OFF MERCHANDISE, OF COURSE ALWAYS FOR MUCH LOWER PRICES. THIS CHAP NEVER WENT TO THAT MUCH EFFORT. HE WAS A PRETTY LAZY GUY. HE'D ALMOST TAUNT ME WITH IT, SAYING "YOU DON'T NEED TO KNOW THE PRICE THAT WAS ON IT…..WHAT IS IT WORTH NOW THAT I MIGHT WANT TO BUY IT?" HE HAD A WICKED HABIT OF ALWAYS DOING THIS ON CONSIGNMENT PIECES WHERE THERE WASN'T MUCH WIGGLE ROOM TO DISCOUNT. SO I USED TO BEND, AND LOSE MY COMMISSION, JUST TO SELL THE ITEM. I CAN REMEMBER ONE REALLY BAD SATURDAY. I'D SPENT AN ENTIRE DAY WITH TIRE KICKERS AND WHINERS, AND HADN'T MADE A SIGNIFICANT SALE. IT WAS AT A TIME WHEN THE STORE WAS A HUGE DRAIN ON PERSONAL RESOURCES, AND I DIDN'T EVEN HAVE MUCH MONEY FOR WEEKEND GROCERIES. WE WERE TAPPED OUT, AND MAXED OUT ON CREDIT CARDS. SO JUST BEFORE FIVE O'CLOCK CLOSING, IN HE COMES WITH GREAT FANFARE AND BLUSTER. I REALIZED THIS WAS MY LAST CHANCE OF THE DAY BEFORE THE "CLOSED" SIGN WAS FLIPPED ON THE DOOR. AFTER AWHILE, HE CAME TO ME WITH A LARGE VINTAGE OIL BOTTLE AND SEPARATE SPOUT THAT I HAD ON CONSIGNMENT FROM ANOTHER DEALER. "THERE'S NO PRICE TAG ON THIS," HE BLURTED, HOVERING OVER MY DESK. I HAD TO DO THE DANCE. IT'S WHAT ENTERTAINED HIM, I SWEAR TO GOD. "IT WAS ON IT THIS MORNING," I ANSWERED. "I WONDERED WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED TO IT SINCE THEN?" "WELL LET'S NOT WORRY ABOUT WHAT THE PRICE TAG WAS…..TELL ME WHAT YOU WANT FOR IT RIGHT NOW," HE DEMANDED. OF COURSE WHAT HE WAS DOING WAS DISHONEST, BECAUSE I LATER WENT BACK AND FOUND THE PRICE TAG STUCK ONTO SOMETHING ELSE. HE HAD INDEED TAKEN IT OFF THE BOTTLE, AND PUT IT ON ANOTHER PIECE NEAR BY. I SHOULD HAVE TOSSED HIS BEHIND OUT OF THE SHOP. BUT AS I KNEW IT WAS A FAIRLY EXPENSIVE BOTTLE, FROM A LIST I KEPT IN THE DESK AS BACK-UP, I DROPPED MY COMMISSION ENTIRELY, AND SOLD THE BOTTLE FOR FORTY BUCKS. HE WAS HAPPY, I WAS ABLE TO BORROW THIS MONEY FOR A WEEK OR SO, TO BUY SOME NEEDED GROCERIES, AND I GOT TO SEE THE BACK OF HIM HEADING OUT THAT DOOR. FROM THAT POINT ON, I NEVER ALLOWED THAT TO HAPPEN AGAIN. I'D SIMPLY SAY, "LOOK, I'LL JUST GO BACK AND SEE IF I CAN FIND THE TAG THAT HAS OBVIOUSLY FALLEN OFF." IT MADE HIM CRAZY THAT I WOULD INCONVENIENCE HIM, BY PATIENTLY LOOKING FOR THE TORN-OFF PRICE TAG. OVER TIME, HE JUST LEFT THE TAGS ON, AND ASKED IF I COULD GIVE HIM A BETTER PRICE. BUT I KNOW FOR A FACT TODAY, AT MANY SECOND HAND SHOPS, THEY FACE THIS MANY TIMES IN A DAY, AND IT CAN COST THEM THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN PROFIT OVER THE COURSE OF A MONTH.

ONCE AGAIN, I MUST FOOTNOTE, THAT THE PERCENTAGE OF THESE CUSTOMERS, COMPARED TO THE VAST MAJORITY, WAS LESS THAN ONE PERCENT OF MY CLIENTELE OVER THOSE FIVE TO SIX YEARS IN THE SHOP. I WILL HIGHLIGHT EXPERIENCES WITH THESE DELIGHTFUL CUSTOMERS IN THE NEXT BLOG. THEY CERTAINLY MADE UP FOR THE BAD ACTORS, THAT'S FOR SURE, AND I LEARNED A GREAT DEAL FROM A WIDE ARRAY OF ANTIQUE COLLECTORS, HOME DECORATORS, MUSEUM CURATORS, AND SO MANY HOBBYISTS WHO LOVED TO TALK ABOUT THEIR COLLECTING INTERESTS.

THANKS FOR READING THROUGH TODAY'S BLOG. JOIN ME FOR ANOTHER ANTIQUE SHOP ADVENTURE IN TOMORROW'S COLUMN (BLOG).

Antique Shop Appraisals and Why Not

2012-02-02T18:21:00.001-08:00

THE ANTIQUE SHOP AND THOSE WISHING APPRAISALS -

SOME I WISH HAD GONE ELSEWHERE-

I HAVE A PASSIVE SIDE. WHEN SUZANNE AND I ARE OUT ANTIQUE HUNTING, I'M KEEN, ADVENTUROUS, CO-OPERATIVE, INTERESTED IN GOOD CONVERSATION, AND I VERY MUCH ENJOY MEETING PEOPLE. PUT ME IN A SHOP, BEHIND A SALES DESK, AND TELL ME I'M THERE FOR THE DAY, AND THE NEGATIVES START JUMPING ON EACH OTHERS BACK TO ESCAPE THROUGH MY EARS.

EVERY NOW AND AGAIN, SOMEONE WILL ASK IF I MISS HAVING AN ACTUAL ANTIQUE SHOP. A FEW TIMES EACH YEAR, SOMEONE ELSE, WILL ASK IF I THINK THEY SHOULD OPEN AN ANTIQUE SHOP. AND THERE ARE TIMES WHEN, IN THE COURSE OF GENERAL CONVERSATION, I'LL BE ASKED TO JOIN SOME ANTIQUE CO-OP OR MALL. THE ANSWER TO EACH OF THE ABOVE IS A RESOUNDING "NO." I MUST FOOTNOTE THIS, BECAUSE WE ARE ALREADY CONNECTED TO OUR BOYS' VINTAGE MUSIC SHOP, HERE IN GRAVENHURST. BUT THE POINT IS, I WOULDN'T PERSONALLY PARTICIPATE AS A VENDOR IN AN ANTIQUE MALL, NOT BECAUSE I DON'T LIKE THEM…..BECAUSE I DO, BUT RATHER, SUZANNE AND I HAVE A SIMPLE, NO FRILLS RETIREMENT PLAN TO ENJOY ANTIQUES. FOR A LOT OF YEARS WE DIDN'T, BECAUSE OF THE HUSTLE AND FINANCIAL BURDENS OF RUNNING A SHOP, AND WORRYING CONSTANTLY ABOUT THE BOTTOM LINE. WE DON'T WORRY ABOUT THAT THESE DAYS, AND WE DON'T OWE A PENNY ON THE COLLECTION WE OWN.

MY ADVICE TO OTHERS, WELL, DON'T COUNT ON THE ANTIQUE BUSINESS, IN A RETAIL SETTING, TO MAKE YOU RICH. COMFORTABLE? SURE. JUST NOT A BUSINESS, IF YOU ARE THE AVERAGE GENERAL DEALER, THAT IS GOING TO REPLACE BEING EMPLOYED BY SOMEONE ELSE. THE EXPENSE OF RUNNING A SHOP THESE DAYS, IS ENORMOUS, AND WITH RENT, INSURANCE AND UTILITIES, NOT TO MENTION BUSINESS AREA TAXES, ADVERTISING AND INVENTORY COSTS, AND A FICKLE AUDIENCE, IT BECOMES ALMOST COST PROHIBITIVE. EVEN A SMALL CO-OP SHOP CAN BE A TREMENDOUS COST BURDEN, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE IN A SEASONAL, TOURIST ECONOMY, LIKE WE ARE IN MUSKOKA. IT DOESN'T MEAN TO SUGGEST YOU CAN'T MAKE A BUCK IN THE ANTIQUE FIELD, RUNNING A NORMAL RETAIL SHOP, BUT IT NECESSITATES DIVERSIFICATION THAT MANY FOLKS DON'T UNDERSTAND. I GOT PAID TO RESEARCH LOCAL HISTORY, AND WRITE FOR THE LOCAL PRESS, AT THE SAME TIME AS SELLING ANTIQUES. OUR BOYS, ANDREW AND ROBERT, TO BOLSTER THEIR SHOP ECONOMY, OFFER GUITAR LESSONS, AND PROVIDE TECHNICAL SERVICES TO AREA ENTERTAINMENT VENUES. JUST TO PAY THE RENT, AND HAVE A FEW BUCKS AT THE END OF THE WEEK FOR FUN STUFF. STILL NOT TOO MUCH LEFT FOR RRSP'S. FOR A YOUNG BUSINESS, THEY ARE DOING QUITE WELL, AND OPERATE WITHOUT ANY BANK LOANS OR CREDIT CARDS.

WHEN WE HAD OUR LITTLE SHOP, IN CENTRAL BRACEBRIDGE, WITH HIGH TRAFFIC GOING BY THROUGHOUT THE BUSINESS DAY, IT WAS A MONSTROUS TASK GETTING THE LOCAL POPULATION TO POP THROUGH THAT FRONT DOOR. I USED TO SPEND ABOUT A HALF HOUR, ON DAYS THAT WERE GOING TO BE DRY, WEATHER WISE, LOADING STUFF OUT ON THE FRONT DRIVEWAY, IN THE HOPES OF ATTRACTING ATTENTION FROM THOSE SAME PASSERSBY. I USED TO KID THE MEMBERS OF THE BIRCH HOLLOW LIAR'S CLUB, THAT I COULD SIT A TOM THOMSON ART PANEL OUT FRONT, WITH A "FREE "SIGN ON IT, AND IT WOULD LAST FOR AN ENTIRE WEEK, WITHOUT ONE TOWN RESIDENT CHECKING IT OUT. AS A LONG TIME CITIZEN OF BRACEBRIDGE, I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY AREA FOLKS REFUSED TO CHECK US OUT. HAVING GROWN UP IN THIS TOWN, HEARING THE LOCALS TALK ABOUT "TOURIST TRAPS," REFERRING TO BUSINESSES THAT PRICE THEIR WARES HIGHER, BASICALLY TO FLEECE THE SUMMER VISITORS, I STARTED THINKING THIS MAY HAVE BEEN THE PROBLEM. I TRIED FOR YEARS, IN VAIN, TO PROVE TO THESE SAME PERMANENT RESIDENTS, THAT WE WERE A HOMETOWN BUSINESS, AND OUR PRICES WERE LOWER THAN COMPARABLE SHOPS IN ONTARIO.

THE ONLY WAY WE SURVIVED, WAS TO MAKE OUR SHOP INTO A SMALL CO-OP, WITH A FEW OTHER LIKE-MINDED ANTIQUE DEALERS, AS WELL AS TAKING HUGE AMOUNTS OF CONSIGNMENT INVENTORY, THAT GOT US THROUGH THE RECESSION OF THE EARLY 1990'S. IT WASN'T MY PREFERENCE, BECAUSE I HATED HAVING OTHER PEOPLE CONTROLLING MY DAY TO DAY BUSINESS; BUT IT WAS THE ONLY WAY TO SURVIVE TOUGH ECONOMIC TIMES, AND A SUMMER SEASON ECONOMY. IT WAS A LOT OF WORK. I WAS WORKING FOR THEM, AND IF OUR SALES WEREN'T SHOWING A GOOD RETURN, SUCH THAN CONSIGNERS WEREN'T HAPPY WITH THEIR PROFITS, WE COULD HAVE LOST IT ALL TO A COMPETITOR. THIS WAS A TRICKY BALANCE, AND SUZANNE AND I HAD TO BE VERY FOCUSED ON MAKING WEEKLY IMPROVEMENTS, TO SHOWCASE THESE IMPORTANT CONSIGNMENT PIECES. WE ALSO HAD TO BALANCE RELATIONS WITH OTHER VENDORS WE RENTED SPACE, AND IT BROUGHT ON SOME PROBLEMS, EVEN IN THE FIRST YEAR. AN ORIGINAL PARTNER GOT IN A SNIT, BECAUSE OF SOMETHING RELATED TO LOCAL NEWSPAPERS, OF WHICH HE AND I WERE ALSO EMPLOYED AT THE TIME. WHEN I WENT TO THE COMPETITION NEWSPAPER, IN ORDER TO FEED MY FAMILY, IT DESTROYED THE ANTIQUE SHOP PARTNERSHIP. SO WE TOOK ANOTHER PARTNER, SHARING THE RETAIL SPACE. WHEN HE LEFT, WELL, WE GOT ANOTHER. WHEN SHE LEFT, I SAID TO SUZANNE, THIS SHOP IS NOW OURS! NO SOONER HAD I SPOKEN THOSE WORDS, THAN I WAS OFFERED AN IMPORTANT PUBLIC RELATIONS POSITION I COULDN'T AFFORD TO TURN DOWN. MY LAST WORDS OUT THAT DOOR, AFTER WEEKS OF DISMANTLING, WERE "NEVER AGAIN."

IF I WAS GOING TO GET INVOLVED IN RETAIL AGAIN, I MOST CERTAINLY WOULD JOIN THE RANKS OF VENDORS IN ONE OF THE LARGE ANTIQUE MALLS……BECAUSE THEY MAKE PERFECT SENSE, TO FOLKS LIKE US…..WHO LOVE THE PROFESSION, ENJOY THE ANTIQUE HUNT, BUT DON'T WANT TO STAND IN A SHOP EVERY DAY HOPING AGAINST HOPE, SOMEONE WILL COME IN AND BUY SOMETHING…….TO COVER THE COSTS AND PUT A MODEST SUPPER ON THE OLD HARVEST TABLE. WE ENJOY GOING TO ANTIQUE MALLS BECAUSE WE GET A GOOD LONG WALK, FOR EXERCISE, CLIMATE CONTROL, AND AN ABSOLUTELY HUGE INVENTORY TO PERUSE. I WILL ALWAYS ADORE HOLE-IN-THE-WALL SHOPS, AND WE VISIT THEM IN OUR REGION FREQUENTLY. WHEN SUZANNE RETIRES, WE DON'T WANT TO SHUT OURSELVES INTO A MAIN STREET BOX, AS A REWARD FOR ALL THOSE YEARS ON THE JOB. THE ONLY TIME I'VE EVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE ANTIQUE BUSINESS, WAS DURING THE "SHOP" YEARS, WITH THOSE TITHES TO EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE. I CAN'T LIVE WITH THAT NOW. I PREFER WORKING AT THIS TRADE WITHOUT FETTERS OR TETHERS, AND WE'VE PROVEN WE CAN USE A VARIETY OF VENUES, AND SPECIAL EVENTS, TO SUCCESSFULLY SELL WHAT WE COLLECT OUT ON THE HUSTINGS.

ONE OF THE THINGS I DREADED, MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE, WHEN WE HAD THE STOREFRONT, WAS THE PARADE OF APPRAISAL SEEKERS. NOW WHAT MAY SEEM A WEE BIT CONTRADICTORY, IS THAT THE BENEFIT OF A MAIN STREET, ACCESSIBLE BUSINESS, IS THIS PARADE OF FOLKS LOOKING TO SELL THEIR ANTIQUE WARES. SHOULD HAVE BEEN. IT WASN'T. IN FACT, IT WAS A NUTTER PARADE NINETY PERCENT OF THE TIME. MY BOYS NOW WATCH A REALITY SHOW ABOUT PAWN SHOPS, ALMOST EVERY NIGHT, AND THEY HOWL WITH LAUGHTER AT SOME OF THE CRAZY STUFF THAT HAPPENS IN THOSE CITY BUSINESSES. WELL, AT THE TIME WE WERE RUNNING OUR SMALL ANTIQUE SHOP, THERE WERE NO PAWN OR HOCK SHOPS IN OUR REGION. SO, WE FILLED IN THE VOID. SO WE HAD TO DEAL WITH PEOPLE WHO ARRIVED AT OUR SHOP WITH STEREOS, TELEVISIONS, MANY PAINTINGS ON VELVET, NEW FURNITURE, AND EVEN NEW POTS AND PANS. QUITE A FEW OF THESE PEOPLE DID NOT REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THE WORD "ANTIQUE" MEANT, SO THEY ASSUMED, BY WHAT WE HAD OUTSIDE AS A DISPLAY, THAT WE PROBABLY ALSO SOLD SLIGHTLY USED CLOTHING, NEW BOOKS, CAR PARTS, AND CAMPING GEAR. CRIPES, I HATED TO SEE THESE PEOPLE COMING DOWN THE STAIRS WITH EVERYTHING FROM BABY SWINGS AND CRADLES, TO HUGE CABINET STEREOS NO MORE THAN TEN YEARS OLD. SOME OF THESE SELLERS COULD GET NASTY, WHEN I REFUSED TO BUY WHAT THEY THOUGHT WAS PRECIOUS. I HAD MANY OTHERS WHO BROUGHT IN ITEMS THAT WERE ABSOLUTE JUNK, AND FIGURED I'D HAND OVER THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS, FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF OWNING…..WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO THE LANDFILL SITE.

I REMEMBER ONE YOUNG MAN COMING DOWN TO MY COUNTER, WITH A LARGE FRAMED, BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOGRAPH, OF AN EARLY 1900'S BICYCLE CLUB. IT WAS A NICE COMBINATION PIECE, BECAUSE THE FRAME WAS PARTICULARLY ATTRACTIVE, AND THE PHOTOGRAPH WAS OF A POPULAR SUBJECT FOR BIKE COLLECTORS…..AND THOSE INTERESTED IN THE HISTORY OF TORONTO. THE PROBLEM OF BEING AWAKENED FROM THE SLUMBER OF SLOW BUSINESS, AND BEING THRUST INTO THE ROLE AS APPRAISER, ALL OF A SUDDEN, IS THAT I WOULD FORGET TO ASK WHAT THE APPRAISAL WAS FOR. THIS CAN CREATE A STINKER OF A PROBLEM. I WOULD NORMALLY ASK IF THE APPRAISAL WAS FOR INSURANCE PURPOSES, (OF WHICH I WAS ONLY QUALIFIED FOR MUSKOKA HERITAGE ITEMS), PERSONAL INTEREST (SUCH AS IF IT WAS A FAMILY HEIRLOOM, NOT FOR SALE) OR ONE FOR ME TO OFFER IN THE EVENT THE ITEM(S) IS FOR SALE. SO I'D OFFER A PRICE I THOUGHT IT WOULD SELL FOR IN A LARGER SHOP, IN A MORE DYNAMIC MARKETPLACE. IT'S WHAT THE ANTIQUE ROAD SHOW-TYPE EVENTS OFFER, TO CLIENTS, BY SUGGESTING THE PRICE A PIECE MIGHT SELL FOR, IF PLACED "AT AUCTION." WELL, IN MUSKOKA, YOU JUST COULDN'T DO THAT, BECAUSE THE AUCTIONS WERE ALL SIMPLE, COUNTRY, ESTATE AUCTIONS, WHERE ONE DIDN'T OFTEN FIND MING VASES OR GROUP OF SEVEN ORIGINALS. SO ON THIS VINTAGE PHOTOGRAPH OF THE CYLCE CLUB, I OFFERED A MARKET VALUE APPRAISAL OF TWO HUNDRED BUCKS. WELL THAT DIDN'T PLEASE HIM. IT'S AS IF I'D INSULTED HIM, BY OFFERING SUCH A LOW AMOUNT.

I LOVE WHEN, IN SUCH A SITUATION, THE CUSTOMER TRIES TO APPEAL THE DECISION, LIKE IT'S A COURT RULING OR SOMETHING. "I WAS OFFERED $200 FOR THE FRAME ALONE," HE SHOT BACK. I SAID, (AS WAS MY TRADEMARK IN THESE SITUATIONS), "YOU SHOULD HAVE TAKEN IT." FOR WHATEVER REASON, THE GUY JUST WOULDN'T LET GO OF THIS REALITY, I WOULDN'T PAY HIM FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR THE PICTURE AND FRAME. I TRIED TO EXPLAIN, THAT EVEN IF I WAS TO MAKE AN OFFER ON THE FRAMED PHOTOGRAPH, IT WOULD BE A QUARTER OF WHAT I HAD APPRAISED IT AT ORIGINALLY. WELL THAT BLEW HIS MIND. FROM THAT POINT ON, HE DECIDED TO EDUCATE ME IN THE ANTIQUE BUSINESS. IN FACT, HE EVEN PHONED ME AT HOME, LATER THAN SAME EVENING, LOOKING FOR ME TO "UP" THE PRICE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT HE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND ABOUT OUR CONVERSATION, BUT FORTUNATELY THE SOUND OF THE RECEIVER BOUNCING OFF THE PHONE CRADLE, PUT THE EMPHASIS WHERE WORDS OBVIOUSLY DIDN'T.

I USED TO LOVE THE TOOLS WHO WOULD COME IN WITH SOME ARTICLES, DUMP THEM ON MY DESK, LOOK AT ME AS IF I SHOULD JUMP TO ATTENTION, KISS THEM ON THEIR OUTSTRETCHED HAND, AND PASS AS MUCH FOLDING MONEY AS I COULD FROM MY CASH BOX. ONE LADY, WHO I DIDN'T LIKE FROM OTHER PERSONAL ENCOUNTERS, CAME IN TO THE SHOP WITH A BIG BOX OF OLD BOOKS. SHE BUTTED IN AHEAD OF ANOTHER CUSTOMER I WAS TALKING TO, AT THE TIME, AND PROCEEDED TO UNLOAD EVERY SINGLE BOOK ONTO THE COUNTER. SHE DID HER THING, PUT THE BOX ON THE FLOOR, AND THEN STOOD THERE WITH HER ARMS FOLDED, WITH A "WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR" LOOK ON HER WRINKLED LITTLE FACE. IT WAS A COLLECTION OF CANADIANA, AND I KNEW WHAT THEY WERE WORTH. BUT I DIDN'T WANT THEM, AS I WASN'T SELLING ENOUGH CANADIAN HISTORY, AT THAT POINT, TO BUY MYSELF TWO COFFEES A WEEK, LET ALONE A COMPANION DONUT. SHE DEMANDED THAT I TELL HER WHAT THEY WERE WORTH. NOT WANTING TO EMBARRASS MYSELF, OR THE CUSTOMERS IN LINE, OR MY WIFE HIDING BEHIND THE COUNTER, I GAVE HER WHAT THE SHOP PRICE WOULD BE…..ONCE AGAIN, IN A WIDER, MORE POPULATED MARKET AREA. NOT MUSKOKA. SHE REARED BACK, AS IF I'D SPIT ON HER BOOKS, COMPLAINED THAT I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT, LOADED THEM QUICKLY INTO THE BOX, AND MARCHED OUT OF THE STORE……, MUMBLING ABOUT NEVER, EVER COMING BACK INTO MY SHOP. ACTUALLY, I WOULD HAVE LIKED THAT IN WRITING, BECAUSE SHE DID MAKE ONE OTHER APPEARANCE LATER ON, THAT ENDED ABOUT THE SAME WAY.

THERE WAS ANOTHER JERK, WHO THOUGHT HE WAS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT RARE BOOK DEALER IN THE UNIVERSE. BUT HE WAS ALSO THE CHEAPEST PERSON, ALSO IN THE UNIVERSE. BESIDES THAT, HE HAD A WEASLE DEMEANOR I FOUND OFFENSIVE RIGHT OFF THE BAT. HE'D COME IN WITH HIS SISTER, WHO WAS A WHINER, AND THE TWO OF THEM WOULD SPEND AN HOUR IN THE SHOP, LOAD UP MY COUNTER SO THAT I COULDN'T TAKE ANOTHER TRANSACTION, WITHOUT COMING AROUND THE COUNTER, AND THEN ARRIVING LIKE A TWO HEADED WEASLE-SNAKE, AND SAY, IN A NASAL UNITY, "NOW, LET'S NEGOTIATE ON THESE PRICES, WHICH ARE REALLY HIGH." PART OF THE PROBLEM, I IDENTIFIED A NUMBER OF BLOGS BACK, IS THAT I'M GENERALLY IMPATIENT AS A SHOP CLERK. I'M ALSO A FORMER HOCKEY PLAYER, WHO LOVED TO FIGHT. SO IT TOOK EVERYTHING IN MY HEART AND MIND, LIKE A NINJA, TO CONTROL MY EMOTIONS IN THESE ONE-SIDE HAGGLING EVENTS. I WANTED TO GRAB THAT GUY, PULL HIS SWEATER OVER HIS HEAD, AND START HITTING HIM WITH ONE OF THE BOOKS HE DUMPED ON MY DESK. SERENITY NOW. SO I'D SIT THERE, WITH SMOKE COMING OUT OF MY EARS, AND PLAY THE GAME. I'D HONESTLY GET TO THE POINT WHERE, JUST TO GET RID OF HIM, AND HIS PERSNICKETY SISTER, THAT I'D EVEN THROW-IN A KIDNEY, IF THEY'D JUST LEAVE. I DON'T SHOP LIKE THIS, AND I WOULD NEVER BE SO RUDE, AS TO PLACE ITEMS I INTENDED TO PURCHASE, AND THEN BROW BEAT THE SHOP CLERK, LOOKING FOR A BETTER DEAL.

ANOTHER CUSTOMER USED TO SHOW UP AND DO SOMEWHAT THE SAME, BUT THE TRADEMARK LINE WAS, "WHAT'S YOUR BEST PRICE?" SUZANNE WOULD GET JUST AS MAD AS ME, AND FIRE BACK A PRICE, THAT WAS ABOUT TEN DOLLARS HIGHER THAN THE PRICE TAG. "WELL, YOU ASKED FOR MY BEST PRICE. AND THAT WOULD BE THE BEST!" I USED TO LIKE IT WHEN SUZANNE GOT RILED, BECAUSE SHE ALWAYS CAME DOWN HARD ON ME, FOR LOSING MY TEMPER.

THERE WAS ANOTHER OCCASION, WHEN THIS CHARMING ELDERLY GENTLEMAN, WITH HIS DAUGHTER, ARRIVED AT THE SALES DESK WITH A SIMILAR ARM LOAD OF OLD BOOKS AND FRAMED PICTURES. HE LOOKED A LITTLE WOBBLY, AND ASKED FOR A CHAIR. WELL SIR, HE SETTLED INTO THAT CHAIR, WIGGLED HIS ARSE AROUND FOR AWHILE, AND THEN, AS IF EBENEEZER SCROOGE HAD CRAWLED OUT OF A NEARBY "DICKENS," HE BEGAN BERATING ME, AS THE DUMBEST DEALER, AND MOST RIDICULOUSLY PRICED SHOP IN ALL OF CIVILIZATION. SHORT OF CALLING ME "A BUM," AND A "COMPLETE WASTE OF SKIN," HE MUMBLED MUCH MORE THAN I ACTUALLY UNDERSTAND. SUZANNE GRABBED MY ARM, AS IF TO SAY, "TED, HE'S AN OLD MAN. DON'T HURT HIM." BY GOLLY, IT WAS A CLOSE CALL. I STARTED TO FANTASIZE HOW I WAS GOING TO EJECT HIM FROM THE STORE. THERE WASN'T A "SCRUFF OF THE NECK" TO GRAB, ON THE SKINNY LITTLE FART, ALTHOUGH HIS DAUGHTER LOOKED LIKE SHE COULD BE FLUNG RATHER FAR. BEFORE YOU THINK ME CRUDE FOR THINKING THIS, I'M TELLING YOU, THIS IS A FAR MORE COMMONPLACE FANTASY AMONGST ANTIQUE DEALERS, THAN YOU MIGHT HAVE THOUGHT. THINK ABOUT THIS THE NEXT TIME YOU WANT TO LOW-BALL SOMETHING. LOOK AT OUR EYES. THAT'S WHERE YOU SEE THE INNER FIRE.

SO AFTER I EXPLAINED TO HIM THAT I'D SOONER DIE IN THE JAWS OF A GRIZZLY, THAN GIVE THEM AWAY AT HALF PRICE, I SENSED HE PICKED UP ON THE FACT HE WASN'T GOING TO GET EVERYTHING HE WANTED, PILED ASKEW ON MY SALES DESK. SO HE STARTED TO DIVIDED THE ITEMS, AND AFTER A LITTLE BIT MORE HAGGLING, AND MINOR BERATING, WE FOUND A SUITABLE PRICE TO GET HIM THE HELL OUT OF THE SHOP. SO HE AND HIS DAUGHTER, (I SUPPOSE IT COULD HAVE BEEN HIS MISTRESS) GRABBED UP THEIR PACKAGES AND HEADED FOR THE EXIT. OF COURSE, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN TOO MUCH TO ASK, THAT THE ITEMS BE TAKEN BACK TO WHERE THEY HAD BEEN FOUND, SO I COULD TEND THE CUSTOMER STANDING BEHIND. SO WHILE SUZANNE AND I WERE LETTING OFF A LITTLE BEHIND-THE-SCENES STEAM, SO AS NOT TO CARRY THIS MOOD ONTO THE NEXT IN LINE, THE CHAP BEHIND DOES PRETTY MUCH THE SAME THING. WHAT SHOCKED ME, WAS THAT THEY WEREN'T PICKING UP ON THIS "DANGER, DANGER" THING, I HAD TO BE EMITTING LIKE AN ALARM BELL. THE GUY DID THE SAME PITCH, MINUS THE PERSONAL INSULTS. WHICH SAVED HIS SCRAWNY ARSE, BECAUSE I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU, IT WAS A CLOSE CALL. SUZANNE IS GOOD AT CALMING ME DOWN.

THE ONE THAT BOTHERED ME THE MOST, WAS THE LADY WHO HAD PLACED A FIFTY DOLLAR DEPOSIT ON A HOOSIER CUPBOARD, WE HAD IN THE SHOP FROM A CONSIGNOR. IT WAS SIX MONTHS BEFORE THE PURCHASER CAME BACK TO THE STORE. AS SOON AS SHE WALKED INTO THE SHOP, I WAS DELIGHTED, BECAUSE SHE WOULD NOT RETURN MY PHONE CALLS. THE CONSIGNOR HAD BEEN MORE THAN PATIENT, AND THE OUTSTANDING AMOUNT WAS UPWARDS OF FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS. ORIGINAL HOOSIER CUPBOARDS WITH ALL THE GLASS BOTTLES AND LIDS, ARE DESIRABLE AND EXPENSIVE. SO THE LADY PILED A WHOLE BUNCH OF ITEMS ON MY DESK, SMILED AT ME, AND ASKED ME TO GIVE HER A TOTAL. I DID SO, AND THE AMOUNT CAME OUT TO FORTY-FIVE DOLLARS GIVE OR TAKE A DIME. SHE SMILED, BATTED HER EYES, AND SAID "YOU CAN TAKE THAT OUT OF THE DEPOSIT MONEY I PUT ON THE HOOSIER. I'VE DECIDED I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE IT," SHE SAID, SO SOFTLY AND YET DETERMINED. I COULD HEAR MY MARCHING HEARTBEAT COMING UP THROUGH MY THROAT. "I BEG YOUR PARDON, MAM," I ASKED. "WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU'RE NOT TAKING THE CABINET." "IT DOESN'T FIT MY DECORATING SCHEME NOW," SHE ANSWERED. "BUT THEN YOU DON'T GET YOUR DEPOSIT BACK. IT'S BEEN SIX MONTHS SINCE YOU'VE BEEN IN," I RESPONDED, TAPPING MY FINGERS LIKE A SNARE DRUMMER IN THE LOCAL CITIZENS BAND. "DO YOU MEAN YOU'RE KEEPING MY MONEY?" "YES," I QUALIFIED, THE LOOK OF DISFAVOR I'M SURE WAS NOW ETCHED ON MY FACE. "I'M GOING TO TELL MY LAWYER ON YOU," I THINK SHE SAID. I CONCURRED, SUGGESTING HOWEVER, THERE WOULD BE NO POINT, ON HER PART, BECAUSE THIS IS THE VERY NATURE OF "A NON-REFUNDABLE DEPOSIT," AND I POINTED OUT, THAT EVEN IF SHE DID PURSUE LEGAL RECOURSE, SHE WOULD HAVE TO SPEND THREE TIMES THE AMOUNT, TO GET BACK FIFTY. SO SHE CRIED, MADE ME FEEL LIKE A CAD, PUSHED THE ITEMS ON THE COUNTER TOWARD ME, SAYING, "I DON'T WANT THIS STUFF ANY MORE." WHAT SHE HAD TRIED WAS A RUSE. PLAIN AND SIMPLE. SHOW SOME GOOD WILL, BUYING THINGS FROM THE SHOP, AND THEN ASKING THAT A SIX MONTH OLD DEPOSIT, COVER THE PURCHASE PRICE. WHEN IN FACT, SHE BROKE A SALES AGREEMENT TO FINISH PAYING THE BALANCE OF THE HOOSEIR, WHICH WAS $500. I SIMPLY REFUSED TO TAKE DEPOSITS AFTER THIS. I'M PRETTY EASY TO DEAL WITH, MOST OF THE TIME, BUT THESE KIND OF VENDOR-CUSTOMER DISAGREEMENTS TOOK A LOT OF FUN OUT OF THE ANTIQUE BUSINESS……THAT HAD BEEN THE RELAXING BUSINESS I'D WANTED US TO RETIRE TO, HERE IN THE MUSKOKA HINTERLAND.

AS AN ANTIQUE DEALER, YOU LEARN HOW TO DEAL WITH HAGGLERS, KNOW-IT-ALLS, WEASELS, PRICE TAG FLICKERS, AND SHOPLIFTERS. I'LL TELL YOU MORE ABOUT SOME OF THOSE EXPERIENCES IN A COMING BLOG. BUT IT WAS THE FRONT LINE EXPERIENCE FOR ME, THAT DIDN'T FIT MY PERSONALITY. I BEGAN THE STOREFRONT ENTERPRISE, BEING VERY NAIVE ABOUT THE KIND OF SCENARIOS THAT COULD DEVELOP. SUZANNE WOULD OFTEN LECTURE ME ABOUT BEING TOO ACCOMMODATING, AND MUCH TOO FLEXIBLE WITH MY PRICING DISCOUNT, WHICH I ALWAYS GAVE TO CUSTOMERS I LIKED. THE WAY TO GET A BETTER PRICE FROM ME, MOST OF THE TIME, WAS TO BE KIND AT THE COUNTER. IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE, FOR THE RECORD, THAT THERE WERE ALWAYS MORE POLITE AND FRIENDLY CUSTOMERS THAN THE ANNOYING ONES, AND THAT FACT CERTAINLY SMOOTHED OUT THE DAY'S EVENTS. BUT IT WAS THIS STRESS-TEST ALONE, THAT PROVED TO ME, I WAS NOT CUT-OUT TO BE A FULL TIME CLERK. I LOVE HUNTING ANTIQUES AND COLLECTIBLES, AND IT'S NO HARDSHIP AT ALL TO REFINISH PIECES, AND I WILL ALWAYS VOLUNTEER TO HELP SUZANNE ON A SPECIAL FABRIC REPAIR PROJECT, SUCH AS WITH A QUILT. BUT I DETEST SOME OF THE UGLINESS THAT CAN HAPPEN AT THOSE SALES DESKS. SUZANNE, WITH A MUCH MORE EXTENSIVE BACKGROUND IN RETAIL SALES, AND SHOP MANAGEMENT, (BACK IN HER DAYS WITH THE FAMILY MARINA, AND THE LOCAL GOLF CLUB IN WINDERMERE) HAS AN EFFECTIVE WAY OF DEFLECTING CRITICISM, AND HOLDING THE LINE ON RIDICULOUS OFFERS. SHE USUALLY COMES OUT THE WINNER, UNLESS, LIKE ME, SHE JUST WANTS TO GET RID OF A NASTY PIECE OF WORK. AND THAT COULD GET YOU A DISCOUNT OR A NUDGE IN THE DIRECTION OF THE SHOP DOOR.

IT'S NOT THAT I AM TRYING TO DISCOURAGE FOLKS FROM OPENING ANTIQUE SHOPS IN THE FUTURE. BUT I ALSO DON'T SUBSCRIBE TO IGNORANCE AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR THE NITTY GRITTY OF THE WAY IT IS.

THANKS FOR JOINING TODAY'S BLOG. MORE TO COME.

Antique Adventures and a Cash Register

2012-02-01T17:32:00.001-08:00

GRAVENHURST'S RED PIANO DIDN'T SEE ITS SHADOW….IT'S GROUNDHOG DAY EXCEPT IN GRAVENHURST

RED PIANO DAY?

WEATHER HOBBYISTS AND SUNDRY OTHER TRADITIONALISTS, WATCHED WITH GREAT INTEREST, THE MUCH RESPECTED, ANNUAL PROGNOSTICATIONS OF WIARTON WILLY, AND Punxsutawney PHIL, OF GOBBLER'S KNOB, PENNSYLVANIA,……. AS THEY WERE BROUGHT OUT INTO THE FROSTY MORNING ENVIRONS. I HEARD SIX MORE WEEKS OF WINTER. THAT MIGHT BE NICE, CONSIDERING WE STILL HAVEN'T HAD AN ACTUAL CANADIAN WINTER YET.

IN GRAVENHURST, WE HAD OUR VERY OWN, "RED PIANO," AS A GROUNDHOG SUBSTITUTE (OTHER THAN MY OVERWEIGHT CAT, WHICH ON A MORNING WADDLE, ALSO DIDN'T SEE ITS SHADOW), WHICH MAY BE SEEN, AS THE REAL HARBINGER OF SOMETHING THAT COULD POSSIBLY HAPPEN, SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE. MAYBE. WE'RE NOT SURE. BUT YOU NEVER KNOW. ONE THING IS FOR SURE, IF YOU TOOK A FEW MOMENTS ON YOUR DRIVE-BY THIS MORNING, OR ON A MORNING STROLL, YOU WOULD NOT HAVE SEEN A "PIANO SHADOW." THE PIANO WAS STILL THERE. THUS, WELL, WE'RE NOT SURE, IN A LOCAL SENSE, WHAT THAT COULD MEAN OTHER THAN "STATUS QUO FOR ONE AND ALL." THAT'S SORT OF A REVELATION. NOT QUITE AS SOUGHT AFTER AS A GROUNDHOG'S SHADOW, BUT SOMETHING WITH A LOCAL SIGNIFICANCE.

MORE THAN A WEEK AGO, I REPORTED THAT THERE WAS A MOVE AFOOT TO REMOVE THE RED PIANO, NOW FRONTLESS AND BACKLESS THANKS TO WEATHER AND VANDALS, BUT ALAS, THE VACANT LOT, ON THE MAIN STREET, AS OF 8:30 A.M. ON THE OFFICIAL GROUNDHOG DAY, NOVEMBER 2ND, 2012, WAS OCCUPIED BY ONE LONELY, SOUL-LESS RED PIANO….WITHOUT EVEN THE DIGNITY OF A SHADOW. UNLESS IT WAS REMOVED, AND LIKE THE "CAT THAT CAME BACK," THE "RED WRECK" MAGICALLY RE-APPEARED ON THE PROMINENT MAIN STREET LOT.

THE PIANO, THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A BUSKER'S DELIGHT, ON THE MAIN STREET, DURING THE PAST SUMMER, WAS NEVER REALLY ANYTHING MORE THAN WISHFUL THINKING. BUSKERS DID GATHER, BUT ON THE OPPOSITE, SHADY SIDE OF THE MAIN STREET, THAT HAD THE NICE BENCH TO SIT ON. THE RED PIANO WAS BAKED BY THE SUN, AND SLOWLY DEMOLISHED BY RAIN, SNOW AND ANYTHING ELSE VANDALS COULD HIT IT WITH. ALL IN PLAIN VIEW OF THOSE WHO PASS BY, IN THIS BUSY TOWN.

