Wisconsin

I have had a great time paging through the ads and admiring the graphics used by retailers in the late 1800s! This book is called Yenowine’s News Elite Directory, 1891-92 and in addition to the delightful pictures and offering of wares, it gives some advice on proper manners. One of the pages that drew me to it was “What Attracts Men”; not because I want to do that (being happily married for a lot of years), but I wanted to see if today’s .com dating services knew about these tips.

For example, the first one is “a woman’s smile.” They tell us this attracts a man, but an even temper retains him. Good to know. Another statement reads “A pretty gown attracts a man; the knowledge that it was inexpensive delights him.” Nothing new here. Another suggestion is “A consideration for his comfort, attracts a man; a continuation of this makes him your most humble slave.” Now you’re talking! The last is “A chat in which there is no malice attracts a man; neither scandal not evil speaking make a woman seem sweet and lovely to him” Now, here is where I’d get into trouble. I love to stir things up – bringing up political discussions with a gentleman friend who I know is of opposite followings and discussing a certain “famous ex-governor who recently wrote a book” with another male friend who has a totally different viewpoint. Maybe I would not cut it in the 1890s. Oh, well.

A section called “Manners and Usage” gives some advice on proper etiquette for both married and unmarried ladies. For example, unmarried ladies are not allowed to use the family crest. Married ladies use the arms of their husband’s family. In a republic, monograms are considered in better taste than crests and coats of arms. (I asked hubby about our family crest and he told me to go to the medicine cabinet – it was right next to the toothbrushes.)

It was important to write letters properly as well. One comment was “Never write of your children as Miss Julia or Master James. Reserve the Miss or Master in speaking or writing to inferiors.“ I’ll keep that in mind. But now, my inferiors will know what I think of them!

Acceptances and regrets was another topic in the book. As most of you know, dinner, opera and theater-party invitations are to be answered as soon as received. All regrets from persons not able to accept invitations should contain a good reason for regretting. You cannot invite people to your house until you have first called upon them in a formal manner and they have returned the visit. (Well, there goes my next Packer party!)

I must say, there were so many rules and regulations about calling cards, visiting and returning invitations that I just know I would have made many faux pas if I were from this timeframe! It has been so very delightful having you read my blog and a formal thank you note will be delivered to each of you.

One of my favorite things about selling antiques and collectibles is sending items back where they belong. For example, at a flea market many years ago, a gent purchased a graduation announcement from us. It was from 1923, a Milwaukee high school. It cost him $5.00 and he walked away, absolutely jubilant. Was that because it would make him rich someday by purchasing this valuable ephemera? Nope. It was the fact that his father was one of the graduates named inside!

Another time I sold a 1930s post card to a lady who grew up in the very town pictured on the front. It was a small village in Illinois and she swore to us that Main Street still looked the same today.

Hubby purchased a nifty art deco advertising mirror with thermometer from Ruby Farms (near Milwaukee, Wisconsin.) I listed it on ebay and it sold to a lady whose family still owns that farm. She was very happy to win it and said she would be glad to display it in her home.

I came across a neat paperweight a while back. Glass with a picture underneath. It featured a church located in a town in Ohio. We had several paperweight collectors bidding but it turns out the winner had another motive for the buy. He had actually recently purchased that very building and was in the process of renovating it as his home. He was, to say the least, thrilled for this bit of the past.

I recently listed a brochure from a dairy located near Green Bay. The winner was a man in Colorado. I learned that he had worked there for several summers in the 1960s. He told me it brought a smile to his face and a deposit in his memory bank.

There are times when I sell items to folks with ’similar names.’ For example, I’ve sold a number of breweriana items to a gent with the last name of “Blatz”, a recent grouping of beer labels to a lady named “Miller”, and items from the Schroeder Hotel to a buyer named “Schroeder.” I do not know for certain if they are distant relatives, but it makes sense and is fun to believe they are.

