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’
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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*)

The Iconography of Recorded Sound, 1886-1986
by Michael Corenthal

When one thinks of a world-changing hotspot of recorded music, few think of Wisconsin. Michael Corenthal shows us otherwise, tying together the history of Wisconsin record manufacturers, regional collectors, and the crossroads of traveling musicians, radio, and recording methods into an intriguing and useful book.

Not that Wisconsin is the sole topic of the book (unlike another of Corenthal’s other books) — Corenthal knows his topic, and uses it to the best of his ability; the book would be half as interesting if the personal anecdotes about Wisconsin were left out in preference of bland, factual information. The book is not particularly contiguous, but breaks up the content in three major parts. First, the Introduction, is a collection of short Corenthal anecdotes, supplying a witty and engaging look at his collection and collecting. The introduction is almost post-modern in its lack of a linear story, but this is to the book’s advantage. It does an excellent job of explaining Corenthal’s collection, his interest in creating a book about the history of recorded sound, and what it is to be a real record collector in Corenthal’s eyes. He holds no restraint in calling an unscrupulous record dealer a “pirate,” considering big-money record collecting conventions distasteful, and gently ribbing on young record collectors’ amassed vinyl LPs as insufficient. The expression of love of the hunt and his passion in finding obscure and rare recording shows through as well, giving a view inside the collector’s mind.
The second major section of the book are the interviews and profiles of master record collectors. Five people are described and interviewed: Phil Balistreri, Dr Allen G Debus, Dr John Grams, Ford Porter, and Larry Wing. If I could give you further links, I would, but these record experts do not appear any other place but this particular book. All are in, or very close to, Wisconsin, and sound like Corenthal’s friends and acquaintances in collecting. While pulling together five Wisconsin collectors risks finding five indistinguishable people whose stories are nearly identical, Corenthal instead pulls together five quite different men with engaging life stories. The connection of recorded music to their lives is a strong component of each interview, but hearing each person talk about how their live intersects their collection is both interesting and informative.

Feeling somewhat like an afterthought, the rest of the book consists of black-and-white photos of prime examples of various recording methods and technologies (which completely puts my article to shame). These parts of the book, however, are expansive but insufficient. Each example gets barely a paragraph of description, and while some are entertaining many fall short of explaining the relevance of that particular item’s inclusion in the book. Corenthal does make some interesting statements when looking at modern technology, such as his inclusion of VHS and its impact on recordings, and by considering the CD to be the logical extension of disc recorded rather than an unwelcome replacement. The book could easily have been five times the size and included more of these examples, or these could have been cut completely and Corenthal could have written more about the topic and included more interviewers.

Despite the duality of the book, the reading sections are entertaining and engaging, while the historical photos and notes are quite interesting to scan through and look for things that haven’t been seen before. It also includes several pages of bibliography, a discography of referenced music, and a useful but incomplete index. The book was originally published in 1986 and can probably be considered out-of-print, but my copy was purchased for me by my daughter only a few months ago at a new bookstore, and new and used copies are available online through various outlets.

The Iconography of Recorded Sound, 1886-1986
by Michael Corenthal
ISBN: 0318215659
Paperback, 8-1/2″ x 11″, 243 pages
Published by Yesterday’s Memories, Milwaukee WI

On our way back from Wisconsin (to Fargo), we’ve been stopping here and there at sales we find along the way.

Our next stop, Ripon. Here I find a retro vinyl Barbie case (#1002, copyright 1982). It’s not perfect, but it’s just five cents. (Another empty box, “Sold!”)

In Princeton, Wisconsin, we stop at American Garage and Garden. It’s a place we’ve passed by often but never stopped in yet. Today’s the day!

Outside I spot a few old metal bicycle baskets. I’ve been looking for one for my old bike for quite some time now and here’s a beauty for just $8. We grab it and head on inside to look around.

Mostly architectural pieces and furniture, the place has all sorts of goodies. We only bought the bike basket because everything else we loved was well past today’s budget — very reasonably priced mind you, but more than we have on us.

In fact, when it’s time to pay we discover that we’re short on cash so we have to ask the 10 year old to float us a short-term loan. Des scampers off to the van to dig out her wallet and we wait while the shop owner writes out our receipt. He’s laughing that we have to use a little girl as our bank, but we comfort him with the fact that she knows we are good for it.

Is it time to stop just because we’re out of cash? Maybe that’s a sign. We don’t think so. So back in the car we go, and Derek and I continue to look for real signs along the roadside.

Just west of Oxford, Wisconsin, Derek spots a home made sign for a “Giant Sale” and he makes a right-hand turn onto a ‘road less traveled.’ Another sign of the same design directs us to a gravel drive. Derek pulls in and there looms a large metal warehouse of a garage — next to a gloomy forbidding pine tree forest. The light eerily pours through the trees and as Derek parks I say, “And this was the place they were last seen…”

But neither a lack of our own cash nor spooky environments can stop us. And for good reason — inside we found quite a few goodies.

Immediately I spot and grab this vintage tin of Max Factor’s Society Make-Up, Hollywood face power (circa 1940’s, early 50’s). The top is tin, the bottom is cardboard and while I’ve got tins and cardboard cosmetic containers, I do not have one that is both. (Likely the cardboard bottom is a refill to the ‘keeper’ tin cover.)

Most importantly it’s only a dollar.

I also found a few plates (which I need to research first, so they’ll be ‘here’ later) and an ashtray from a Wisconsin bowling alley (no Laverne and Shirley jokes, please). Arms full, I head toward the check out when I spy this small wooden bench.

Being a girl, I am drawn to it’s charming details and small size (just 22.5 inches wide, 27 inches tall, and 15 inches deep). But I become entranced when I discover the storage nooks: the lower half of the front face of the seat’s “box” has a small latched door, perfect for hiding away dirty shoes, and the seat lifts open for anything else that might be better placed out of eyesight. (We women just love things like this.)

I immediately begin to run numbers in my head… It’s only $6, but I put the ashtray back and then I begin to work on Derek. (“I’ll make room for it, I promise! It’s soooo neat and practical!”) Next I ask the lady if she’ll accept $10 for the $11 worth of items I’ve got. She agrees — so the cute and practical bench is only $5. As if I needed the one dollar savings to rationalize it to Derek! By this point, he’s been eyeballing it from a construction point of view…

The seat is a fine example of genuine rustic farm furniture. To get finely crafted furniture in the early 20th century, a farm family had to invest in either a drive to a larger town or devote time to waiting for the Sears Roebuck order to arrive. Utilitarian furniture, those useful furnishings that valued function over form, were often built to purpose right there on the farm from whatever was available. This seat wasn’t designed to be beautiful — it was built to give Ole a place to sit when he takes off his muddy shoes, and then conveniently hides them away.

A finer woodworker probably wouldn’t have mounted hinges in a place where they might snag on the seat of someone’s trousers, and they’d have countersunk screws rather than assembling it with raised panhead screws, but that’s all part of the charm.

The wood on the sides and back are clearly from a much older piece of furnutire, probably late 19th century, but the rest was cobbled together from available materials, probably in the 1930s. The hinges, screws, and latch all appear to have been pulled off other furniture.

The screws were inserted irregularly, more for strength than aesthetic purposes. Despite the hackish way the seat was built, it cannot be disregarded as sloppy. The joints are tight and strong, edges and corners are straight and even, and the various doors were designed well (I don’t think I’ve ever bought modern furniture that fits together so well, let alone expect it to in the next century). Furniture like this is hard to come by, and you can tell why $5 was a steal to us.

Over all, a wonderful way to travel home.