AS WE READ ABOUT THE CHANGES COMING FOR THE MAIN STREET BUSINESS COMMUNITY, AND PROMISES OF A BETTER TOMORROW, THERE ARE A FEW TASKS THAT NEED TO BE LOOKED AFTER TODAY…..BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, THE PROGNOSTICATORS ARE LEANING TOWARD STATUS QUO, AS THE MOST LIKELY OUTCOME. IF YOU'RE TRYING TO REVITALIZE THE MAIN STREET BUSINESS COMMUNITY, ISN'T IT JUST RESPONSIBLE STEWARDSHIP, TO TAKE CARE OF A PREVAILING EYESORE…..THAT HAS BEEN AN EYESORE FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS. THERE ARE MANY CONTRADICTIONS AND HALF INTERESTS ALREADY SHOWING THROUGH THE FACADE, OF WHAT REVITALIZATION IS SUPPOSED TO MEAN. THE REAL START HERE, IN THIS NEW YEAR, IS TO HAVE THAT RED PIANO REMOVED. IF IT REMAINS, IT WILL BE A MONUMENT TO "ALL TALK AND NO ACTION." THE LONGER IT STAYS IN THAT LOCATION, THE LESS SERIOUS THE TOWN IS ABOUT MAIN STREET RENEWAL. SO IT REALLY IS A PROGNOSTICATOR AFTER ALL. CITIZENS SHOULD MAKE A POINT OF LETTING THEIR FEELINGS BE KNOWN ABOUT THIS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO ATTENDED THE MOST RECENT MEETING…..AND WERE NOT IMPRESSED ABOUT THE SHORTFALL OF PROGRESS MADE OVER THE PAST YEAR……SINCE THE LAST TIME PROMISES WERE MADE. IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO SPEND GRANT MONEY TO MAKE PHILOSOPHICAL IMPROVEMENTS, THAT LOOK GOOD ON PAPER, BUT WITHER IN REALITY. THE PIANO IS A SYMBOL OF MALAISE, AND LACK OF FOLLOW-THROUGH. THE LONGER IT STAYS ON THAT LOT, THE LESS ENTHUSIASTIC WE ARE ABOUT THE FULFILLMENT OF ACTION-PLANS FOR REVITALIZATION. THE PROOF, YOU MIGHT SAY, IS IN THE PIANO.

I HOPE IT'S GONE SOON. I WILL BE GLAD TO REPORT ON THIS, IF AND WHEN, THE SITUATION IS FINALLY RESOLVED.

BUT HAPPY GROUNDHOG DAY ANYWAY.

GROUNDHOG DAY AT BIRCH HOLLOW

AS THE WEATHER PATTERNS OF THE WORLD ARE PERPLEXING US ALL, AND ALARMING ENVIRONMENTALISTS ABOUT FUTURE CLIMATE CHANGE, MOST OF US JUST TAKE IT AS OUR WORLD'S NEW NORMAL, AND GET ON WITH THE DAY. I WON'T DENY MY OWN ANXIETY TODAY, BECAUSE FRANKLY, I THINK WE ARE FOOLS, NOT TO BE GENUINELY WORRIED ABOUT THE WELFARE OF THE GENERATIONS TO COME; OUR FAMILY MEMBERS. EVEN IN THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE. IT'S MOST CONVENIENT, IN OUR HECTIC LIVES, TO JUST SWITCH OFF THE NEWS BECAUSE IT WEIGHS EVERYTHING ELSE DOWN LIKE AN INVISIBLE ANCHOR. WE'VE BECOME PRETTY GOOD, MOST OF THE TIME, LOOKING THE OTHER WAY, AND GRAVITATING TOWARD MORE CONVENIENT TRUTHS, THAN THOSE PREVAILING EVERY DAY OF OUR LIVES.

THERE'S NOT TOO MUCH AVERAGE CITIZENS CAN DO TO CHANGE THE COURSE OF THE WORLD AT PRESENT. IT HAS BEEN REVEALED BY MANY EXPERTS IN THE FIELD, THAT IT IS ALREADY TOO LATE, AND THAT LEAVES US IN THE POSITION OF DOING WHAT WE CAN, BUT ALWAYS KNOWING IT'S NOT ENOUGH. TO THINK OF BEING FORCED TO SHARE THIS DECLINE, THAT WE HAVE INSPIRED, IS HARD TO TAKE. REGARDLESS OF HOW INNOCENT WE MAY FEEL WE ARE. TRYING TO GET A FOOT HOLD ON THIS SLIPPERY SLOPE, WILL BECOME INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT THE WAY WE ARE PROGRESSING IN POLLUTION, AND DIGRESSING IN THE WAYS TO STOP IT. THE POLITICAL WILL TO SAVE THE PLANET. WHERE IS IT. NOT IN CANADA. THEN WHERE?

I ALWAYS LOOKED FORWARD TO GROUND HOG DAY WHEN I WAS A KID. I LOVED BEING OUTDOORS THEN, AND IT'S PRETTY MUCH THE SAME TODAY. TODAY HOWEVER, I SEE CONSEQUENCES OF THE WAY WE HAVE LIVED. AND THE WAY WE ARE HEADED. AS AN OPTIMIST. WELL, I'M A FAILED ONE. IN THIS REGARD, AT LEAST.

WHAT NOT TO DO WITH A FIVE HUNDRED POUND CASH REGISTER -

THE CONVERSATION PIECE AT BIRCH HOLLOW ANTIQUES THAT ALMOST KILLED A GUY

DON'T KID YOURSELF. ANTIQUE DEALERS HAVE A LITTLE CARNEY IN THEM. A SMIDGEON OF THE CARNIVAL DNA. THE THREE RING CIRCUS PIZZAZ. ADVOCATES OF THE OCCASIONAL RAZZLE DAZZLE, TO SHOWCASE THEIR TREASURES. IF I HAD THE SKELETON OR THE SHRUNKEN HEAD I'VE BEEN HUNTING FOR AGES, I'D HAVE A GREAT GRAPHIC TO ACCOMPANY THIS BLOG…..AND MAYBE I'D MAKE OUR BOYS A GENEROUS OFFER, TO SHOWCASE IT IN THEIR GRAVENHURST MUSIC SHOP. THROW A COWBOY HAT ON THE SKELETON. PUT A SMALL ONE ON THE SHRUNKEN HEAD, AND NEXT THING YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LINE-UP OF GAWKERS TAKING A GANDER. WE DEALERS LIKE TO IMPRESS OUR CLIENTELE. IT'S AN AN ODD AND OLD PASSION, YOU SEE, TO "OUT-WOW" THE COMPETITION, WITH THE BEST OF THE BEST. MOSTLY, IT'S A SHOW OF "A" QUALITY ANTIQUES. MING VASES AND PAINTINGS BY THE MASTERS. SOMETIMES IT CAN GET KIND OF WEIRD, THIS ATTEMPT TO GET THE ULTIMATE SHOW-STOPPER. I'VE HAD A FEW INTERESTING PIECES OVER THE YEARS, THAT PEAKED CUSTOMERS' CURIOSITY, BUT ONE STICKS IN MY MIND. IT WAS A DANDY. NOT WEIRD. BUT A GREAT LOCAL ANTIQUE TO PLAY WITH.

A LOCAL BUSINESSMAN CAME IN ONE DAY, WITH A COUPLE OF PHOTOGRAPHS OF A LARGE VINTAGE PIECE, HE WANTED TO SELL.TO ME SPECIFICALLY, BECAUSE I HAD THE SPACE IT REQUIRED, AND AS HE POINTED OUT, "A GOOD CEMENT FLOOR," FOR IT TO SIT ON. THAT PEAKED MY CURIOSITY. IT WAS A HUGE CASH REGISTER, WHICH I BELIEVE WAS A NATIONAL (CAN'T BE SURE NOW), THAT WAS ATTACHED TO A SUBSTANTIAL WOODEN CABINET, THAT LOOKED LIKE A VICTROLA BASE. THERE WERE DRAWERS IN THE FRONT OF THE CABINET, AND WHEN YOU HIT A CERTAIN COMBINATION OF KEYS, THE APPROPRIATE ONE OPENED. IT WAS A MAGNIFICENT PIECE, AND I BOUGHT IT SIGHT-UNSEEN. WHEN IT WAS DELIVERED, ON A TROLLEY, I WAS SPEECHLESS. I SAT IT BESIDE MY SALES DESK, AND AS FAR AS I WAS CONCERNED, IT WAS THE MOST INTERESTING ANTIQUE PIECE I HAD OWNED, TO THAT POINT IN MY CAREER AS A DEALER.

BARRY MARSHALL, AND HIS ASSISTANT RON YEOMAN, HAD MOVED IT WITHOUT ANY FUSS WHATSOEVER, DOWN THE SINGLE FLIGHT OF STAIRS IN THE SHOP, AND POSITIONED IT PERFECTLY FOR MAXIMUM VISIBILITY. EVEN FROM THE TOP OF THE STAIRS, CUSTOMERS COULD SEE THE HUGE OAK AND BRASS CASH REGISTER. BARRY DID WARN ME, THAT IT WOULD TAKE A TROLLY, AND SEVERAL WEIGHT-LIFTERS TO GET IT OUT OF THE BASEMENT, IF AND WHEN IT SOLD. HE SHOWED ME HOW IT ALL WORKED, AND HOW EACH OF THE DRAWERS HAD A DIFFERENT CODE, AND A BELL BEFORE IT OPENED. ONE OF THE TRICKS, WAS TO AVOID GETTING HIT IN THE GROIN AREA, WHEN THAT PARTICULAR DRAWER SHOT-OUT OF THE MAIN CABINET. I SUPPOSE QUITE A FEW LADS FOUND OUT THE HARD WAY, WHY IT WAS NECESSARY TO STAND BACK A TAD, WHEN PLAYING WITH THOSE DRAWERS. IT HAPPENED TO A COUPLE OF MEMBERS OF THE BIRCH HOLLOW "LIAR'S CLUB," (LITERARY AND POLITICAL DEBATING SOCIETY) EVEN AFTER I WARNED THEM TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT MID-ZONE DRAWER OPENINGS. THE DRAWERS ONCE HELD INVOICES, AND THEY WERE LIKE A VERTICAL FILING CABINET.

WHAT WAS SPECTACULAR ABOUT THIS PIECE, WAS ITS ALMOST PRISTINE CONDITION. IT WORKED LIKE A CHARM. IT WAS A LATE 1900'S CASH REGISTER, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, AND IT JUST COMMANDED PEOPLE TO TAP AT IT, WHILE WAITING FOR ME TO RING UP A PURCHASE AT THE SALES COUNTER. NO I DIDN'T USE IT. I HAD AN OLD TIN BOX WITH A RECEIPT BOOK. KIDS AND THEIR PARENTS SPENT SOME QUALITY TIME, PLAYING WITH THAT AMAZING TECHNOLOGY OF YESTERYEAR. FOR A LONG TIME I DIDN'T WANT TO SELL IT. I DON'T REMEMBER PRECISELY WHAT I PAID FOR IT, BUT IT HAD BEEN A BARGAIN, I CAN TELL YOU THAT MUCH. BUT THEN, AS USUALLY HAPPENS IN THIS CRAZY BUSINESS, WE WENT THROUGH A ROUGH PATCH, AND IT SIMPLY BECAME NECESSARY TO OFFER IT FOR SALE. I STARTED HIGH. AND THAT'S EXACTLY THE PRICE IT SOLD FOR, AND ALTHOUGH IT TOOK ABOUT SIX MONTHS TO PAY OFF, IT HAD BEEN A PROFITABLE PURCHASE ON MY PART.

SUZANNE WASN'T SURE I'D MAKE A DIME OFF IT, BUT I PROVED HER WRONG. I LOVE DOING THAT. BESIDES, AS DEALERS, WE ARE WELL AWARE, SHOW-STOPPER PIECES, CAN ACTUALLY HELP SELL OTHER THINGS. POTENTIAL BUYERS WILL FEEL THAT ANYONE WHO WOULD HAVE A WONDERFUL PIECE LIKE THE CASH REGISTER, OBVIOUSLY KNOWS ANTIQUES VERY WELL. I'M NOT EVEN SURE, ANY MORE, WHAT THE ASKING PRICE WAS, BUT I'M PRETTY CONFIDENT IT WENT FOR ABOUT TWELVE HUNDRED DOLLARS, WHICH GAVE ME A SOLID MARK-UP FROM THE PURCHASE PRICE.

THE CASH REGISTER HAD ONCE BEEN OWNED BY BRACEBRIDGE'S MUSKOKA GARAGE, ON MANITOBA STREET, AND AS SOON AS MY FATHER-IN-LAW, NORM STRIPP, CAME INTO THE SHOP, HE FELL STRANGELY SILENT, FOR HIM, SEEING WHAT HE HAD LEANED-ON FOR SO MANY YEARS, IN THE "OLD DAYS" HANGING AROUND THE FORMER GARAGE. HE COULDN'T BELIEVE IT WAS STILL IN ONE PIECE. HE HADN'T SEEN IT IN ABOUT FORTY OR SO YEARS, AND ASSUMED IT WAS LONG GONE. SO WHEN HE WAS PLAYING WITH THE KEYS, AND BEFORE I COULD WARN HIM ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES, HE PUNCHED THE KEYS, DID A LITTLE DANCE BACK, AND WATCHED THE DRAWER COME WHIPPING OUT, GROIN-HIGH. "YOU SEE, I REMEMBER IT DOING THAT," HE SMIRKED. "I LOT OF GUYS GOT TAKEN IN MY THAT GAG, LET ME TELL YOU. MORE THAN A FEW GOT THEIR OWN BELLS RUNG."

I DON'T THINK THERE HAS BEEN ANOTHER PIECE IN OUR COLLECTION, THAT ATTRACTED SO MUCH ATTENTION, FOR THE YEAR OR SO WE OWNED THE CASH REGISTER. I WAS SAD TO SEE IT GO, TO BE HONEST, BUT THE MONEY WAS NICE TOO. THE ONLY GLITCH WAS ITS REMOVAL. WHEN THE YOUNG MAN CAME TO PICK UP THE CASH REGISTER, HE BROUGHT AN ELDERLY GERMAN CHAP, AND DID I MENTION THE GLOVES. THEY DID HAVE PROTECTIVE GLOVES. NOTHING ELSE. NO WEIGHT-LIFTERS, NO CART, AND NO SUITABLE VEHICLE, IF AND WHEN WE DID ACTUALLY RAISE IT FROM THE BASEMENT.

BUT WHAT THEY DID HAVE ON THEIR SIDE, OR SO THEY THOUGHT, WAS THAT KIND OF MISGUIDED, TESTOSTERONE DRIVEN, "MANLY MAN" APPROACH, BELIEVING THEY COULD RAISE THIS TITANIC PIECE UP THOSE STAIRS, BY WILLPOWER ALONE. LOTS OF BLUSTER AND BACK SLAPPING, AND DISPLAYS OF MUSCLES, SOME A LITTLE INVERTED FROM THE DAYS WHEN THEY FANCIED KICKING SAND IN THE FACES OF WEAKLINGS. GADS, I KNEW WE WERE SCREWED THE MOMENT I SAW ALF AND RALPH (FROM GREEN ACRES), PLANNING TO DEAD-LIFT THE UNIT UP THE STAIRS. A FEW OF THE LIAR'S CLUB, IN THE SHOP THAT MORNING, EXPRESSED GRAVE CONCERN ABOUT THE MAGNITUDE OF THE PROJECT, AND THAT BEING TOP-HEAVY, WAS GOING TO MAKE IT AS AWKWARD AS IT WAS OUTRAGEOUSLY HEAVY. THE GERMAN FELLOW WAS VERY ADAMANT THAT IT COULD BE DONE BY OLD FASHIONED "GUMPTION," AND GOD WILLING, PROPORTIONAL LEVERAGE. OKAY. WELL, IT WAS AFTER ALL, THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO REMOVE THE UNIT FROM THE STORE. THEY DIDN'T PAY ME TO HAUL IT AWAY. SO I LET THEM CALL THE SHOTS.

NOW IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND A COUPLE OF DETAILS THAT WILL BETTER ILLUSTRATE THE SCENE, UNFOLDING HERE, IN THIS MANITOBA STREET BASEMENT-SHOP. IT WAS ABOUT NOON, ON A SATURDAY. ONE OF OUR BUSY DAYS. WE HAD ABOUT TWENTY CUSTOMERS IN THE SHOP AT THE TIME, SO I WASN'T ABLE TO DEVOTE MY TIME TO JUST ONE PROJECT. SO THE LIAR'S CLUB CRONIES, HELPED THE TWOSOME SLIDE THE CASH REGISTER THE LENGTH OF THE ROOM, UP TO THE BASE OF THE STAIRS. AT THE POINT THEY WERE SETTING ABOUT TO LIFT IT UP ONTO THE FIRST STAIR, IN THE PROGRESSION OF ABOUT TWELVE STEPS, I CAME AROUND THE COUNTER TO HELP OUT. ONE MUST ALSO APPRECIATE, THE CASH REGISTER WAS ABOUT TEN INCHES LESS THAN THE WIDE OF THE ACTUAL STAIRCASE. THIS MEANT ABOUT FIVE INCHES ON EACH SIDE TO GET OUR HANDS IN TO GUIDE IT UP THE STAIRS. THIS SHOULD HAVE CAUSED INITIAL CONCERN, BUT THE ELDER FELLOW WAS LATE FOR WORK, AND DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF PATIENCE FOR THE JOB AT HAND. FAIR ENOUGH.

SO THE IDEA WAS THIS. THE GERMAN BLOKE, WAS AT THE FRONT, WITH THE STAIRS AT HIS BACK. NOW THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO HUMAN WAY, TO DEAD LIFT THE CASH REGISTER IN THIS FASHION. WHEN WE TRIED TO POINT THIS OUT, THE CO-ORDINATOR OF THE JUMBO LIFT, SHOT BACK, "JUST PUSH LADS, PUSH!" I THOUGHT LIFT WAS THE WORD WE WERE WAITING FOR, NOT PUSH. SO BY JESUS, WE TRIED OUR BEST, FROM THE BACK SIDE, TO GET THAT UNIT UP ON THE FIRST STAIR. WE DID IT! WE PUSHED. AND PUSHED. IT WAS A MAGNIFICENT SHOW OF STRENGTH AND ENDURANCE. HERE'S A POINT AS WELL. WITH A TROLLY, WE WOULD HAVE BEEN UP THE STAIRS, AND OUT THE DOOR, IN THE SAME TIME IT TOOK US TO MAKE IT UP TO THE FIRST STEP. THIS IS WHEN THINGS GOT INTERESTING. WE GOT TO A POINT WITH THE LEAN OF THE UNIT, AS TOP HEAVY AS A CAR ON STILTS, THAT IT SIMPLY BECAME TOO MUCH FOR THE OLDTIMER ON THE STAIRS. GRADUALLY, THE GUY LOST HIS ABILITY TO KEEP IT UPRIGHT. WE HAD ALMOST NO SAY IN THE MATTER, BECAUSE THERE WAS LITTLE WAY OF BALANCING THE PIECE ONCE IT PASSED THE THRESHOLD, GRAVITY DOING THE REST.

I'D NEVER SEEN A GROWN MAN CRY LIKE THAT BEFORE. IT CAME OVER GRADUALLY, SO THERE WASN'T A BIG BANG OR ANYTHING. BUT THE FULL WEIGHT OF THE CASH REGISTER LANDED IN HIS CROTCH. NOT JUST THAT, BUT APPARENTLY HE WAS HITTING THE RIGHT BUTTONS, BECAUSE THE DRAWERS WERE SMASHING HIS LEGS LIKE HAMMERS. I THOUGHT THE GUY'S HEAD WAS GOING TO EXPLODE. SO WHAT TO DO NOW. THERE WAS NO MORE THAN FIVE INCHES OF CLEARANCE ON EACH SIDE, TO TRY AND GRAB THE FRONT OF THE WOODEN BASE. MOST OF US COULDN'T GET OUR ARMS IN FAR ENOUGH TO GRAB ANYTHING. THIS GUY, BENEATH THE UNIT, WAS SINGING LIKE A CANARY, AND IT WASN'T PRETTY. IT WAS GOOD HE'D ALREADY RAISED A FAMILY, BECAUSE HE WAS DEFINITELY GETTING A CHEAP NEUTERING. SO THEN ADD ON, THE FACT, THAT I'VE GOT ABOUT TWENTY PEOPLE WHO WANT TO EXIT THE SHOP, AND TWO KIDS WHO WERE COMPLAINING THEY HAD TO PEE, AND THIS GERMAN GENTLEMAN GETTING CRUSHED ON THE STAIRS. NOW WHEN THE GUY WAS YELLING AT US, IT WAS AS IF HE'D SUCKED BACK A WHACK OF HELIUM, AND IT TOOK US A LOT OF GUMPTION, AS HE SAID EARLIER, TO AVOID LAUGHING ABOUT THE STAIR IMPASSE.

SO HERE WAS THE EMERGENCY PLAN. WE NEEDED TO GET ONE OF THE LIAR'S CLUB MEMBERS, OVER THAT REGISTER, AND THE GUY TRAPPED BENEATH, TO HELP LIFT IT BACK OFF HIS, WELL, PRIVATE PARTS. THE PROBLEM OF COURSE, WAS THAT IN ORDER TO DO THIS, WAS GOING TO REQUIRE ONE OF US, ADDING TO THE WEIGHT OF THE UNIT ON THE GUY'S GROIN. WE HAD TO CRAWL UP AND OVER THE UNIT TO HELP HIM OUT. THE SMALLEST GUY WEIGHED ABOUT TWO HUNDRED POUNDS, AND WITH THE WEIGHT OF THE CASH REGISTER AND STAND, THAT WOULD HAVE MEANT THE VICTIM THUSLY, COULD HAVE PUT THE FAMILY JEWELS IN A VERY THIN ENVELOPE, FROM THAT POINT IN HIS LIFE. THANKFULLY, JUST AS WE TOYED WITH THIS PLAN, A MOUNTAIN OF A MAN CAME THROUGH THE STORE DOOR, AS IF BY THE GRACE OF GOD. IN ONLY SECONDS, THE CASH REGISTER WAS UPRIGHT AGAIN, AND DOWN OFF THAT FIRST PRECARIOUS STEP. AND WHILE THERE WAS AN UNDIGNIFIED MASSAGING OF THE GROIN, AND A LOT OF WHEEZING, THE RESCUE HAD BEEN SUCCESSFUL WITH MINIMAL PHYSICAL DAMAGE DONE. OF COURSE THERE WAS A LITTLE PRIDE THING THAT DIDN'T FARE SO WELL BUT I'M TOLD THAT OUTSIDE OF A FEW BRUISES, THAT WERE NEVER REVEALED, THANK GOODNESS, THE GUY SURVIVED; THE TWOSOME REMAINED FRIENDS FOR SOME TIME TO COME.

THE NEXT WEEKEND, MOVERS CAME WITH A TROLLY, AND WITHIN FIVE MINUTES, THE CASH REGISTER WAS HEADING TO ITS NEW HOME. EVER SINCE, I'VE TRIED TO AVOID PURCHASING ITEMS LIKE THE CASH REGISTER, FOR SOME PRETTY OBVIOUS REASONS. ANTIQUE DEALERS TEND TO BE GOOD AT RETROSPECTIVES, BUT NOT SO GOOD AT "IN THE HEAT OF THE MOMENT" DECISION MAKING. EVERY GIRL I DATED, AND THE ONE GAL I MARRIED, ALWAYS FIGURED I HAD SOME SORT OF UNDIAGNOSED DISABILITY WITH PERCEPTION. I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND THEIR ASSESSMENT. I'D BEEN A HOCKEY GOALIE, A BASEBALL FIELDER, AND A GOLFER, ALL REQUIRING FINELY TUNED PERCEPTION. "THEN WHY CAN'T YOU SEE THAT THE FLAT-TO-THE-WALL PINE CUPBOARD YOU JUST BOUGHT, WON'T FIT INTO MY VOLKSWAGON (BEETLE)," MY GIRLFRIEND WOULD YELL OUT IN FRUSTRATION, AT THE CONCLUSION OF MANY AUCTION SALES. MOST OF THE TIME SHE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHAT I'D PURCHASED, UNTIL I ASKED HER TO HELP ME CARRY IT TO THE CAR. "ARE YOU NUTS TED," SHE'D BLURT. "IT WON'T FIT IN MY CAR. NO WAY." IT'S TRUE. I FREQUENTLY ASKED IF SHE WOULD DRIVE ME TO THESE AUCTIONS, IN HER NICE LITTLE ORANGE CAR. I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES WE DROVE HOME WITH HUGE PIECES HANGING OUT THE WINDOWS, AND THE FAMILIAR SOUND OF A DOMESTIC IN PROGRESS. SHE ALWAYS STARTED WITH THE SAME INTRODUCTION, THAT WAS ALMOST MUSICAL TO MY EARS. "YOU STUPID, STUPID MAN. YOU'RE DRIVING ME INSANE." I COULD RESPOND TO THAT, BY SAYING, "BUT I LOVE YOU….DOES THAT COUNT FOR ANYTHING?" "IF YOU LOVED ME, YOU CREEP, YOU WOULDN'T BUY ALL THIS STUFF AND JAM IT INTO MY CAR." IN ALL FAIRNESS, I COULDN'T LOAD IT IN MY CAR. I DIDN'T HAVE ONE.

THE FINAL STRAW, WAS WHEN I WAS LOADING IN A TIDY LITTLE VICTORIAN LOVE SEAT…..NOW TRY TO IMAGINE WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE IN A BEETLE, AND I HEARD A SOUND THAT BROKE HER HEART. BROKE MINE TOO. "TED, YOU JUST PUSHED THE LEG THROUGH THE CEILING," SHE SAID, HER RED FACE NOW MATCHING HER RED HAIR. SHE WAS RIGHT. THERE WAS AN "L" SHAPED TEAR IN THE FABRIC OF THE CAR'S CEILING, THAT I'M PRETTY SURE HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH MY VICTORIAN ANTIQUE. I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY ANTIQUE DEALERS FOUND THEMSELVES IN SIMILAR SITUATIONS, DURING THEIR YEARS DATING, BUT I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU, IT WAS A GAME CHANGER FOR ME. "YOU'RE JUST INSANE. I CAN'T DEAL WITH YOU ANY MORE," SHE YELLED AT ME, AS WE STARTED TO GET A BIGGER CROWD AROUND US, THAN THE AUCTIONEER WHO WAS STILL SELLING STUFF. "I'LL MAKE IT UP TO YOU DEAR," I SAID, NODDING AND WAVING OFF THE GALLERY. "MAKE IT UP, MAKE IT UP….I'LL TELL YOU HOW YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE IT UP," SHE MUMBLED, GETTING IN THE CAR, AND SLAMMING THE DOOR SO HARD I COULD TASTE THE METAL CHIPS FLYING OFF. YOU KNOW, SHE NEVER DID TELL ME HOW I WAS GOING TO MAKE IT UP TO HER. BUT IT WASN'T LONG AFTER, THAT SHE GAVE ME "THE PROVERBIAL HEAVE-HO," OR AT LEAST THAT'S WHAT MY MATES TOLD ME IT'S CALLED, WHEN A GIRL HITS YOU IN THE HEAD WITH A SPENT WINE BOTTLE. I DESERVED WHAT I GOT. DID IT CHANGE ME? I'M NOT GOING TO ASK MY WIFE THAT QUESTION, BECAUSE FRANKLY, IT ONLY MAKES HER MAD TO RECALL MY PAST INDISCRETIONS, WITH THE SHIPPING AND HANDLING OF REALLY BIG ANTIQUE ITEMS, I THOUGHT WOULD FIT IN THE VAN.

I SUPPOSE IT WAS MY FAULT THE GERMAN CHAP WAS NEARLY NEUTERED THAT DAY ON OUR SHOP STAIRS. I SHOULD HAVE INSISTED, FOR SAFETY REASONS, THAT A TROLLY BE EMPLOYED TO REMOVE THE CASH REGISTER. OH WELL, RETROSPECTIVES ARE WHAT THEY ARE AFTER ALL. CAN'T CHANGE WHAT IS NOW IN THE BIRCH HOLLOW HISTORY BOOK.

"YOU JUST GET CARRIED AWAY," SUZANNE SAID TO ME ONE DAY, AT A LOCAL AUCTION IN BRACEBRIDGE, WHEN I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET THE HOOSIER CUPBOARD INTO THE VAN, WITHOUT HAVING TO DISMANTLE IT FIRST. AS SUZANNE REALLY WANTED THAT PIECE FOR HER KITCHEN, WELL SIR, SHE SPIT ON HER HANDS, PULLED UP HER SLEEVES, AND BY GOLLY, THAT CUPBOARD WAS SHOVED SO FAR INTO THE VAN IT PUSHED THE FRONT SEATS UP TO THE DASHBOARD. "THAT'S HOW IT'S DONE, TED," SHE SAID WITH A WINK. THIS GAL IS A KEEPER, I CHORTLED TO MYSELF. "WE'RE GOING TO DO GREAT THINGS IN THIS BUSINESS."

THANKS FOR JOINING TODAY'S ANTIQUE HUNTING BLOG.

Selling Vintage Clothing in an Antique Shop

2012-01-31T16:53:00.001-08:00

DO ANTIQUE DEALERS HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOR?

DRY, SUBTLE, RESERVED BUT YES INDEED, WE KNOW HOW TO CRACK A JOKE, TAKE SOME RIBBING, AND PARTAKE OF A PRACTICAL JOKE

IT DOESN'T COME UP A LOT. I'VE NEVER REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT IT, BUT I SUPPOSE THE GENERAL PUBLIC PROBABLY THINKS ANTIQUE DEALERS ARE A DULL CROWD, OF FURNITURE RE-FINISHING, CHINA POSSESSING, SILVER HUGGING, GLASS EMBRACING, COLLECTORS OF EVERYTHING….WHO COULDN'T POSSIBLY AFFORD THE DOWN TIME TO LAUGH OUT LOUD….OR EVEN TO THEMSELVES. THE OUTSIDER MIGHT EVEN ASSUME, THAT SHOULD AN ANTIQUE DEALER LAUGH, IT MUST BE DIRECTLY PROPORTIONAL TO A REALLY BIG TREASURE FIND. YOU KNOW….THE COVETOUS, NEAR GUILTY CHORTLE OF SOMEONE PONDERING THE A NEAR-SINFUL PROPERTY GAIN. WELL, THAT'S HOLLYWOOD FOR YOU. WE'RE A LOT DIFFERENT UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL. WE SMILE TWICE EACH SPRING, AND ONCE IN THE FALL. AH, STEREOTYPES. WHERE WOULD WE BE WITHOUT THEM?

WOULD A HUNDRED ANTIQUE DEALERS, IN A ROOM, CONSTITUTE A RIOT, A PARTY, OR A GENERAL MEETING, THAT STEPHEN LEACOCK MIGHT WELL HAVE WRITTEN ABOUT, IN HIS "SUNSHINE SKETCHES OF A LITTLE TOWN?" MIGHT YOU DETECT ANY SENSE OF RECKLESS ABANDON, UNRESERVED WILDNESS, IN COMPANY OF A BAKER'S DOZEN, OF ARDENT ANTIQUE DEALERS, ON A CROSS COUNTRY ROAD TRIP? PROBABLY NOT. IT DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE ZEAL FOR LIFE, AND IT'S LIKELY SIX OF THAT DOZEN HAVE READ "ZEN AND THE ART OF MOTORCYCLE MAINTENANCE." HALF OF THAT NUMBER MAY HAVE EVEN BEEN TRIPPING AT WOODSTOCK. IT CAN BE SAID, WITHOUT TOO MUCH OF A STRETCH, AS THE GOOD MR. LEACOCK MIGHT HAVE OBSERVED, THERE IS A QUIET DIGNITY, AND TRADITION OF MODEST PROPORTION TO THE ART AND PROFESSION OF COLLECTING OLD STUFF. WE LIKE TO HAVE FUN, BUT IT'S THE FUN OF LIFE ITSELF, AND JUST BECAUSE OUR RESERVED GOOD HUMOUR, DOESN'T JUMP OUT AND START BALL ROOM DANCING, DOESN'T MEAN WE CAN'T WHEN THE RIGHT MUSIC COMES ALONG.

IN MY OLD BASEMENT SHOP, SITUATED IN UPTOWN BRACEBRIDGE, THIS RESERVE OF GOOD HUMOR KEPT ME FROM DELVING INTO THE ACCOUNTING BOOKS, THAT WOULD HAVE REVEALED, AT THAT TIME, MY PROFESSION WAS AS SEAWORTHY AS A SPONGE. WITH MY REGULAR VISITORS, THE HANGERS-ON WHO KEPT ME FROM GOING BONKERS IN THE SILENCE OF POOR-BUSINESS, WE SHARED A LOT OF JOKES, ON AND OFF COLOR, AND REMINISCED ABOUT FOIBLES OF THE PAST. I SEEMED TO BE ABLE TO DOUBLE THOSE FROM ANYONE ELSE…..WHICH MEANT, I WAS A PRETTY HAPHAZARD, COMICAL KIND OF GUY…..FOR AN ANTIQUE DEALER. ON THESE OCCASIONS, I WAS MORE THE WRITER IN RESIDENCE THAN THE DEALER IN HIS SHOP. TRUTH IS, RUNNING A SHOP HAD ITS COMICAL MOMENTS. UNEXPECTED EVENTS. I CAN'T EXPLAIN THIS, AS COMPARED TO RESTAURANTS, GROCERY STORES, GIFT SHOPS, OR TRAVEL AGENCIES. FOR SOME REASON, OUR LITTLE SHOP ON MANITOBA STREET, INSPIRED ODD BEHAVIOR IN ALL WHO SPENT TIME HERE. EVEN THE WEE MICE IN THE NOOKS AND CRANNIES WERE HIPPIES. I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE. SO HOW WOULD YOU REACT?

ONE SATURDAY AFTERNOON, IN JULY, I WAS ITCHING TO CLOSE UP THE SHOP. I HATED WORKING SATURDAYS ALONE, BECAUSE IT COULD GET QUITE BUSY, IN-SEASON THAT IS, AND I WAS NOT A VERY PATIENT SALES CLERK ANY TIME OF THE DAY. THE PROBLEM WITH OUR SHOP LOCATION, IS THAT IF I DIDN'T GET THE DOORS SHUT BY SIX, THE MOVIE CROWD WOULD ARRIVE AT THE RESTAURANT NEXT DOOR. WHAT THEY WOULD DO, FIRST, IS GRAB A TABLE IN THE RESTAURANT, AND A FEW OF THE PARTY WOULD COME OVER TO OUR SHOP TO KILL TIME. I KNEW THEY WERE GOING TO THE SHOW AT SEVEN, JUST DOWN THE STREET, AND WERE MAKING A NIGHT OF IT……INCLUDING A VISIT TO THE ANTIQUE SHOP. BY THIS TIME I WAS TRULY EXHAUSTED. HUNGRY. SWEATY. AND NEEDING A VERY LARGE AND COLD BEER. ON THIS PARTICULAR OCCASION, A GROUP OF YOUNG MEN, FROM A LARGER GROUP, ARRIVED IN MY SHOP, AND BEGAN FREAKING OUT ABOUT THE VINTAGE CLOTHING SUZANNE HAD RECENTLY RESTORED. THEY INCLUDED EVERYTHING FROM 1950'S PROM DRESSES, TO MUCH MORE FORMAL ATTIRE. I THINK WE EVEN HAD A COUPLE OF POODLE SKIRTS. LET ME TELL YOU HOW I DREADED THAT RACK OF VINTAGE WOMEN'S CLOTHES. AS I AM A FAR MORE TRADITIONAL ANTIQUE DEALER, WITH A LOVE OF BOOKS AND FURNITURE, I'M GOING TO BE VERY FREE TELLING YOU ABOUT THE VIRTUES OF A PINE FLAT-TO-THE-WALL, OR AN ANTIQUE SIDEBOARD, THAN HOW YOU LOOK IN A POODLE SKIRT OR A PROM DRESS. WE HAVE OUR SPECIALTIES AND FAVORITES, AND I HADN'T EXPECTED TO BE IN THE CLOTHING BUSINESS.

NOW MY FEELING HERE, WAS THAT THESE CHAPS WOULD HAVE A QUICK LOOK ABOUT, MAKE SOME COMMENTS ABOUT THE STUFF I DIDN'T HAVE, OR SHOULD HAVE, AND RACE BACK FOR THEIR CHOW MEIN IN ABOUT FIFTEEN MINUTES FROM POINT OF ENTRY. GEEZ, THEY WENT TO THAT RACK. LIKE HOMING PIGEONS. WHILE I'M A WELL TRAVELLED MAN, AS A REPORTER, AND IF YOU WANT TO DON A DRESS OR PLACE KNICKERS OVER YOUR HEAD, I'M GOOD WITH THAT…..AS LONG AS YOU DON'T ASK ME WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE…..OR IF YOU SHOULD BUY IT, BASED ON MY EXPERT OPINION. HORROR OF HORRORS, THESE VISITORS BEGAN TRYING ON ALL THE DRESSES. THE BLOUSES, THE SKIRTS, THE WRAP-AROUNDS, EVEN SOME VERY OLD BLOOMERS AND A CORSET FROM VICTORIAN TIMES. IF YOU HAD BEEN LISTENING, YOU WOULD HAVE HEARD AN EVERSO FAINT "HELP ME, PLEASE, HELP ME." I'M VERY EASILY EMBARRASSED, AND IT MUST HAVE SHOWN PRETTY SHARPLY, AGAINST THE WHITE WALL BEHIND ME. AND SUZANNE HAD COMMANDED ME, AS USUAL, TO WATCH THE RACK FOR ANY MISHANDLING OF THE VINTAGE CLOTHING, BUT THAT USUALLY MEANT, THE CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM CONES, KIDS OFTEN BROUGHT INTO THE SHOP….BEFORE I COULD STOP THEM.

SO HERE, THEN, IN THIS FRENZY OF DRESS FITTING, WHEN I VICIOUSLY NEEDED A SHOWER, A BEER, A CHAISE LOUNGE AND SERENITY NOW, I WAS GETTING REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION, ABOUT EACH OF THE ITEMS BEING MODELED IN FRONT. BUT WHAT I'M REALLY GETTING INSTEAD, IS A FASHION PARADE OF YOUNG MEN IN PROM DRESSES AND POODLE SKIRTS, WALKING AROUND THE STORE. WHETHER THEY WERE PULLING MY LEG, OR THEY GENUINELY WERE INTERESTED IN WEARING THIS ATTIRE, I COULD NOT AND WOULD NOT SAY…..EVEN UNDER MY BREATH. IT WAS WHEN I WAS ASKED TO MAKE COMMENT ON HOW THEY LOOKED, ALL DRESSED-UP, THAT PULLED MY CAPABILITIES AS TAUT AS THEY'VE EVER BEEN. I WAS SWEATING WITH FEAR ABOUT HAVING TO PROVIDE SOME FASHION COMMENTARY. GADS, WHAT DOES A GUY LIKE ME, WHO HAS NO FASHION SENSE WHATSOEVER, TELL A GUY WEARING A 1950'S PROM DRESS, ABOUT HIS LEVEL OF ATTRACTIVENESS? I MEAN IT'S WELL AFTER CLOSING, AND I'VE BEEN HAULING HEAVY FURNITURE FOR MOST OF THE DAY, SELLING BASEBALL AND HOCKEY CARDS FOR THE OTHER PART, AND THEN HAVING TO SELL EMBROIDERED HANKIES TO PERSNICKETY OLDER LADIES, WHO DEMAND MY UTMOST ATTENTION…..AND MAY WANT A DATE. WHAT WORDS COULD THE "WRITER-CURRIE" COMPOSE, TO GET ME OUT OF THIS UNCOMFORTABLE SITUATION? NOT THAT THERE WAS ANYTHING WRONG WITH THEIR ACTIONS. IN FACT, THEY WERE VERY POLITE AND KIND THROUGH THE WHOLE UNCOMFORTABLE EVENT.