My latest ‘history connection’ is by far the best! Hubby and I attended an auction at a closing of a Masonic Lodge a few years back. We purchased a ‘lot’ of booklets called “100 Years of Masonry in Wisconsin.” Late last year I listed one of these booklets and in my description, I mentioned some of the past members. One was especially important, not only to the Masons, but to Milwaukee’s history: Byron Kilbourn. Mr. Kilbourn worked in Ohio as a surveyor and state engineer. He visited Wisconsin in 1834, then deemed the area near the Milwaukee River to be a promising location for commerce, purchasing land there. In 1837 he founded Kilbourntown (presently Westown.) Two other men who were significant in Milwaukee’s history, Solomon Juneau and George Walker, joined ranks and their three ‘properties’ formed the city of Milwaukee. Kilbourn went on to serve as an alderman and two non-consecutive terms as mayor, in 1848 and 1854. He was also instrumental in the local railroad industry, then started a new railroad from Milwaukee to La Crosse, on the border of Minnesota and Wisconsin. He passed away in 1870, at the age of 69.

After I listed this booklet, I received an email from Lauren, who resides in Los Angeles. She was interested in more copies of the booklet and any additional Kilbourn-related items we might have. It turns out her husband, Charles, is a relative of Mr. Kilbourn. I told her we had also purchased a large, nicely framed picture of Byron Kilbourn and had planned to take it into our antique booth, but for some reason I had not done it. We emailed back and forth, and I sent her some pictures. In early January, Lauren contacted me to say they planned a vacation to Wisconsin in February. She was hopeful we could meet and they wanted to see the picture ‘in person.’

We were able to make those arrangements last week, and met with the two of them. They were very excited about the picture and commented on the family resemblance! The end result is that this marvelous picture is returning to its rightful owners. They purchased it from us and vowed to display it proudly for all to see. Now I understand my reluctance to sell it just as a ‘historical picture’ in our booth – it was simply meant to be returned home!

We often stop & shop on our way back to Fargo from Wisconsin, and a few weeks ago I purchased these two old bits of paper.

Both promote social events — early mixers of sorts.

The first, or earliest, invites “yourself and friends” to the 1st Grand May Party, arranged by the Pearl Pleasure Club, at the Metropolitan Hall on the evening of May 30th 1908. Since the location for the hall is given as “Cor. 6th and Clarke Streets”, it seems this event was held the old Pabst Brewing Company Hall in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Sing-alongs must have been a part of the evening’s amusements as the back of both cards contain song lyrics. Images & imaginings of such gatherings are both charming and, in the case of my memories of such large untrained singing groups, a bit alarming. Especially when you factor in the great likelihood of beer, a staple in Wisconsin social gatherings (historically speaking).

The first card has the lyrics for When It’s Moonlight On The Prairie; a cute song about the poor boy who wins his wealthy bride by convincing her to run off and elope with him, ending with the amusing irony that the rich girl’s pop had similarly won mom that way.

The second bit of ephemera promotes the After Easter Ball, arranged by the White Lily Socials, at the Bahn Frei Turn Hall. A search for this shows nothing in Milwaukee — and with the location sates and 12th Street and North Avenue, it cannot be, as I thought, the grand Turner Hall. Searching only helped me define Bhan Frei (“Clear the way!”) as a popular motto for German Turn-Art organizations, but did not help me with the location. Nor did any research clarify any history on the Milwaukee Turners having additional locations.

Ah, more mystery… I love that. And hate it too. It’s like a wiggly tooth in my mouth and I must keep playing with it until something pops up (or out).

While both cards were found and purchased together in Wisconsin, this does not mean that both must be from the same area; however I was able to find another similar card for Bahn Frei Turn Hall, and that seller states it was from Milwaukee. Plus, the idea of such musical social gatherings seems to fit the historical profile of Turner Hall… But the wiggly, nagging mystery continues (at least until some one pops up with information — hint-hint).

I’m especially interested in this particular card — not only for the thrill of the hunt regarding missing information on the location, possible connections with Turner Hall, and the intriguing White Lily Socials (which, as nothing about it is found on Google, must never have existed), but for the equally mysterious song on the back…

I’ve Got to Go and Get Myself a Girl Like You is an absolutely charming little ditty & I’d like to know the tune, who wrote it, and what sort of group would select such a cheeky song for a public gathering. (Another elbow in the ribs for information.)