THE PROBLEM WAS ENTIRELY MINE. NOT PREJUDICIAL. JUST NOT POSSESSING THE PATIENCE AND CAPABILITY, AT THAT TIME OF THE DAY, TO OFFER ANYTHING BUT THE TRUTH. SO THINKING REAL HARD, ON A BUDGET OF TIME, (THEIR DINNER WAS BEING SERVED NEXT DOOR) AND WITH JUST MOISTENED LIPS, SO AS NOT TO SOUND OR APPEAR MORE NERVOUS THAN MY RED FACE REVEALED, (AND OF COURSE A SENSE OF DUTY TO MY PROFESSION TO TURN A PROFIT), I ANSWERED WITH THE CONFIDENCE AND STATURE OF A WORLD COMMENTATOR.

"IT LOOKS DEVINE. IT'S YOU. I LOVE IT. WILL THAT BE CASH OR CREDIT CARD?" I FELT LIKE A SELL-OUT FOR A QUICK BUCK, BUT THEY SEEMED HAPPY WITH WHAT I TOLD THEM. I WASN'T REALLY LIEING TO THEM, BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T LOOK BAD, IN THE CLOTHING WHATSOEVER. YOU KNOW, I HAD A DIFFICULT TIME TELLING THIS SAME STORY TO SUZANNE, WHEN I GOT HOME THAT NIGHT. SO WHEN I FINISHED UP, BY SAYING THAT THEY LOOKED SURPRISINGLY GOOD, WITH HER DRESSES ON, SHE GAVE ME THAT QUESTIONING GLANCE……AND I RESPONDED IN KIND. "DEAR, I'M JUST NOT INTO THAT. SO DON'T WORRY ABOUT ME AND MY MID-LIFE CRAZY."

NOW BEFORE JUDGING ME HARSHLY, LET'S JUST SAY IT WAS A SOLID, MIDDLE OF THE ROAD ANSWER. I COULD HAVE BEEN MORE SWEET AND EMPHATIC, AND ON THE OTHER HAND, I COULD HAVE SAID, "YOU LOOK HORRIBLE. YOU MAKE THAT POODLE LOOK LIKE A BULLDOG." TRUTH IS, YOU KNOW, THEY ALL LOOKED PRETTY GOOD, AND I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU, THEY BOUGHT THREE OF THE VINTAGE PIECES, AND CAME BACK THE NEXT DAY FOR THE ANTIQUE BLOOMERS. SUZANNE WAS WORKING THAT DAY. SO I GOT MY SHOWER, MY LOUNGE ON THE DECK, MY BEER, AND SERENITY, AND A NICE DEPOSIT FOR THE NEXT MORNING. SUZANNE COULDN'T BELIEVE I WAS CAPABLE OF MAKING THAT SALE. BONUS FOR ME. I LOVE BEATING HER ON STUFF LIKE THIS, WHEN SHE COUNTS ON MY MALE-NESS TO GET IN THE WAY OF SELLING VINTAGE ITEMS OF A MORE DELICATE NATURE. I REMIND HER HOW MANY LACE DOILIES I HAVE SOLD OVER THE DECADES, AND QUILTS AND AFGHANS, TABLE CLOTHES AND NAPKINS, AND NEVER FELT IT WAS A STRETCH FROM MY STANDING IN THE ANTIQUE COMMUNITY. FUNNY THING THOUGH. THE ABOVE SCENARIO WITH THE LADS, TRYING ON THE DRESSES, HAD A REVERSE SIDE THAT I NEVER TOLD SUZANNE ABOUT……UNTIL NOW. YOU SEE, SHE WON'T READ MY BLOGS, SO THIS IS THE OXYMORON OF "HIDING IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN." UNLESS OF COURSE YOU TELL HER. THAT WOULDN'T BE NICE.

I WORRIED ABOUT THAT VINTAGE CLOTHING RACK A LOT. SUZANNE IS VERY PROFICIENT AT SEWING, AND MAKING REPAIRS ON VINTAGE CLOTHING. SHE HAS EVEN DONE SOME MODIFICATIONS FOR CUSTOMERS IN THE PAST, TO REDUCE OR INCREASE SIZES TO SUIT THE CUSTOMER. AS AN ANTIQUE DEALER, WHO WANTS TO HAVE AN ENTHUSED AND PROFITABLE PARTNERSHIP, I WHOLE-HEARTEDLY AGREED THAT WE SHOULD HAVE A SECTION FOR THE VINTAGE CLOTHING WE FIND OUT ON THE SALE CIRCUIT, AT ESTATE SALES, AND AT AUCTION. I'VE SEEN THE SALES FIGURES. I CAN LIVE WITH THOSE NUMBERS. THE PROBLEM, IN OUR STORE, WAS THAT WE SIMPLY DIDN'T HAVE A CHANGE ROOM. NOTHING. WE DID HAVE A LOT OF TALL SHELVING IN THE CENTRE OF THE SHOP, THAT COULD, IN A PINCH, ACT AS A TEMPORARY PRIVACY SHIELD. PROVIDING THAT MEMBERS OF THE LIARS CLUB WEREN'T HOLDING ONE OF THEIR DAILY MEETINGS AT BIRCH HOLLOW. FORTUNATELY, THIS NEVER HAPPENED IN THAT HALF DECADE, WE WERE IN THAT BASEMENT SHOP. THEIR POTENTIALLY CRUDE COMMENTS WOULD SINK MY BATTLESHIP. NOW THAT WOLD HAVE BEEN A TOUGH ONE TO NAVIGATE. A SORT OF OPEN-AIR CHANGE ROOM AND SOME CRUSTY OLD MEN, WHO MISTAKENLY THOUGHT THEY WERE HOT STUFF DESPITE THE OLD PACKAGE, WHO MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN SECRET VOYEUR'S AT THEIR LEISURE.

I REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME I WAS ALONE IN THE SHOP WHEN THIS SITUATION TRANSPIRED. AFTER GETTING ROBERT OFF TO KINDERGARTEN AT BRACEBRIDGE PUBLIC SCHOOL, FOR AFTERNOON CLASS, I MET A WOMAN AT THE DOOR, JUST COMING FOR A LOOK-SEE. I OPENED THE DOOR, INVITED HER IN, AND LIKE A LIGHTNING BOLT, SHE HIT THAT RACK OF OLD CLOTHES. NOW THAT WASN'T THE WORSE CASE SCENARIO BY ANY MEANS, BECAUSE WE DID HAVE MANY FOLKS BUY PIECES WITHOUT TRYING THEM ON. A LOT OF THE NOSTALGIA DRESSES WERE TO BE USED AS DECORATIONS, IN BEDROOMS ETC., SO THERE WAS NO NEED TO OFFER A DRESSING ROOM. THIS YOUNG LADY WAS INTERESTED IN A DRESS TO WEAR. SHE WAS ONE OF ABOUT TEN, IN THOSE YEARS, WHO CHALLENGED ME TO BE A BETTER, KINDER, MORE COMPASSIONATE, STORE CLERK. WHILE THERE WAS NO STOPPING THE BLUSH…..NO MATTER HOW USED-TO THIS I GOT, HAVING A HALF NAKED WOMAN WAVERING BEHIND A STACK OF BOOKS, WAS STILL, TO ME, AN EMBARRASSING SITUATION. I CAN REMEMBER THE RUSH OF FEAR THAT WHILE THIS WOMEN WAS TRYING ON A DRESS, MY CRONIES WOULD TRUNDLE DOWN THOSE STAIRS IN A GROUP, SPILLING COFFEE AND LAUGHING LIKE THE MADMEN THEY WERE, AND STARTLING THIS POOR SOUL HALF TO DEATH. THE TROUBLE FOR ME, AS IT WAS WITH THE GENTS, WAS BEING ASKED MY OPINION OF THE OUTFIT, WHETHER BLOUSE, VEST, DRESS, OR SKIRT. I GET IN TROUBLE NOW, WHEN SUZANNE ASKS ME IF SHE LOOKS OKAY IN SOME OUTFIT, AND SHE SUSPECTS I'M LIEING OUT OF DISINTEREST. SO WHEN THIS GIRL DEMANDED MY HONEST OPINION, AND THEN WANTED TO DISCUSS MY FINDINGS, BY GOLLY, I THOUGH MY FACE WAS GOING TO EXPLODE. I WANTED TO SAY, "LADY, I'M AN ANTIQUE DEALER…..I HAVE NO RIGHT TO AN OPINION." BUT I DIDN'T. I BECAME, BY SOME STRANGE BENEVOLENCE, OR OSMOSIS OF INNER CHILD, A VERY ASTUTE AND HELPFUL COMMENTATOR, ON THE WAY THE ARTICLE HUNG FROM HER HIPS, WITHOUT ONCE GETTING THE GIGGLES, OR MAKING ANY MISTAKES WITH WORDS, PRESENTATION, OR INNUENDO. I DID HAVE THIS THOUGHT, ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF SUZANNE GRACING THAT UPPER DOORWAY, AND YELLING DOWN, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING TED?" SO, I TOLD THE CHARMING WOMAN, TRYING ON THE SKIRT AND BLOUSE, THAT SHE RADIATED LOVELINESS, AND THE FIT WAS AS IF TAILORED TO HER PRECISE MEASUREMENTS……THE COLORS WERE MAGICAL AGAINST HER AUBURN HAIR. THEN I WROTE OUT THE RECEIPT, AND ACCEPTED THE PURCHASE PRICE. IF THERE WAS ANY WEAKNESS IN THE WHOLE EFFORT, IT WAS THE REALITY I HAD NO BLESSED IDEA HOW TO FOLD A SKIRT AND BLOUSE, AS THE ONLY REAL PRACTICE I HAD WAS STUFFING THE DRAWER IN MY DRESSER, AND LOADING UP A BAG OF HOCKEY EQUIPMENT. YES INDEED, IT HERALDED A BEGINNING OF REFINEMENT IN THE NUANCES OF THE REVISED ANTIQUE TRADE. I HAD ON THE JOB TRAINING. I'D PROVEN SOMETHING TO MYSELF….THAT THERE WAS MORE TO THE ANTIQUE ENTERPRISE THAN CRYSTAL VASES, SPINNING WHEELS, PEWTER, COPPER, AND PORCELAIN. CUSTOMERS DID A LOT OF PINGING AND SPINNING ON THAT STUFF, BUT IT WAS THE TRYING ON OF WOMEN'S CLOTHES, THAT BLEW MY MIND, TO WHAT CUSTOMERS REALLY THOUGHT WAS NEAT ABOUT OUR BASEMENT BUSINESS. "MR. CURRIE EVEN HELPED ME ZIP UP MY DRESS!" THAT WAS THE NIGHTMARE SCENARIO THAT NEVER HAPPENED. I REALLY DON'T THINK I COULD HAVE TOLD SUZANNE THAT, AND NOT EXPECTED TO BE SLEEPING, ONCE AGAIN, ON THE VERANDAH HERE AT BIRCH HOLLOW.

WE'VE BEEN BUYING AND SELLING VINTAGE CLOTHING EVER SINCE. I DRAW THE LINE AT ANTIQUE UNDERWEAR. NO WAY.

Souvenirs, Collectables and England

2012-01-30T17:31:00.000-08:00

A HAIR'S BREADTH FROM FEBRUARY -

A GROUND HOG IS ABOUT TO EMERGE - WE COULD USE SIX MORE WEEKS OF WINTER

I HAVE WRITTEN-UP A SHORT BLOG, ON MY MUSKOKA AS WALDEN SITE, WRAPPING UP THE PAST MONTH, WORKING ON THE SONG THE BOYS, ANDREW AND ROBERT, PLANNED TO PRESENT TO THE GRAVENHURST WINTER CARNIVAL COMMITTEE. THIS WAS DONE LAST THURSDAY EVENING. THE SONG WAS CREATED AND DONATED, TO USE AT THEIR DISCRETION, AS A PROMOTION FOR THE 2012 EVENT IN FEBRUARY. I TALKED WITH BOTH LADS, EXHAUSTED AFTER YESTERDAY'S FILMING AT GULL LAKE PARK, (WITH SKOKIE, AND BANDMATES OF THE GROUP "PRESSURE POINT,") AND AS USUAL, THEY ARE WORRIED WHETHER THE PUBLIC AND THE CARNIVAL COMMITTEE WILL FEEL IT LIVES UP TO ALL THE HYPE. IT'S JUST NOT ENOUGH TO HAVE MOM AND POP SLAPPING THEM ON THE BACKS……OR HEARING IT FROM BAND-MATES AND LONG-TIME FRIENDS, WHO MAY FEEL OBLIGED TO BE POSITIVE ABOUT THE EFFORT. ROB IS VERY INTENSE ABOUT HIS CREATIVE PROJECTS, AND I'VE HAD MANY CHATS WITH HIM ABOUT GOING BACK ON PAST WORK. AS HE ALSO HAS INTERESTS IN WRITING, AND HAS A BLOG FOR HIS BUSINESS, I'VE GIVEN HIM AN OLD AUTHOR'S ADVICE, THAT WAS GIVEN TO ME……BY AN OLD AUTHOR WHEN I WAS HAVING A DEPRESSED MOMENT OF RETROSPECTIVE. I ASKED THIS WRITER / ENGLISH PROFESSOR IF SHE EVER RE-READ HER BOOKS, ONCE THEY HAD BEEN PUBLISHED. "NEVER, NEVER WOULD I DO THAT," SHE BLURTED, LIKE I HAD COMMITTED A LITERARY CRIME BY EVEN SUGGESTING THIS. "WHEN YOU'VE READ THE MANUSCRIPT OVER AND OVER, AND ENGAGED MANY RE-WRITES, AND CORRECTED EVEN YOUR CORRECTIONS, YOU LET IT GO, AND NEVER LOOK BACK. JUST CASH THE ROYALTY CHEQUES WHEN THEY COME." IT'S PRETTY MUCH THE SAME SPEECH I'VE GIVEN ROBERT, WHO WILL OBSESS ABOUT THE THINGS HE SHOULD HAVE DONE BETTER, VERSUS WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE THAT WORKS. IT'S THE PERIL OF CREATIVITY, THAT ONE DOESN'T ALWAYS KNOW WHEN TO STOP CREATING, FOR A MOMENT'S ENJOYMENT OF THE CREATION AT HAND.

FOR A LITTLE MORE ABOUT THESE THOUGHTS ON THE WINTER CARNIVAL SONG, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG BY CLICKING ON http://muskokaaswaldenpond.blogspot.com/

IF YOU MISSED THE PREVIOUS TWO WINTER CARNIVAL BLOGS, ON THIS SITE, YOU CAN SEARCH BACK A COUPLE OF DAYS TO FIND THEM.

SOUVENIRS AND WHY WE BUY THEM. IT ISN'T FOR THE INVESTMENT VALUE. BUT SOMETIMES IT WORKS OUT THAT WAY.

WHEN YOU BROWSE THROUGH A THRIFT SHOP, A CHURCH FUNDRAISING SALE, SECOND HAND STORE, OR VISIT FLEA MARKETS AND YARDS SALES, I GUARANTEE YOU, SOMEONE'S TRAVEL SOUVENIRS WILL BE UP FOR GRABS. A LITTLE LESS ATTRACTIVE BECAUSE THEY WERE PURCHASED POTENTIALLY ON ANOTHER CONTINENT, OR OTHER PROVINCES, STATES, AND ON HOLIDAYS THAT YOU DIDN'T ACTUALLY DIDN'T GET TO ENJOY. THESE WERE PART OF SOMEONE ELSE'S TRAVEL MEMORIES, AND WHILE POIGNANT AT THE TIME, LOST THEIR LUSTER BECAUSE THE THRILL OF THE ADVENTURE IS A FADING REALITY. THERE ARE OF COURSE, SOME SOUVENIRS THAT MAINTAIN THEIR VALUE NONE THE LESS. THESE INCLUDE CULTURAL AND HISTORIC ART, CRAFTS, JEWELRY, HAND-MADE ITEMS OF CLOTHING, HATS, BLANKETS, RUGS, AND ADORNMENTS LIKE SHAWLS. THERE ARE MANY OTHER EXAMPLES. YOU CAN FIND THESE AT SECOND HAND SHOPS, PARTICULARLY CHARITY STORES, AND IF YOU CHECK OUT THE RACK WHERE THERE ARE BEDSPREADS, BLANKETS AND QUILTS, YOU WILL UNDOUBTEDLY FIND PRODUCTS FROM SCOTLAND, IRELAND, DENMARK, HOLLAND, BELGIUM, AND EVEN FROM SOUTH AMERICA, FROM WEAVING TO WOOLEN BLANKETS. MANY OF THESE PIECES WERE BROUGHT TO CANADA AS USEFUL HOUSEHOLD ITEMS……UNLIKE THE BETTER KNOWN DECORATIVE SOUVENIRS, LIKE CUPS AND SAUCERS AND WALL-HANGING PLATES, THAT APPEAR IN HUGE NUMBERS ALL OVER THE SECOND HAND MARKETPLACE. DESIRED ONCE, BUT MUCH LESS DESIRABLE ON THE REBOUND.

THE SOUVENIRS THAT ENDURE, ARE PRETTY MUCH THE ONES ABOVE, THAT HAVE PRACTICAL, FASHION AND GENERAL HOUSEHOLD USE. HAND CRAFTED ART PIECES, PAINTINGS, SCULPTURES, CARVINGS AND TEXTILE ART, LACE, WEAVING, TO RUGS, ARE THE KIND OF DECORATIVE SOUVENIR THAT HOLDS VALUE IN PERPETUITY, IN LARGE PART, BECAUSE OF THE HIGH QUALITY OF THE WORKMANSHIP. CERAMIC AND GLASS SOUVENIRS ARE OKAY, AND WE HAVE BEEN SELLING THESE HERE IN MUSKOKA, SINCE THE LATE 1800'S, BUT BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT STRICTLY FROM THE REGION WHERE THEY ARE AVAILABLE, THEY DON'T TEND TO BE THE MOST COVETED ITEMS AFTER THE ORIGINAL ON-SITE PURCHASE. I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE FROM MY EARLIEST DAYS AS A COLLECTOR, AND WHAT SOUVENIRS I WANTED TO BRING HOME FROM ENGLAND.

IT WAS THE EARLY SPRING OF 1974. I WAS IN A BAND. A BIG ONE. IT WAS LED BY WELL KNOWN CONDUCTOR, JOHN RUTHERFORD, AND THE STUDENTS MAKING UP THE SENIOR TOURING BAND, WERE FROM BRACEBRIDGE AND MUSKOKA LAKES SECONDARY SCHOOL. I THINK OUR MOTTO WAS, "SEND SOME NOISE TO ENGLAND." I HAVE THANKED MR. RUTHERFORD MANY TIMES SINCE, FOR THINKING ENOUGH OF ME, AND THE BENEFIT AN OVERSEAS ADVENTURE WOULD DO FOR A BUDDING WRITER, TO HAVE INCLUDED ME IN THE SENIOR BAND THAT GLORIOUS YEAR. IT WAS DAMN CLOSE CALL YOU SEE. I HADN'T BEEN STRONG ENOUGH, AS A BARITONE PLAYER, TO THAT POINT, TO HAVE MADE THE CUT. I'D BEEN IN THE MUSIC PROGRAM FOR THE PREVIOUS FOUR YEARS. JOHN WAS DETERMINED, BY MY FINAL YEAR, TO SHAPE ME UP FOR THE BIG LEAGUE. IT WAS THE YEAR ABOUT SEVENTY BAND-MATES WERE GOING ON A PLAYING TOUR OF ENGLAND. THE DAY HE TOLD ME I WAS IN THE BAND, WELL SIR, I DIDN'T KNOW WHETHER TO LAUGH OR CRY, BECAUSE I WAS HAPPY, AND SCARED OUT OF MY MIND AT THE SAME TIME. AS JOHN POINTED OUT, "WE'VE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO TED." I COMPLIED. I WORKED AS HARD AS I COULD TO EARN HIS TRUST. I WAS NOT THE BEST, THAT'S FOR SURE, BUT I THINK JOHN KNEW I WAS COMMITTED TO IMPROVING MY PLAYING, CONCERT BY CONCERT. BY LETTING ME GO ON THAT LIFE-CHANGING ENGLAND TOUR, HE OPENED UP A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITY……AND I'M NOT REALLY SURE IF HE KNEW JUST HOW INFLUENTIAL HIS TRUST WAS, THEN AND ALL THESE YEARS LATER. HE MAY HAVE BEEN THE ONLY TEACHER, WHO FIGURED THERE HAD TO BE SOMETHING WITH THIS CURRIE KID, BENEATH THE HIPPY HAIR AND THE GENERAL ATTENTION DEFICIT. I WAS GOOD AT BOTH. I COULD HAVE GOT AN "A" IN PERPETUITY, FOR MY ABILITY TO ZONE OUT. I NEVER REALLY GOT BACK FROM WOODSTOCK, YOU KNOW.

AT THIS TIME, I WAS VERY INTERESTED IN WRITING, AND IN FACT, I WROTE A JOURNAL OF THE TRIP ON AIR CANADA STATIONARY, BOTH IN THE AIR, AND WHILE TRAVELLING ABOUT IN ENGLAND. I WAS ALSO A BUDDING COLLECTOR, AT THE SAME TIME, AND IT WAS A SOUVENIR BONANZA GOING THROUGH THE ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE, STOPPING ALONG THE WAY FOR WEE VISITS…..AND PERFORMANCES. I DIDN'T BUY ANY ROYALTY MEMORABILIA, BUT I WASN'T ON THE GROUND MORE THAN A FEW HOURS, AND I'D BOUGHT AN UMBRELLA, AND A TWEED PEAK CAP. ALL THE LADS DID. IT WAS THE FUNNIEST THING TO LOOK AT THE BEFORE AND AFTER PICTURES, TO SEE HOW CANADIANS FIGURED THEY COULD BECOME BRITISH BY ADORNMENTS ALONE. THE GIRLS DID SOMEWHAT THE SAME, THOUGH I CAN'T BE SURE IF THEY BOUGHT UMBRELLAS TOO. A LITTLE EXPENSIVE, THIS ENTERPRISE, BUT WE WANTED TO FULLY CELEBRATE THIS IMMERSION INTO, WHAT SOME OF US RIGHTFULLY CALLED, OUR ANCESTRAL CULTURE. FULL ENGLISH BREAKFASTS AND BANGERS AND BEANS FOR LUNCH. ROAST BEEF AND YORKIES (YORKSHIRE PUDDINGS) FOR SUPPER. FOR THE SEVERAL WEEKS WE WERE IN ENGLAND, WE LOOKED FOR EVERYTHING WE COULD, THAT, IN OUR OPINION, REFLECTED BRITISH VALUES. IN FACT, WE ATE BANGERS AND BEANS A LOT, (I MEAN THIS….IT WAS LIKE A SCENE OUT OF BLAZING SADDLES, BACK AT THE UNIVERSITY DORMITORY) IN ADDITION TO CRUMPETS, ECCLES CAKES, AND WE ALL SUCKED BACK GALLONS OF TEA. AND WE ALSO THOUGHT IT WAS ONLY FITTING, WE SHOULD BE CLOAKED IN BRITISH-WARE. FROM SHOES AND PANTS, TO SWEATERS, TWEED JACKETS, AND AN ARRAY OF PEAK CAPS……MAKING US GENTS RATHER DAPPER, OR SO THE GIRLS IN THE BAND THOUGHT…..OR AT LEAST WE HOPED THEY THOUGHT! TWO OF THE YOUNG LADIES THOUGHT I LOOKED LIKE A YOUNG BENNY HILL. WHILE THE REST THOUGHT I WAS CHIP OFF THE MONTY PYTHON BLOCK!

WHEN WE TRAVELLED NORTH TO NOTTINGHAM, WHERE WE WERE SCHEDULED TO STAY WITH HOST FAMILIES, BAND MEMBERS STARTED BUYING AND COLLECTING AS MUCH LOCAL MEMORABILIA AS THEY COULD. I HAD A NUMBER OF INTERESTING EXPERIENCES THIS WAY MYSELF. THE FAMILY I WAS STAYING WITH, HAD A TICKET FOR ME, TO ATTEND A FOOTBALL (SOCCER) GAME, BETWEEN BLACKPOOL AND NOTTINGHAM FOREST. "BUT YOU CAN'T WEAR THAT SCARF TED, I'M AFRAID, OR YOU'LL BE CARRYING YOUR HEAD UNDER YOUR ARM," SAID MY NEW ENGLISH MATE. "WHAT DO YOU MEAN," I HAD TO ASK. "WELL, THAT SCARF YOU BROUGHT FROM CANADA, REPRESENTS THE COLORS OF BLACKPOOL, AND AS WE ARE GOING TO BE SITTING IN THE NOTTINGHAM SECTION OF THE STADIUM, IT WOULDN'T BE A GOOD IDEA AT ALL, TO WEAR THOSE COLORS…..UNLESS OF COURSE YOU WISH TO BE BEATEN SENSELESS." I'D BEEN READING UP ON THE OFTEN VIOLENT AFTERMATHS OF THESE BRITISH MATCHES, SO I CERTAINLY DIDN'T HAVE TO BE TOLD TWICE ABOUT SCARF APPROPRIATENESS. THEY GAVE ME A NOTTINGHAM SCARF AND A BEAT-UP OLD COAT. "I'VE ALREADY GOT A GOOD JACKET TO WEAR," I RESPONDED TO THEIR GENEROSITY. I WAS A LITTLE MIFFED WHY THEY WOULD WANT ME TO WEAR A COAT WITH SO MANY HOLES. "EXACTLY. YOU DON'T WANT TO WEAR A GOOD COAT TO THE GAME, BECAUSE YOU'RE LIKELY GOING TO BE IN THE MIDDLE OF A FIGHT, AND THIS JACKET HAS ALREADY BEEN IN A HALF DOZEN ALREADY." GADS, I WAS GETTING WORRIED. I'D GONE TO LOTS OF HOCKEY GAMES, AND WATCHED SOME FIGHTS BREAK-OUT IN THE STANDS, BUT FROM WHAT THEY WERE DESCRIBING, ALL FANS GET IN ON THE POST GAME SHOW. OH WELL, WHAT AN ADVENTURE.

WELL, I'VE NEVER BEEN TO SUCH A WILD AND WHACKY EVENT AS THIS SOCCER MATCH. THE FANS NEVER SAT DOWN THE WHOLE GAME. IN UNISON, LIKE A HUGE WAVE ON THE OCEAN, THEY MOVED THE TEAM COLORS TO THE THEME SONG, FOR THEIR SIDE, AND THEN THE OPPOSITION, WOULD COME BACK WITH A ROUSING RENDITION OF THEIR OWN. AND I'M TELLING YOU, IT WAS UNNERVING BECAUSE OF THE TIGHTLY WEAVED CROWD, AND THE FACT THAT WHEN THEY MOVED TO THE SONG, SO DID YOU (THERE WAS NO CHOICE IN THE MATTER). THE BLEACHERS SEEMED TO MOVE AT THE SAME TIME. WHEN THE GAME WAS OVER, I'D ONLY SAT DOWN FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES IN THE WHOLE GAME, AND I WAS HOARSE BECAUSE OF ALL THE SINGING. MY MATE WARNED ME TO SING LOUDLY, SO THEY WOULDN'T SUSPECT I WAS A PLANT FROM THE OTHER SIDE, INFILTRATING THE OPPOSITION FOR SOME SORT OF SABOTAGE AT THE END OF THE GAME. MY GOD. THE END OF THE GAME. I FELT LIKE I WAS BODY SURFING OUT OF THAT STADIUM, BECAUSE THERE WAS NO STANDING AROUND, AND DEFINITELY NO POLITE "LETTING SOMEONE GET AHEAD OF YOU." I COULD SEE HOW SOMEONE COULD GET CRUSHED, AND HOW BLEACHERS COLLAPSE, WITH ALL THE SIDE TO SIDE SWAYING I'D EXPERIENCED. OUTSIDE, IT WAS VERY MUCH LIKE A RIOT SCENARIO, EXCEPT THERE WAS NO CAR OVER-TURNING OR FIRES BEING SET…..JUST PEOPLE RUNNING ALL OVER THE PLACE, WAVING THESE SCARVES WITH THE OCCASIONAL DUST-UPS BETWEEN FANS. MY HOST FAMILY KEPT US MOVING AS FAST AS WE COULD. NOTTINGHAM WON THAT DAY, SO WE WERE RUNNING ON POSITIVE ADRENALIN. NO NEED TO BURN ANYTHING, OR PUNCH OUT SHOP WINDOWS, I GUESS. POINT IS, I SPENT SOME QUALITY TIME, LATER THAT DAY, SHOPPING FOR NOTTINGHAM FOREST SOUVENIRS……BUYING MY OWN OFFICIAL SCARF…..WHICH I SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN WEARING TO YORKSHIRE AND THEN BACK TO LONDON. MY CHUMS REMINDED ME TO ALWAYS BE AWARE OF THOSE IMPORTANT BRITISH SOCCER WORDS OF WARNING. "GET HIM!" SO FOR THE BALANCE OF THE TRIP, I TUCKED THAT SPORTING SCARF INSIDE MY JACKET.

THE MOST INTERESTING SOUVENIR STORY I HEARD, CAME FROM A STAFFER AT NOTTINGHAM CASTLE, WHERE, I BELIEVE, WE SAW THE STATUE OF ROBIN HOOD. THE TOUR GUIDE OFFERED AN APOLOGY ABOUT ROBIN'S MISSING ARROW. "THE AMERICAN TOURISTS KEEP NICKING-IT," SHE SAID. "SOON AS WE GET A REPLACEMENT, THEY TAKE IT AGAIN." IT WOULD BE KIND OF NEAT TO HAVE ROBIN HOOD'S ARROW, BUT I WASN'T GOING TO STEAL ONE. LATER THAT SAME DAY WE GOT A CHANCE TO MEET THE ACTUAL SHERIFF OF NOTTINGHAM. TALK ABOUT GRABBING UP THE SOUVENIRS OF THAT VISIT. IF IT WAS OFFERED TO US, EVEN BROCHURES, WE CLEANED OUT THEIR SUPPLY. PAPER SOUVENIRS MADE UP A MAJORITY OF MY COLLECTIBLES FROM THAT TRIP, AND I STILL HAVE MOST OF THEM TUCKED INTO AN OLD PHOTO ALBUM…..WHICH I CAN'T SEEM TO FIND IN MY CLUTTER OF LIFE'S SOUVENIRS.

I WAS PULLING BARK OFF TREES FROM SHERWOOD FOREST FOR GOD'S SAKE. WE STARTED TO RUN OUT OF MONEY SO WE GRABBED EVERY CONCEIVABLE FREEBIE. IT WAS AS SORT OF TEMPORARY INSANITY. I WATCHED BAND-MATES AT A LOCAL BAKERY, SAVING THE PAPER LACE, CUP-CAKE BOTTOMS FOR THEIR TRIP SCRAPBOOKS. WE MUST HAVE TAKEN TEN THOUSAND PHOTOGRAPHS OVER THOSE TWO WEEKS.

THE NEATEST OF THE PAPER COLLECTIBLES CAME FROM THREE SHOWS WE ATTENDED IN LONDON. MY GIRLFRIEND AT THE TIME, GAIL SMITH, AND I, ATTENDED THE OPENING OF THE MOVIE "THE EXORCIST," AND GOT MITT-FULLS OF WARNINGS BEING HANDED OUT BY NUMEROUS RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS, TRYING TO KEEP US FROM GOING INSIDE. WE WENT IN. SCARED US PRETTY BAD, BUT WE MADE IT ALL THE WAY TO THE CLOSING CREDITS. WE ALSO HAD TICKETS (KEPT THE STUBS), AND SOUVENIR PROGRAMS, FROM THE STAGE VERSION OF "JESUS CHRIST SUPER STAR," AND THEN A CONCERT AT ROYAL ALBERT HALL BY THE LONDON SYMPHONY, I BELIEVE. WE MADE THE ROUNDS MANY TIMES OF PICADILLY CIRCUS, AND EVERY TIME I WATCH AUSTIN POWERS, I THINK BACK TO THE FUN WE HAD MINGLING WITH THE TURNED-ON CROWD IN THAT ELECTRIC NEIGHBORHOOD THAT NEVER SEEMED TO SLOW ITS PACE. WE GRABBED UP COASTERS FROM RESTAURANTS, A FEW MENUS WE SCOFFED AS KEEPSAKES, AND JUST ABOUT ANYTHING THAT WE THOUGHT WOULD REMIND US, OF THE HALCYON TRIP TO ENGLAND, THAT SPRING OF 1974.

EVERY NOW AND AGAIN SUZANNE WILL UNCOVER SOME RELIC OF THAT VINTAGE, AND ASK WHY I KEPT AN OLD CATCHUP-STAINED PLACEMAT, OR DRINK COASTER WITH WET RINGS ON IT, OR A DOG-EARRED PROGRAM FROM A SHOW SO VERY LONG AGO. I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER THAT WOULD MAKE ANY REAL SENSE TO MY WIFE. WHAT MADE IT SO POIGNANT FOR ME, IN PARTICULAR, WAS THAT I HAD ACTUALLY MADE THE BAND THAT LAST YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL. MAYBE I WASN'T GOOD ENOUGH TO PLAY THE FIVE OR SIX CONCERTS WE PERFORMED BETWEEN LONDON AND NOTTINGHAM. I DON'T KNOW. BUT BECAUSE OF JOHN RUTHERFORD'S BELIEF I COULD UPGRADE, IF I WANTED TO GO BAD ENOUGH, I GOT THE CHANCE OF A LIFETIME. AS I HAVE NEVER BEEN MUCH OF A WORLD TRAVELLER, AND MOST OF MY MEMORIES OF 56 YEARS ARE OF NORTH AMERICAN TRAVEL, AND LOTS OF ROAD TRIPS IN THE HOME REGION, IT REALLY WAS EXCEPTIONAL FOR ME, AND THESE TIRED OLD SOUVENIRS STILL WORK TO REKINDLE LOST MEMORIES OF "TED CURRIE'S MOST EXCELLENT ADVENTURE."

A COUPLE OF TIMES, SUZANNE HAS STARTED TO READ THROUGH MY AIR CANADA JOURNAL, AND I'M QUICK OFF THE DRAW, TO LUNGE AT THE FADED DOCUMENT. IT CONTAINS SOME RATHER PERSONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE LADIES I GOT TO KNOW OVERSEAS……AND INTIMATE DETAILS ABOUT DATING THREE GIRLS AT ONCE, WITHOUT ANY OF THEM KNOWING THE KIND OF CAD I WAS AS A YOUNG MUSICIAN-KIND. THEY FOUND THAT OUT ONCE WE GOT BACK TO CANADA. THE THIRD GIRLFRIEND WAS HOME IN BRACEBRIDGE, AND I'D PURCHASED HER AN EXPENSIVE CHARM BRACELET, AND SOME NICE SILVER CHARMS WITH BRITISH THEMES. AND BOTH LADIES I CHUMMED WITH, WHILE IN ENGLAND, ASSUMED I WAS GOING TO GIVE IT TO THEM AS A GIFT. I WAS LIKE LUCY RICARDO……I HAD A LOT OF 'SPLAINING TO DO!" I WASN'T REALLY A WOMANIZER, OR A DON JUAN, CASA NOVA, BUT HAVING A BLAST IN ANOTHER COUNTRY. I WASN'T ALONE. THAT TRIP STARTED MANY NEW RELATIONSHIPS, AND ENDED JUST AS MANY AT HOME. STUFF HAPPENS WHEN YOU'RE YOUNG OF HEART, AND A LONG WAY FROM HOME.

WHEN I'M OUT ON THE ANTIQUE HUSTINGS, I ALWAYS STOP FOR A BIT, TO ADMIRE THE INVENTORY OF SOUVENIRS FOR SALE, AND THINK BACK TO THOSE MEMORABLE DAYS ABROAD, AND WHAT THESE MUST HAVE MEANT TO THEIR ORIGINAL OWNERS…….ALSO HAVING THE TIMES THEIR LIVES. WONDER WHY THEY GOT RID OF THESE KEEPSAKES. AH, YES, THAT GETTING OLD THING. WHAT WILL MY BOYS DO WITH MY OLD ENGLAND JOURNAL? I BETTER DEAL WITH THAT ONE OF THESE DAYS.

AS A LITTLE SIDEBAR TO THIS STORY, I HAD A FUNNY INCIDENT THIS PAST OCTOBER, IN AND AROUND THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY. AS WE FREQUENTLY SELL SELECT ANTIQUE PIECES FROM THE BOY'S VINTAGE MUSIC SHOP, ON MUSKOKA ROAD, HERE IN GRAVENHURST, I SET OUT A DISPLAY OF CANADIAN PIECES UNDER THE STORE'S MARQUIS. ONE WAS A 1920'S VINTAGE UMBRELLA STAND WITH AN UMBRELLA TO GO WITH IT. NOW YOU CAN PROBABLY FIGURE OUT THE HOOK OF THIS ANECDOTAL MOMENT. BY GOLLY, I NEVER ONCE THOUGHT ABOUT IT, EVEN WHEN I PUT THE UMBRELLA ON THE STAND AS A SORT OF BUYER'S BONUS. ANDREW PHONED ME LATER THAT MORNING, TO TELL ME ABOUT SELLING THE STAND TO A LADY, ORIGINALLY FROM ENGLAND, TO USE IN HER HALLWAY AT HOME. "SHE DIDN'T WANT THE UMBRELLA DAD," HE SAID. "THE UMBRELLA," I REPEATED. "WELL THAT'S OKAY." "WHERE DID YOU GET IT DAD….THE UMBRELLA," HE ASKED. LIKE THE BELL OF BIG BEN RINGING IN THE OLD HEAD, I SAID, "THAT'S GOT TO BE MY OLD LONDON UMBRELLA." WHAT HAD HAPPENED, WAS THAT IT HAD BEEN PART OF MY PARENTS' ESTATE, SETTLED THE YEAR BEFORE, AND WE HAD BROUGHT THAT UMBRELLA HOME WITH SEVERAL OTHERS, MY MOTHER USED FOR BOTH INCLEMENT WEATHER, AND AS A CANE FOR HER WONKY HIP. BUT SEEING AS MY FATHER WOULD NEVER, EVER, EVER HOLD AN UMBRELLA (HE WAS AN OLD NAVY MAN, WHO BATHED IN RUM), (AND IT WAS DEFINITELY A MAN'S ITEM), I KNEW IT WAS THE UMBRELLA I HAD LEFT WITH THEM, WHEN I GOT HOME FROM ENGLAND. YOU KNOW, IT WAS IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE TOO, AND I'D ALMOST SOLD IT AS A PROP IN AN OTHERWISE EMPTY UMBRELLA STAND. THE LITTLE BEND IN THE END, CAME WHEN ONE OF MY GAL PALS FOUND OUT ABOUT THE OTHER TWO, AND TURNED THAT UMBRELLA INTO A CLUB.

NOW IT HANGS BY THE FIREPLACE WITH MY OTHER CANES…..I HAVE WONKY HIP AS WELL, AND I THINK ABOUT THE GIRLS OF THEN……AND THIS WONDERFUL LADY NOW, AND JOHN RUTHERFORD, WHO OPENED MY WORLD TO THE MOST AMAZING ADVENTURES. SOUVENIRS. I LOVE THEM ALL, FOR WHAT THEY REMIND ME OF……MOSTLY GOOD TIMES.

TEDS TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT FROM THE EATONS CATALGOUE

A COUPLE OF YEARS AFTER SUZANNE AND I WERE MARRIED, SHE ASKED ME ONE DAY, WHILE TALKING ABOUT VINTAGE CLOTHING, WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO MY TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT? "YOU KNOW THE ONE YOU HAD IN GRADE THIRTEEN," SHE SAID, WITH AN EAR TO EAR GRIN. "IT WAS A NICE COAT," I ANSWERED. "I GOT A LOT OF CHICKS WITH THAT COAT," I RETORTED WITH MY OWN BEARDY SMILE. "YOU MEAN YOU DIDN'T LIKE IT," I CONTINUED. "I THOUGHT THAT'S WHAT YOU REMEMBERED ABOUT ME BACK IN HIGH SCHOOL." OH, I DID REMEMBER YOU FOR WEARING THAT COAT," SHE REMINDED ME. "I USED TO SEE YOU WALKING TO SCHOOL, WHEN WE'D GO BY ON THE BUS (SHE WAS FROM WINDERMERE). IT REALLY STOOD OUT AGAINST THE SNOW…..AND THE MUSKOKA RIVER, AND THE BUILDINGS AND THE TRAIN STATION. IT WAS A FASHION STATEMENT." WELL HECK, NOW I WAS STARTED TO GET OFFENDED. I TOLD HER STRAIGHT-UP. "LOOK, I PICKED THAT COAT OUT MYSELF FROM THE CATALOGUE." "SO WHO PICKS OUT YOUR CLOTHES NOW," SHE SHOT BACK WITH VIGOR. "YOU DO, BUT THAT'S NOT THE POINT," I RETALIATED, LIKE SOMEONE WHO ACTUALLY KNEW WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT. I DIDN'T.

IT'S TRUE. I HAVE VERY LITTLE FASHION SENSE. WORKING ON CROZIER FOUNDATION BUSINESS, SHE "BLACK SUIT" ME UP, WITH AN UNCOMFORTABLY STIFF WHITE COLLAR, AND AFTER THE MEETING, IF I'D SUDDENLY MET UP WITH THE GRIM REAPER, I'D HAVE BEEN COFFIN-READY. WHEN I ORDERED THAT MULTI-PATCHED, "TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT," I DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF MONEY TO SPEND. MY MOTHER GAVE ME AN OPTION OF SHOPPING AT THE ECONOMY STORE, ON MANITOBA STREET, WHERE SHE WORKED, OR BUYING SOMETHING FROM THE CATALOGUE. I OPTED FOR THE CATALOGUE, BECAUSE YOU COULD ALWAYS TELL WHO HAD BEEN OUT-FITTED BY THE ECONOMY STORE. NO DISRESPECT TO THE STORE, BUT IT WAS THE CHEAPEST PLACE TO BUY CLOTHES IN TOWN. IF I BOUGHT A COAT THERE, YOU COULD COUNT ON AT LEAST ANOTHER TWENTY TO SHOW UP AT SCHOOL OF THE SAME DESIGN. SO I THOUGHT IF I BOUGHT FROM THE CATALOGUE, POSSIBLY AS OUTLANDISH AS THIS ONE, I WOULD BE THE SOLE POSSESSOR. WASN'T SO! NOT HAVING TWENTY SINGLE COLOR JACKETS IS ONE THING IN A SCHOOL. HAVING TWENTY TECHNICOLOR COATS, YEA, THAT'S A PROBLEM. BUT I JUST DIDN'T FEEL LIKE RETURNING IT, AND I WOUND UP WEARING IT ACROSS THE POND, DURING THAT 1974 BMLSS BAND TOUR. SUZANNE DIDN'T GO. THE GIRLS LOVED ME IN THAT COAT WITH MY LONGISH HAIR, AND BOYISH GOOD LOOKS….EXCEPT FOR THE BROKEN NOSE FROM PLAYING GOAL WITH AN INADEQUATE MASK IN THAT LAST BIG GAME BEFORE THE FLIGHT.

WELL ANYWAY, SUZANNE CAME RUNNING TO ME THE OTHER DAY, IN THE BRACEBRIDGE SALVATION ARMY, (FORMERLY THE HOME OF THE ECONOMY STORE), WITH GUESS WHAT? NOW YOU SEE, IN OUR BUSINESS, SELLING VINTAGE AND ANTIQUE ITEMS, THE FABULOUS TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT IS SOMEWHAT MORE ATTRACTIVE. SHE DIDN'T FIND MINE, BUT ONE OF THE COATS I WAS UNDOUBTEDLY COMPETING AGAINST IN 1974. THIS ONE, IF YOU CAN BELIEVE IT, WASN'T OUTSTANDING ENOUGH WITH ITS ARRAY OF COLORS,…..THAT SOMEONE THEN HAD TO SEW ON A HUNTING BADGE……. RIGHT ON THE SHOULDER THAT READS, "SUCCESSFUL MOOSE HUNT, ONTARIO MINISTRY OF NATURAL RESOURCES." PRETTY HARD TO MISS THAT SUCKER ON A SNOWY DAY IN MUSKOKA. I HAVE NEVER HUNTED, EXCEPT FOR ANTIQUES.

TODAY WE WILL REFURBISH THE COAT, CLEAN AND TIDY-IT-UP, AND PUT IT IN THE BOYS' MUSIC SHOP FOR SALE, AND LIKE OTHER RETRO PIECES, THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN ABSURD IN THEIR DAY, IT WILL SELL. THEY CAN BE HOT COMMODITIES ON TODAY'S FASHION SCENE. IT'S LIKELY TO WIND UP ON THE BACK OF SOME GUITAR PLAYER OR LEAD SINGER, ABOUT TO PLAY THE ROGER'S CENTRE. WILL SUZANNE GET A KICK OUT OT THAT.

LET'S JUST SAY I'VE OUTGROWN IT. BUT I REMEMBER THE DAYS. I WAS DROP-DEAD BEAUTIFUL. I WISH I'D HAD IT AT WOODSTOCK.

JUST TO SHOW I'M NOT KIDDING, I'VE INCLUDED A LITTLE GRAPHIC EVIDENCE TO GO WITH THE STORY.

Winter Carnival Collectables

2012-01-29T16:44:00.001-08:00

SKOKIE AND THE WINTER CARNIVAL SOUVENIRS? DO YOU HAVE ANY?

PLANNING TO HAVE A LITTLE DISPLAY OF NOSTALGIA PIECES FOR GRAVENHURST WINTER CARNIVAL

FOR YEARS AND YEARS I DRANK EVERYTHING WITH ONE EYE FOCUSED ON A SKOKIE EMBLEM. SKOKIE WAS VERY MUCH A PART OF MY LIFE. MUCH OF IT WAS INADVERTENT. IT WAS JUST WHAT I SAW AT BREAKFAST, THEN AGAIN AT LUNCH, AT SUPPER CERTAINLY, AND POSSIBLY WITH A WEE PINT OF ALE, LISTENING TO SOME VINTAGE VINYL……JOE COCKER, MOST OFTEN, WHO ALWAYS SEEMED TO NEED "A LITTLE HELP FROM HIS FRIENDS." I FELT I WAS THUSLY QUALIFIED. SKOKIE AND I.

MY PARENTS STARTED TO ATTEND MUSKOKA WINTER CARNIVAL PARTIES, WHEN SKOKIE WAS A NEW-BORN. I'M NOT SURE IF IT WAS THE "SLUICEWAY," THAT WAS RUN BY ONE OF BRACEBRIDGE'S SERVICE CLUBS, OR THE "KIN-HUTCH" I BELIEVE, SPONSORED BY THE LOCAL KINSMEN CLUB, BUT MY PARENTS ALWAYS CAME HOME WITH SOME TYPE OF SKOKIE-FACED STEIN. ONE EACH. SO WHEN I BEGAN GOING TO THE "FESTS" IN ABOUT 1974, I'D HAVE TWO MORE GLASS STEINS TO BRING HOME AFTER THE EVENT. DEPENDING ON HOW MANY TIMES I WENT TO AN EVENT THAT YEAR, I ALWAYS ARRIVED HOME WITH AT LEAST WINTER CARNIVAL BUTTONS AND GLASSES. MY GIRLFRIENDS WERE NOT OTTER-FRIENDLY, IN THOSE DAYS. MERLE AND ED WERE STILL GOING TO THE EVENTS THROUGH MOST OF THE 1970'S, SO NEEDLESS TO SAY, WE HAD MORE SKOKIE STEINS THAN WE COULD EVER USE, IN A LIFETIME OF AGGRESSIVE BEVERAGE CONSUMPTION, EVEN IF AN EARTHQUAKE HAD HIT MUSKOKA, AND DESTROYED HALF OF OUR GLASS COLLECTION. WHETHER I WAS DRINKING EGG NOG, MILK, CHOCOLATE MILK, ICE TEA OR LEMONADE, BY GOLLY, THAT OTTER KEPT ME COMPANY, MORNING, NOON AND NIGHT. THE THING ABOUT THOSE ADVERTISING GLASS STEINS, IS THAT THEY WERE VIRTUALLY INDESTRUCTIBLE. AT SOME OF THOSE OLD TIME DRINKING AFFAIRS, MORE THAN A FEW STEINS BOUNCED OFF CONCRETE AND, WELL, TO BE HONEST, A FEW "HOSER" HEADS. SAW THAT UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL BUT IT WASN'T MY HEAD.

I CAN REMEMBER THE DAY, LONG AFTER I'D MOVED INTO MY OWN APARTMENT, GOING INTO THE SALVATION ARMY THRIFT SHOP ONE DAY, AND GEEZ, THERE HAD TO BE FIFTY SKOKIE STEINS, ALL DATED, WITH MANY CONSECUTIVE YEARS, BEING SOLD FOR A QUARTER EACH. GADS. HOW COULD ANYBODY GET RID OF A WHOLE COLLECTION OF WINTER CARNIVAL MEMORABILIA? SO I BOUGHT THE WORKS, THINKING THAT WITH MY INHERITANCE, ONE DAY, OF ABOUT THE SAME QUANTITY OF GLASSWARE, I'D BE ONE OF THE LEADING SKOKIE COLLECTORS IN THE WORLD. I GOT THEM BOXED UP, LOADED INTO THE CAR, LISTENED TO MY WIFE CHASTISE ME ABOUT CLUTTERING HER KITCHEN CUPBOARDS, WITH MORE NOVELTY STEINS, AND THEN RAN INTO MY MOTHER, WALKING UP MANITOBA STREET. "I SAW YOU LOADING A BOX IN THE CAR," SHE SAID. "WHAT NEAT STUFF DID YOU FIND TODAY?" "YOU WON'T BELIEVE IT," I BLURTED, OUT OF BREATH FROM THE WEIGHT OF FIFTY GLASS STEINS, IN A RICKETY BOX. "REMEMBER THE WINTER CARNIVAL GLASSES WE COLLECTED?" SHE LOOKED AT ME AS IF EITHER SHE WAS HAVING A HEART ATTACK, OR SHE THOUGHT I WAS ABOUT TO HAVE ONE. "HOW MANY DID YOU BUY," SHE ASKED AGAIN. "FIFTY, GIVE OR TAKE A COUPLE," I REITERATED. "OH MY GOD," SHE SAID. "I TOLD YOUR FATHER THIS WOULD HAPPEN." "WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN," I ASKED. "HOW MUCH DID YOU PAY FOR THEM," SHE SHOT BACK, WITH SOME FEAR ETCHED ON HER BROW. "TWENTY-FIVE CENTS EACH. WHAT A BARGAIN." "WELL THAT'S NOT SO BAD," SHE SAID, "IT'S ALWAYS NICE TO DONATE TO A CHARITY." THEN SHE SLAPPED ME ON THE BACK, SAID GOODBYE TO SUZANNE, AND RESUMED HER AFTERNOON WALK. "WHAT THE HECK WAS ALL THAT ABOUT," I ASKED SUZANNE, WHEN I CLIMBED BACK IN THE CAR. "WELL, MY GUESS, IS THAT YOUR PARENTS EMPTIED THEIR KITCHEN CUPBOARDS, AND DONATED THOSE MUGS TO THE THRIFT SHOP." LIKE THE WOMAN SAID, IT'S NICE TO BE ABLE TO DONATE TO YOUR FAVORITE CHARITY.

THE FUNNY PART OF THIS, SOMEWHERE BETWEEN OUR NEWLYWED BLISS, AND SUZANNE LABELLING ME A "HOARDER," I MADE SOME CONCESSION, IN A MOMENT OF WEAKNESS (I'D LIKELY BEEN OUT LATE WITH MY HOCKEY MATES THE NIGHT BEFORE), TO RE-DONATE MY SKOKIE MUGS. I DON'T REMEMBER THE EXACT INCIDENT OF BROW BEATING I SUFFERED, JUST THAT SHE DIDN'T HAVE TO WORK TOO HARD TO PRY MY FINGERS FREE OF THE COLLECTION. IN ALL FAIRNESS, I AM A HOARDER. A NEAT ONE. THEY WOULDN'T WANT ME ON THE REALITY SHOW, BECAUSE I AM QUITE PERSNICKETY ABOUT MY BRIC-A-BRAC, AND ITS SAFE KEEPING. I AM AN ANTIQUE DEALER, AND HOARDING IS LIKE A VIRTUE IN MY BUSINESS. I REMEMBER AROUND THE FIRST OF THIS YEAR, ASKING SUZANNE IF SHE REMEMBERED WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO MY SKOKIE STEINS. "YES, TED, YOU GOT RID OF THEM IN 1995," SHE ANSWERED. 'HOW COULD YOU REMEMBER THAT YEAR SO PRECISELY?" I RESPONDED. "EASY." SHE SAID. "I WROTE IT DOWN IN A BOOK, BECAUSE I KNEW YOU'D ASK ME SOME DAY, WHERE THE SKOKIE COLLECTION HAD GONE, AND I'D HAVE TO SHOW PROOF YOU AGREED TO DONATE IT TO THE SALVATION ARMY." SHE'S GOOD. I'M SPEECHLESS ONCE EVERY FOUR YEARS, LIKE LEAP YEAR, BUT THIS ONE WAS A NECESSARY REVOCATION OF SPEECH. "DID I REALLY?" WAS ALL I COULD REPLY. "YOU DONATED THEM AND THE OLD WINTER CARNIVAL BUTTONS, AS WELL," SHE ADDED, LIKE A SLAP ON THE BACK WITH A GARDEN SPADE. I WANTED TO CRY. I MUST HAVE DONE SOMETHING VERY BAD, AND NEEDED LOTS OF FORGIVING, TO RELENT ON THE BUTTONS ESPECIALLY. "YOU DON'T REMEMBER, DO YOU," SHE QUIPPED, WITH A SADISTIC TWINKLE OF THE EYE, KNOWING I'D MADE THE DEAL TO GET A REPRIEVE, FROM SOME COLD SHOULDER OR OTHER, I HAD UNDOUBTEDLY BEEN FACING AT THE TIME. THUS, I MUST HAVE BEEN INSINCERE,AS WELL, ABOUT THE APOLOGY.

I THINK SHE MAY HAVE HEARD ME CALL HER "DRAGON LADY," AS I RETREATED BACK TO MY OFFICE. BUT SHE'S A GOOD SOUL, AND SENSING MY CHAGRIN OVER MY LOST SKOKIES, SHE PROMISED TO MAKE UP FOR THIS, BY KNITTING SOME WINTER CARNIVAL ATTIRE, INCLUDING MITTS, HATS AND SCARVES, TO USE AS PROPS FOR ANDREW AND ROBERT'S MUSIC VIDEO, IN SUPPORT OF THIS YEAR'S GRAVENHURST WINTER CARNIVAL. I MUST HAVE MADE HER FEEL REAL BAD, BECAUSE TODAY I TOOK HER TO BUY A COOKIE CUTTER, THAT SHE PLANS TO MODIFY TO LOOK LIKE THE WINTER OTTER, SO THAT THE BOYS WILL HAVE "THEME" TREATS TO GIVE OUT TO OUR MUSIC SHOP GUESTS. I THINK SHE'S SOFTENING A TAD. I MIGHT EVEN BE ABLE TO GET AWAY WITH SOME MORE SKOKIE NOSTALGIA PURCHASES, BUT RIGHT NOW I'M NOT GOING TO PUSH MY LUCK.

WHAT HAPPENED WITH MUSKOKA WINTER CARNIVAL COLLECTIBLES, IS THAT THERE WERE SIMPLY TOO MANY CREATED OVER THE YEARS IT WAS AN ANNUAL EVENT. AND BECAUSE THE GLASSES WERE INCREDIBLY DURABLE, AND WOULD TAKE A BOUNCE OFF CONCRETE AND SURVIVE, NOT ENOUGH DISAPPEARED TO CREATE MUCH OF A DEMAND. IN FACT, UP UNTIL A FEW YEARS AGO, YOU COULD FIND WINTER CARNIVAL BUTTONS IN MOST THRIFT SHOPS, FLEA MARKETS, SECOND HAND SHOPS, AND AT CHURCH FUNDRAISING SALES. AS FOR THE GLASS MUGS, THEY WERE EVERYWHERE. NOW THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO COLLECT SOME REPRESENTATIVE ITEMS, FROM THOSE YEARS, THE SUPPLY HAS MYSTERIOUSLY DRIED UP. I AM FORTUNATE TO HAVE A 1971 FIRST EDITION PROGRAM, OF THE OFFICIAL OPENING CARNIVAL, AND A MINT-CONDITION BUMPER STICKER THAT WAS STILL IN THE SOUVENIR BOOK WHEN I BOUGHT IT AT A GRAVENHURST YARD SALE. SO WHILE THE VALUES OF THESE WINTER CARNIVAL SOUVENIRS DIDN'T SHOOT UP IN PRICE, IT'S LARGELY BECAUSE THERE WAS A HUGE VOLUME PRODUCED, AND DEMAND HAS CERTAINLY WAINED, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE CARNIVAL TRADITION BEGAN TO DIMINISH FOR THE THREE PARTICIPATING TOWNS. THE PIECES ARE STILL INTERESTING TO HAVE, AND NOW THAT THE GRAVENHURST WINTER CARNIVAL HAS BEEN SUCCESSFULLY REVIVED, WE'VE DECIDED TO BEGIN A LOW-KEY (WITHOUT NEEDING A FORKLIFT TO DO IT) SKOKIE COLLECTION ONCE AGAIN, ESPECIALLY FOR DISPLAY AT OUR MAIN STREET SHOP FOR FUTURE WINTER CARNIVAL EVENTS. IF YOU HAPPEN TO HAVE SOME OLD BUTTONS AND MUGS YOU'D BE WILLING TO DONATE TO THE DISPLAY, WE'D BE GLAD TO ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR CONTRIBUTION WITH THE EXHIBIT. YOU CAN DROP ITEMS OFF AT ANDREW CURRIE'S MUSIC, ON MUSKOKA ROAD (IN THE FORMER MUSKOKA THEATRE BUILDING), OPPOSITE THE GRAVENHURST OPERA HOUSE.

IN THE SPIRIT OF MARTHA STEWART, SUZANNE HAS BEEN KNITTING LIKE A MACHINE SINCE CHRISTMAS, WHEN WE PURCHASED ALL THE ORANGE WOOL WE COULD FIND IN SOUTH MUSKOKA, TO MAKE AS MANY SCARVES AS THE WOOL SUPPLY WOULD AFFORD. SHE'S GOT SKOKIE ON THE BRAIN. I'M GETTING JEALOUS. I HAVE DREAMS OF COMING HOME AND FINDING AN OTTER IN MY FAVORITE CHAIR. FROM THE POINT WHEN WE FIRST DISCUSSED THE IDEA OF A WINTER CARNIVAL THEME SONG, TO DONATE TO THE GRAVENHURST WINTER CARNIVAL COMMITTEE, OUR WHOLE FAMILY HAS BEEN IN AN "OTTER-LAND," AND LET ME TELL YOU……I'VE HEARD "PRESSURE POINT'S" SONG SO MANY TIMES IN OUR HOUSE, I'M THINKING OF ASKING SUZANNE TO MAKE ME A SKOKIE OUTFIT AS WINTER LEISURE WEAR. BUT YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN FUN NONE THE LESS, AND SUZANNE WILL TELL YOU HONESTLY, KNITTING IS A GOOD WAY TO FORGIVE MY TRESPASSES. APPARENTLY, I'M QUITE A MOTIVATING FORCE IN THIS REGARD. I'VE FELT AS IF MY BEHIND WAS GLUED TO THIS OFFICE CHAIR, IN FRONT OF THE HUGE "HEAVEN'S GATE" GLOWING SCREEN…….WRITING HOUR UPON HOUR ABOUT WINTER CARNIVALS I HAVE KNOWN…..INTIMATELY SO. I PINE FOR MY OLD UNDERWOOD, I USED TO TYPE-ON IN THE OLD HERALD-GAZETTE NEWSROOM, DURING PAST WINTER CARNIVALS, WHEN I LOOKED AT PAPER INSTEAD OF THIS BRIGHT LIGHT OF INFINITY. AND NO, THERE IS NO OTTER, AT THIS POINT AT LEAST, BEING USED AS A SCREEN SAVER. I'VE HAD TO DIVORCE MYSELF A TAD, AS I'M WORKING ON SEVERAL MAJOR WRITING PROJECTS FOR THE REGIONAL PRESS, AND A LOCAL ARTIST'S BIOGRAPHY, THAT WOULD NOT BE ENHANCED AT ALL, TO HAVE A SKOKIE THEME, DANCING THROUGH MY MIND DURING COMPOSITION. THAT'S THE WAY IT IS NOW, AND THAT'S OKAY. SKOKIE IS WELCOME HERE. MY ONLY ADVICE, IS THAT ITS PRESENCE BE AS INCONSPICUOUS AS AN OTTER MASCOT CAN BE……SO THAT I DON'T GET BLAMED FOR EITHER CLUTTERING, HOARDING, OR BRINGING ALL MY FRIENDS HOME FOR DINNER.

HOPE YOU WILL CONSIDER VISITING OUR HOME TOWN WINTER CARNIVAL THIS YEAR, SCHEDULED FOR THE LAST WEEKEND IN FEBRUARY. SEE YOU THERE.

JUST A NOTE ABOUT OUR CANADIAN SYMBOLS COLLECTION, INITIATED LAST WEEK

WELL FOLKS, IT WAS NOT A GOOD WEEKEND OUT ON THE ANTIQUE HUNT, ESPECIALLY LOOKING FOR THOSE NATIONAL SYMBOLS, ON VINTAGE ITEMS, DEPICTING MAPLE LEAVES, THE ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE, AND THE BEAVER. IT IS A LITTLE COMPETITION WE'VE INITIATED TO COLLECT THOSE MARKED PIECES OF CANADIANA, TO BE JUDGED ON THE HALF YEAR, AND THE FULL YEAR…..AS POSSIBLY COMPARED TO YOUR OWN LUCK OUT ON THE HUSTINGS. WE HAVE SET ABOUT THIS PERSONAL COMPETITION, TO PROVE THAT WE CAN COME UP WITH AN AMAZING COLLECTION OF REPRESENTATIVE PIECES OF CANADA'S HERITAGE…..BUT ONLY WITH THOSE THREE WELL RECOGNIZED SYMBOLS. THE RULE FOR US, IS THAT WE WILL STICK TO MUSKOKA FOR ALL OF THESE FINDS, AND WE WILL NOT USE ANY MATERIALS WE HAVE PURCHASED PREVIOUSLY, EXCEPT TO BE RECOGNIZED SEPARATELY AT THE CONCLUDING MARKS OF THIS HUSTLE FOR CANADIANA. THIS WEEKEND WE HAD TO SETTLE FOR TWO PIECES, PURCHASED FOR SEVENTY-FIVE CENTS EACH…..A CENTENNIAL MUG IN EXCELLENT CONDITION, WITH CLEAR GRAPHICS, AND ANOTHER GLASS STEIN FROM ALBERTA WITH GRAPHICS DEPICTING BANFF, LAKE LOUISE AND VICTORIA GLACIER, JASPER NATIONAL PARK, JASPER THE BEAR, AND BOTH THE ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE AND THE MAPLE LEAF. NOT MUCH BUT THE BEST IF YET TO COME.

ALSO FOUND OUT ON THE ANTIQUE HUNT THIS WEEKEND, WE CAME HOME WITH A WONDERFUL (SMALL) THREE DIMENSIONAL PLAQUE, FEATURING MAPLE SAP COLLECTION, CARVED IN NATIVE PINE BY ARTISAN H. NADEAU. WE FOUND AN INTERESTING SILVER TROPHY (CUP), DATED 1956, INSCRIBED, "THE ROYAL BANK TROPHY, PRESENTED TO ARMOUR, RYERSON, AND BURK'S FALLS AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY, FOR HIGHEST POINTS IN FLORAL SECTION, WON BY……" THE CUP WAS NOT INSCRIBED TO THE PERSON WHO MAY HAVE WON IT IN THAT YEAR. I LOVE COLLECTING OLD TROPHIES. CAN'T EXPLAIN WHY….EXCEPT I'VE NEVER WON SUCH HARDWARE….SO I MAKE UP FOR IT, BY BUYING INTERESTING ONES I FIND. THE THIRD INTERESTING PURCHASE, IS A WONDERFULLY CRAFTED OBLONG WOODEN BELL, WITH FOUR HAND CARVED WOODEN RINGERS, PROBABLY FROM EITHER SOUTH AMERICA OR AFRICA. IT HAS A WONDERFUL SOUND TO IT, AND WILL BE USED IN OUR BOYS' RECORDING BUSINESS, WHEN A SIMILAR EFFECT IS NEEDED TO ENHANCE A SONG. IT WAS FOUND IN GRAVENHURST FOR THE PRICE OF FOUR DOLLARS. AS USUAL, WE CAME HOME WITH SOME REMNANT YARN, SUZANNE USES FOR A MYRIAD OF KNITTING PROJECTS. IT WASN'T A GREAT WEEKEND FOR ANTIQUE HUNTING AND THE WEATHER WAS A LITTLE TOUGH ON LONG DISTANCE DRIVING. HAPPY TO STAY AT HOME IN SOUTH MUSKOKA.

SEE YOU SOON. HAPPY HUNTING OUT THERE. THERE'S LOTS OF NEAT STUFF TO FIND.

Gravenhurst Winter Carnival Music Complete!

2012-01-28T17:18:00.000-08:00

GRAVENHURST WINTER CARNIVAL - A WHOLE LOT OF NOSTALGIA IN A NEW CENTURY PACKAGE

WHAT A GROUP OF CITIZENS CAN DO WHEN THEY DECIDE WINTER'S

WORTH INVESTING IN -

OFFICIALLY, SKOKIE, OUR CELEBRITY OTTER, IS 41 YEARS OLD THIS MONTH. POSSIBLY A LITTLE FRAYED AROUND THE EDGES, FROM THE RIGORS OF MANY ALL-WEATHER GIGS, IT'S STILL PRETTY PERKY FOR A MATURE OTTER. ADMITTEDLY, SOME OF THAT TIME HAS BEEN SPENT PACKED IN A BOX. THE ORIGINAL MUSKOKA WINTER CARNIVAL, AFTER A CONSIDERABLE RUN, BEGAN ITS COLLAPSE QUITE A FEW YEARS AGO. THE VOLUNTEER POOL STARTED TO GET A LITTLE SHALLOW, AND EXPENSES AND INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS, TO OPERATE THE CARNIVAL, KEPT INCREASING YEAR AFTER YEAR. IT WAS A STRANGLEHOLD ON SKOKIE. THE WINTER CARNIVAL WAS ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA FROM ITS LAUNCH IN JANUARY 1971. THERE WAS ONE ASPECT OF THE MULIT-TOWN EVENT HOWEVER, THAT ALWAYS BOTHERED ME AS A REPORTER, WHO COVERED IT FROM 1979 TO 1990. IT MAY HAVE BEEN THE ONE THING, A PIVOTAL CONSIDERATION, ORGANIZERS SIMPLY LOST SIGHT OF, FOR ALL THOSE YEARS HAVING THIS UNBRIDLED WINTER FUN.

GRAVENHURST HOWEVER, FOUND AN OPPORTUNITY WITH THAT MASCOT-IN-A-BOX, A FEW YEARS BACK, AND THE RESURGENCE OF CARNIVAL ENTHUSIASM SEEMS TO BE CATCHING. NOW THERE'S A NEWLY RELEASED THEME SONG, JUST FOR GRAVENHURST……AND SKOKIE ISN'T IN THE BOX ANY MORE. IN FACT, YOU'RE GOING TO BE SEEING A LOT OF THE OLD OTTER, AS THE CARNIVAL COMMITTEE BEGINS THE LEAD-UP PROMOTIONS. THE VIDEO TO ACCOMPANY THE WINTER CARNIVAL SONG, WILL FEATURE THE RAMBLINGS OF SKOKIE IN ALL THE FAMILIAR "OTTER" PLACES, HE USED TO VISIT IN GRAVENHURST, AND HE MAY EVEN PLAY A LITTLE ELECTRIC GUITAR WITH THE BAND "PRESSURE POINT," JUST TO PROVE HE'S READY TO ROCK AND ROLL!

HERE ARE SOME SIGNIFICANT COMMENTS, THAT WERE INCLUDED IN THE FIRST PROGRAM OF THE MUSKOKA WINTER CARNIVAL, PRINTED IN JANUARY OF 1971.

"THE MUSKOKA WINTER CARNIVAL WILL ADD ANOTHER RECREATIONAL EVENT TO THE YEAR-ROUND CALENDAR OF HAPPENINGS IN ONE OF ONTARIO'S FAVORITE PLAYGROUNDS. THOSE OF YOU HELPING TO LAUNCH THIS FIRST MUSKOKA CARNIVAL ARE PARTICIPATING IN WHAT WILL SURELY BECOME A MOST SUCCESSFUL ANNUAL EVENT, RESULTING IN A LARGE BOOST TO ONTARIO'S WINTER TOURISM."

PREMIER JOHN ROBARTS, IN THE WINTER OF 1971, ALSO NOTED THAT "MUSKOKA IS GENEROUSLY ENDOWED WITH NATURAL AND MAN-MADE FACILITIES FOR WINTER SPORTS. THE PROXIMITY OF LARGE POPULATION AREAS SUGGESTS THAT THE MUSKOKA WINTER CARNIVAL MAY ONE DAY BE RECOGNIZED AS A MAJOR NORTH AMERICAN EVENT."

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM, JAMES AULD SAID THAT "HOLIDAYS IN A WINTER SETTING HAVE BECOME MORE POPULAR DURING THE PAST FEW YEARS. AS A RESULT, NEW AVENUES TO PROMOTE WINTER ACTIVITIES MUST BE DEVELOPED AND ENCOURAGED. THE MUSKOKA WINTER CARNIVAL IS ONE SUCH VENTURE. THE ORGANIZERS ARE WELL AWARE OF THE MANY HOURS OF PLEASURE THAT MUSKOKA OFFERS DURING THE WINTER MONTHS. THIS CARNIVAL WILL ALLOW THOUSANDS OF VISITORS TO LEARN FOR THEMSELVES, THAT MUSKOKA IS TRULY A VACATION LAND FOR ALL SEASONS."

THE FIRST CHAIRMAN OF THE NEWLY CREATED DISTRICT OF MUSKOKA, MILTON TIBBETT, FELT THAT, "THROUGH THE MUSKOKA WINTER CARNIVAL, THE MANY PLEASURES OF THE MUSKOKA AREA DURING THE WINTER MONTHS WILL BE PUBLICIZED TO EVERYONE'S ADVANTAGE. IT IS TO BE HOPED THAT THE MUSKOKA WINTER CARNIVAL WILL HAVE THE EFFECT OF ENCOURAGING SUMMER RESIDENTS TO WINTERIZE THEIR COTTAGES AND TO PROVE TO THE VACATIONING PUBLIC THAT MUSKOKA IS THE PLACE TO ENJOY A WINTER VACATION."

MY OLD NEWSPAPER BOSS, FORMER CHAIRMAN OF THE DISTRICT OF MUSKOKA, MAYOR OF HUNTSVILLE, AND 1971 CARNIVAL CHAIRMAN, HUGH MACKENZIE, NOTED THAT, "IT IS OUR HOPE THAT YOUR EXPERIENCES HERE WILL ENCOURAGE YOU TO LOOK TO MUSKOKA IN THE FUTURE AS A PLACE TO ENJOY ALL OF YOUR WINTERTIME RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES. WE HOPE TOO, THAT THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE SUMMER COTTAGES IN THIS AREA, WILL LEARN THROUGH THIS CARNIVAL, OF THE GREAT POTENTIAL FOR WINTER FUN THAT MUSKOKA HAS TO OFFER, AND, THAT THIS WILL ENCOURAGE YOU TO WINTERIZE YOUR SUMMER HOME. WE TRUST YOU WILL DISCOVER A FRESH, NEW AND EXCITING MUSKOKA, DURING THE TIME THAT YOU SPEND WITH US." IT WAS HUGH HOWEVER, ONE OF FOUR TO INTRODUCE THE CARNIVAL, WHO DID WRITE THE LOCALLY SENSITIVE INVITATION, "WE BELIEVE THAT EVERY MEMBER OF THE FAMILY WILL FIND SOME ACTIVITY SUITED TO THEIR OUTDOOR INTERESTS DURING THIS WEEK OF FESTIVITIES."

If the re-vitalized Gravenhurst Winter Carnival, can learn anything from the protocols and mission statement of the former three town Muskoka Winter Carnival, circa 1971 onward, it will be gained by finding out where it all started to go wrong. What knocked the otter of its paws? In 1971, likely with the impetus of provincial recreational grants……I'm only guessing here, Skokie was created as a slick "Otter-kind," with a big tourism tag attached to his furry hind-quarters. From what you can read, in the bulk of editorial welcomes, contained in the 1971 official program….which by the way cost fifty cents, it's clearly the case, the local population wasn't the primary target of the "big show." It was the mistake that kept on-giving, (but mostly taking away) and the reason it eventually faltered, unlike similar independent events in Port Carling and Port Sydney……that did one thing right after another, to earn their multi-decade success story. "Don't forget the local population." In 1971 it was largely expected, the local population would be glad to welcome tourists to Muskoka in the off-season. Would be delighted to serve as bartenders, log sawing monitors, race officials, polar bear dip attendants, and well, the human body beneath the Skokie fur. While locals weren't excluded, they weren't exactly invited with open arms to join the festivities. Hugh Mackenzie came the closest to actually inviting Muskokans to their own party. But it certainly wasn't the mission statement of the event, and that's clear, in the content of the official carnival welcomes, including one right from the office, of the Premier of Ontario.

In the past two years, the organizing committee of the Gravenhurst Winter Carnival has impressed me, because it seems much more community-oriented as a mainstay of operations. While certainly not a closed event, where tourists are discouraged from attending, it seems to be running opposite to what the Muskoka Winter Carnival set about to do, when its tradition began, that January in 1971. As a long serving member of the local press, it was the same focus each year, and frankly, you could see this play for tourism appeal, causing local citizens to lose interest generally…..and in all towns it became harder to get volunteers. That's not hard to understand really, because it was all about bringing money to Muskoka, and recognition to Ontario's off-season tourism attractions……and not really about giving the local population something nice to look forward to, during a tough Canadian winter. They saw themselves as helping the business community to profit, but not benefitting the community dynamic itself. What about local families? What about the kids? Our own? Couldn't we have something special for our own population to enjoy too. It's not as if we aren't hospitable to all comers, because we are….and that's a proven fact since tourism began in the 1870's in this region of Ontario. But there are times, when we forget how hard our population works, to serve the tourism economy, and how little respect is shown for all their efforts.

I support the Gravenhurst Winter Carnival, precisely because I see it as a community-inspired event, "for the community," and organized by citizens who are proud of their home town and home region. It shows. It may be the true success of revamped protocol, that guarantees this smaller version, of the former Muskoka Winter Carnival, succeeds in building a bigger and better legacy. In 1971, I would have expected that the Winter Carnival would have been aimed at the local population as the first consideration. Why not? I would have expected then, by the second, third, even 10th Winter Carnival, that there would have been the common sense, amongst organizers, to make sure our communities were truly, passionately onboard, and feeling good about the inclusive nature of the winter fete. Fun for one and all. Not just fun for some. And that the primary incentive behind the festival, was to generate a "local" tradition……a blend of excitement and commerce, from the locals, willing to invest in their home towns, in the enchanted glow of the winter sun. But the mantra from 1971 never ceased. It was a tourism venue. An allure for bored urbanites, for cottagers, with winterized abodes, to come out and enjoy the winter festivities. And yes, the stalwart locals were supposed to staff these tourism-generating venues. For decades the mission of organizers, was to one up the Quebec Winter Carnival, and out-class Ottawa, and its legendary canal-skate. It was stated, as such, on the eve of the very first Muskoka Carnival Event…..that it could become the "most exciting Winter Carnival in Canada." Well, folks, it didn't. Not even close. The missing component? The support of the community. Not just those with a vested financial interest in a tourism spike. All citizens who called Muskoka home. I can remember people saying to me, when I was working on carnival stories, "It's not for us. It's for the tourists." We all knew it. We just didn't put it in Herald-Gazette editorials. Instead we opted for the status quo approach, and ran full page photo spreads, to show how successful the carnivals were……and every year it was the same thing. But the carnival committees were simply adopting the format from that first event. The organizers were local citizens, caring, dedicated, generous folks, who just carried on, from year to year, unfortunately ignoring what was eating away at the foundation of the program.

The volunteers of the Gravenhurst Winter Carnival need the support of the community first. If they keep the event full of hometown values, they will build up a new tradition, and will eventually earn the coveted status, achieved by winter venues in Port Carling and Port Sydney, that continue to thrive in a tight partnership with the community. There's more to Muskoka than tourism. We need to be kinder to the folks who reside here year round…..who raise families here, and who are often neglected here. Folks who would love to be invited to a party. People who would love to join a good neighbor movement, to build a better, stronger, more dynamic home town. The Winter Carnival Committee is moving in this direction, and I'm so abundantly pleased that the Town of Gravenhurst is playing a strong supporting role in the re-development of this wonderful tradition…….that got Skokie back out of the box.

I believe in this "for the community" "home town" initiative so much, I asked my musician sons, Andrew and Robert, if they would consider composing, and performing a new-age song for the Gravenhurst Winter Carnival committee, as an act of volunteerism, to support their hard work bringing back some winter magic to Gravenhurst. As their relative, Brad Veitch and wife Bonnie, performed their Winter Carnival Song, back in the 1970's, I thought the young homeowners should also give it a shot today. And with lead singer Dani O'Connor, guitarist, Aaron Binder, and guest singers, Jon O'Connor, and Ray Parsons, Robert and Andrew came through with, what I believe, is a "new beginnings" song, to herald this year's Gravenhurst Winter Carnival. The talent for the song and video……all local. There's a lot more where that came from.

I think the committee volunteers deserve a lot of credit for carrying on this tradition, and we hope this song will help raise some interest from all corners of the community and beyond, to join Skokie for a heck of a weekend in late February. As a reporter, I admit it, covering Winter Carnival wasn't my favorite assignment. I never dressed appropriately. My feet were frozen, fingers frosted, and camera seized up. This year, I'm going to dress for the occasion…..Otter-like.

You can check out the new song by clicking on……. http://youtu.be/BdQWgg-W3qk

Coming soon, will be a Winter Carnival video to accompany the music. I'll let you know when it makes it to YouTube.

Retiring To Antiques, Wait, Until We are 67....

2012-01-27T17:47:00.000-08:00

PENSION REFORM, FOOD BANKS, SENIORS FACING POVERTY, AND CITIZEN BENEVOLENCE

RAISING THE PENSION AGE TO 67 MEANS FOOD BANKS WILL BE NEEDED FOREVER -

MY RETIREMENT ANTIQUE BUSINESS, GADS, I'M GOING TO NEED TO UPGRADE MY PLAN -

SOMEONE ASKED ME ONE DAY, ABOUT OUR FAMILY'S SUPPORT OF THE LOCAL FOOD BANK, OPERATED BY THE GRAVENHURST SALVATION ARMY. IT WAS ONE OF THOSE QUESTIONS THAT I KNEW CAME FROM A PARTICULAR BIAS, AND THAT NO MATTER HOW I ANSWERED IT, THE RESULT WAS GOING TO BE THE SAME. SOME FOLKS OUT THERE BELIEVE THAT IF THERE WERE NO FOOD BANKS, FOLKS NEEDING THEM NOW, WOULD BE FORCED INTO SELF PRESERVATION MODE, TO SEEK OTHER MEANS TO FILL THE VOID…..OTHER WAYS IN WHICH TO SURVIVE. THEY SEE THE PROBLEM BEING RELIANCE ON SOCIAL CUSHIONING, SUCH THAT INITIATIVE, INCENTIVE AND RESOURCEFULNESS ARE TURNED INTO A MUSH OF FREE-FALL DEPENDENCE INSTEAD……AND THAT FREE ENTERPRISE AND GUMPTION, ARE THE MEND-ALL, TO GET PEOPLE OFF UNEMPLOYMENT, AND OF COURSE, SOCIAL ASSISTANCE.