Interestingly, the 1908 event had a $1 admission while the one from 1912 states tickets were 25 cents (and 50 cents at the door). While I (admittedly) don’t know much about the venues, I was surprised that four years later the price would be so much cheaper… Perhaps this is just about the stature of each venue, the popularity & budget of the group who hosted/arranged the socials, or the cost of the (possible) band or other entertainment. Or maybe it has to do with the growth of the city & competing social events. There are lots of ideas to chew on here. However, both events were free to ladies, proof that ladies nights and drink specials for ladies are nothing new at all. Where the ladies are, the men will show up. And even sing.

But then again, the beer was likely flowing. That always helps.

One advantage to researching and selecting fine antiques for furnishing and decorating your home, office or condo is their improving value over time. Antiques and collectibles that have endured for many decades not only serve their intended function but can increase in value as time passes. It’s fantastic to sit on, sit at, serve with, display or wear an antique and know with care and preservation the item will reward your bottom line.

Our visit this weekend was to the prestigious antique show held by the Wisconsin Antique Dealers Association, (WADA) at the Waukesha Expo-Forum Building in Waukesha ,Wisconsin. This was the third and last show of the current year, and as always was well attended by enthusiastic buyers.

Fifty-three booths were filled with a wonderful assortment of antiques, from advertising to toys, paper, jewelry, silver, furniture, art and china. Country, primitive, American and English pieces filled different booths dependent on the specialty of the dealer. Members came from four states, and the variety of offerings assured any visitor a great view of the past and an opportunity to purchase many spectacular items.

Because of the WADA credo, a buyer can be assured their purchase is as represented by the member dealer. Each show is also vetted by their peers to assure the authenticity of the items.

The dealers at any of these antique shows are very informative and eager to share knowledge of their specialty, the present state of the business and what trends they see in the market. Beside selling at antique shows many of the dealers associated with WADA have several venues for sales including their own shops, selling on the web or through upscale antique malls. Those without store locations sell by appointment. An observation I found interesting, most booths are family affairs, couples working as partners in the business.

Some of the members are also affiliated with the Chicago Suburban Antique Dealers Association, (CSADA). That group sponsors the Fall Fox Valley Show being held at the Kane County Fairgrounds in St. Charles, IL on October 20-21 2007. That show will feature fifty-five dealers from 14 states.

While wifey was searching each booth for additions to her collection of jewelry and hand mirrors, I was scouting around for cufflinks.

While at the WADA show, I had the good fortune to meet the president of WADA, Mr. Tom Archie and his wife Nancy, at their Calico Cat Antiques booth. They have been members of WADA for ten years, and Tom has served as president for the past three. Nancy serves as the show manager, so we have her to thank for bringing together a fantastic show.

Calico Cat features turn of the century American and Victorian furniture in oak, walnut, cherry, butternut, pine and maple, and offers professional restoration services.

Their booth was filled with wonderful pieces many obtained from Wisconsin. Tom and Nancy owned a shop in the Milwaukee area for many years and built a reputation for quality. Today they sell through these shows or by appointment. Repeat buyers attend the shows or contact them when another antique item is wanted.

Also taking a moment to speak to me was Bob Steinert at the Country Peddler Antiques booth, while his wife Cindy was busy attending to customers. Their location is in Oostburg, Wisconsin just north of the Milwaukee metro area. Featuring eighteenth and nineteenth century furniture and accessories, many acquired from the New England area.

Bob stressed the importance of younger buyers picking quality pieces for long term investment, that are aesthetically pleasing and fill a useful function within the home. And might I add, it’s another way to diversify your portfolio, with something more than just another piece of paper.

May I suggest looking for similar associations in your area. Then visit some dealer member’s shops and enjoy the opportunity to see the variety at an antique show.

“Gotta Collect? Then You Gotta Connect – Join our Collectors’
Community”

Highways 10 and 14 are two major non-interstate routes across Wisconsin, dotted by small antique shops, flea markets, and kitschy shops that cater to local collectors and travelling customers from Milwaukee and Chicago looking for rustic and country antiques. During our various long summer trips through the dairy state, we managed to cross it several times on these highways, stopping at shops along the way. Here’s some of the highlights of our travels, with contributions by the wifey.