I GREW UP IN A HOUSEHOLD WHERE THIS WAS BANDIED ABOUT FREQUENTLY, AND EVEN THOUGH MY PARENTS WEREN'T WELL OFF AT ALL, THEY HAD LITTLE SYMPATHY FOR SINGLE PARENTS, THOSE WHO COULDN'T GET JOBS, OR "LAZY" FOLKS WHO WERE CONTENT TO LET THE PROVINCE DO THE WORK FOR THEM. AS A FORMER EDITOR WITH THE MUSKOKA PRESS, LET ME TELL YOU, MY FIRST RULE OF PERSONAL CONDUCT, WAS TO MAKE IT CLEAR I DIDN'T SUPPORT OR CONDONE THE OPINIONS OF MY PARENTS. IN THE STRICTEST MORAL SENSE, I LEFT MANY CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM UNFINISHED, BECAUSE I COULD NOT AGREE WITH THEIR POINT OF VIEW, AND RATHER THAN TRYING TO CHANGE THEIR OPINION……I LET WELL ENOUGH ALONE. THEY DIDN'T HAVE BLOGS THEN, AND THEY NEVER SENT LETTERS TO THE EDITOR, PRONOUNCING THAT THOSE ON SOCIAL ASSISTANCE SHOULD BE PUT IN THE ARMED FORCES. I LOVED THEM DEARLY, BUT THEY WERE OF HARD-CORE OPINION, AGAINST THOSE THEY ALLEGED TO BE FREELOADERS OF SOCIAL ASSISTANCE, WHO COULD BE "HOLE DIGGING" SOMEWHERE ON THIS CONTINENT TO EARN THEIR KEEP. DOING SOMETHING PRODUCTIVE. NOT JUST SUCKING BACK THE BEER AT THE LOCAL WATERING HOLE, AND COMPLAINING ABOUT THEIR MISFORTUNES.

WHAT REALLY INFLUENCED ME ABOUT NEED IN THIS REGION OF SOUTH MUSKOKA, WAS WHEN ROGER CROZIER INVITED ME TO JOIN HIS SOON-TO-BE CREATED CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION, BACK IN THE MID 1990'S. AFTER WORKING FOR SOME TIME ON HIS BIOGRAPHY, AND HAVING HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT ROGER AT HIS WORK PLACE, IN DELAWARE, KNOWN AS MBNA, HE PUT HIS HAND ON MY SHOULDER ONE AFTERNOON, AND ASKED ME IF I'D CONSIDER WORKING AS A PUBLIC RELATIONS DIRECTOR, WHEN THE CHARITY WAS OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED LATER THAT YEAR. I WAS SPEECHLESS. ROGER HAD GONE FROM NHL NETMINDER FROM THE ORIGINAL SIX, TO A CORPORATE GIANT FOR THIS LARGE AND EXPANDING BANK. I JUST NODDED BECAUSE FRANKLY I COULDN'T SAY ANYTHING THAT MADE SENSE, I WAS SO FREAKING EXCITED TO BE EXTENDED THIS HONOR.

ROGER HAD A HUGE SOFT-SPOT FOR KIDS WHO DIDN'T HAVE THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT, TO REMOVE ECONOMIC BARRIERS, IN PURSUIT OF THEIR SPORTS INTERESTS. ROGER, A KID FROM A FAMILY OF 14, IN BRACEBRIDGE, ACKNOWLEDGED THE SUPPORT OF MANY CITIZENS IN THE COMMUNITY, FOR HELPING HIM DURING HIS MINOR HOCKEY DAYS, AND THEN OFFERING HIM A RANGE OF ASSISTANCE, AND TRANSPORTATION, WHEN HE JOINED THE RANKS OF JUNIOR A PLAY, IN SOUTHERN ONTARIO. IT WAS ONE OF THE REASONS HE WANTED TO GIVE SOMETHING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY, FOR HAVING ASSISTED HIM TO ACHIEVE HIS GOALS IN HOCKEY. HE WENT ON TO A SOLID CAREER WITH THE DETROIT RED WINGS, BUFFALO SABRES AND WASHINGTON CAPITALS.

The Crozier Foundation gave our family an inside opportunity to see how investment in our regional youth, could make a difference in their lives. How close were we? Real close. Suzanne, Andrew, Robert and I, tended to food services for many years, during the summer skating and hockey camp, held at the Bracebridge Arena. The Foundation paid the works. New skates, new hockey equipment, sweaters, with excellent coaching, off-ice entertainment, and lots and lots of food. We were given the wonderful chore of feeding these kids, and what fun it was, to see these ecstatic campers coming off the ice, big smiles on their faces, delighted to have fresh fruit by the tray-load, and block cheese slices, cold meat, buns and many desert items including squares that we made with the campers as part of the program. These were kids from families who would not have been able to afford such an inclusive camp program…..which in real terms would have cost a lot to attend otherwise. But the Foundation was unrelenting with their funding, and we could see the impact of benevolence in campers' demeanor…..year over year, as there were many returning youngsters. It was just as powerful an experience to us, running the food component of the camp, over five days, as it was for the kids themselves. Through no fault of their own, these youngsters were missing important opportunities in life, and even though this was only a reprieve for one week out of the year, it was was looked forward to, and to this day, quite a few years later, young adults will come up to us, and remind us that they knew us from the Crozier camp. That makes us feel good as well.

So when someone, and they do frequently, inquires about our present day involvement with the Salvation Army, on a number of fronts (but not belonging to the church itself), we attempt to explain, how nice it feels to help the less fortunate deal with tough times. And for those who have a little edge to their questioning, or a pre-conceived idea that getting welfare is a cop-out from finding the resourcefulness within, to get a job, well I don't waste a lot of time trying to make converts to my / our way of thinking. If they persist, I might suggest to them, that they join me some time, to help at the Salvation Army, and talk with the Captain, about what they see every day of the week, throughout the year. I will of course invite them to visit, for free, one of our annual benefit concerts, our musician sons and friends, put on as a fundraiser for the food bank, at Christmas…..to see for themselves how nice it is to support a church that never blinks when it comes to shouldering the task of helping the less fortunate…..and how grateful they are for kindnesses bestowed…..when what we are doing…..in fact, is the bare minimum of being good and caring neighbors, with hometown values. When Jacob Marley's ghost tells Ebenezer Scrooge that "Mankind was our business," in the classic book, "A Christmas Carol," can you find for me, any more profound statement, that describes how we should act towards all of humanity……those able to live comfortably, and those who can not afford the comforts we so often, and casually take for granted?

My parents lived to be quite elderly, and could claim with accuracy, they had worked long and hard for most of their lives. My father was in the Royal Canadian Navy during World War II, and I was enormously proud of his contribution to our enduring freedom. I told him so. I wrote an editorial piece about Ed, in my weekly newspaper column, expressing a son's pride for his father's sacrifices. He was a kid when he went to war. I know he like the column, because we found it tucked inside one of his favorite books, when clearing up his estate.

Yet folks, as staunch as these people were, about social assistance, and those who shouldn't get it, they themselves absolutely required every cent of their government pensions, in order to survive….even to have balanced diets. They took what ever supplements they were entitled…..and they said that was because "We worked all our lives. We deserve this." When my mother entered a nursing home, Ed had no choice but to apply for assistance……as the costs would have bankrupted him. It was in this period, he mellowed a tad, and wasn't so quick to critique the social assistance network. As it was, my parents, at this late time in their lives, were a financial disaster. While it was resolved with some family intervention, it wasn't my dad's happiest moment, to relay this state of the union……and that he was going to need the pension supplement to stay in his apartment……and occasionally have some meat to eat.

There are unfair and ugly circumstances we face in this mortal coil, that we don't believe will happen to nice, conscientious people. While pontificating now, sitting confidently in our armchairs, it doesn't seem possible we could be struck down by a medical crisis, that would eat away at the retirement nest egg. It seems impossible that this could happen…….when everything else is so good…..when even the tap doesn't drip, or the spider doesn't clutter up the high corners with webs…..or there's never another unsolicited telemarketer to ring the phone. Stuff happens. Life is just like that. And when my father was in great financial peril, and had a huge debt to deal with, the government gave him a supplement, and his family came to the rescue. It's just what the system of support is supposed to do. Right? Now suppose we weren't able to offer this assistance when it was most critically needed? And he, for some reason, couldn't have qualified for a supplement? So here was a veteran, on a tight financial budget, in peril of being tossed out of his apartment. Yup, he wasn't the best on budgeting, but then again, my mother's prescriptions were an enormous strain on their budget. We didn't blame the government for the shortfalls of our family. But it would have been a lot worse, without the pension safety net. What are our seniors facing here?

Now how many Canadians are presently in this danger zone? How many more are quickly on their way toward disaster? Too many!

Pension reform? Food banks have just been guaranteed they'll never be forced out of business, due to lack of demand.

And just in case you think the underlying current here is a political stripe, well, it isn't so. I do not belong to any political party, and have no plan to join one, any time soon. If they should ask me to join, I'd given them that classic Woody Allen come-back, that "I wouldn't belong to any group that would have a guy like me as a member."

ANTIQUE BUSINESS HAS LONG BEEN MY CHOICE OF RRSP - SO 67 WILL SOON BE THE MAGIC NUMBER FOR PENSION

SUZANNE AND I BEGAN BIRCH HOLLOW ANTIQUES, SHORTLY AFTER SON ANDREW WAS BORN, IN THE LATE 1980'S, AS A BIG HEAD START TO A RETIREMENT BUSINESS. OUR PLAN WAS TO SLOWLY AND PROPORTIONALLY BUILD THE BUSINESS NAME UP, OVER THE DECADES SHE WORKED AS A TEACHER. I HAD LEFT MY NEWSPAPER EMPLOYMENT IN 1990, TO BECOME A FULL TIME MR. MOM, WHILE OPERATING OUR SMALL CO-OP SHOP IN BRACEBRIDGE. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN VERY CONCERNED ABOUT PENSION DEFICIENCIES AND ALTHOUGH I'VE CONTRIBUTED, IT PROBABLY HASN'T BEEN ENOUGH TO PROVIDE MUCH FUTURE INCOME FROM A GOVERNMENT SOURCE. SO SINCE WE LAUNCHED THE BUSINESS, IT HAS BEEN A PRIORITY TO LONG-RANGE PLAN FOR ANTIQUES AND COLLECTIBLES, TO BE THE ROCKET BOOSTERTHAT KEEPS US CHUGGING ALONG WELL INTO THE FUTURE. I KNOW A LOT OF FOLKS WHO HAVE DONE THE SAME THING…..RETIRING TO PURSUE THEIR PREVIOUS PASSTIME, OF ANTIQUE HUNTING AND GATHERING, GOING PRO WHEN THE NINE TO FIVE, FIVE DAYS A WEEK, ENDS WITH THE GOLD WATCH…..OR FRAMED CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION.

WHEN YOU READ ABOUT THE POTENTIAL CHANGES COMING TO PENSION BENEFITS IN CANADA, AND ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS BEING CONSIDERED, BY GOLLY, I'M GLAD WE STARTED PLANNING A LONG TIME AGO FOR RETIREMENT. THERE ARE PEOPLE I KNOW RIGHT NOW, WHO WOULD BE DEVASTATED IF THIS CAME INTO BEING SOONER THAN LATER. WE HAVE LONG BEEN FASTIDIOUS ABOUT SOCKING RESOURCES AWAY, IN PREPARATION FOR A TIME WHEN THINGS WOULD BE LEANER THAN TODAY. THE ANTIQUE BUSINESS HAS BEEN MY PASSION SINCE EARLY ADULTHOOD, BUT IT COULD NOT STAND ON ITS OWN AS I HAVE TRIED TWICE, IN TWO MAINSTREET LOCATIONS. EACH TIME, RENTAL COSTS AND INSURANCE PUSHED US BACK INTO THE RANK OF "ATTIC DEALERS" PURSUING SALE VENUES, ANTIQUES SHOWS, OPEN AIR MARKETS, AND ONLINE SALES, WHICH FOR MOST OF A DECADE, WERE A REAL BOON TO OUR BUSINESS ECONOMY.

BUT TRUTHFULLY, WE WANTED A BUSINESS FOR OURSELVES, THAT WAS MUCH SLOWER PACED THAN HAVING A MAIN STREET RETAIL LOCATION AGAIN. WE WANT THE FREEDOM TO BE ABLE TO SELL WHERE WE WANT, AND WHAT WE WANT, ON A SCALE THAT ALLOWS A LOT MORE DOWN-TIME, AND A MUCH LESS DEMANDING PACE. WE'VE GOT A FEW YEARS TO GO YET, TO FINALIZE THE RETIREMENT PROTOCOL. THE PRESENT GOVERNMENT MAY HAVE TACKED ON A COUPLE OF EXTRA YEARS, WITH THESE PROPOSED CHANGES FOR BENEFITS. AS A FORMER REPORTER, WHO COVERED A LOT OF GOVERNMENT PROTOCOLS IN THE PAST, IT'S JUST MORE OF THE SAME……AND IT WILL HAVE CONSEQUENCES LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE……AND IT WILL DEMAND A FULL RE-EXAMINATION OF OUR BUSINESS PLANS. MANY FOLKS ARE IN THE SAME BOAT…..SO WE'VE GOT LOTS OF COMPANY, SCRAMBLING TO MAKE PREPARATIONS FOR WHAT NOW SEEMS INEVITABLE. FOR OUR BOYS, STILL IN THEIR EARLY 20'S, IT WILL BE A LOT DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE'VE ENJOYED OF THE PENSION SYSTEM IN THIS COUNTRY TO DATE. THEY NEED TO BE PUTTING A LOT MORE MONEY AWAY FOR THOSE YEARS. PROBABLY AS MUCH AS 20 PERCENT OF THEIR ANNUAL INCOME. RIGHT NOW IT'S JUST NOT POSSIBLE. NOT MUCH WE CAN DO ABOUT THAT REALITY. YOU STASH AWAY WHAT YOU CAN AFFORD.

Back when we had our main street Bracebridge shop, which struggled through the huge damnation of the early 1990's recession, that devalued our new house $30,000 in less than a year, I had the chance to talk with quite a few visitors who had been retired prematurely by business collapses and widespread lay-offs. You know, it was the only time, I hated being in the antique trade. The misery I saw face to face over my counter, was simply awful, in an environs we had been so proud of, and eager to expand. I can't tell you how many times, I was asked to come out to a car in the parking lot, to see some family heirlooms for sale. The unfortunate reality was that we were on about the same level of newfound poverty. I'd lost three significant means of employment by 1991, including a writing job, a weekly radio gig, a museum position, and a retail downturn that was hurting the antique trade. If I'd had money this would have been the time to invest big time, because there wasn't a day in the shop, I wasn't forced to deal with some heart-wrenching story, from some poor soul who didn't have enough money to feed themselves, let alone the family I saw in those cars…….some of them doubling as cosy residences on wheels. Half the time I'd look in the trunks of these cars, and see nothing but second hand items, and junk frankly that had no cash value whatsoever……yet these people held high hope they could get some gas and grocery money. I didn't even have money to offer them, as a act of generosity. We had a young family as well, and a honking big mortgage on a devalued house. I don't know how many times I said to Suzanne that I couldn't stand being in there any more. It was too depressing.

The folks looking over the counter at me were desperate. Not desperate enough to rob me, but to offer me jewelry off their body to get gas money. I had one woman ask for a loan of twenty bucks, that she would repay the next day. I didn't even have twenty dollars in the money box, as I'd bought other items off people, who showed up at opening each morning. When I tried to explain to her that I was pretty low, and really couldn't afford to offer a loan, she began taking off the gold rings on her fingers, tossing them in front of me. "Please, please can you give me twenty dollars, so I can buy gas for my car." I'm not a jeweler but I knew the value of the rings was way over twenty dollars worth…..and when she started to cry, I confess to great weakness, and gave her the money I had in the till, money from an envelope I had prepared for a consignor later that day, and about ten bucks I had in my pocket. It was more than the twenty bucks she asked for, but I couldn't handle the tears. She took the money, thanked me, ran up the stairs, and I just sat there thinking that this was not a good line of work for me. This wasn't the profession I had dreamed of, for all those years. I was becoming a pawn shop, and I began disliking what was supposed to be my life's work…..our retirement business. I knew a shop format was not for me. I couldn't take rejecting these people, and I certainly didn't like buying their heirloom pieces for a tiny fraction of their actual value….because I couldn't offer anywhere near what I should have…..and they couldn't afford to turn low-ball offers down.

You know, we still have those rings, from the lady, tucked away in a box, thinking that one day I will meet her again…..because I'd never forget her…..just to give those rings back. I certainly could never sell them, that's for sure. It just wouldn't be right, benefitting from her misery. We've always been careful what we buy and pay close attention to the circumstances that afford our buying opportunities. What we tolerated for five years in that store-front, did very much change my opinion of being in this trade during economic calamities. I don't want to own a pawn shop. I don't have the capitalist killer instinct some folks have, and I concur with Dickens old Fezziwig, that there is more to life than money……and that a business is also a way of life, one comes to know and appreciate. This time period in the antique trade, very nearly forced me to quit the business altogether. But the positives have always outweighed the negatives, especially now that we're back on track as retirement antiquers.

There is no moral to the story. We aren't model antique dealers, and we suspect most established business folks who read this, will think of us a pathetic, bleeding heart, moralists, who should join a commune, instead of running a business in the first place. We've always welcomed criticism. And we've always made the disclaimer, that we are not role models in the trade. We are antique dealers because we love history, and the items produced during historic times. We wish to carry on the trade until the end…..and it would be an honor, if the last transaction, of an old heart, was the successful purchase of a long sought-after painting…..for my family to enjoy…….and my last wish, for a few moments before the grim reaper's harvest, to enjoy the milestones of an enterprise I forged from passion…… and not much more. So I won't be retiring from the antique business. It will retire me!

Thanks so much for joining today's blog.

Sports Memorabilia, Hockey, Rimstead, Eddie Shack

2012-01-26T17:37:00.001-08:00

THE OLD HOCKEY JERSEY, PAUL RIMSTEAD, AND A BOOK ABOUT EDDY SHACK -

THE BOOK RIMSTEAD DIDN'T FINISH, BUT ROSS BREWITT DID

IN THE FIELD OF ANTIQUES AND COLLECTIBLES, MY DEPTH OF APPRECIATION GOES MUCH DEEPER THAN SUZANNE'S. I WON'T SAY THIS TO HER FACE, AND SHE WON'T READ ANYTHING I WRITE. THAT'S NICE EH? SINCE WE MARRIED, THE ONLY TIME SUZANNE WILL READ ANYTHING I'VE COMPOSED, IS WHEN IT'S A NOTE ON THE FRIDGE , TELLING HER I'VE GONE OUT WITH THE BOYS FOR A BEER. GUESS WHAT SHE DOES WITH THAT NOTE?

AS WE ARE AN EFFERVESCENT COUPLE, ALWAYS READY TO DEBATE THE OTHER INTO GENTLE MEADOW-LIKE OBLIVION, SHE WILL ARGUE, FOR EXAMPLE, WHAT CONSTITUTES FULL FLEDGED PROVENANCE. IN REGARDS TO WHAT I WEIGH AS BEING IMPORTANT PROVENANCE, ATTACHED TO A SPECIFIC PIECE. WHILE SHE AND I DISAGREE ABOUT WHAT CASUAL PROVENANCE MIGHT MEAN……SUCH AS A BOOK MARTHA STEWART HAS SINGED, OR A COOKERY POT SHE MAY HAVE USED ON ONE OF HER SHOWS. I'LL TAKE THE BOOK OBVIOUSLY, BUT I LIKE WHAT IS ATTACHED TO THE POT. FOR ME IT'S SIGNIFICANT, THOUGH SHE CHALLENGES ME ABOUT HOW MUCH SOMETHING LIKE THAT IS WORTH. NOT A LOT, OF COURSE, UNLESS MARTHA SIGNED THAT AS WELL. BUT IF I CAN GIVE AN ACCURATE PROVENANCE FOR A PIECE, SUCH AS THE EXAMPLE GIVEN, IT WILL SELL FASTER THAN THE SAME COOKERY COLLECTIBLE WITHOUT A STORY ATTACHED. SO THIS IS THE PREAMBLE OF JUST SUCH A STORY……. ABOUT A SMELLY OLD HOCKEY COLLECTIBLE THOUGHT TO BE OF SENTIMENTAL VALUE ALONE. I DISAGREE. HERE'S HOW IT CAME DOWN, AT BIRCH HOLLOW ONE DAY.

AWHILE BACK, SUZANNE BEGAN CULLING OUR CLOTHES. KIND OF LIKE THE FEBRUARY 2ND APPEARANCE OF THE GROUNDHOG. SHE LIKES TO GET A HEAD-START ON SPRING CLEANING. THERE'S A PARALLEL GROUNDHOG-LIKE TRADITION HERE, AT BIRCH HOLLOW, WHEN SUZANNE GETS THAT GLINT IN HER EYE…….AND, LIKE A LASER BEAM, STARES AT MY CLOSET. SHE HAS SHOWN IN THE PAST, A WILLINGNESS TO GET RID OF A WARDROBE, WHILE I'M STILL CONTENTLY WEARING IT. WE ALWAYS SEND OUR GOOD QUALITY CLOTHES DONATIONS, TO THE GRAVENHURST SALVATION ARMY, AND I'M SURE EACH TIME I ARRIVE WITH DONATION BAGS, THE STAFF WINKS AT ONE ANOTHER……"MRS CURRIE'S MAKING TED CHANGE HIS CLOTHES AGAIN." IN FAIRNESS, SHE DOES THE SAME THING WITH HER OWN CLOTHING, AND LINENS, SEVERAL TIMES A YEAR. NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT UNTIL IT GETS PERSONAL. I HATE BEING TOLD, "YOU DON'T WANT THAT ANY MORE….SURELY!!!" ESPECIALLY IF I HAVE SOME STRANGE ATTACHMENT TO THE PIECE…..AS FOR EXAMPLE THE "WRITING SWEATER" I'M WEARING RIGHT NOW. IT'S DAMN-NEAR IMPOSSIBLE TO EXPLAIN TO MY DEAR WIFE, WHY AN OLD SWEATER HELPS ME COMPOSE. I DON'T EVEN UNDERSTAND IT, BUT I AM SUPERSTITIOUS ABOUT THINGS LIKE THIS. ARE YOU? MAYBE IF I ALSO EXPLAIN THAT I WAS A LONG-SERVING GOALTENDER, WHO I'M TOLD, HAD SOME PRETTY INTERESTING HABITS IN THE GOAL CREASE. I DON'T REMEMBER THIS MYSELF, OTHER THAN THE DANCE I HAD TO DO IN ORDER TO KEEP MY FEET FROM FREEZING, IN THOSE NATURAL ICE ARENAS, IN PORT CARLING, BALA, MACTIER AND BAYSVILLE. TEAM-MATES TELL ME NOW ABOUT MY "HITTING" THE GOALPOSTS WITH MY STICK, THREE TIMES ON EACH SIDE (NOW THAT'S NOT PECULIAR. IT WAS GOAL CREASE POSITIONING), "THE BOB-UP AND DOWNS" BETWEEN A WHISTLE AND THE FACE-OFF, THE CONSTANT SIDE TO SIDE SLIDING, EVEN WHEN THE PUCK WAS IN THE OTHER END, AND THE INCESSANT "TALKING TO MYSELF," THAT ALWAYS CONFOUNDED THE DEFENSE, WHEN THEY THOUGHT I WAS TALKING TO THEM ABOUT THE INCOMING FORWARDS. HECK I WAS TALKING TO JESUS, PRAYING THAT I WOULDN'T GET ANOTHER SLAPSHOT IN THE NECK OR WORSE. AS GOALTENDERS GO, THIS ISN'T STRANGE AT ALL.

ANYWAY, I DIGRESS FROM MY WIFE'S CLOTHING CULL. WHEN SHE CAME TO ME WITH MY ORIGINAL "RINK RAT" HOCKEY SWEATER, MOTIONING THAT IT WAS "GOING IN THE BAG," I MADE A ROGER CROZIER DIVE FOR THE PUCK, AND GOT A SWEATER INSTEAD. "YOU'RE NOT DONATING THIS HOCKEY SWEATER……IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME," I SAID. "ALL THESE CLOTHES ARE IMPORTANT TO YOU, TED, BUT SOMETIMES WE JUST HAVE TO LET GO," SHE ANSWERED WITH GLAZED OVER EYES, AND DEEP FURROWS ON HER BROW. "THIS WAS THE VERY FIRST RINK RAT SWEATER EVER MADE," I RETORTED, ANGRY I HAD TO DEFEND MY SPORTS HERITAGE TO SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T EVEN LIKE HOCKEY. "IT'S JUST A RATTY OLD HOCKEY JERSEY THAT YOU NEVER WEAR," SHE CHALLENGED. "IT'S TOO SMALL FOR ME NOW," I STATED RATHER BASHFULLY AT THIS POINT, LOOKING DOWN AT MY PROTRUDING GUT. "SO THERE YOU GO, ALL THE MORE REASON TO TOSS IT IN THAT BAG," SHE POINTED OUT, ONE HAND ON MY SWEATER, THE OTHER ON THE DONATION BAG. "IT'S NOT GOING ANYWHERE," I BLURTED, AND TUCKED IT UNDER MY ARM, AND DID A NEAT DEKE AROUND HER, AND OUT THE BEDROOM DOOR. I HID IT IN MY ARCHIVES ROOM. DON'T TELL HER. ACTUALLY SHE DOESN'T LIKE THE FACT THERE ARE SPIDERS DOWN THERE, SO SHE TENDS TO STAY CLEAR.

So here's the story of the Herald-Gazette Rink Rat sweater. First of all, there was a young artist by the name of Chris Minz, I believe, and he was asked by a friend of one of the players, if he could design a logo for our newspaper hockey team……which I had named The Rink Rats. The co-founder of the team was Brant Scott, one of the newspaper's star reporters. When we got the artist's drawing to peruse, we knew it was a winner and raced to get it transferred to hockey jerseys. They were done in the blue and white color tradition of the Toronto Maple Leafs…..which even at the time, kind of destined us to last place as a matter of routine. The problem was, the guy who had them made up for us, got the sizes mixed up very badly. When I say this, there is no exaggeration on my part. We were so excited to open up the box of new…..and very expensive sweaters, holding them up for the camera before trying them on, that it was too late to issue a warning about the fact……..well, they had been ordered from a minor hockey catalogue. Now at that time, the only lightweight on the whole team was goaltender Harry Ranger, who was about three feet tall standing on ten phone books. So his sweater fit. His was the only one. For about a half hour, the big lads of the Rink Rats fought a losing battle……and we hadn't even made it to the ice yet. We were so determined to make those sweaters fit, we just pulled those suckers down hard over the gear and the guts, and got stuck…..real bad, such that a few of us couldn't even drop our arms. I thought I was going to suffocate, tangled up in this tiny hockey jersey. If you can imagine the carnage of fat guys in small sweaters; it was all quite hilarious, and this was just the dressing-room scene. You should have seen us on the ice. Now that was funny. If we fell, we needed help to get up. Over the years, before we could afford new hockey sweaters, we had stretched the fabric pretty well, to use them for practice games at least.

So here was a special game. Brant had gone to work to arrange a benefit hockey game, in support of our Rink Rat team-mate, Harold Sher, also the coach of the Bracebridge Blades Precision Skating Team. He was able to secure the CKVR No-Stars, and the battle was touted as the supreme test between the durability of the print media, over the folks who have it easy in electronic news…..print versus television. We were tougher by far, and all you had to look at, was our snug fitting attire, to know just how aggressive we were. It took about fifteen minutes of grunting and twisting, and begging God for assistance, to get those sweaters on. Only the goaltender's sweater fit, and the rest of us looked really big and mean in those tight, short sweaters. True enough. Looks can be deceiving. Anyway, Brant thought it would be neat to invite Toronto Sun Columnist Paul Rimstead, back home to his native Bracebridge, to call the play by play from the arena gondola. Geez, we were stunned when he phoned back and agreed to the do the gig. So we went nuts on publicity. Brant wrote it up in his column, and I did the same in mine, which then was called "From the Bleachers." We both had lots of readers and with CKVR doing roughly the same type of promotion, it became clear, well before the actual game, that Harold Sher was going to get lots of money to help The Blades finance their travel requirements to competitions.

When I arrived at the rink early, there was Paul standing in the lobby with Miss Hinky, soon to be his wife, well known to readers of his daily Toronto Sun column. A lot of folks then didn't recognize Paul or Miss Hinky, and that was good, because they would have been mobbed by the huge crowd that had turned out. It would be one of the largest crowds ever at the Bracebridge Arena since its construction. We had know idea this was even possible. We found out later, hundreds had come out to see Paul Rimstead…..not the game.

So we ushered Paul down to our dressing room to meet with the Rink Rats, who at this time, were performing the pre-game ritual of trying to get into the damn sweaters, which was never easy or done in a timely fashion. I don't know what was going on in my mind, but I offered Paul my sweater to put on for a photograph, Brant wanted to take, for the next issue of The Herald-Gazette. I knew it was going to happen, because Paul had a similar gut as my own, but that was the finishing-dilemma. It got stuck going over his head, and it didn't get any better after that. i though we were going to have to call for the jaws of life, or a taylor with shears to cut him out of the Rink Rat blues, before he suffocated. It took three Rink Rats to help pull the sweater down, so Brant could take a photo of Paul, in a rat-faced sweater, while wearing a white stetson. It made a great photograph. But trying to get that sweater off wasn't without adventure either. Let's just say it was a team effort to free the man. He went on to call the play by play from the gondola, and enjoy the ovation he was afforded, for his accomplishments in………of course, the print media.

Knowing my affection for Paul Rimstead, and his brilliant writing career, Suzanne dropped her case against the sweater, tied up the bag, and we agreed never to re-visit this issue again. And I also hid it, far, far away, just in case she was crossing her fingers, while she made that promise.

Quite a while after Paul died, I got to know hockey writer, public speaker Ross Brewitt, who I'd written a story about for the local press, when he appeared at a local book shop to sign copies of his newest book, which I think was "Last Minute of Play." I actually helped him get his regular syndicated column published up here, and we worked on a couple of other projects, including a public speaking engagement with the Crozier Foundation, when he gave a roast for Roger, and his days playing net for the Detroit Red Wings, Buffalo Sabres and Washington Capitals. One day we were chatting, and I happened to mention that he really should talk to his friend Eddie Shack, about the possibility of finishing what Rimstead had begun many years earlier. Ed and Paul were great friends, and there is even a famous picture of Paul and Miss Hinky following their wedding at Niagara Falls, with Eddie Shack, in a "novelty" barrel (backdrop), appearing as if they are tumbling over the falls together. Brewitt was the one writer who I thought could capture Eddie as well as Rimstead, so when I heard later that the two had got together, and the project was a "go," geez, that made me feel real good. I was invited down to the book launch but I got snowed-in, at home here in Gravenhurst. I got signed copies of the books for sons Andrew and Robert.

I was just happy that Rimstead's promise to write Shack's biography came to some fruition after all. With the books, I'm giving the boys my Rink Rats sweaters. Andrew, the oldest, gets the new one that actually fits, and Robert, who shares my enthusiasm for Rimmer, will get the one he was trapped in…..for those nervous moments before facing the 1,700 fans, many who were there to congratulate the kid who made it to the big leagues……becoming one of Canada's best known and loved newspaper columnists. He lived hard and died young. And there were a million fans left to mourn his passing.

For about four years, I had my old Rink Rat Sweater hanging in our antique shop, on display-only, with a note attached, about the time Rimmer came home for a visit, called a benefit hockey game, and almost strangled in Ted Currie's hockey jersey. It's kind of a strange sports collectible but what the heck…..it's important to me. Suzanne kept trying to dust it off, subsequently knocking it to the floor, and then looking back at me as if I should apologize, for having hung it there in the first place. I should have kept the note attached when I brought the sweater back home. It might have been a deterrent to my partner, causing her to never, ever, touch that glorious hockey rat. I think she's jealous as well, of my cherished hockey certificate, framed above my desk, acknowledging my honorary status as a "Flying Father," as awarded to me, after another benefit game, by Father Les Costello. Which makes me "Holier than thou?" Just saying!!!!

So I must surely offer an apology to the Salvation Army. I will find an appropriate substitute hockey sweater to donate instead.

ANTIQUE GOALIE PADS THAT SHOULD HAVE STAYED RETIRED

IT WAS JUST LIKE MY OLD BASEBALL GLOVE, THAT I BOUGHT AT BAMFORD'S CORNER STORE, IN BRACEBRIDGE, ONE SUMMER DAY IN ABOUT 1967. IT COST ME ABOUT FIVE BUCKS, THE MONEY RAISED FROM MOWING THE LAWN FOR OUR APARTMENT LANDLORD, HILDA WEBER. SHE GAVE ME TWO BUCKS FOR EACH CUT, SO AFTER THREE MOWING JOBS, I HAD A BUCK LEFT OVER THAT I BLEW ON BLACK-BALLS AND JUJUBES. BUT THAT GLOVE. THAT GLORIOUS, WONDERFUL GLOVE THAT HAD PRACTICALLY NO PADDING IN THE PALM. BUT YOU KNOW, I PLAYED WITH THAT BEAT UP OLD HUNK OF LEATHER AND WEBBING, UNTIL THE MID 1970'S. BY THAT TIME I HAD SUCH A LAYERED CALLOUS, ON THE PALM OF MY HAND, THAT I COULD CATCH BARE-HANDED WITHOUT ANY SERIOUS PAIN. I RETIRED IT TO THE CURRIE SPORTS HALL OF FAME. THEN, LIKE MY FAVORITE FOOTBALL, I GAVE THEM TO MY BOYS, AND THEY DISAPPEARED SOMEWHERE IN THE YARD OF BRACEBRIDGE PUBLIC SCHOOL AT RECESS.

WHEN I GRADUATED UNIVERSITY, AFTER PLAYING FOR A NUMBER OF TEAMS AT YORK, I CAME HOME TO BRACEBRIDGE POORER THAN THE LOCAL CHURCH-MOUSE. I PUT AN AD IN THE CLASSIFIEDS OF THE LOCAL PAPER, AND BY GOLLY, I FOUND A TAKER SHORTLY AFTER THE HERALD-GAZETTE HIT THE NEWS STAND. A FEW YEARS LATER, WHEN I STARTED PLAYING SENIOR HOCKEY, I CAME BACK AS A FORWARD BECAUSE I DIDN'T FEEL LIKE SHELLING OUT BIG BUCKS FOR NEW PADS. A GOALIE FRIEND, WHO WAS RETIRING, OFFERED TO GIVE ME HIS GOALIE PADS, THAT HAD BEEN GIVEN TO HIM SIMILARLY BY AN OLD GOALIE WHEN HE RETIRED. THEY WERE PROBABLY MORE THAN 50 YEARS OLD. THEY WEREN'T ALL THAT PROTECTIVE ANY MORE, AND I WAS STARTING TO FEEL THE SLAPSHOTS THROUGH THE PADDING, TO THE POINT I WAS GETTING BRUISED. BUT I FIGURED I DIDN'T HAVE LONG TO PLAY ANYWAY, SO WHY SPEND A LOT OF MONEY ON NEW EQUIPMENT WHEN THESE WILL GET ME THROUGH A FEW MORE YEARS.

AT ONE POINT, YOU KNOW, I DID RETIRE THEM. I FOUND AN OPEN SHELF IN MY OFFICE, AND MOUNTED THEM ON THE TOP, WITH A LITTLE NOTE……TED'S GOALIE PADS FROM THE GOLDEN ERA OF HOCKEY. ALL MY FRIENDS WHO VISITED HAD TO TRY THEM ON, AND PLAY SOME INDOOR HOCKEY WITH A GOLF BALL, OR WHATEVER WAS ROLLING ABOUT THE FLOOR.

I GOT A CALL ONE DAY, FROM A FELLOW ON A TEAM I USED TO PLAY ON, THAT THEIR GOALIE HAD INJURED HIS GROIN, AND WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO MAKE AN IMPORTANT GAME THAT EVENING IN BRACEBRIDGE. WHILE I WAS TALKING ON THE PHONE, I WAS ALSO POKING AT THE PADS ON THE SHELF, WONDERING IF THEY HAD ONE MORE GAME LEFT IN THEM. SEEMED GOOD AT THE TIME. I PROBABLY COULD HAVE PREDICTED DISASTER IF I'D BOTHERED TO LOOK MORE CLOSELY AT THE FAILING FABRIC ON THE SIDES. BUT I DIDN'T, AND IT WAS A FEW YEARS BEFORE I MARRIED THE MAJOR-GENERAL, WHO MOST CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE GONE OVER THE PADS WITH A FINE-TOOTH-COMB, BEFORE LETTING ME GO OUT TO PLAY.

SO I MADE IT ONTO THE ICE WITHOUT HURTING MYSELF, AND ACTUALLY HAD LET IN ONLY A COUPLE OF GOALS AT THE END OF TWO PERIODS OF PLAY. I THINK, IF MEMORY SERVES, WE WERE AHEAD AT THAT POINT BY ONE GOAL. THE THIRD PERIOD WAS PRETTY INTENSE, AS OUR SIDE SEEMED TO HAVE A PLAYER IN THE PENALTY BOX CONSTANTLY. TOWARD THE END OF THE PERIOD, WE WERE DOWN BY ONE GOAL. BUT IT WAS A GOOD GAME, AND OUR LADS WERE POUNDING THEIR NET. SOON HOWEVER, WE WOUND UP IN THE PENALTY BOX AGAIN, AND IT WAS THE BEGINNING OF THE END FOR ME…..WELL, MY PADS.

IT WAS LIKE A MARX BROTHERS SKIT…..A LITTLE BIT OF THE THREE STOOGES. A PASS WOULD GO BACK TO THE POINT, AND THE DEFENSEMAN WOULD TAKE A SHOT, SPRAWL OVER THE ICE; THEN OUR FORWARD, ON HIS ARSE, THEIR CENTER LOOKING TO SHOOT, DOWN, WITH OUR FORWARDS, UP AND DOWN. GEEZ, NO ONE COULD STAY ON THEIR FEET. IT WAS HILARIOUS. THE RIGHT WINGER WOULD SKATE UP ALONG THE BOARDS, GET READY TO PASS, AND FALL ON HIS FACE. THE GUY GETTING THE PUCK WAS DOWN. EVEN THE REFEREE HAD FALLEN ONCE, TWICE, ABOUT THREE TIMES, BEFORE A LINESMAN BLEW THE WHISTLE. THE GUYS WERE STILL LAYING ON THE ICE CURSING THE GUY THAT TRIPPED THEM.

SO THEN THE REFEREE CAME UP TO ME WITH A HANDFUL OF STRAW AND SAID, "HEY CURRIE, WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?" "WHAT DO YOU MEAN REF?" I ANSWERED, STILL LAUGHING ABOUT THE PLAYERS GETTING UP OFF THE ICE, ONLY TO FALL BACK DOWN. "IT'S STRAW," HE YELLED INTO MY MASK. "WHERE'S IT COMING FROM," I ASKED. "YOUR PADS……IT'S COMING OUT OF YOUR GOALIE PADS." BY GOLLY, THE MAN IN STRIPES WAS RIGHT. BOTH PADS HAD EXPLODED. THERE WAS STRAW AND WHAT LOOKED LIKE HORSE HAIR EVERYWHERE ON THE ICE. THERE DIDN'T SEEM TO BE A BIT OF CLEAR ICE IN MY END. PLAYERS COULDN'T EVEN GET OFF THE ICE WITHOUT GOING ARSE OVER TEA-KETTLE. "CURRIE YOU BASTARD…..I THINK I BROKE MY ASS," ONE GUY YELLED AT ME, MAKING THE TRADITIONAL KNIFE-CUT MOTION ACROSS HIS THROAT, TO LET ME KNOW I WAS A MARKED MAN. YOU KNOW WHAT. IT WAS A GOOD THING THE GUYS COULDN'T STAND UP LONG ENOUGH TO TAKE A SHOT, BECAUSE THERE WASN'T AN INCH OF PADDING LEFT AFTER THE FATEFUL EXPLOSION, OF MY RELIC GOAL PADS.