The Bosstown Store
21280 Coppernoll Hollow, Bosstown WI 608-538-3783
Located just off US 14 between Richland Center and Viroqua, the Bosstown Store is a revitalized classic “general store,” owned by Roberta Ledman and her family. Once the local source for sundries and dry goods, the Bosstown Store now has shelves filled with glassware, pottery and ceramics, some jewelry, and various other items. The prices are quite good for the quality, and there was very little rummage-saley stuff. When shopping, watch out for the owner’s children, and the “shop cats”, who like to sun themselves in the front window. The cats, that is; not the children. Ledman also sells her wares on eBay, promoting her store’s classy rural location. While Bosstown isn’t a large city in the least, it is conveniently located on a well-traveled highway, so there is little difficulty in stopping by when on US 14.

East Side Flea Market
225 N. East Ave., Viroqua, WI
This was probably our favorite stop along US 14; we spent well over an hour here, and none of us got to see everything. The Eastside Flea Market, a few blocks off US 14 in Viroqua, WI, is the classic flea market – a nice mix of genuine antiques, rummage sale, and kitschy miscellaneous. Located in a defunct tobacco warehouse, this huge market is made up of numerous vendors, broken up into booths. Most were overflowing, with barely any room to walk in them. Prices varied all over the board, but few were unreasonable; we were a little frustrated by un-priced items – and further frustrated when told that we couldn’t contact the vendor to find the price because there was no phone on-site. Celphones, what did we do before you were around? Still, this was a minor problem considering the vast variety of items available. Everybody, including the kids, found something they wanted, ranging from a new bandanna to vintage ceramic cat figurines.

A American Antiques, Coins and Jewelry
US Highway 14, Mazomanie, WI 608-767-2608
Our first stop along US 14, A American is a nice high-end antique and collectible shop. Like the Bosstown Store, this antique shop is located in a historic building, in this case a log cabin built by a Norwegian settler in the 1860s. The building has been expanded, but the original log cabin part of the building is worth stopping to see on its own. The newer part of the building holds most of the very high-end antiques and coins, nearly everything behind glass. As you move towards the log cabin, prices fall and fewer things are hidden in cabinets, but the quality remains generally high. The basement is were the lower quality items live — including an amusing shelf, with obviously damaged and cheap items, identified by a sign as the “If you must steal, steal from here” shelf. Much of A American’s wares were too rich for our frugal pocketbook, but we did have fun digging through a bowl of common foreign coins. Each kid was encouraged to pick out their favorites, some of which were more exotic than I’d expect for a cheapo selection, from pre-Nazi German coins to fractional-penny British-colonial-period African coins.

Yore Antiques
Highway 14, Gotham WI 608-583-2670
Apparently quite new, squeaky clean, and oriented towards home decoration, Yore Antiques had but had plenty to look at but not as much for the collector. The shop had quite a bit of rustic furniture and fixtures, along with some books and antique cooking utensils. The store was nicely laid out in ‘vignettes’ organized around a group of furniture.

Note for hard-core comic collectors: Gotham WI is also home to the “Bat Cave“, a biker bar of normal small-town Wisconsin standards. Book your hotel rooms now.

Auditorium Antiques
182 North Central Avenue, Richland Center WI
We stopped here shortly after this shop first opened their doors. While they still had several empty booths, the selection of items was very good and the prices reasonable. Located in a huge working theatre, Auditorium Antiques occupies the lowest floor of the building and a few upstairs rooms. The building has a classiness of its own, and makes for a fine home for an antique shop. The building is a little ways off US 14 in towntown Richland Center, with ample street parking all around the auditorium. The auditorium is the first municipal auditorium built in Wisconsin, and it is in the process of a $2M renovation to restore its original beauty and bring the theatre back to its glory. Worth a stop for both the antiques and the building’s history.