I SHOULD HAVE LEFT WELL ENOUGH ALONE. THE PADS SHOULD HAVE STAYED ON THAT SHELF, FOR INDOOR PLAY ONLY. THAT'S PROBABLY WHAT STRESSED THE FABRIC IN THE FIRST PLACE. SO I GUESS THE MORAL OF THE STORY, SOME ANTIQUES JUST CAN'T BE UN-RETIRED, FOR THE SAFETY OF ONE AND ALL.

THANKS FOR JOINING TODAY'S BLOG.

Antiques , Anecdotes and LIARS' CLUB

2012-01-25T16:56:00.000-08:00

ON THE JOB ANTIQUE TUTORIALS - AT THE BIRCH HOLLOW "LIAR'S CLUB"

COLLECTORS, DEALERS AND SIGNIFICANT OTHERS WERE GREAT STORY SPINNERS

ADOPTING THE NAME "LIARS' CLUB" OFFERED A PERFECT PARALLEL TO WHAT I EXPERIENCED ALMOST DAILY, AT OUR BRACEBRIDGE ANTIQUE SHOP. BORROWED FROM TORONTO SUN COLUMNIST, PAUL RIMSTEAD'S BOOK, "COCKTAILS AND JOCKSTRAPS," THE "LIARS' CLUB, WHICH ALSO MET DAILY, AT HIS FAVORITE BAR IN SAN MIGUEL, MEXICO, ACTUALLY MEANT THE "LITERARY, INTELLECTUAL, ARTISTIC, READING SOCIETY." THEY GOT TOGETHER AT "LA CUCARACHA" BAR, AND SHARED ALL THE NEWS OF THE DAY, FROM HOME AND ABROAD, AND THERE WAS ALCOHOL INVOLVED. RIMMER WAS SUPPOSED TO BE WRITING A BOOK, BUT GOT CAUGHT-UP IN THE WORK OF THE LIARS' CLUB, ATTEMPTING, ONE STORY AT A TIME, TO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE.

OUR MEETING PLACE WAS DIFFERENT, OF COURSE, IN THAT IT WASN'T A BAR, AND THERE WAS NO LIQUOR EXCEPT THE OCCASIONAL BRANDY-FILLED CHOCOLATES AT CHRISTMAS. THE SMALL, JAMMED-TO-THE-RAFTERS SHOP, DID HAVE SOME ANTIQUE PIECES THAT COULD HAVE BEEN USED TO DECORATE A BAR OR PUB, BUT THERE WAS NO BOOZE TO LUBRICATE CONVERSATION. THERE WERE NO BAR STOOLS, AND THOSE ATTENDING OUR HAPPENSTANCE MEETINGS, JUST STOOD IN FRONT OF MY COUNTER, AND HAD CONSIDERABLE ROOM TO WANDER THE SHOP, WHILE STILL BEING WITHIN EAR-SHOT, SO AS TO ALWAYS BE IN ON THE CONVERSATIONS. WE HAD SOME DANDIES. A FEW ARGUMENTS TOO. NOTHING THAT CAME TO BLOWS, OF COURSE, AS WE WERE QUITE CIVILIZED EVEN IN OUR DISAGREEMENTS.

THE IMPORTANT PREAMBLE HERE, IS THAT I HAD BEEN EDITOR OF THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER BEFORE OPENING THE ANTIQUE SHOP, ON UPPER MANITOBA STREET. I'D WRITTEN A LONG-RUNNING COLUMN ENTITLED "COLD COFFEE," AMONGST OTHERS IN SISTER PUBLICATIONS. IT WAS VERY MUCH A RIMSTEAD INSPIRED WEEKLY OPINION PIECE, ABOUT LOCAL CURRENT EVENTS, SPORTS, AND WELL, LIVING TOO HARD FOR MY OWN GOOD. I SHARED THIS OVER-IMBIBING THING WITH RIMSTEAD AND WHEN WE OPENED THE SHOP, I HAD ACTUALLY BEEN SOBER FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS, AS A PROMISE TO SUZANNE. I WAS JUST AS CAUSTIC BUT NOT DRUNK AND CAUSTIC. BUT A LOT OF THE OLD COLUMN OPINIONS WERE STILL FLOURISHING, EXCEPT THIS TIME, I WAS IN A RATHER UNIQUE BUSINESS, WHERE THE CLIENTELE WAS A LOT DIFFERENT THAN THE READERSHIP I HAD WITH THE NEWSPAPER. THIS TOOK A LOT OF ADJUSTMENT. SOMETIMES THE LIARS'S CLUB TOPICS OF DISCUSSION WERE A LITTLE TOO HEAVY FOR THE ANTIQUE CROWD…..TRYING TO SHOP BETWEEN THE POLITICS AND THE PUNDITS, TRYING TO OUT-SMART EACH OTHER, WITH CLEVER ANECDOTES AND PRECEDENTS. IT'S TRUE, WE DID SCARE OFF THE PACIFISTS. A FEW OF THE HALE AND HARDY COLLECTORS JOINED IN, AND IT WAS QUITE REFRESHING TO GET A NEW OPINION NOW AND AGAIN. THE LIARS' CLUB POINT OF VIEW COULD GET A LITTLE STALE. WE DIDN'T HAVE TOO MUCH TO TALK ABOUT, SO WE RE-PLAYED A LOT OF STUFF, TO HEAR OURSELVES TALK.

AT THE TIME, THE MEMBERS OF THE CLUB WERE OF PARTICULAR IMPORTANCE TO ME. I HAD GONE FROM AN EDITORSHIP, TO BEING A MR. MOM, FOR MY YOUNG SONS, TO A MAIN STREET ANTIQUE DEALER. NOT THAT I WAS NEW TO ANTIQUES, BECAUSE I'D BEEN TRAVELLING THIS ROAD FOR MANY YEARS…..AND IN THE LATE 1970'S WAS IN A PARTNERSHIP WITH MY PARENTS, IN A COMBINATION ANTIQUE AND GIFT SHOP JUST, A BLOCK DOWN MANITOBA STREET. BUT THIS TIME, I WAS THE MAIN MAN. I HAD VERY LITTLE SALES EXPERIENCE TO THAT POINT. I WAS AN ANTIQUE HUNTER. A FURNITURE RE-FINISHER. DEFINITELY NOT A SALES PERSON. SUZANNE HAD A HUGE AMOUNT OF RETAIL EXPERIENCE, BUT DURING THE WEEKDAYS SHE WORKED AT THE LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL, WHERE SHE TAUGHT IN THE FAMILY STUDIES DEPARTMENT. SO I HAD TO LEARN ON THE JOB. MISTAKES. NAME IT, AND I COMMITTED IT, AS AN ERROR. I USED TO DREAD WHEN SUZANNE WOULD WALK OVER FROM THE SCHOOL, TO HAVE LUNCH WITH ME……AND TO LOOK AT THE SALES BOOKS. I HATE TO SAY THIS, BUT I WAS ALWAYS HAPPIER WHEN THERE WASN'T A SINGLE SALE IN THE BOOK, BECAUSE SHE'D JUST SAY "OH WELL, THINGS WILL GET BETTER." IT WAS WHEN I HAD SALES, AND SCREWED UP THE ACCOUNTING, THAT USED TO SET HER OFF ON A TIRADE…..WAVING THE CALCULATOR UNDER MY NOSE. "WHY CAN'T YOU USE THIS THING PROPERLY TED," SHE'D SCOLD……MILDLY AT FIRST BUT IT GOT WORSE. FOR THOSE FIRST FEW YEARS, BY GOLLY, MY SCREW-UP AVERAGE WAS JUST ABOUT FIFTY PERCENT OF ALL SALES. MOSTLY IT WAS THE SALES TAX THAT SCREWED ME UP. SIMPLE? OF COURSE IT WAS. NOT ROCKET SCIENCE….JUST A SIMPLE CALCULATION. SO I STARTED ROUNDING NUMBERS OFF WITH THE IDEA IT WOULD MAKE THE 8 PERCENT TAX EASIER TO FIGURE OUT. WELL THAT DIDN'T WORK, SO I STARTED TO INCLUDE TAX, WHICH NEARLY MADE SUZANNE IMPLODE. SHE ACTUALLY CAME TO APPROVE OF IT, BECAUSE AT LEAST, SHE DIDN'T HAVE TO UNDO A GAZILLION MISTAKES IN THE SALES BOOK. WE WERE SO BROKE AS DEALERS, WE COULDN'T AFFORD A CASH REGISTER. WE HAD THE TRUSTY METAL CASH BOX, A PEN, A NOTEPAD, AND THE RECEIPT BOOK. AND A FEW BUCKS FOR THE TILL. WE ALSO HAD ONE OF THE CUMBERSOME, SLIDING CREDIT CARD MACHINES I LOVED TO MESS UP. DID THESE MISADVENTURES EVER COST ME? OH BOY!

"How is it that you can sit down and write a breaking news story in fifteen minutes, in time for deadline….with a publisher breathing down your neck, but you can't write out, and calculate a sale in the receipt book," Suzanne asked of her writer husband. "It's the lack of the drink," I'd retort. "How so," she demanded. "When I was drinking heavily, I never would have agreed to open an antique shop in the first place," I responded, with a hint of whimper in my voice, so she wouldn't hurt me with the next line of inquiry." I was a giant of a man with the editor's privilege on The Herald-Gazette masthead, but a pathetic excuse for a sales clerk, in a business that really needed competence in retail protocol. So what I didn't do so well, I made up for in other ways. Like having the kind of shop worth hanging around in, because everyone was invited to participate in the conversation in progress. I can't calculate (now that shouldn't be any surprise) how many significant discussions we had in that shop……besides the discussion of world events, and politicians we would never, ever vote for, even on a dare. We had an opportunity to share stories about antiques, heritage matters, shop-keeping and prizes we kept in our personal collections.

The members of the LIARS' CLUB, were all congenial folks, and the membership was open to everyone who had the willingness to share a story or opinion. We had three women in the mix, and about five males, but this number could climb to about ten, depending on the weather. Quite a few were from out of town, and wouldn't drive in bad weather……even in the summer. What would happen, and possibly, as an antique dealer or collector, you've experienced the same on your travels….., that visitors to the shop would often participate in these sales counter forums. Especially if we happened to be talking about history….which was frequent, as I was often engaged, in those years, working on a plethora of research projects…….especially when business was slow. So thusly, I got a hell of a lot done in those thin economic years. What happened over time, was that these discussions became much like intimate university tutorials, with one of the most proficient in a respective field, actually teaching us about everything from archives organization, gun collecting, militaria collections, the inner-child joys of toy collecting, sports card investing, primitive furniture valuations, you name it……it was discussed and debated in the basement of Birch Hollow Antiques.

Being a long serving "generalist" antique dealer, and collector of art and books, I have never turned away from a good, nuts and bolts discussion of these areas of interest, as they are all important to the hunter-gatherer, who never knows what he's going to come back with, on the very next shopping adventure. Over the years we had experts join us from hundreds of antique collecting disciplines, and I've got to tell you, that while not to suggest reference books became secondary considerations, these "antique chats" were the kind of immersion a generalist dealer / collector needs. We had military and cultural historians joining us for our regular LIARS' CLUB meetings, even though we didn't know their specialties at first. There were many times when one or two of the regulars at Birch Hollow, found they had something personal in common with the guest conversationalist, and the discussion could take on a whole new significance. As well, we would have many dealers show up, and the discussions became hugely entertaining, because surprisingly enough, we, in this business, tend to stock-pile anecdotes about our business dealings…..just as I'm offering these reminiscences via this blog-site. We'd be in near hysterics, re-telling stories about auction sales and flea markets, annoying customers, and misadventure. Despite what you think, antique dealers aren't as stern and unmovable as you may believe. While a social-gathering of antique folks may not involve excessive prank-playing and alcohol consumption, it doesn't mean someone or other won't be swinging from the chandelier if the mood strikes. We're just a tad reserved about some things, like trade secrets. Being in a room of conversing antique dealers, would provide the kind of banter you'd expect amongst a group of practicing alchemists and or, magicians. Sharing too much can prove dangerous. I'm not going to tread on that thin ice. Suffice to say, there are times we drop our guard, and share in on a good laugh about the industry follies, of which there should be a compendium written for general entrainment.

One of our respected contributors, and a master of decorating with antiques, came into the shop one afternoon, and joined-in on the general discussion of the LIARS' CLUB hangers-on at counter-side. The conversation between two other dealers in the store at the time, had been discussing some of the more awkward, intrusive moments of shop-keeping. It was a pretty conservative back and forth at that point. So this elderly woman said, "Oh, that's nothing compared to some of the situations I've had to deal with at my shop." She started out by describing a customer she found a true and utter jerk, who always nickel and dimed her about price and discounts. Half the time, she said, he'd spend about a half hour beating her down in price, and then instead of nodding that he would take the subject piece, he'd stare into her eyes, and say, "I'm going to think about it for awhile, then I'll let you know." "He'd do it all the time, and never come back for that particular piece. It used to drive me nuts, because I invested so much time trying to compromise, and be otherwise accommodating to a regular customer." So on one occasion, that would become the watershed of new opinion, she had suffered through the exact same discussion, with the gentleman, about a cupboard he wanted. Once again, the same old-same old!!! "So I offered him a substantially lower price, and even suggested he could make regular payments if that suited him best. He just looked at me, put his hand to his chin, hummed and mumbled something or other, and said, as usual, 'let me think about it'." This wasn't the best part of the story, although we all knew customers like that. "I had to go to the bathroom real bad, so I ushered him out the door, locked it, and turned the sign to 'closed.' I was going to be awhile. I didn't want to be disturbed. So right in the middle of my sojourn on the toilet, I hear the banging on the front door. Whoever it is wants in real bad. I can't stand the banging any more, so I cut the bathroom visit short, run out to get the door. I can't believe it's the same guy." She said he looked perturbed about the delay getting to the door, and went right over to the furniture piece he'd been interested in. "Would you take…….." he asked, offering some low-ball figure. He must have known she was still in agony, because he got a much better price, as the dealer was obviously interested in unloading the customer by this point. "Ummmm," was his response, probably sensing he could have got it for even less if he had persisted with negotiations. "I'll think about it," he said. A usually calm individual, who always treated her customers fairly, she let loose on him something fierce…..giving him the old bum's rush to the front door. "Hey, you know that piece," she asked of the customer. "Yes," he yelled back with his back arched with her foot pushing him out the door. "Well, it's sold. See ya!"

Another shopkeeper from north Muskoka, told much the same story, except it didn't have a bathroom connection. In this story, almost the same situation occurred, regarding some major furniture piece, and a very similar situation as the woman above, spoke of, to the LIARS'S CLUB. After numerous weekend visits to the shop, the couple wanting the antique dining room set (I'm only guessing), had been given the dealer's rock bottom price. But the one-sided negotiation continued, as the dealer grabbed up the "closed" sign, and politely bid the customers farewell. "I was tired that day. Both my wife and I had been re-finishing pieces from early in the morning, and the shop was much busier that Saturday, than was usual for the fall season. My wife made us a nice dinner, and we were just sitting down at the table. Then came the knocks on the door. We couldn't see who it was, so I had to answer it. There they were. The two of them, looking to have another go at the table again. They were now trespassing between a closed shop and my hot dinner on the table. So I wasn't impressed to hear their final offer, which was way below what I had told them a half hour earlier was going to be my bottom line. So I did what anyone would do under similar circumstances. I said good evening for the second time, closed the door, and returned to have my dinner." He and his wife watched the couple walking back to the car, yelling at each other about the dining room set that "got away." He noted that it was one of the great disadvantages of working off your own property, making it so difficult to separate off-hours from business-as-usual. Customers don't see anything wrong with pursuing what they want at all cost, even if its a dealer's privacy.

The story above contains as much fiction as fact, and the kind of embellishment you'd expect after all these years of being told and re-told, as a sort of antique dealer legend. It did happen and this kind of situation with customers, happens all the time…..and for some, almost daily. It was what convinced me I had no business being a front-liner in such a business. Even as editor I was well known for my foul demeanor on press day, and it carried over to the sales desk of Birch Hollow Antiques. So on more than just a few occasions, over my six years as a shop-keep, I removed a lot of problem customers, and it didn't matter a fig that I was losing money each time there was an ejection. I've got a lot of stories about these customers to share. So stay tuned.

Thanks for joining this blog. Hope you found it interesting….if not exciting.

WINTER CARNIVAL SONG GETS A PRETTY GOOD EARLY REVIEW

WHEN YOU'VE GOT MUSICIANS IN THE FAMILY, YOU TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE AVAILABLE RESOURCE. ANDREW AND ROBERT THINK NOTHING OF ASKING DAD TO WHIP THEM UP A PRESS RELEASE FOR THEIR UPCOMING BENEFIT CONCERTS, SO I DON'T FEEL INTRUSIVE WHATSOEVER, ASKING THEM TO WRITE A SONG OR TWO FOR A GOOD CAUSE. I ASKED THEM EARLY IN THE NEW YEAR, TO CONSIDER WRITING AND PERFORMING A THEME SONG FOR THE NEWLY REVITALIZED GRAVENHURST WINTER CARNIVAL, COMING UP AT THE END OF FEBRUARY. IT WAS THE FIRST TIME I'D ASKED FOR A WHOLE SONG TO BE WRITTEN. NORMALLY I JUST ASK THEM TO MOVE SOME OF OUR ANTIQUE FURNITURE, OR GIVE ME A PUSH WHEN I'M STUCK ON ICE IN THE DRIVEWAY. ADMITTEDLY IT WAS A TALL ORDER. BUT THE BOYS HAVE ALWAYS LIKED A CHALLENGE, MORESO AS MUSICIANS.

I ASKED IF THEY WOULD CONSIDER CREATING A WINTER CARNIVAL THEME SONG, AS AN ACT OF VOLUNTEERISM, TO HELP OUT THE FOLKS WHO HAVE DEDICATED SO MUCH TIME OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, TO BRING BACK THE LOCAL COMPONENT OF THE ORIGINAL MUSKOKA WINTER CARNIVAL, WHICH DATED BACK TO THE WINTER OF 1971. I TOLD THEM THAT BY DOING THIS, THEY WOULD BE JOINING THE RANKS OF PERFORMERS LIKE HOWARD CABLE AND HIS ORCHESTRA, AND BRAD AND BONNIE VEITCH, WHO HAVE CREATED WINTER CARNIVAL THEME MUSIC IN THE PAST. THEY THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE A NEAT IDEA, AND WENT TO WORK WITH THE GROUP "PRESSURE POINT," WITH LEAD SINGER DANI O'CONNOR AND GUITARIST AARON BINDER. SUZANNE, WELL, SHE OFFERED TO CREATE THE WINTER CARNIVAL "SKOKIE" SCARVES, FOR THE BAND MEMBERS TO WEAR IN THE VIDEO, WHICH WILL EVENTUALLY ACCOMPANY THE NEW SONG ABOUT TO BE WRITTEN. SINCE EARLY JANUARY, SUZANNE, IN THE EVENINGS, HAS PRODUCED SIX FULL LENGTH SCARVES, MITTS, AND A HAT SO FAR, WITH TWO MORE SCARVES IN PRODUCTION. I'VE JUST BEEN THE MEDIA CONSULTANT AND OCCASIONAL EDITORIALIST. WELL FOLKS, I'D KNIT, BUT GOD HAD OTHER PLANS FOR THESE HANDS.

BY LATE SUNDAY NOW, WE EXPECT THE SONG AND VIDEO WILL MAKE IT TO "YOU-TUBE." SO FAR, ALL THOSE WHO HAVE HEARD THE ROUGH COPY, THINK IT WILL BE A FITTING TRIBUTE TO THE CARNIVAL AND THE WINTER OTTER. THERE'S STILL SOME POLISHING LEFT TO DO, AND A CHORUS TO BE ADDED, BUT BY GOLLY, THEY'VE MADE OLD DAY PROUD. I HOPE THE FOLKS HERE IN GRAVENHURST, WILL COME OUT AND PARTICIPATE IN THIS RE-INCARNATED EVENT, AND SHOW THE VOLUNTEERS HOW MUCH THEY APPRECIATE THEIR EFFORT TO RESTORE A WONDERFUL WINTER-TIME TRADITION…..FOR HOMETOWNERS AND GUESTS. MAYBE YOU'LL LIKE IT SO MUCH, YOU'LL JOIN THE VOLUNTEERS FOR NEXT YEAR.

I'LL PROVIDE YOU WITH A LINK TO THE SONG, THE MOMENT THE BOYS POST-IT, BY THE END OF THE WEEKEND. LET US, LET THEM KNOW, WHAT YOU THINK OF THE SONG. FEEDBACK IS IMPORTANT TO THEM.

POOL HOLDS WATER - NOW THAT'S GOOD NEWS

MORE THAN JUST A FEW PEOPLE AROUND GRAVENHURST AND VICINITY, HAVE BEEN WONDERING ALOUD, IF THE LEVEL OF GULL LAKE WAS GOING TO RISE, WHEN THE WATER WAS ADDED TO THE NEW POOL FACILITY, AT THE REFURBISHED RECREATION CENTRE ACROSS THE ROAD. WITH ALL THE RECENT TILE AND GROUT ISSUES, (FALLING OFF AND STUFF) ONE HAD TO WONDER IF THE WHOLE PROJECT WAS GOING TO HOLD WATER AT ALL. AFTER MYRIAD ALLEGATIONS AND DELAYS ENCOUNTERED OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, EVEN THE HARSHEST CRITICS OF THE PROJECT, HAD THEIR FINGERS CROSSED THAT THE POOL WOULD HOLD ITS CONTENTS. SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF WORN-DOWN TAXPAYERS, WORRYING ABOUT THE OPERATIONAL COSTS WE'RE GOING TO INCUR, THIS MORNING'S NEWS THAT WATER HAD SUCCESSFULLY BEEN PUMPED INTO THE POOL, WITHOUT LEAKAGE, MADE US ALL A LITTLE MORE CHEERFUL TO START THE DAY. WE HOPE IT IS EVERYTHING IT HAS BEEN TOUTED TO BE. IT HAS BEEN A PROJECT HOUNDED, AND YES, POUNDED BY NEGATIVES TO THIS POINT. WE COULD DO WITH UPBEAT REPORTS THAT DON'T START WITH "RE-SCHEDULED OPENING," OR "A MINOR DELAY," OR EVEN "GLITCH EXPERIENCED."

WE HAVE ALL PAID A LOT OF MONEY FOR THIS FACILITY. THE TAXPAYERS OF CANADA, THIS PROVINCE…..INCLUDING THE STAKEHOLDERS IN THIS COMMUNITY, HAVE INVESTED A HUGE AMOUNT OF CAPITAL, TO IMPROVE RESOURCES FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF COMMUNITY RECREATION. NOW LET'S ALL GET THE MOST FOR OUR TAX INVESTMENT. PLEASE SUPORT THIS EXCITING, DYNAMIC NEW FACILITY IN OUR TOWN.

Gravenhurst Red Piano, Antiques and Ghosts

2012-01-24T17:22:00.000-08:00

THE OLD SPIRIT IN THE ANTIQUE SHOP, WINTER CARNIVAL SONG, THE RED PIANO AND A SNOWY AFTERNOON IN GRAVENHURST

TALK ABOUT A BUSY WINTER - AND THE REMINISCENCES ARE PRETTY NEAT AT WELL -

BREAKING NEWS. ON FEBRUARY 2, THE GRAVENHURST 'RED PIANO" WILL NOT……ABSOLUTELY NOT….. CAST A SHADOW. EVEN IF THE SUN BEATS DOWN ON THAT RESTING PLACE OF "BIG RED", AND EVEN IF A MUSKOKA GOPHER WAS TO SIT ON TOP, BREAK DANCING, THERE WILL BE NO SHADOW CAST. SO, SIX MORE WEEKS OF WINTER? AS OF THIS WRITING, THE "RED WRECK" WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE VACANT LOT ON THE MAIN STREET OF GRAVENHURST. THANKS TO SOME CONSCIENTIOUS FOLKS CONNECTED TO THE TOWN, THE POOR THING WILL BE PUT OUT OF ITS MISERY. AND MAKE NO MISTAKE, IT WAS MISERY EXEMPLIFIED, ESPECIALLY BEING PAINTED BRIGHT RED AGAINST THE MUSKOKA SNOW. WHAT WAS A GOOD IDEA TO SOME……WITHOUT HAVING CONSULTED THE MUSICIANS FIRST, WHO WERE SUPPOSED TO MAKE USE OF IT, THE PIANO WAS BROUGHT OUT OF HUMBLE RETIREMENT, BROUGHT UP TO THE BIG LEAGUES OF BUSKERVILLE, PAINTED A CEREMONIAL RED (NOT SURE THAT WAS THE MOST APPROPRIATE COLOR), AND PUT IN PLACE AGAINST AN ART-ADORNED PLYWOOD BACKDROP. THE IDEA WAS FOR BUSKERS TO MAKE USE OF THE PIANO, AND I SUPPOSE, PROVIDE SOME CHEAP ENTERTAINMENT FOR THE TOURIST-KIND. IT MUST HAVE DRIVEN THOSE WHO CONCOCTED THE IDEA, NUTS, TO WATCH THE BUSKERS EACH DAY, LAST SUMMER, PLAYING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STREET INSTEAD……WHERE THERE WAS SHADE AND A NICE BENCH. SEEMS LOGICAL. WHEN ROAD RE-CONSTRUCTION BEGAN AGAIN LAST FALL, THE PLYWOOD FENCE WAS PULLED DOWN, AND THE PIANO SET BACK ON THE LOT, IN UTTER DESOLATION, FROM THE PROMISE OF SO MANY ROADSIDE CONCERTS TO COME. A PROJECT THAT JUST DIDN'T "CHOPSTICK" IT'S WAY TO NOTORIETY. INSTEAD, IT BECAME AN EYESORE. A MAIN STREET TARGET FOR VANDALS, WHO DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO PLAY IT……..SO THEY DID THE NEXT BEST THING……YOU KNOW….. BEATING THE CRAP OUT OF IT. IT BECAME THE "PIANO OF OUR DISCONTENT." THE BUSKERING FOLLY OF 2011.

THE OLDTIMER IN THE SHOP - THE CHEAP GHOST WHO NEVER BOUGHT A THING

AS I'VE WRITTEN ABOUT PREVIOUSLY, IN THE EARLY JANUARY BLOGS, ON THIS GRAVENHURST SITE, THE CURRIES ARE GHOST MAGNETS. NOT SOMETHING I WANT ETCHED ON MY TOMBSTONE. I CAN'T EXPLAIN IT, OTHER THAN TO SUGGEST THEY, THE DRIFTING AIMLESS, "SPIRIT-KIND," FIND US OPEN-MINDED ABOUT SUCH THINGS. INADVERTENTLY WE PAY ATTENTION TO THEIR PECULIAR MOODS, AND THEY APPARENTLY LIKE THIS ABOUT US. SO MUCH SO THAT THEY CAN GET KIND OF PUSHY FOR ATTENTION. SOUND CRAZY? YOU DON'T KNOW THE HALF OF IT, REALLY. YOU CAN READ MORE ABOUT OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THOSE WHO HAVE SORT-OF CROSSED OVER, ON MY MUSKOKA AND ALGONQUIN GHOSTS BLOG-SITE. ACTUALLY, BY THE END OF THE WEEK, THE FIRST OF TWELVE COLUMNS ON THE PARANORMAL WILL BE RELEASED IN A NEAT LITTLE PUBLICATION, KNOWN AS "THE GREAT NORTH ARROW." I UNDERSTAND IT WILL NOW BE AVAILABLE IN GRAVENHURST AND MUSKOKA GENERALLY BUT I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHERE. IT IS PUBLISHED OUT OF DUNCHURCH, ONTARIO, AND ITS TARGET AREA IS NORTH, NORTHWEST OF HUNTSVILLE, AS FAR AS NORTH BAY.

AS I'VE ALREADY PROFILED, THERE ARE WHAT WE CALL SPIRIT HITCH-HIKERS, WHO OCCASIONALLY ATTACH THEMSELVES TO ANTIQUE PIECES. THE WHOLE RANGE OF ANTIQUE FURNITURE, TRUNKS, CUPBOARDS, CRADLES, ROCKERS, SETEES, JAM CUPBOARDS, HOOSIER CUPBOARDS, AND EVEN DINING ROOM TABLES. I'VE ALWAYS FELT IT WAS SOME SPIRITUAL PRESENCE THAT PULLED ME TOWARD CERTAIN PIECES, WHILE OUT ON THE ANTIQUE HUNT. SUZANNE FORBIDS ME FROM SAYING THIS IN HER PRESENCE, BECAUSE SHE FOUND I WAS USING IT JUST AS AN EXCUSE TO BUY SOMETHING I LIKED. AND BECAUSE WE'VE HAD A FEW SPECIAL PIECES, WITH ALLEGED HITCH-HIKERS, AND BIRCH HOLLOW ALREADY HAS ENOUGH CATS…..WE DON'T NEED ANY MORE GHOSTS EITHER. THE GHOST OF DAVE BROWN, MY BOOK COLLECTOR FRIEND, IS STILL HERE MORE THAN A DECADE AFTER HIS DEMISE. I KNOW THIS BECAUSE HE KEEPS TAPPING ME ON THE BACK, WHEN I'M WORKING IN MY DOWNSTAIRS ARCHIVES. HE USED TO SLEEP ON THE SOFA BED I KEEP DOWN HERE FOR OCCASIONAL HOUSEGUESTS. SUZANNE ASKED IF WE COULD GET RID OF IT, ONE DAY LAST SUMMER, AND I WAS SPEECHLESS. "THAT'S DAVE'S BED FOR GOD'S SAKE. WHERE WOULD HE SLEEP THEN?" YOU COULD ALSO CHECK OUT A BLOG I WROTE ABOUT PUTTING MY WIFE ON HER "DEATH BED." THAT'S RIGHT, CALL ME A WING-NUT, BUT I BOUGHT MYSELF A BEAUTIFUL, CANADIAN MADE SPINDLE BED, FROM THE LATE 1800'S, THAT WAS USED BY A MINISTER, IN TORONTO, TO DISPLAY THE RECENTLY DECEASED FOR FAMILY, HOLDING MEMORIALS AT THE CHURCH MANSE. WHAT SPOUSE WOULDN'T BE IMPRESSED BY A HUSBAND DRAGGING HOME ONE OF THESE FOR VALENTINES DAY? AT LEAST PAUL RIMSTEAD DIDN'T PULL ONE OF THESE STUNTS ON HIS WIFE. WELL, IN DEFENSE OF THE BED, IT HASN'T LEVITATED OFF THE FLOOR YET, OR BEEN RESTED-UPON BY ANY STRANGE VAPOR, THAT I'M AWARE OF.

WE HAVE A HAUNTED PORTRAIT OF A VICTORIAN GIRL, WE CALLED KATHERINE, AFTER THE OUIJA BOARD SPELLED OUT THE LETTERS OF HER NAME. YOU CAN GO BACK TO EARLY JANUARY AND READ ABOUT OUR ADVENTURES WITH THIS UNHAPPY CHILD……WHO HAS BEEN RATHER CALM, FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS, HANGING DOWN HERE ON MY OFFICE WALL. POINT IS, THERE ARE PROBABLY MANY ANTIQUE COLLECTORS AND DEALERS OUT THERE, WHO WILL (SHYLY) ATTEST TO HAVING BEEN IN THE PRESENCE, AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER, WITH A PIECE HAVING A LITTLE EXTRA PROVENANCE……A LITTLE SOMETHING MORE IN THE PATINA THAN THE WEAR OF AGES. STORIES ABOUND ABOUT ROCKING CHAIRS THAT PROPEL THEMSELVES, CRADLES THAT ROCK ON THEIR OWN, ORGANS AND PIANOS THAT PLAY WITHOUT THEIR KEYS BEING TOUCHED, THE SETEE THAT SHOWS THE DEPRESSION OF SOMEONE'S BEHIND……WHEN NOBODY, AT LEAST IN THIS MORTAL COIL, IS SITTING UPON IT……REGAINING ITS SHAPE LATER ON, WHEN THE SPIRIT-KIND MOVES ON TO ANOTHER HAUNT. THERE IS EVEN A STORY ABOUT A PRINTING PRESS THAT RUNS IN THE WEE HOURS, BUT DOESN'T ACTUALLY PRINT ANYTHING. IT MIGHT BE NONSENSE TO SOME OTHERS BUT MORE THAN JUST A FEW OF US HAVE HAD VERY PROFOUND EXPERIENCES WITH PARANORMALLY CHARGED ANTIQUES, THAT, WHILE NOT FRIGHTENING, DOES MAKE US SUSPICIOUS ENOUGH TO LEAVE THE MATTER OPEN TO DISCUSSION……AND FURTHER EVIDENCE. SOME ANTIQUE SHOP-KEEPS JUST KEEP ROLLING ON, AND CONSIDER THE VARIOUS PARANORMAL ACTIVITIES AS PART OF THE PROFESSION……WHETHER THE PARANORMAL QUALITIES AND QUANTITIES ARE ATTACHED TO THE BUILDING, THE SHOP'S LOCATION, OR THE ANTIQUES MAKING UP THE INVENTORY.

In our Bracebridge shop, our portion of the building was attached to a Victorian era house at the back. We had quite a number of paranormal experiences over the years, partly due to the fact we brought our disenchanted, adopted Victorian girl, into the store just to kill some wall space. As she did at home, the energy compressed in that girl's attitude, would knock books off the shelf, cause dolls to fall over, and occasionally, her own frame to topple off the wall-hook onto the floor. Always landing face up, and never hitting a single thing situated on the pine washstand directly below where she had been hanging. Although we didn't see this happen, it would appear, from her distance from the wall, that she actually rolled a distance, on her four flat sides, before falling back first……so that we could see her melancholy expression, as soon as we walked through the front door. After I took her into the store, every day she'd greet me in the morning by hanging crooked on the wall. She must have known I can't abide crooked wall hangings. Even when I got to visit other homes, I have to, with stealth, straighten the homeowner's art work, if it is less than perfectly hung. So I would fix her portrait about five times a day. In the morning, it was crooked by about six inches. Then, every morning, I'd open the store to find all of Suzanne's doll collection knocked over like dominoes. I suppose she was looking for the one she had as a child. She would also pull out books from the shelf, and occasionally, if she was really pissed about my late opening, topple books right off the shelving units. She always got my attention, that's for sure.

But there was more in the old building complex than Katherine's spirited portrait. Suzanne was the first of our family to spot the little old gent, she called "The Captain," with a blue suit coat and cap, similar to a uniform that might have been worn by steamship personnel, or a passenger train conductor. He would appear suddenly, standing a few feet from the sales counter. On his first visitation, as she was looking up to see what he wanted assistance with, casually asking if she could help him… another customer, more or less, walked right through him. It must have been quite a sight, because when I came back to the shop an hour later, she was still white with fright. "He was standing there staring at me, just as clear as you are," she said, suggesting that I was, at that moment, standing on the precise spot where the specter of "the Captain" had stood. "Then when this other customer came around the corner, she walked right through him; the little man had just disappeared." Suzanne has had quite a few ghost sightings, as have I over the course of a lifetime, and while we're not usually set-off like this, there are occasions when you have to dwell a wee bit, re-play the occurrence a few times, just to wrap your head around the potential that you just spoke to a ghost. In fact, it happened numerous times in the store, over about five years, and each time, the visitation came in the same general area, and the appearance was always brief. "I didn't worry too much about it," she said. "It was better if there was someone else in the store to talk with, instead of when he appeared, and there was no way of quickly normalizing to what may have just happened." She noted that "It wasn't that I was scared, but each time, it seemed to delight itself, by sneaking up on me, so that when I looked up, assuming a customer was in front, this little old man, in his uniform would just stare back, and then slowly fade away. I guess he just wanted to let me know he was watching me. Maybe it was a former owner, or resident. He means no harm. He's just curious, I suppose, about all the changes to the building."

In all the many hours I spent in the store, often alone, especially through the winter months, I never saw the wee gentleman of the house. I did however, hear phantom footsteps down the stairs almost daily. As it would take a few minutes for a customer to look at the first room, and then make it over to my sales desk in the second room, I'd just keep my eye on the doorway to my right, ready to welcome a visitor. I can't tell you how many hundred times, I had to satisfy myself, by getting up and out from behind my desk, to look in the first room to see if the customer had died or something. There would be no one in the store. No one, other than the proprietor, in the business upstairs. Frequently I could even hear the front door open, before the sound of the footfall. It was that real sounding. And there was no way anyone who came down those stairs, could have left the building without making a highly audible footfall up the stairs. There were other times that I'd swear to seeing a shadow in the lamplight of the connecting hall, and then nothing would appear in mortal form. There were other times, and these were frequent as well, that I would feel there was someone standing in front of the counter, but when I'd raise my head, there wouldn't even be a visible dust particle. With what Suzanne claims however, I'm pretty sure the old chap must have been doing the same to me, as he did when she was working a shift. I felt the stare but never saw the outline of anyone standing in front. I frequently smelled pipe tobacco in the store, where none was present, so I wonder if the little man was a smoker as well as a dutiful wandering spirit, checking out his former abode.

Despite having many interesting encounters, there was no dread attached. It always seemed more of an adventure anyway, and it's the way we've come to accept all things paranormal…..with great curiosity for tangible discovery. We just haven't run into the kind of unsettling apparitions that might send us fleeing while screaming. I'm told they exist but we've never felt in any danger, or that the sightings were connected to anything malevolent. Other than feeling a little surprised, and full of questions after these experiences, we just right-it-off as an inherent reality of being historically minded, and antique dealers by trade. I haven't done a scientific survey of antique dealers and collectors, to find out if they've had occasional paranormal encounters themselves, or if they are familiar with hitch-hiking entities attached to assorted antiques. But I'm willing to bet twenty-five percent have had some incidents, that seemed more than just a little odd……maybe cleaning out an estate in an old homestead……gathering up items purchased from an old hall, church or lodge, feeling that someone, something was watching your every move? Hearing someone speak your name, when no other person is close by? Looking for something you distinctly remember leaving in one location, and finding on return, it had been moved to another area of the house? I've read and heard many similar stories to ours. Nothing particularly special about our little old man, who never bought a single thing from our store……because he was just browsing.

As a little sidebar story about our sons' music shop in Gravenhurst. One day, when Robert was working alone, a young lad came into the store, dressed in a retro style, that looked like fashion of the 1960's, and asked him what movie was playing tonight. Robert just stared at him, asked him to repeat the question, and the boy complied. 'What's playing tonight?" Assuming he must have been asking about the former Muskoka Theatre, that occupied the building previously, in the town's history, Robert answered politely, "The theatre isn't open any more…..it's a music shop now." The young fella looked puzzled, but thanked Robert, turned and ran out the door. He wondered at that precise moment if he'd been the latest Currie to see a ghost. When he went to look out the door, to see if he could spot the kid running up the street, there was nothing. Thee wasn't another pedestrian on the block, and he couldn't see if he'd jumped into a parked vehicle. The kid was either very quick to get around the corner, or he was most definitely a time traveller from another period in history. To this day, Robert simply can't be sure if the boy was a figment of the imagination, a ghost, or the real article. He hasn't seen him since.

Like I said before, we have never been run-of-the-mill antique collector / dealers. We're far richer in stories and anecdotes than in money earned. But what a fascinating adventure it has been for all these years.

Thanks for joining this blog. Back soon. If you see any ghosts in the meantime? Let us know about it! Or at least say hello for us!

Paul Rimstead, My Antique Buddy

2012-01-23T17:35:00.000-08:00

ANTIQUE SHOP FOR SOME - JUST NOT ME

I WAS RUNNING THE CANADIAN VERSION OF PAUL RIMSTEAD'S MEXICAN LIAR'S CLUB

IN 1972 TORONTO SUN COLUMNIST PAUL RIMSTEAD TRAVELLED WITH HIS WIFE AND DAUGHTER TO MEXICO. HE HAD BIG PLANS TO WRITE A BOOK, POSSIBLY, BUT MOST DEFINITELY A TRAVEL-TYPE, ADVENTURE STORY FOR THE READERS HE'D ALREADY WON-OVER AT THE NEWLY OPENED TORONTO SUN, FOLLOWING THE SUDDEN DEMISE OF THE TELEGRAM, WHERE HE'D WORKED PREVIOUSLY.

RIMSTEAD GREW UP IN BRACEBRIDGE ALONGSIDE FORMER NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE GOALTENDER, ROGER CROZIER…….AND I KNOW FOR FACT THEY USED TO SPEND SOME QUALITY TIME DOWN AT JOE'S BILLIARDS ON THE QUEEN STREET HILL, JUST UP FROM THE PATTERSON HOTEL. FROM WHEN THE PAPER WAS OPENED, IN 1971, RIMSTEAD BECAME A HUGE CELEBRITY…..WHICH IN THE NEWSPAPER BUSINESS DOESN'T HAPPEN ALL THAT OFTEN. FOLKS IN TORONTO AND EVEN UP IN OUR NECK OF THE WOODS, COULD RELATE TO RIMMER, AS HE WAS KNOWN FROM HIS REGULAR COLUMN. HE WAS JUST AN AVERAGE GUY, LIVING PAY CHEQUE TO PAY CHEQUE, SHARING ALL THE FOIBLES OF LIFE, PARENTING, BEING MARRIED, BEING IN DEBT, AND ALL THE ADVENTURES YOU COULD SIGN ON FOR, BEING A GAD-ABOUT, SEE EVERYTHING, DO EVERYTHING COLUMNIST……WHO ALSO PLAYED THE DRUMS IN A SMALL BAND, AND BY HIS OWN ADMISSION, DRANK A LITTLE TOO MUCH. AFTER COMING BACK FROM MEXICO, HE WAS GOADED INTO RUNNING FOR THE MAYOR OF TORONTO, AND HIS ENORMOUS POPULARITY FORCED HIM TO WITHDRAW. HE HAD DONE IT LARGELY AS A PUBLICITY STUNT, THAT COULD HAVE AFFORDED HIM THE KEY TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. WELL FOLKS, HE WOULDN'T HAVE MADE A VERY GOOD MAYOR. THIS WAS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF THE POPULAR VOTE. AND WHAT KIND OF TROUBLE YOU CAN GET INTO ON A DARE.

AS REPORTERS, WE LOVED THE GUY. WE SHARED A LOT IN COMMON. WE WERE BROKE, DRANK TOO MUCH, GOT INTO FREQUENT DISPUTES WITH OUR PUBLISHER, AND DESIRED THE BIG BREAK-AWAY RIMSTEAD USED TO WRITE ABOUT……SUCH AS HIS STORIES ABOUT THE "LIARS CLUB" IN MEXICO, WHICH STOOD FOR THE "LITERARY, INTELLECTUAL, ARTISTIC, READING SOCIETY," WHICH MET DAILY AT A LITTLE BAR-AWAY-FROM-HOME, KNOWN AS "LA CUCARACHA," WHICH MEANT, IN RIMSTEAD'S TRANSLATION, "COCKROACH." IN A SMALL WAY, AND EXCUSE MY PRESUMPTION OF THE MAN, BUT I BELIEVE IT WAS A GENUINE ESCAPE FOR HIM, WITH ENORMOUS FREEDOM TO WRITE WITHOUT A PUBLISHER'S ENCUMBRANCES. BUT THERE WERE OTHER FAMILY ENCUMBRANCES HE SHOULD HAVE PAID ATTENTION TO, AND THIS WAS BY HIS OWN ADMISSION, POOR JUDGEMENT. IT COST HIM HIS WIFE WHO RETURNED TO CANADA WITH THEIR DAUGHTER. SO WHAT DOES A WRITER DO THEN? WRITE ABOUT IT OF COURSE. WE WERE ALL HANGING OFF HIS WORDS, AND DEEPLY SADDENED TO READ ABOUT THE FAILURE OF THEIR MARRIAGE. HE DIDN'T INTEND IT TO BE A BOOST TO HIS READERSHIP. HE WAS HURTING, AND THOSE CLOSE TO HIM KNOW HOW HARD HE TOOK IT ALL. BUT IT WAS THE KIND OF PERSONAL STUFF THAT OTHER COLUMNISTS DIDN'T WRITE ABOUT, AND THAT IS WHAT ENDEARED HIM TO OUR HEARTS. HIS LIFE WASN'T SO MUCH DIFFERENT THAN OUR OWN, AND HE WAS WILLING TO SHARE THE FAILURES ALONGSIDE THE MILESTONE SUCCESSES. HE WAS HUMAN. HE NEVER PUT HIMSELF ON A PEDESTAL THAT'S FOR SURE. THERE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ANY PLACE TO SET DOWN HIS BEVERAGE, OR HIS RACING FORM ANYWAY, SITTING UP THERE ON A PEDESTAL.

"CLUB MEMBERS WERE PEOPLE LIKE THE JUDGE, TONY THE PAINTER, DEATHMARCH HAL, THE MIDNIGHT COWBOY, TORPEDO SAM, NURSEY, RACETRACK SANDY - CHARACTERS WHO WERE KNOWN BY THE UPPITY AMERICANS AND CANADIANS ON THE HILL AS 'THOSE HORRID PEOPLE AT THE CUCARACHA.' BUT, THEY WERE THE BEST CONVERSATIONALISTS AND MOST INTRIGUING CIRCLE OF FRIENDS I EVER HAD. THE BAR WAS A TINY PLACE WITH JUST A FEW WOODEN TABLES AND CHAIRS IN THE FRONT ROOM, AND A STANDUP BAR IN THE BACK WHERE THE MEXICANS DRANK. DRINKS WERE CHEAP AND CHUCHO, THE PROPRIETOR, WAS THE GUARDIAN ANGEL OF THE GRINGOS, RUNNING BAR TABS UNTIL THE MONEY CAME FROM HOME.

"SAN MIGUEL WAS CONSIDERED TO BE AN ARTISTS' COLONY BUT, RATHER, IT WAS A HOME FOR LOST SOULS, WIDOWS, DIVORCEES, AND PEOPLE WHO WERE TRYING TO SURVIVE ON SMALL PENSIONS. THEY PRETENDED THEY WERE WRITING, PRETENDED THEY WERE PAINTING. THEY WERE DRINKING AND LAUGHING. DRINKING AND TALKING.THE BAR WAS FAMOUS ENOUGH TO HAVE BEEN WRITTEN ABOUT IN FEATURE STORIES IN MAJOR MAGAZINES, INCLUDING A LONG PIECE IN ESQUIRE. NORMAN MAILER DRANK THERE, SO DID THE GUY WHO WROTE 'THE HUSTLER.' NOBODY GOT TO KNOW IT BETTER THAN ME. I WAS A REGULAR, ARRIVING AT NOON EACH DAY, DRINKING UNTIL TWO OR THREE IN THE AFTERNOON, OR UNTIL THE MISSUS CAME IN, LEADING MISS WIGGLEBUM (DOG) ON A LEASH, AND FIRING ME ONE OF HER PATENTED LOOKS."

THIS ISN'T ABOUT PAUL RIMSTEAD. HE DIDN'T RUN MY ANTIQUE SHOP. I MADE THAT MISTAKE MYSELF. THERE WAS NO BOOZE INVOLVED, BUT IN JUST ABOUT EVERY OTHER WAY, MY ANTIQUE BUSINESS WAS PRETTY MUCH THE CANADIAN PARALLEL OF "LA CUCARACHA," AND I HAD MY OWN LIAR'S CLUB THAT HELPED ME GET THROUGH THE DAYS. NOW I WANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT THIS, BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO INSULT ANY ONE ELSE WHO HAS AN ANTIQUE SHOP. I WILL BE DELIGHTED TO VISIT AND SHOP THERE, AND I'LL PROBABLY FIND SOMETHING I LIKE. IT'S JUST THAT PERSONALLY, I HAVE THE KIND OF DISPOSITION YOU SEE, THAT SHOULD HAVE PREVENTED ME FROM GETTING INTO LEASES, PARTNERSHIPS, AND THE KIND OF EXIT-LESS BOX I'D CREATED FOR MYSELF AND FAMILY…….ON A LARK. AS RIMSTEAD HAD HIS LIFE AND FAMILY AFFECTED, IN MANY WAYS, BY HIS PATRONAGE OF LA CUCARACHA, MY UNDOING CAME WHILE RUNNING A SMALL ANTIQUE BUSINESS, I CALLED BIRCH HOLLOW, THAT WHILE BUILT ON A PASSION FOR ANTIQUES AND COLLECTIBLES, WAS FAULTILY HINGED ON A MAN WHO IS A WELL KNOWN CLAUSTROPHOBIC, AND ONE WHO IS VERY EASILY BORED. ASK MY WIFE. THIS IS NO LIE. AND AFTER A DECADE IN THE LOCAL NEWS BUSINESS, LEADING A LARGELY SLEEPLESS DECADE, WITH WAY TOO MUCH TO DRINK, AND WITH WAY TO MANY ADVENTURES WITH MY CRONIES, BEING THE PROPRIETOR OF AN ANTIQUE SHOP WAS A BIG AND UNHEALTHY STRETCH FROM THE CREDITS OF MY IMMEDIATE PAST.

IN THE SIX ODD YEARS…..AND THEY WERE INDEED ODD, I WROTE FOUR MANUSCRIPTS, TWO OF WHICH WERE LATER PUBLISHED. I HAD LOTS OF TIME BETWEEN CUSTOMERS, ESPECIALLY IN THE LONG HAUL FROM THANKSGIVING UNTIL EASTER. ADD TO THIS THE FACT WE MOVED TEN MILES SOUTH TO LIVE, AND I HAD TO BABYSIT TWO YOUNGSTERS, FOR SOME PERIOD OF TIME, WHILE RUNNING THE SHOP. AS I WAS A MR. MOM ANYWAY, THIS BEING THE MOST DIFFICULT JOB I'D EVER KNOWN, AND AN ANTIQUE DEALER, IT SEEMED, IN A ETHEREAL MOMENT, NAVIGABLE TO DO BOTH…..MAKE MONEY AND LOOK AFTER THE WEE LADS. IT WAS INSANITY. I NEEDED PEOPLE TO TALK TO, IN ORDER TO GET THROUGH THE DAY. HENCE THE BIRCH HOLLOW "LIAR'S CLUB." I ALWAYS KEPT RIMMER'S 1980 AUTOGRAPHED BOOK, "COCKTAILS AND JOCKSTRAPS," IN A COUNTER DRAWER, THAT I COULD CALL ON FOR A QUICK DOSE OF INSPIRATION, AND BY GOLLY, HE GOT ME THROUGH SOME AWFULLY TOUGH TIMES BACK THEN…….AND HE NEVER KNEW HOW DEPENDENT I HAD BECOME. I HAVE THE SAME BOOK IN FRONT OF ME TODAY, AND IT IS THE ALEXIR FOR WHAT AILS ME. FUNNY THING THOUGH, PEOPLE ARE VERY SURPRISED THAT IN MY PERSONAL LIST OF AUTHORS I REFER TO MOST OFTEN, AS A WRITER, PAUL RIMSTEAD IS THIRD ONLY TO CHARLES DICKENS AND WASHINGTON IRVING. AS FOR SPIRITUALITY UPGRADES, GEEZ, HE'S NUMBER ONE.

SO A NEWSPAPER ASSOCIATE SUGGESTED, ONE DAY OVER A FEW COCKTAILS, THAT WE FORM A PARTNERSHIP TO RENT SOME RETAIL SPACE, ON BRACEBRIDGE'S MANITOBA STREET, TO RUN OUR FAMILY BUSINESSES WITH HIGHER PROFILE. WE BOTH HAD IN-HOME BUSINESSES AT THIS POINT, AND THE IDEA OF GETTING INTO THE MAIN BUSINESS CORRIDOR SEEMED A GRAND ADVENTURE. IT WAS FOR ABOUT A WEEK. AFTER ABOUT SIX MONTHS, NOT SO MUCH. THE PARTNERSHIP ENDED AFTER ABOUT A YEAR, WHEN I LEFT THE NEWSPAPER, TO JOIN A COMPETITOR, AND THIS SITUATION PROVED INTOLERABLE FOR OUR ASSOCIATE. SO WE GOT DUMPED WITH A STORE WE ONLY MARGINALLY WANTED IN THE FIRST PLACE. THERE WAS A HONKING BIG VOID TO FILL, LET ME TELL YOU. IT WAS A SMALL SHOP BUT WE DIDN'T HAVE A HUGE COLLECTION OF INVENTORY, AND NOT A LOT OF MONEY TO INVEST……WITH A MORTGAGE AND A YOUNG FAMILY. DID I MENTION THE DAMN CAR, THAT SEEMED TO BREAK DOWN AT MY WEAKEST, MOST EXHAUSTED MOMENTS. IT WASN'T JUST BAD TIMING, AND A POORLY THOUGHT-OUT BUSINESS PLAN. IT WAS THE FACT I AM NOT A PERSON WHO LIKES TO BE CONFINED BY THIS KIND OF RESPONSIBILITY. I LIKE TO BE OUT HUSTLING ANTIQUES, TO SELL AT OTHER VENUES. I HAD MISTAKENLY JUDGED MYSELF SOMEONE WHO COULD BE A SHOP-KEEPER. I LOVED THE BUSINESS, JUST NOT THE COFFIN-LIKE QUALITIES IT SEEMED TO POSSESS…….UNTIL THAT IS, I WELCOMED MEMBERS OF THE LIARS CLUB TO JOIN ME FOR MY DAILY WALLOW IN SELF-PITY.

SUZANNE THOUGHT IT WAS BAD BUSINESS TO ENCOURAGE SPEND-NOTHING MATES TO HANG-AROUND THE SHOP…..AS THEY MIGHT HAVE BEEN AN IMPEDIMENT TO BUSINESS. BELIEVE ME, THESE FINE FOLKS WERE ANYTHING BUT AN IMPEDIMENT. IT WAS QUITE THE OPPOSITE. AS I PUT IN SOME VERY DIFFICULT HOURS, ESPECIALLY WITH THE WEE LADS, THEIR KINDNESSES WERE JOYFULLY RECEIVED. ONE OF MY LADY FRIENDS USED TO SIT DOWN AND COLOR WITH ROBERT, TO GIVE ME A LITTLE BREAK FROM PARENTING. WHEN THE BOYS GOT INTO FULL-TIME SCHOOL, AT BRACEBRIDGE PUBLIC, THE DAYS SLID OVER-TOP, LIKE THE ETCHING OF A GLACIER UPON MY SOUL. I WOULD'T HAVE LASTED IN THAT HOLE-IN-THE-WALL FOR AS LONG AS I DID, WITHOUT THE COMPANY OF THE DOZEN OR SO CUSTOMERS……WHO ALTHOUGH NEVER SPENT A LOT OF MONEY TO SUPPORT THE SHOP, ALWAYS GAVE IT THE APPEARANCE IT WAS A "HAPPENING" PLACE. I WAS RUNNING AN OLD TIME, SMALL TOWN BUSINESS, LIKE YOU'D EXPECT IN MAYBERRY OR HOOTERVILLE, AND SOME OF THOSE SAME CHARACTER-TYPES, PULLED UP STOOLS AND SAT BY MY COUNTER AND DEBATED WORLD ISSUES FOR MOST OF THE AFTERNOON. I HAD CUSTOMERS BRING ME COFFEE, AND SOUP, AND BUTTER TARTS, MUFFINS OF ALL KINDS, AND EVEN CANDY BARS, AS THEY KNEW I WAS TETHERED TO MY CASH REGISTER. PEOPLE I THOUGHT THE WORLD OF, FOR KEEPING ME FROM NODDING OFF INTO MY CASH DRAWER. IT WASN'T A MALE ONLY CLUB EITHER. I ENJOYED THE CONVERSATION WITH QUITE A FEW GALS OVER THE YEARS, AND OUR TOPIC RANGE WAS ALL OVER THE PLACE. POINT IS, WE ENJOYED THE ANTIQUE SURROUNDINGS, CHATTING ABOUT HISTORY, COLLECTIONS THEY HAD AND ENJOYED, AND WHERE THEY WERE PLANNING TO ANTIQUE HUNT THAT PARTICULAR WEEK. WE TALKED ABOUT AUCTIONS, AND WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE WEEKEND SALES. WE LAUGHED AT THE AUCTION ANECDOTES, AND ABOUT SOME OF THE KNOW-IT-ALLS, WHO OFTEN GOT STUCK WITH JUNK……THINKING THEY HAD WON THE HOLY GRAIL.

JACK KIERNAN, FROM UPTOWN BAYSVILLE, WAS THE MOST FAITHFUL OF ALL THE MEMBERS OF OUR VERY OWN LIAR'S CLUB. WE HAD ONLY JUST OPENED THE BUSINESS, WHEN WEE JACK AMBLED THROUGH THAT DOORWAY. A RETIREE FROM KODAK, IN TORONTO, I BELIEVE, JACK HAD COME TO LIVE IN BAYSVILLE, IN THE TOWNSHIP OF LAKE OF BAYS, A PLACE HE ABSOLUTELY ADORED. JACK WAS BIG INTO MILITARIA AND BOTH CORGI AND DINKEY TOYS, AND HE SPENT HOURS TUTORING ME FROM HIS EXTENSIVE KNOWLEDGE IN THOSE AREAS. HE WAS A SMALL GUY IN STATURE, BUT HE WAS A GIANT OF A FRIEND. IF I HAD TO RUN OVER TO THE SCHOOL TO PICK UP THE BOYS, JACK WOULD SHOP-SIT FOR ME. IF I HAD SOMETHING TO MOVE, HE WAS ALWAYS WILLING TO HELP OUT. I GOT TO KNOW JACK AND HIS WIFE VERY WELL OVER THE TIME AT THE SHOP, AND WE SOLD MANY ITEMS ON CONSIGNMENT HE KINDLY OFFERED US FROM HIS PRIZED COLLECTION. NOT SO LONG AFTER WE CLOSED THE SHOP, WHEN I BECAME PUBLIC RELATIONS DIRECTOR OF THE CROZIER FOUNDATION OF MUSKOKA, AND CURATOR OF THE BRACEBRIDGE SPORTS HALL OF FAME, I WAS ABSOLUTELY STUNNED TO FIND OUT MY LITTLE BUDDY HAD PASSED AWAY. I NEVER REALLY THANKED HIM FOR GETTING ME THROUGH THE STORE YEARS. I WAS ABLE TO GET HIM INTO A LIMITED SEATING CELEBRITY HOCKEY DINNER, COURTESY OF THE CROZIER FOUNDATION, AND IT WAS GREAT TO SEE JACK, WITH HOCKEY CARDS IN HAND, STANDING WITH HOCKEY LEGENDS LIKE BILL WHITE, OF CHICAGO AND THE ORIGINAL TEAM CANADA OF THE EARLY 70'S. HE GOT AUTOGRAPHS FROM ALL THE CELEBRITIES IN ATTENDANCE, INCLUDING MY BOSS AT THE TIME, ROGER CROZIER AND L.A. KINGS GOALTENDER, WAYNE RUTLEDGE…..WHO HAD BEEN THE NUMBER ONE GOALIE FOR THE EXPANSION TEAM. JACK AND I, AND OUR BOYS, HAD BEGUN COLLECTING HOCKEY CARDS AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME, IN THE EARLY 1990'S, AND WE HAD GREAT CARD-TRADING SESSIONS ON MY SALES DESK TO COUNTER THE WINTER BLUES.

JACK ALWAYS CAME AROUND THE CORNER AT PRECISELY THE TIME I NEEDED TO TALK TO SOMEONE…..OTHER THAN MYSELF. GEEZ, WE USED THAT BASEMENT ANTIQUE SHOP AS A FORUM FOR GREAT POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC DEBATES, AND BEFORE THE END OF OUR CONVERSATION, WE MAY HAVE BEEN JOINED BY ANOTHER TWO OR THREE OF MY SHOP REGULARS. I REMEMBER ONE CONVERSATION WITH ANOTHER MILITARY COLLECTOR, FROM ORILLIA, WITH JACK AS THE COUNTERPOINT MAN, WHEN THE DISCUSSION CAME UP ABOUT DENMARK AND THEIR ROLE DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR. I HAD THIS SUSPICION, ANOTHER FRIEND OF MINE, WHO SUFFERED THROUGH THE WAR IN DENMARK, AS A YOUNGSTER, WORKING AS A BAKER'S ASSISTANT, COULD WALK THROUGH THAT DOOR ANY MOMENT, AS HE USUALLY DID ABOUT MID-DAY. SO I TRIED TO CHANGE THE SUBJECT BECAUSE I KNEW HOW SENSITIVE HE WAS ABOUT LIFE WITH THE NAZIS. WELL SIR, HE HAD BEEN STANDING IN ANOTHER ROOM IN THE SHOP, AND HAD HEARD MOST OF WHAT WAS BEING SAID ABOUT THE MOTHERLAND. TRUE, HE WAS RED IN THE FACE LIKE A PICKLED BEET, AND HIS HAIR SEEMED TO BE BLOWING IN THE BREEZE OF NEGATIVE ENERGY, BUT YOU KNOW, HE SADDLED UP TO THAT COUNTER, WITHOUT ANY ANGER IN HIS VOICE, AND GAVE ALL OF US A HISTORY OF WHAT IT WAS ALL LIKE TO HAVE A GERMAN GUN POINTED IN YOUR FACE……..AND BE TOLD, IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS…..EVEN WITH THE LANGUAGE BARRIER, TO "EXTINGUISH THE LAMP ON THE BIKE, OR DIE." HE EXPLAINED HOW HE ONLY HAD TO HEAR THIS ONCE, TO KNOW THE RUMORS WERE TRUE. NAZIS DID KILL PEOPLE FOR LITTLE OR NO REASON. WHAT WAS AMAZING TO ME, WAS THE WAY IN WHICH HE TOOK BOTH THESE MILITARY COLLECTORS, AND GAVE THEM A BLOW BY BLOW ACCOUNT OF WHAT IT WAS LIKE LIVING IN THIS OPPRESSED CONDITION, WONDERING IF YOU WOULD STARVE TO DEATH, OR BE SHOT THAT DAY…..FOR ALL THE DAYS OF THE OCCUPATION. THESE GUYS WERE SPELLBOUND. AS AN HISTORIAN MYSELF, THIS WAS JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF THE KIND OF INFORMATION SHARING WE HAD, ACROSS THAT COUNTER, NOT FOUND IN THIS DETAIL IN ANY BOOK I OWNED….AND THAT REPRESENTED A LOT OF BOOKS. IT WAS RAW, UNCENSORED, IMPORTANT HISTORICAL DETAIL, THAT WAS BEING OPENLY SHARED, THAT WAS IMMENSELY PERSONAL AND AS INTIMATE AS THE DECISION TO EXTINGUISH THE BIKE LAMP, BECAUSE LIFE SEEMED SO MUCH MORE RELEVANT.

AS I CONTINUE THIS COLLECTION OF BLOGS, ABOUT ANTIQUE HUNTING, COLLECTING AND EVENTUALLY SELLING, I WILL MAKE MANY REFERENCES TO THE BIRCH HOLLOW "LIARS CLUB," WHICH, AS IT DID FOR RIMSTEAD, IN MEXICO, CAME TO MEAN THE "LITERARY, INTELLECTUAL, ARTISTIC, READING SOCIETY." TO ALL THOSE WHO MADE MY DAYS FULFILLING REGARDLESS WHETHER THE TILL RANG AT ALL, I EXTEND SINCERE THANKS, AND REGRET THIS TRIBUTE TO THEM, HADN'T COME SOONER OR MORE SINCERELY…..ESPECIALLY FOR MY BUDDY, JACK KIERNAN WHO WAS PRETTY MUCH FAMILY FOR THOSE YEARS OF STORE LIFE.

FUNNY THING ABOUT THIS. FIVE AND A HALF YEARS AGO, I WORKED WITH OUR BOYS, ANDREW AND ROBERT, TO OPEN THEIR OWN RETAIL SHOP IN UPTOWN GRAVENHURST, VERY MUCH IN THE MODEL OF BIRCH HOLLOW ANTIQUES, FROM THE LATE 1980'S, TO THE MID 1990'S. ALTHOUGH THEY ARE NOT INTO ANTIQUES THE WAY SUZANNE AND I ARE, TO THIS DAY, THEY HAVE MADE ENORMOUS INROADS WITH VINTAGE MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, PARTICULARLY GUITARS, MANDOLINS, ELECTRICS AND DRUMS. THEY ARE CURRENTLY APPROACHING THEIR SIXTH ANNIVERSARY. BUT TELL YOU WHAT. WE SCULPTED AN EVEN MORE DYNAMIC SHOP, FOR THEM, THAT STILL ENCOURAGES THE "LIAR'S CLUB" AMBIENCE, WHERE KINDLY FOLKS, MUSICIANS, COUNTRY PHILOSOPHERS, ADVENTURERS, PACIFISTS, POLITICAL ANIMALS, AND ARTISTS CAN HANG-OUT, AND ENJOY CASUAL CONVERSATION ABOUT ALL THINGS RELEVANT AT THE MOMENT. SOME DAY'S IT'S LIKE SAM DRUCKER'S STORE, FROM TELEVISION'S "GREEN ACRES," AND AT OTHER TIMES, IT HAS THE SAME CAST OF CHARACTERS AS FLOYD'S BARBER SHOP ON ANDY OF MAYBERRY, OR BETTER STILL, SOME JUG-BAND "HILLS" MUSIC LIKE THE DARLING'S USED TO PLAY, FOR SHERIFF TAYLOR, WHILE INCARCERATED AT THE JAILHOUSE. BUT THE BOYS LOVE IT. THEY WON'T GET RICH FROM THE RIGORS OF CASUAL CONVERSATION, BUT THEY'LL BE ENRICHED NONE THE LESS. SO HERE THEY'VE CARRIED ON WHAT I DECIDED NOT TO…….WITH MUSIC ANTIQUES, COLLECTIBLES, NOSTALGIA, OLD VINYL……AND OH YES……LOTS OF FRIENDS TO HELP THEM PASS THE TIME.

THANKS FOR JOINING THIS BLOG.

SEE YOU AGAIN SOON.

Gravenhurst, Winter Carnival and Muskoka

2012-01-22T16:40:00.000-08:00

MUSKOKA IDENTITY? THE LONGER WE LIVE HERE, THE LESS REMARKABLE IT SEEMS TO BE!

WITH RE-BRANDING CAMPAIGNS - I'M TOTALLY CONFUSED

JUST A COUPLE OF PIECES OF INTERESTING NOSTALGIA WE PICKED UP YESTERDAY OUT ON THE ANTIQUE HUNT. NO, THEY DON'T HAVE CANADIAN SYMBOLS TO ADD TO OUR COLLECTION, BUT THEY WILL FIND BUYERS THAT'S FOR SURE. FIRST ILLUSTRATED ARE INTERESTING "TERRIER" BOOKENDS, NICELY DONE, FROM THE LATE 1950'S, A MEDICAL MEASURING CUP FROM THE FORMER BUSH IDA IN GRAVENHURST, FROM A SIMILAR TIME FRAME, STILL IN ITS ORIGINAL BOX. THE THIRD IMAGE IS OF A FULL PACKAGE, OF 100 POKER CHIPS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION, IN THE ORIGINAL BOX, MANUFACTURED BY THE URSINI PLASTICS CO., OF UXBRIDGE, ONTARIO, CANADA, UNDATED, BUT LIKELY FROM THE 1960'S. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO GET ORIGINAL BOXES, SO IN ONE OUTING, WE GOT TWO IN RELATIVELY GOOD CONDITION, WHICH ALWAYS ADDS SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE VALUATION OF THE ITEMS. TOTAL COST FOR THREE SALABLE ITEMS. FIVE DOLLARS. EXPECTED RETAIL PRICE, IF THEY WERE ALL SOLD, APPROX $25.00.

IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL WINTER DAY IN MUSKOKA AND THE ROAD WAS BECKONING. WE TOOK A SHORT MOTOR TRIP, SAW MORE WILD TURKEYS ON MUSKOKA BEACH ROAD, AND A LOT OF SNOWMOBILERS. GOOD TO SEE THEM OUT AND ABOUT. THIS IS A GOOD CHUNK OF OUR ECONOMY, AND IT'S BEEN KIND OF A DIFFICULT WINTER FOR THESE FUN-SEEKERS. I HAVE MISSED THEM OUT ON MUSKOKA BAY. TYPICALLY WE CAN HEAR THE MACHINES AS IF THEY WERE COMING RIGHT BY OUR HOUSE. THE NOISE OF SOME OF THE HIGH POWERED MACHINES CAN CERTAINLY RIP THROUGH THE SERENITY, THAT'S FOR SURE. MOST OF THE DIN IS QUITE ACCEPTABLE AND WELCOME. I CAN STAND IN THE DRIVEWAY, ON ALMOST ANY NIGHT, FROM DECEMBER TO THE END OF MARCH, EVEN WELL INTO THE WEE HOURS, AND HEAR THEM PASSING BY ON THE FROZEN BAY. SORRY THEN TO REPORT (FREEZING) RAIN FOR TOMORROW. I'M AFRAID IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A GREAT WINTER FOR WINTER SPORTS, UNLESS CURLING AND HOCKEY ON ARTIFICIAL ICE. BUT IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, IN PARTICULAR, WE KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THE SNOWMOBILE INDUSTRY IS TO OUR ECONOMIC WELL-BEING. SO THEIR CHAGRIN WITH THE WEATHER, IS OURS AS WELL. WE HOPE FOR AN ACCEPTABLE SNOW COVER WELL INTO MARCH.

DIDN'T DO ANY ANTIQUE SHOPPING TODAY, ON OUR BRIEF ROAD TRIP. HAD TO GET SOME MORE ORANGE WOOL FOR SUZANNE, AS SHE IS RUNNING LOW, MAKING WINTER CARNIVAL-THEMED SCARVES, FOR THE BAND, "PRESSURE POINT" AND FRIENDS, PREPARING FOR A VIDEO TO ACCOMPANY THEIR NEW SONG, WRITTEN IN SUPPORT OF THE EFFORTS OF THE GRAVENHURST WINTER CARNIVAL COMMITTEE…..TO BRING BACK THIS TIME-HONORED FEBRUARY FESTIVAL……WITH SKOKIE, THAT WHACKY WINTER OTTER. SUZANNE HAS KNIT FOUR SCARVES AND MITTS, A HAT, AND THEY WERE FOR THE FOUR MEMBERS OF THE BAND. NOW THEY'RE ADDING SOME ADDITIONAL VOCALS, AND THAT MEANS EXTRA SCARVES HAVE TO BE MADE. IT'S NOT SO EASY FINDING THAT SHADE OF ORANGE. TODAY THE GROUP IS RE-WORKING SOME MATERIAL ON THE CD, AND GETTING SOME FILM FOOTAGE TO GO WITH THE WINTER CARNIVAL SONG. IT WILL BE POSTED ONLINE BY EARLY NEXT WEEK…..FEBRUARY 1ST BEING THE EARLIEST DAY….OR SO WE BELIEVE AT THIS POINT. HOPE EVERY ONE WILL LIKE IT. I GOT THE IDEA, FROM AN ORIGINAL WINTER CARNIVAL SONG, PRESSED ON 45 RPM DISC, DONE IN THE 1970'S BY BRAD AND BONNIE VEITCH, OF BRACEBRIDGE. IN FACT, AND THEY MIGHT NOT EVEN REMEMBER IT, BUT THEY PERFORMED THE SONG ONE WINTER EVENING IN OUR APARTMENT, AT 129 ALICE STREET, WHILE VISITING WITH OTHER FRIENDS IN THE BUILDING. STRANGE BUT TRUE, IS THE REALITY I MARRIED BRAD'S COUSIN SUZANNE, AND THE BOYS, WHILE DISTANT, ARE INDEED RELATED TO THIS FORMER WINTER CARNIVAL DUO. THEY WERE INSPIRED BY BONNIE AND BRAD'S SONG, AND DECIDED, IN THE SPIRIT OF WINTER CELEBRATION, TO TAKE A CRACK AT IT AS WELL…….AND EVEN THOUGH I'M NOT THE BEST PERSON TO JUDGE WHETHER A SONG IS GOOD OR AVERAGE, I LIKE WHAT THEY'VE DONE SO FAR. HOPE IT HELPS BRING SOME ATTENTION TO WHAT THE CARNIVAL COMMITTEE IS TRYING TO DO FOR GRAVENHURST. I WROTE QUITE A FEW BLOGS EARLY IN JANUARY 2012 ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE OLD MUSKOKA WINTER CARNIVAL OF THE 1970'S, INCLUDING SOME REPRINTS OF THE FIRST EDITION BROCHURE. YOU CAN CHECK THOSE OUT IF YOU MISSED THEM PREVIOUSLY.

In yesterday's blog, I wrote about acquiring the book, "Gillmor of Algoma, Archdeacon and Tramp," by E. Newton White, and published by the Anglican Church of Canada, in 1967, as a first edition. The biography of Gowan Gillmor, and the stories of his amazing travels by foot through the Ontario northland, in the late 1800's, is a truly compelling story of faith and perseverance. It's the kind of book I buy as a book collector / dealer, because it holds its value. The book wasn't printed in the millions, and it is a story that is important to a lot of regions in this province, that were somehow connected to the intrepid Archdeacon / Tramp. As an historian, I have always sought out old and out of print books, some in very limited supply, that deal with the history of our region of Ontario. Over the past thirty-five years I've owned hundreds of regional books, to help me with research on an equal number of media projects, destined for eventual publication in the Muskoka press. There have been times when the historian "me" has agreed with the book seller "also me," to cull the collection to, for example, buy the kids news shoes, the kitchen a new fridge, the driveway a new automobile. I always hate doing it but I make copious notes from the books first, so I won't feel naked when the very next research project comes along……that required that very book for information. It happens a lot. This is the first time I've actually owned this particular book, but I've known about Gowan Gillmor's exploits from many other sources. I was willing to pay the $25 asking price, because it contains information I need for several upcoming research jags. There will be a time down the road that "the historian" won't need it sitting on the shelf any longer, and I'll offer it to the "over-zealous book dealer" (me) looking for things to sell. Strange how my personalities get along in commerce but not in the way our shared time is invested. The bookseller feels shortchanged by the amount of time the historian /writer spends at the keyboard……and not on the open road, hunting elusive antiquities. The dealer sips wine. The writer guzzles beer.

Now today, I wanted to share a couple of passages from this incredible biography, about what is most important to me…….references to Muskoka. I am appalled these days, whenever I read news articles about local communities looking to "re-brand" themselves…….such as what the Town of Bracebridge is currently doing to re-invent / re-design their image for the future. Geez, I thought that began in the 1860's, and gads do I feel stupid, not knowing there was a raging identity crisis in my old home town. I even filled out one of their electronic surveys online, to give the coordinators a hand, trying to help this allegedly image-diminished community, to be able to look in the mirror again, and see a good and decent town. I've always assumed the reflection was okay for all these years, but apparently the mirror image wasn't good enough for future social /economic revamping. Makes me bonkers.

How about just being a part of the Muskoka experience. Some folks from afar, would think it wonderful, to have an address in this world-renowned paradise. Since early in our history, in this region, we have been a sportsman's paradise. We have been a "healing place" of clean air and water, with tranquilizing scenes of natural beauty…..forests, flowers, birds, and bees. Since the 1870's, we've been branding ourselves accordingly, and creating a tourism economy, that is still thriving today, as get this……."THE NUMBER ONE INDUSTRY IN MUSKOKA." Ten years from now, tourism will still be "THE NUMBER ONE INDUSTRY IN MUSKOKA." If global warming doesn't kill us, in fifty years, "THE NUMBER ONE INDUSTRY?" Well, you know what I'm getting at. And I'm not clairvoyant. I'm a realist, and an historian. But instead of being proud of our region, and working as hard as possible to keep it in the limelight it deserves, politicians like to fiddle with what they believe to be a damnation of status quo. Muskoka is okay with its status quo. It has weathered a lot of economic and political storms, and it is very unlikely you will see huge, smoke belching industries here in the future……should that be of interest to those looking to rebrand their hometowns free of the dullness, Muskoka apparently bestows the present and future…..if left unchanged.

There is so much time and money wasted on these junkets, when all that's needed, is to embrace more emphatically, the qualities of Muskoka our visitors enjoy the most…..and make sure the natural resources, of which we are stewards, is conserved, protected, and nurtured along, which is in all our best interests.

I have nearly pounded this poor keyboard into oblivion, in these little outbursts, frustrated that so many folks in positions of authority, seem so bloody confused and out of place in their own towns, and district, that they have to openly question "what's our town about, anyway?" Historians go nuts with this kind of stuff. Most of the folks kicking this can, have read less than 1 percent of the Muskoka histories that have been written, and if you asked any of them what the Muskoka Assembly was all about, on Tobin's Island, in the 1930's, one might expect to draw looks of awkward ignorance. To then suggest to them, that Muskoka was considered such an important spiritual location on earth, that poets, writers, artists, religious scholars and philosophers came to this lakeland to discuss earthly, universal and heavenly concerns…..and take full advantage of a region of such abundant free-flow of inspiration. The same groups still seek out our region just as they did in the 1920's and 30's, because of this natural source of inspiration. Consider the hundreds of artists, craftspeople and writers who continue to make this region "home" because it motivates their work. Yet we still have numb nuts out there, trying to convince us we need to react immediately to save ourselves from the cold hand of irrelevance.

In Gravenhurst we continue to predict the end of the main street, if the political folks can't sort us out of our apparent failing-business quagmire…..that they helped dig for us, in the de-centralizing frenzy of urban satellite / pod building. Frankly, it might be best if politicians and their hired hands, would just stay out of this manipulation of Muskoka's social /cultural heritage…..which by the way, is still more dynamic and adaptable to the future, than any of the protocols the hands-on experts, can whip up as immediate crowd pleasers. Trying to upgrade what God gave us as a region. Muskoka and its towns don't need to be re-branded….they need to be celebrated, and have residents who are proud to call themselves Muskokans…….like our family and yours. Our visitors like Muskoka. They may not care for the strip malls and urban sprawl we've built for their convenience, but as far as being return customers to our commercial community…….we've had since the 1870's to get it right. So for those who like the idea of re-branding, and making us in the image of something more marketable…….yea right? We've got it good the way it is. We just have to make improvements, and every decade has seen its share of transitions, and adjustments to meet demand.

I wanted to share a few choice passages, written by a man, who walked many, many miles, over thousands of days, residing in the Rosseau area…..just outside the border of Muskoka. He frequently walked to Georgian Bay, Muskoka Lakes Township, Ullswater, Ufford, Windermere, Raymond, Port Carling and even to Bracebridge and Gravenhurst, often in bitter weather and snowstorms with nary a grumble….except possibly running into wolves or a bear along the trail. From his period of the late 1880's, when tourism was becoming a major economic reality, in the region, here is what this lovely man wrote, about the landscape he knew so well…….and walked so thoroughly during his stay in Muskoka.

"It must resemble the Lake District of England…..Cumberland and Westmoreland, especially when centuries ago, they were covered with forests, and wolves hunted the deer. We even have places near Rosseau, called Ullswater, and Windermere, so others have thought the same.

For miles and miles our roads lead through thick bush; the trees in all their variety and beauty of foliage, slowing in on either side and often meeting overhead. At every turn - a new scene to delight the artistic eye, with glades opening out and stretching away in exquisite vistas; the sombre coloring relieved by lighter tints and rich hues of wild flowers and the sheen of blue water from lake and river. We are to be envied, we who are able to realize how old England looked when Chaucer's words were everyday speech; when they wore buskins of fine soft leather with long pointed toes; like our own moccasins. It has occurred to me when traveling on our roads through the dense woods, that they are like the back avenues for local uses through some great demesne in Ireland; but I never come across the gamekeeper or catch a glimpse of running pheasants. But there, however grand it might seem, it would be so closely bounded by high walls covered by ivy, and separating it from the human life of the surrounding country." Not so in Muskoka. We are all so pleasantly immersed in the hinterland, to be afforded such intimate contact with nature.