Now, the wifey’s contribution, along the eastern stretch of Highway 10:

The Shop
W1152 Hwy 10, Brillion, WI 920-756-9216
In Brillion there lies a hidden gem of a shop. Plenty of signs beckon the driver — and the passenger, who will insist you turn around to make not one, but two passes to find the shop which lies nestled at the end of the drive, leading you to believe that you might be disturbing resident Nancy Schaefer. Don’t worry — Nancy’s the one who put all those signs out there and she wants you to visit!

Nancy runs The Shop, and here she has a smattering of antiques, comic books and jewelry — but what you’ll notice the minute you walk in is the slew of records. And that’s likely what will keep you there. For hours.

Normally, we’re a pretty thrifty (cheap) bunch, but when you find records like these, lovingly cared for and clearly not the typical rummage sale finds, well, you dig right in to those record bins and your pocketbook. We got another Trini Lopez album and I was seduced into both Ann-Margret’s LP and 45. (Hey, the songs were different!)

Nancy’s husband was an avid collector and now that he’s passed she’s finally decided to sell the thousands of records in his collection. She said her husband would want others to enjoy them as he had — and her children have made it pretty clear that they don’t want to inherit all of this. (So look for Nancy to hit the Internet soon — we’ll keep you posted.) Meanwhile, if there’s something you must have, especially in early rock, give Nancy a call at 920.756.9216.

“Crusty Rusty’s”
Stevens Point, WI
Between Stevens Point and Junction City there was a small sign in front of what can best be called a Sanford & Son get-up. Gluttons for such things, and likely still high off of our record buying, we made the turn and pulled next to the property. “Everyone got their tetanus shot?” I asked as we piled out of the van. With reminders to all to watch where you were putting your feet, your arms, fingers and even behinds (no one wants to back into a rusty old pitchfork!) we entered the sale.

The gentleman who runs the sale is very nice. He was completely honest about the conditions of his mechanical banks, pointed out when things were reproductions, and was more than willing to point you to anything you might be looking for in the tool, hardware, mechanical, and ‘rusty metal’ categories. He is very hard of hearing and most things are not priced (or the tag has been washed away in rains of yore), but once you get a lump of things together, he’s very fair in his prices.

We scored a pair of Ford hubcaps from the 1930’s, some great old drawer pulls, and some metal bits, which as sure as I’m typing this, I picked up but as of yet have no clue what they are yet. (Hey, that’s half the fun of a place like this!)

One thing I have to note is that while were were there, investigating every dilapidated box, prying open every large canister, every jar of who-knows-what metal bits and bobs, a young couple from Illinois stopped by the sale. They were easily frustrated the lack of Wal-Mart isles — and I daresay the mounds of weathered merchandise in general. No imagination, no love of adventure, those folks! They quickly abandoned this attempt at roughing it and left for what we hope was a cleaner shop up or down the highway.

With all due respect, this guy should franchise the set-up. Call ‘em Crusty Rusty’s and we’ll stop where ever we see one.

The Cider Mill
4594 Hwy 10, Auburndale WI 715-305-0001
is a great off-the-beaten path shop. I saw things I’ve never seen before (like the old ceramic pink pig outhouse and the even more adorable old pink pig tray with bears, which are, miraculously, shown on the Cider Mill Antique Shop Website). The shop is very clean and the items are grouped in ways which invite you to take them all home. I couldn’t take it all home, but I was happy to ‘adopt’ a few vintage issues of The Workbasket and handfuls of antique postcards.

Proprietor Bill Dietsche (rhymes with ‘peachy’) is knowledgeable and fun. He has a plaque behind the wrap stand which reads: “Quality… is like buying oats. If you want nice, clean, fresh oats, you must pay a fair price. However, if you can be satisfied with oats that have already been through the horse… that comes a little cheaper.” He had so many folks want to buy the plaque but, since it was a gift from a friend, Bill had to say, “No, thank you.” Yet so many wanted the plaque so Bill went out and had copies of the saying made — but once the mini-posters were available for free, seems they lost their value. So Bill now has a price marked on them and they sell just fine. That must be worth double the irony points. (Psst — tell Bill that the folks at Collectors’ Quest sent you, and he’ll likely give you one for free. *wink*)