There are thousands of similar descriptions of Muskoka that parallel the observations made by Gowan Gillmor……but few as profound, as to demonstrate the inherent freedom we should celebrate in this region……having it all so accessible for those who wish to be nurtured at its hand. If you were to research back in my 2011 blogs, on this Gravenhurst site, beginning in January last year, you could read a similar biographical profile I composed, about artist / missionary, Ada Florence Kinton, who also penned, in her published journal from the 1880's, how inspired she was, residing in the bosom of this grand nature of the district, known as Muskoka. As an early painter to the region, and a writer of considerable accomplishment, she found Muskoka a perfect place to create……a remarkably dynamic, healing place in which to reside. I concur with both journalists.

I have sent a suggestion back to the Bracebridge committee, looking at branding-issues, suggesting that they steady their balance, first of all, on a very real, and well established history of appreciation, for the region in which we are contently situated……before adopting a program of revitalization, that puts fashion, flare and facade above what is historic and common sense……given that we live in one of the best known vacationlands in the world.

I'm still seething about the comment made last year, from a citizen at a public meeting, that we should change our name in Gravenhurst……..because "Grave" doesn't inspire the best-served first-impression, to draw a crowd. That's why I don't go to public meetings. I'm always afraid of spontaneous combustion, and turning into a smoldering dust in my shoes, when such ridiculous statements are made……that frankly, I can't respond for fear of self destruction.

I'm a proud hometowner, and certainly a huge Muskoka booster. We need to tweak, and improve our dynamic in the tourism sector. We need to continue upgrading our tourism facilities and increase accommodations, especially for those of lesser income; those who would gladly spend a week or more, if the price was affordable. For a long time in this district, we stopped building affordable accommodations, and it put us in a real deficit situation…..that we are now slowly regaining after years of stalemate.

I hope the people of Bracebridge let the re-branders know they're happy with the heritage of their town, and proud to show it off to all comers…….and Muskoka isn't a bad place for a good town to grow either.

As for my present hometown, well, I wish the doomsayers would leave us, so we could get on with the future. Nothing else to say on the matter.

Except, thanks for joining me. Watch for updates on the Muskoka Winter Carnival song release……that I hope you'll check out.

And for fun, come on out to the Carnival. I'll give you details in upcoming blogs.

Gravenhurst, Winter Carnival and Canadiana

2012-01-21T16:04:00.000-08:00

IF YOU'RE FROM GRAVENHURST - WELL, WE'VE GOT A WINTER CARNIVAL SONG FOR YOU

PRESSURE POINT CAME THROUGH

AFTER CHRISTMAS, I GOT SENTIMENTAL ABOUT WINTER. CONSIDERING THERE REALLY HADN'T BEEN ANY WINTER TO THAT POINT, I GUESS IT WAS A SORT OF PROTRACTED WINTER PHENOMENON THAT GOT ME THINKING ABOUT WINTER CARNIVALS IN THE PAST. AS A REPORTER FOR THE LOCAL MEDIA BACK IN THE 1970'S AND 80'S, I SPENT A LOT OF TIME OUT ON THE CARNIVAL HUSTINGS WITH SKOKIE, THE EVENT MASCOT. SO AFTER A LONG HIATUS, OF HAVING MUCH AT ALL TO DO WITH THE WINTER-TIME PARTY, I ASKED SONS ROBERT AND ANDREW, IF THEY COULD CONVINCE THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE BAND "PRESSURE POINT," DANI O'CONNOR AND AARON IF THEY COULD COME UP WITH A LITTLE THEME MUSIC, AS AN ACT OF VOLUNTEERISM FOR THE UP COMING GRAVENHURST WINTER CARNIVAL, SCHEDULED LATER IN FEBRUARY. WELL, THEY WERE ABLE TO GET SOMETHING RECORDED THIS WEEK, AND ALTHOUGH I HAVEN'T HEARD IT YET, IF PAST WORK IS AN INDICATOR, IT SHOULD BE A CATCHY LITTLE TUNE TO GET SKOKIE DANCING. I'LL LET YOU KNOW MORE ABOUT IT IN THE DAYS TO COME, AND WHERE YOU WILL BE ABLE TO HEAR IT PLAYED ON-LINE.

QUEST FOR CANADIAN SYMBOLS WILL BE A BIG DEAL THIS YEAR

COLLECTORS TRYING TO OUTDO THEMSELVES - THERE WILL BE A LOT OF PAIN WITH THIS GAIN

I LAUNCHED A LITTLE PERSONAL CHALLENGE, IN YESTERDAY'S BLOG, WITH MY WIFE, PRIMARILY, WITH YOU GENERALLY, TO FIND SYMBOLS OF CANADA'S PAST, WHICH FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES WILL BE THE MAPLE LEAF, THE BEAVER AND THE ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE. WHILE THERE ARE OTHERS OF COURSE, THESE ARE THE ONES WE HAVE SELECTED TO SEEK-OUT, ACQUIRE AND SHOW-OFF…..WITH A BIG EXHIBITION ON THIS BLOG-SITE ON CANADA DAY, THIS COMING JULY, AND THEN ON NEW YEAR'S DAY 2013. WE AGREED TO SHOW-OFF A FEW FINDS MADE ALONG THE WAY, JUST TO DEMONSTRATE HOW WE'RE PROGRESSING.

WE MADE IT CLEAR, AS WELL, THAT TODAY WE WOULD BE STARTING FROM SCRATCH. NOT HAVING ANY FOUNDATION TO BUILD UPON…..SO TO SPEAK. OUR COLLECTIONS WOULD NOT INCLUDE ANY PREVIOUSLY ACQUIRED MATERIALS……UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR LONG COMPETITION. AND THEN IT WILL BE DECLARED AS BEING PART OF OUR PERSONAL COLLECTION BEFORE THE COMPETITION BEGAN. VERY FEW DEALERS WITH OUR TENURE IN THE INDUSTRY, WOULD BE VOID OF THESE SYMBOLS SOMEWHERE IN OUR PRIVATE OR FOR-SALE INVENTORIES. I HAVE REPRODUCED AN EXAMPLE FOR YOU, FROM OUR OWN COLLECTION……."WE LOVE OUR CANADA," WITH WORDS AND MUSIC BY EDDIE FOLEY "CANADA'S LEADING SONG WRITER" - FAMED COMPOSER OF "WHEN THE BOYS COME MARCHING HOME." IT WAS PUBLISHED ORIGINALLY IN 1945, AND IS NOTED AS "THE SWEETEST MUSIC EVER HEARD, AND LYRICS THAT WILL MAKE US PROUD OF OUR CANADIAN WAY OF LIFE." IT WAS PUBLISHED BY FOLEY IN TORONTO. AS YOU CAN SEE, THE MUSIC IS SIGNED BY EDDIE FOLEY.

WE THOUGHT THIS WAS A GOOD PLACE TO START. NOT ONLY IS THE SHEET MUSIC SIGNED, IT IS ADORNED BY A GRAPHIC OF A BEAVER AND THREE MAPLE LEAVES. TOO BAD THERE WASN'T A MOUNTIE TO FULFILL THE COMPLETE TRIO OF CANADIAN SYMBOLS.

WE HAVE A NUMBER OF SYMBOL-ADORNED PIECES, SOME STASHED AWAY FOR SAFE KEEPING THAT WE WILL DIG-OUT IN THE NEXT WHILE. BUT WE WON'T COUNT ANY OF THIS AS PART OF THE COMPETITION…..PRIMARILY BETWEEN MY WIFE AND I, BUT FEEL FREE TO JOIN IN AND SHARE YOUR STORIES AND IMAGES OF FOUND ITEMS. TODAY WE TOOK A MOTOR TRIP TO BRACEBRIDGE, AND VISITED A TOTAL OF FOUR SHOPS, INCLUDING A RETURN TRIP TO GRAVENHURST, AND OUR FINDS WERE JUST SHORT OF PATHETIC. WE COULD HAVE PICKED UP SOME CHEESY SOUVENIR ITEMS, MADE ANYWHERE BUT CANADA, FROM ASH TRAYS WITH MAPLE LEAVES, TO CENTENNIAL ITEMS THAT, TO US, JUST DIDN'T MEASURE UP TO THE HIGHER STANDARD OF ITEMS WE WANT TO BUILD.

SUZANNE DID BEAT ME TODAY, BY GETTING THREE VERY NICE COLLECTIBLE SPOONS, ALL WITH MAPLE LEAF INSIGNIAS, AND ALL IN GOOD CONDITION WHICH ISN'T THE END-ALL BUT IS STILL IMPORTANT FOR VALUATIONS BY THE END OF THE FRIENDLY BUT AGGRESSIVE COMPETITION. SHE HOPES TO FIND A REALLY NICE MAPLE LEAF SHAPED SPOON DISPLAY RACK…..BUT ONE THAT IS MADE IN CANADA, FROM AN ACTUAL NATIVE TREE……AND NOT PRESSED WOOD. WE FOUND A COUPLE TODAY THAT MIGHT HAVE PASSED, EXCEPT FOR THE FACT THEY WERE MADE MANY THOUSANDS OF MILES AWAY. SO SUZANNE "ONE-UPPED-ME" ON TODAY'S OUTING BUT I'M LIKE THE TORTOISE IN THIS KIND OF CHALLENGE, SO I'LL FINISH SLOW AND STEADY WITH A BOXCAR FULL OF CANADIAN HEIRLOOMS. OF COURSE SUZANNE ISN'T JUST ANY OLD HARE EITHER…….SHE'S DEVIOUS AND RIGOROUS WHEN IT COMES TO OUR REGULAR PERSONAL CHALLENGES. WE DO THIS ALL THE TIME, AND IT'S USUALLY A FIFTY FIFTY SPLIT……HER KICKING MY ARSE 50 OUT OF 100 TIMES, AND ME, SUBTLY PLEASED WITH MY VICTORY. I DON'T LIKE TO IRRITATE THE DRAGON. SHE CAN MAKE MY LIFE PRETTY ROUGH HERE AT BIRCH HOLLOW, SO DON'T EXPECT ME TO TAKE OUT A FULL PAGE AD, IF I WIN THIS CANADIAN SYMBOL CHALLENGE. I'LL JUST MAKE A BIG SPLASH HERE, BECAUSE I KNOW SHE WON'T READ IT. OF COURSE, I HAVE RUN INTO A WEE PROBLEM IN THE PAST, WHEN HER FRIENDS HAVE READ MY OFF-HAND, SNIDE COMMENTS, AND PASSED THEM ON AT WORK. OH WELL. WE'VE BEEN MARRIED TOO LONG TO LET A LITTLE FRIENDLY COMPETITION GET IN THE WAY OF A GOOD RELATIONSHIP. WHAT B.S. EH?

I DID FIND A WONDERFUL LITTLE BIOGRAPHY TODAY, IN A GRAVENHURST BOOK SHOP, CIRCA 1967, ENTITLED "GILLMOR OF ALGOMA - ARCHDEACON AND TRAMP," BY E. NEWTON-WHITE, PUBLISHED BY THE DIOCESE OF ALGOMA, THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA, AND HAVE BEEN READING IN MY OFFICE ALL AFTERNOON. WHAT A FABULOUS STORY ABOUT THE HARDSHIPS OF THE MISSIONARIES, WHO TRAVELLED THE BACKWOODS OF CANADA, (CIRCA LATE 1800'S, EARLY 1900'S) IN THE MOST INCLEMENT WEATHER IMAGINABLE, TO TEND THE SPIRITUAL NEEDS OF THE PIONEERS, ISOLATED DEEP IN THE BUSH. I'M ONLY A QUARTER WAY THROUGH THE BOOK, AND I WILL SHARE INFORMATION ON THE BIOGRAPHY IN THE NEXT BLOG SUBMISSION. I'LL TELL YOU ONE THING, I'M EXHAUSTED JUST READING OF THIS AMAZING MAN'S ABILITY TO WALK 200 MILES, THROUGH ALMOST IMPASSABLE FORESTS AND BOGS, TO ADMINISTER TO THE SICK AND DIEING, AND TO ASSIST THOSE FAMILIES HAVING TO BURY LOVED ONES IN THAT SAME ISOLATION. HE WAS AN IRISHMAN OF GREAT COMMITMENT TO HIS FAITH, AND ITS ADMINISTRATION TO THOSE WHO GREATLY BENEFITTED HIS BENEVOLENCE……WHICH SEEMED UNENDING, AND UNYIELDING. YOU CAN FIND A COPY OF THIS BOOK BY SEARCHING ONLINE OUT-OF-PRINT BOOK COLLECTIVES, LIKE THE ADVANCE BOOK EXCHANGE (ABE), WHERE YOU CAN ORDER ADDITIONAL COPIES.

WE ALSO HAULED HOME A 1940'S WICKER CHAIR WITH SOME DAMAGE TO THE BACK……THAT CAN BE REPAIRED WITH A LOT OF PATIENCE AND A FEW SCAVENGED WICKER PIECES, FROM OTHER BROKEN CHAIRS WE KEEP FOR THIS PURPOSE.

SEE YOU SOON.

In Search of Canadian Symbols

2012-01-20T17:45:00.000-08:00

A PROJECT TO COLLECT ANTIQUE, VINTAGE AND NOSTALGIC ITEMS WITH CANADIAN SYMBOLS

THE BEAVER, THE MAPLE LEAF AND THE ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE

I HAVE TO CONFESS SOMETHING. I HAVE HAD THE BOOK, "THE MAPLE LEAF FOREVER - A CELEBRATION OF CANADIAN SYMBOLS," 2006 BOSTON MILLS PRESS, BY DONNA AND NIGEL HUTCHINS, ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS, AND SOLD ALL BUT THE ONE I JUST PURCHASED TODAY. I MADE A VOW NOT TO SELL THIS ONE. IT'S A PRETTY POPULAR BOOK, AND I'VE SOLD TWO OF THREE TO MY AMERICAN BOOK CUSTOMERS. THE OTHER ONE STAYED IN ONTARIO. THE FOURTH, WILL REMAIN HERE AT BIRCH HOLLOW. THIS IS A WONDERFULLY DESIGNED AND WELCOME RESOURCE BOOK FOR COLLECTORS OF A WIDE ASSORTMENT OF CANADIAN SYMBOLS ON AN EVEN WIDER ARRAY OF VINTAGE ITEMS…..FROM SOUVENIRS TO HISTORIC MEDALS, BUTTONS AND HOUSEHOLD ITEMS…..BOTTLES AND JARS, TO TOBACCO CUTTERS……TIN HOCKEY PLAYERS FROM THE FORMER EAGLE TABLE-TOP GAMES, TO CANADIAN AUTOMOBILE CLUB TIN ORNAMENTS…..THE LIST IS A LONG ONE. LOOKING THROUGH THE FULL COLOR GRAPHICS OF THE BOOK, I FOUND MANY ITEMS THAT I'VE OWNED AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER…..AS A KID, AS A COLLECTOR, AND AS ONE WHO BUYS AND SELLS, AND THEN REGRETS HAVING A DEPLETED COLLECTION. I'VE OWNED PLENTY OF ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE SOUVENIR DOLLS, FROM WHEN I WAS A YOUNGSTER…..WITH TRAVELLING PARENTS WHO VISITED ALL KINDS OF HISTORIC SITES IN THE PROVINCE…..WITH THEIR OWN ATTACHED GIFT SHOPS. MY SECOND TABLE TOP HOCKEY GAME WAS A 1965 VERSION OF THE EAGLE BRAND TABLE-TOP HOCKEY GAME THAT I ABSOLUTELY ADORED. UNTIL THE FATEFUL DAY A FIGHT BROKE OUT IN MY ROOM, AFTER A STANLEY CUP WINNING GOAL, AND I PUSHED MY MATE DOWN……AND RIGHT ONTO MY RIGHT WINGER. CUT HIS BEHIND. BROKE MY GAME. IT WAS NEVER THE SAME AFTER THAT, BUT I PLAYED WITH IT ANY WAY. I'VE HAD A SELECTION OF BEAVER JARS, AND ALL KINDS OF BUTTONS WITH BOTH BEAVERS AND MAPLE LEAFS, BUT I NEVER REALLY APPRECIATED THEM AS COMPONENTS OF ANY KIND OF COLLECTION…….UNTIL I READ THIS EXCELLENT BOOK.

SO ALONG WITH A FEW OTHER PROJECTS THIS SPRING, AND OVER THE YEAR, I'VE DECIDED TO MAKE A SPORTING ATTEMPT TO COME UP WITH A REPRESENTATIVE COLLECTION, OF THESE CANADIAN SYMBOLS, ON VINTAGE PIECES MYSELF…..AS A TEST, TO SEE JUST HOW CAPABLE I AM, AS A SENIOR COLLECTOR / DEALER, TO TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT FROM MY NORMAL RANGE…..THAT WHILE NOT PARTICULARLY RESTRICTIVE, IS GETTING A LITTLE STALE AFTER ALL THESE YEARS. SO MAYBE IT'S TIME TO GET CRAZY, AND DROP PARAMETERS, TO SEEK OUT THESE ICONIC CANADIAN COLLECTIBLES. SUZANNE HAS AGREED THAT WE SHOULD WORK TOGETHER, BUT SHE WOULD BE LOOKING FOR THOSE SAME NATIONAL, HISTORIC SYMBOLS INSTEAD, BY SEARCHING THROUGH VINTAGE FABRIC, CLOTHING, QUILTS, BLANKETS, BUTTONS, AND ANYTHING ELSE THAT SHE CAN FIND WHILE WORKING IN THE FIELD SHE IS MOST COMFORTABLE. I HAVE A SCATTER-GUN APPROACH TO EVERYTHING, SO I'LL JUST LOOK FOR EVERYTHING ELSE. SHE'S GOT AN EAGLE EYE FOR VINTAGE CRAFTS AND QUILTS, SO IT WILL BE HIGHLY COMPETITIVE EVEN ON A PARTNERSHIP SCALE. SHE LOVES BEATING ME AT THE ANTIQUE HUNT.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO COPY-CAT-COLLECT WHAT VISUAL ITEMS ARE IN THE BOOK….UNLESS THEY'RE ALL WE CAN FIND. WE'RE NOT SETTING OUT TO BUY LOTS OF MOUNTIES OR EVERY ITEM TO EVER WEAR A MAPLE LEAF OR BEAVER. WE'D LIKE TO COME UP WITH UNIQUE ITEMS……NOT IN THE BOOK, IF THIS IS POSSIBLE. THIS WILL BE A HECK OF A CHALLENGE ON ITS OWN. AND WE DON'T INTEND ON SETTLING FOR ANTIQUE SHOPS ONLY, AS PLACES TO SHOP FOR THESE SYMBOLIC PIECES. THAT'S NOT IN THE SPIRIT OF THE HUNT AT ALL. WE WANT TO FIND THEM ON THE CHEAP, BY LOOKING IN THE RIGHT PLACES, AND WHILE THAT DOESN'T PROHIBIT ANTIQUE SHOPS, IT WILL DEMAND OF US THAT A MAJORITY OF PIECES, BE PURCHASED FROM SOURCES THAT DON'T REALLY APPRECIATE THE FULL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE ITEMS. AT FLEA MARKETS, YARD SALES, GARAGE SALES, ESTATE SALES, CHURCH FUNDRAISERS AND AT SECOND HAND SHOPS. YOU NEVER KNOW BUT IT'S ALWAYS WORTH A TRY.

WHAT WE'LL DO, ON A REGULAR BASIS, IS GIVE YOU SOME VISUALS ON THIS BLOG-SITE, OF INTERESTING FINDS WE MAKE, HERE IN THE REGION OF MUSKOKA. WE'LL CONFINE OURSELVES TO A MUSKOKA SEARCH ONLY, AND WE'LL LET YOU KNOW WHERE WE FOUND THE ITEMS…..AS WE ARE PROUD OF THE ANTIQUE AND SECOND HAND SHOPS WE HAVE HERE IN THE DISTRICT. I'LL DO A BIG SPREAD ON THIS BY THE CANADA DAY HOLIDAY, IN JULY, WITH PHOTOS, AND THEN AGAIN, AT NEW YEARS, 2013, TO SEE WHAT A HALF YEAR, AND A FULL YEAR CHALLENGE, CAN ACCOMPLISH WHEN IT'S DEEMED IMPORTANT. I THINK THIS IS WELL WORTH THE INVESTMENT OF TIME AND MONEY. POSSIBLY YOU'LL FIND THIS AN INTERESTING PURSUIT YOURSELF, OR MAYBE YOU'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR YEARS BEFORE US. I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US ANYWAY, BECAUSE I CAN TELL YOU IT WILL BE AN ADVENTURE. I CAN JUST TELL.

YOU CAN FIND THIS BOOK ONLINE. EVERY CANADIAN COLLECTOR…..GEEZ, EVERY CANADIAN SHOULD HAVE THIS BOOK. IT'S A GEM. I'LL KEEP YOU UPDATED.

THE AUCTION THAT WAS NO FUN AT ALL -

SOMETIMES CIRCUMSTANCES GET IN THE WAY OF FAIR PLAY AND FAMILY HISTORY -

AS I'VE WRITTEN ABOUT PREVIOUSLY, AUCTIONS FOR ME HAVE ALWAYS BEEN SOCIAL / CULTURAL EVENTS, THAT CAN PROVIDE A LITTLE RECREATION ON THE SIDE. THERE'S THAT ECONOMIC SIDE AS WELL, AND CONSIDERING I'M AN ANTIQUE COLLECTOR / DEALER, IT'S CERTAINLY THE PRIMARY MOTIVATION FOR SPENDING MOST OF A DAY IN A BARN OR STANDING IN A WINDSWEPT FIELD SOMEWHERE IN MUSKOKA.

WHEN I WAS THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD-GAZETTE, IN BRACEBRIDGE, I LOOKED FORWARD TO AUCTIONS AS AN ESCAPE FROM COVERING LOCAL POLITICS AND WRITING-UP BUSINESS SUCCESS STORIES…….I DREADED THESE MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE AS A NEWSPAPER STAFFER. I'D HAVE WRITTEN OBITS OVER BUSINESS PROFILES FOR SPECIAL ADVERTISING PROMOTIONS. HALF THE PLACES I HAD TO WRITE-UP WERE ON THEIR LAST LEGS ANYWAY, SO IT ALWAYS SEEMED ODD THAT THEY SENT ME IN, TO SAVE THE DAY. I DIDN'T REVITALIZE EVEN ONE OF THOSE DIRE-STRAITS ENTERPRISES. BUT BY TIME I GOT TO FRIDAY, I WAS ALL EXCITED ABOUT THE WEEKEND AUCTION LINE-UP. BACK IN THE LATE 1970'S,1980'S, AND THROUGH MOST OF THE 90'S, THERE WERE FREQUENT AUCTIONS, UNLIKE TODAY. I USED TO ATTEND TO BUY, AND WRITE ABOUT THE SALES FOR MY COLUMN (THE AUCTION ROLL), AND TO FORGET ABOUT THE ARSES WHO USED TO SEND ME TO DO THOSE BUSINESS FEATURES I HATED. I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU, THAT AFTER YOU'VE SPENT FOUR HOURS COVERING A LOCAL COUNCIL, YOU NEED SOMETHING TO GLOM ONTO……NOT JUST THE JUG OF BEER I USED TO ENJOY AT THE OLD BRACEBRIDGE ALBION HOTEL. SO I WENT TO AUCTIONS, AND THEY WERE A GREAT DEAL OF FUN. IT DIDN'T MATTER HOW MUCH OR HOW LITTLE MONEY I HAD IN POCKET, I ENJOYED THE SOCIAL SIDE OF THE DAY, THE OFTEN PICTURESQUE PASTURES AND BARNYARDS, WHERE MANY OF THESE OPEN-AIR EVENTS WERE BEING HELD. AS I'M CLAUSTROPHOBIC, AND THRIVE IN WIDE OPEN SPACES, I REALLY DID SAVE MY JOB IN THE NEWS INDUSTRY, BY SPENDING SO MUCH QUALITY TIME ATTENDING COUNTRY AUCTIONS.

IT DIDN'T REALLY MATTER WHERE THE SALE WAS BEING HELD, EVEN INDOORS, IF IT AFFORDED ENOUGH ROOM TO MOVE ABOUT EASILY, AS I'M CONSTANTLY "WANDERING AIMLESSLY," AS SUZANNE NOTES OF MY HABITS AND HOME AND ABROAD. IN-TOWN SALES ARE OKAY AS WELL, ESPECIALLY ANY THAT ARE OF AN HISTORIC CHARACTER, THAT CAN OFFER UNIQUE ANTIQUE PIECES, FROM OLD BOOKS AND ART, TO FURNITURE AND OLD STEAMER TRUNKS (WHICH I LIKE TO RESTORE). ON ONE SUNDAY AFTERNOON, WHEN BOTH ANDREW AND ROBERT WERE STILL QUITE YOUNG, WE ATTENDED A SALE IN BRACEBRIDGE THAT SEEMED SPECTACULAR AT THE TIME, BUT BECAME A LIVING NIGHTMARE BEFORE IT WAS ALL OVER. BUT THAT EVENT CHANGED MY MIND ABOUT AUCTION-GOERS AND THE CITIZENS OF THE TOWN.

IT WAS THE KIND OF SALE I ADORE, BECAUSE IT WAS A HODGE-PODGE OF SO MANY DIFFERENT VINTAGE ITEMS, MOST OF THEM IN QUITE ACCEPTABLE CONDITION. VARIETY AND CONDITION ARE REALLY IMPORTANT TO THE DEALER / COLLECTORS. FOR THOSE JUST INTERESTED IN PICKING UP DECORATOR PIECES, NOSTALGIA, OLD TOYS, BOOKS ETC., THIS WAS GOING TO BE A GOOD DAY BUT LIKELY TO ATTRACT SUBSTANTIAL PRICES. I WAS PREPARED. MY INTEREST, AS IT HAS BEEN FOR MANY YEARS, WAS TO FIND LOCAL, OUT-OF-PRINT MUSKOKA HISTORIES, MUSKOKA MEMORABILIA, FROM POSTCARDS TO MAPS, INVOICES FROM OLD BUSINESSES, STEAMSHIP COLLECTIBLES AND FOLK ART CREATIONS, PAINTINGS TO WOOD CARVINGS. THE SALE WOULD TAKE UP A LARGE PORTION OF THIS SUNDAY, AND FORTUNATELY THERE WAS A SNACK-BAR SET UP TO PURCHASE THE BOYS A FEW TREATS THROUGH THE AUCTION. THE YARD OF THE OLD TURN OF THE CENTURY HOME, WAS FULL OF EAGER BIDDERS AND NEIGHBORS OF THE FAMILY. I RECOGNIZED THEM, AS IT WAS MY OLD NEIGHBORHOOD, FROM THE 1960'S AND EARLY 70'S. I KNEW THE FAMILY HOSTING THE AUCTION, AND I HAD SEEN A DAUGHTER TALKING WITH A NUMBER OF PEOPLE BEFORE THE AUCTION, THAT CAUSED ME TO WONDER IF THERE WAS SOME SORT OF PROBLEM. SHE WAS TRYING TO SORT SOMETHING OUT, THAT'S FOR SURE, BEFORE THE AUCTIONEER GOT THE SALE GOING. SUZANNE AND I BOTH AGREED SHE LOOKED QUITE AGITATED, AND THAT SET OFF AN ALARM FOR ME, BECAUSE THE MORE I THOUGHT ABOUT IT, THE MATERIALS ON THE LAWN LOOKED "DUMPED THERE" AND NOT ORGANIZED, AND PLACED WITH SIMILAR ITEMS…..SUCH THAT CHINA WAS WITH CHINA, BOOKS WITH BOOKS, FURNITURE WITH, YOU GUESSED IT……OTHER FURNISHINGS. THIS WAS A HELTER-SKELTER ARRANGEMENT, THAT LOOKED AS IF THE HOUSE HAD TO BE EMPTIED ON A BUDGET OF TIME, AND THAT THIS WASN'T PLANNED WEEKS EARLIER……AND IT SHOWED. MY AUCTIONEER FRIEND WAS FASTIDIOUS ABOUT HIS PRE-AUCTION SET UP, AND EVERY TABLE WOULD HAVE HAD A CLOTH COVERING THE SURFACE, AND THE BEST ITEMS PULLED FROM BOXES, AND POSITIONED TOGETHER…..SUCH AS CUPS AND SAUCERS, PLATTERS, CHINA SERVING DISHES, AND GLASSWARE.

WE GOT CLOSE TO THE FAMILY MEMBER, AS SHE WAS TALKING TO A HALF-CIRCLE OF FRIENDS NEARBY, AND LISTENED FROM A COMFORTABLE DISTANCE, TO A SAD, UNFORTUNATE STORY, THAT COULD NOT BE STOPPED FROM UNFOLDING. DUE TO THE FACT THERE WAS NO WILL, OR POWER OF ATTORNEY, AND THE WOMAN'S MOTHER HAD RUN UP A HUGE BILL, RESIDING AT A LOCAL NURSING HOME, THE PROVINCE HAD THE PROPERTY, HOUSE AND CONTENTS SEIZED, ON ORDER TO LIQUIDATE ALL ASSETS, ON THE INSTITUTIONALIZED MOTHER'S BEHALF. THE DAUGHTER WAS FORCED OUT OF THE HOUSE, FOR STARTERS, AND OUTSIDE OF A FEW KEEPSAKES SCOOPED UP ON THE WAY OUT, COULDN'T PREVENT THE INEVITABLE FROM HAPPENING. I FELT AWFULLY SORRY FOR THE AUCTIONEER, A FRIEND OF MINE, FOR HAVING TO WORK AGAINST THE DAUGHTER, IN THIS PROFESSIONAL CAPACITY. SO IT BECAME QUITE AN EMOTIONAL SITUATION FOR MANY OF US THAT DAY, BECAUSE WE COULDN'T REALLY LEAVE, ALTHOUGH IT WAS THE FIRST INSTINCT UPON HEARING OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES. BUT WHAT HAPPENED WAS QUITE NEAT.

MANY OF THOSE FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS WHO SHE HAD BEEN TALKING TO, PRIOR TO THE SALE, SUZANNE AND I INCLUDED, BEGAN SETTING UP AN INTERESTING DEFENSE. THEY ASKED HER WHAT SHE DESIRED TO GET BACK…..WANTED TO HAVE AS PERSONAL PROPERTY RETURNED…..AND NEEDED TO HAVE BACK FOR THE INTEGRITY OF PERSONAL ACCOUNTING AND FAMILY RECORDS. EVEN HER OWN POSSESSIONS WERE BEING SOLD AT THE SAME TIME AS HER MOTHER'S COLLECTION OF HOUSEHOLD ITEMS. WORD WENT AROUND THE SALE, LIKE A GIANT TELEPHONE PARTY-LINE, NOT TO BID-UP ON CERTAIN BOXES AND HEIRLOOM PIECES SHE HAD EXPRESSED INTEREST. ONE BIDDER WOULD TRY TO WIN THE LOTS AS CHEAPLY AS POSSIBLE. AT THE TIME, SHE DIDN'T HAVE MUCH MONEY TO BUY THESE PIECES BACK HERSELF, WHICH WAS MORE THAN A LITTLE UNFORTUNATE, AS A LOT OF STUFFED BOXES WENT FOR UNDER TEN DOLLARS. SCRAPBOOKS, PHOTO ALBUMS, HANDWRITTEN LETTERS, OLD GREETING CARDS, VALENTINES, EVEN HER SCHOOL REPORT CARDS AND CERTIFICATES WERE BEING SOLD-OFF IN FRONT OF HER…..AND NO ONE COULD BLAME HER FOR CRYING ABOUT THE LOSS OF FAMILY HISTORY. LIKE WATCHING SAND DRAINING THROUGH AN HOUR GLASS, SHE STOOD THERE AND STUDIED THE UNFOLDING EVENTS, NOT SAYING A WORD, LOOKING AS IF EVERYTHING SHE VALUED IN THE WORLD, WAS SUDDENLY THERE BEFORE HER……AND THEN GONE JUST AS QUICKLY.

WHAT SHE DIDN'T REALIZE, AT THAT POINT, WAS THAT FOLKS WERE BUYING BOXES ON HER BEHALF, AND TRYING TO GET BACK IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS AND FAMILY ALBUMS. POSSIBLY SHE DIDN'T SEE THE PILE OF MATERIALS BEHIND HER, PURCHASED BY KINDLY AUCTION PATRONS, WHO HAD HEARD OF THE INJUSTICE, AND WERE HELPING HER FINANCE AT LEAST PART OF THE RECOVER. SUZANNE AND I PURCHASED SEVERAL BOXES OF SCRAPBOOKS AND OTHER PERSONAL FAMILY ITEMS, PHOTOGRAPHS AND LETTERS, THAT WE PAID FOR, AND PRESENTED BACK TO HER, AS A SMALL ACT OF KINDNESS. THERE WERE QUITE A FEW ACTS OF KINDNESS THAT DAY. IT COULDN'T MAKE UP FOR THE UNHAPPINESS SHE SUFFERED, I'M SURE, BUT I ALWAYS HOPED IT SHOWED HER ABOUT COMMUNITY GOODWILL AND NEIGHBORLINESS….AND THAT WE ALL FELT BAD ABOUT EVEN BEING THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE. THE PURPOSE AFTER THAT, WAS TO WORK TOGETHER TO BLOCK BIDS FROM OUT OF TOWN DEALERS, ETC., AND CROWD OUT OTHER BUYERS WHO COULDN'T HAVE CARED LESS ABOUT THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE SALE…..REFUSING TO LET EMOTION AND SENTIMENT GET IN THE WAY OF ANTIQUE SPECULATION. WE DID SPEAK WITH OTHER FOLKS WHO HAD PURCHASED JOB LOTS OF PAPER MATERIALS, ASKING POLITELY IF THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO SORT THROUGH THEM, AND RETURN ANY ITEMS OF PERSONAL FAMILY RECORD, PHOTOGRAPHS OR LETTERS THAT GOT JAMMED INTO THE MIX. SUZANNE AND I WERE PLEASANTLY SURPRISED TO SEE THE CO-OPERATION. YES, A LOT OF HEIRLOOM AND IMPORTANT PIECES WERE LOST THAT DAY, REGARDLESS OF THE EFFORT MANY OF US PUT-IN, TO SAVE CRITICAL ITEMS…..FROM HER OWN TOYS FROM CHILDHOOD, TEDDY BEARS AND DOLLS, TO MILITARY PHOTOGRAPHS OF HER GRANDFATHER AND FATHER. BUT WE TRIED.

I FOUND MYSELF ANGRY FOR WEEKS AFTER THIS. I TALKED TO MY AUCTIONEER FRIEND, AND HE CONFESSED THAT THE DAY HAD BEEN PRETTY MUCH AN EMOTIONAL ROLLER-COASTER FROM BEGINNING TO END. BUT HE WAS WORKING ON BEHALF OF THE PROPERTY OWNER, UNDER SUPERVISION OF THE PROVINCE, AND THE MONEY RAISED WAS TO COVER NURSING HOME COSTS IN ARREARS, AND TO ACCOMMODATE EXPENSES IN THE FUTURE. HE ADMITTED THAT THERE WAS A HEARTLESS ASPECT TO IT ALL, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE DAUGHTER WAS DENIED ACCESS TO HER OWN PROPERTY, THAT HAD BEEN STORED IN HER MOTHER'S HOUSE AT THE TIME OF THE SEIZURE. LET ME TELL YOU FOLKS, THIS SALE PROMOTED A LOT OF AUCTION-GOERS THAT DAY, TO CONSULT THEIR OWN LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT, AND POWER OF ATTORNEY ARRANGEMENTS…….AND MORE THAN A FEW I TALKED WITH THAT DAY, DIDN'T HAVE A LEGAL WILL OR POWER OF ATTORNEY…..BUT WERE PLANNING TO MAKE THAT CORRECTION PROMPTLY, AFTER SEEING JUST HOW UNFORTUNATE IT CAN BECOME WITHOUT SAFEGUARDS.

WHEN I WROTE IN YESTERDAY'S BLOG ABOUT PRACTICING SENSITIVITY WHEN ATTENDING YARD, FUNDRAISING AND ESTATE SALES, THIS STORY WAS BANGING ABOUT IN MY MEMORY BANK. I WATCHED AS MUCH CRUEL BEHAVIOR THAT DAY, AS BENEVOLENCE, AS BUYERS LAUGHED ABOUT THE "CRAP" THEY GOT IN JOB-LOT BOXES, WELL WITHIN EAR-SHOT OF THIS PARTICULAR FAMILY MEMBER. SHE EVEN WENT TO CHECK GARBAGE BINS, TO SEE WHAT HAD BEEN CAST OFF, AS PEOPLE LEFT THE SALE WITH THEIR PURCHASES. WE WATCHED PEOPLE SORT THEIR BOXES, AND I GRABBED UP WHATEVER WAS DISCARDED ON THE GRASS, AND IT WAS INCLUDED IN THE MATERIALS WE RETURNED AT THE END OF THE DAY. LET'S JUST SAY A LOT OF US HAD OUR FAITH RENEWED THAT AFTERNOON, BECAUSE THERE WERE MANY ACTS OF PERSONAL KINDNESS SHOWN TO THIS WOMAN. WE WISH THERE COULD HAVE BEEN MORE.

THIS WAS BY NO MEANS AN ISOLATED CASE. WE HAVE ATTENDED OTHERS THAT BECAME VERY NASTY BETWEEN FAMILY MEMBERS, ALMOST TO THE POINT OF BLOWS……AND MANY THREATS OF LEGAL ACTION BANDIED ABOUT, RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE AUCTION. THE HOST WOULD ASSURE US EVERYTHING WAS FINE, BUT KIN-FOLK ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BARN-YARD WEREN'T SO COMPLIMENTARY. WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE COUNTRY, TURNED OUT TO BE A TEMPEST IN A PASTURE FOR ALL CONCERNED. WE WERE VERY CAREFUL WHAT WE PURCHASED THAT DAY, AND AS WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST, FAMILY WAS OFFERED ITEMS WE HAD PURCHASED……WHEN WE LEARNED MORE ABOUT THE SERIOUS OWNERSHIP CONFLICT BETWEEN FAMILY MEMBERS, MUCH WE HADN'T BEEN AWARE OF DURING THE SALE ITSELF. IT ALL WORKED OUT IN THE END, AND THE MAJOR PIECES, WE HAD ACQUIRED, EVENTUALLY FOUND THEIR WAY BACK TO THE DISSENTING RELATIVES. IT WASN'T THAT ANYTHING ILLEGAL HAD OCCURRED, JUST A MORAL INTERPRETATION OF WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN OFFERED TO FAMILY FIRST……BEFORE IT MADE IT TO AUCTION-DAY INVENTORY. IT'S A REALLY UNCOMFORTABLE FEELING, WHEN YOU'RE BIDDING ON AN ANTIQUE PIECE, A PAINTING, OR A QUILT, AND REALIZE YOU'RE BEING CHASED IN INCREMENTS BY A FAMILY MEMBER GIVING YOU THE EVIL EYE. AS I ALSO POINTED OUT, IN A PREVIOUS AUCTION, WE HAVE BEEN AMONGST THOSE "GIVING THE EVIL EYE," AS OUR OWN FAMILY HAD TO BUY BACK HEIRLOOM PIECES, WHEN SUZANNE'S FATHER PASSED AWAY SOME YEARS AGO NOW. YOU START OUT IN A CHIPPER MOOD, AND THEN, WELL, IT JUST SUCKS AFTER THAT. SO MUCH FOR GOING TO AUCTIONS FOR SOCIAL / CULTURAL / RECREATION ENJOYMENT. GOOD THING THAT THESE EVENTS ARE THE RARITY, AND NOT THE NORMAL FARE.