The Antique and Collectable Trade With A Muskoka Pioneer Flavour

Sunset Along The Housey’s Rapids Road – Muskoka

 

A late afternoon sunset provides a beautiful ray of light across a field along the Housey’s Rapids Road in Muskoka on Friday afternoon.  Those who are visiting our region for recreational purposes are enjoying all the winter sports that the region has to offer over the holidays.  Fred Schulz Photo

THE TRULY LOCAL ANTIQUE AND COLLECTABLE TRADE - MUSKOKA STYLE - OPERATED BY PIONEER STOCK

OUR MUSKOKA LIFESTYLE PROFILE - "HOMESTEAD RUSTIC" - NOT COTTAGE CHIC

NOTE: I SUPPORT GRAVENHURST COUNCIL FOR THE FOLLOWING RECENT DECISIONS: KEEPING THE FLOURIDE IN THE DRINKING WATER AND EXTENDING THE PARKING LIMITS ON THE MAIN STREET TO TWO HOURS.

     I'M NOT GOING TO DELVE INTO THE REASONS THERE IS A TARP ON THE ROOF OF THE NEWLY RENOVATED CARNEGIE BUILDING, IN THE OPERA HOUSE SQUARE, OR PUBLISH A PHOTOGRAPH OF THE LARGE ICE SCULPTURES HANGING OFF THE CORNER OF THE ROOF. ONE EXPECTS THAT WHERE THERE IS A TARP, ON ANY BUILDING, SOMETHING ISN'T QUITE RIGHT BELOW. A LOT OF MONEY WENT INTO THIS PROJECT, SO IT'S A LITTLE HARD TO FEEL GOOD ABOUT EITHER TARPS, OR THE HEAT LOSS THAT CREATES HUGE ICICLES. NUFF SAID! TAKE A LOOK FOR YOURSELF.
     YOU MAY WISH TO ABANDON THIS BLOG, IF YOU DON'T HAVE MUCH INTEREST IN ANTIQUES AND COLLECTABLES. IF YOU ONLY READ THIS BLOG BECAUSE OF MY POLITICAL ACTIVISM, THEN I'M DEFINITELY GOING TO DISAPPOINT YOU. I'VE EXPLAINED, IN PREVIOUS BLOGS, THAT I'M GOING TO DO MY PART TO MAKE THIS UPCOMING MUNICIPAL ELECTION, AS FAIR AND OPEN AS POSSIBLE; MEANING I KEEP MY OPINIONS OFF THIS SCREEN, AND INSTEAD, ADDRESS MY CONCERNS TO CANDIDATES FACE TO FACE. I LIKE THE DIRECT APPROACH WITH SOME OF THESE CHARACTERS, WHO THINK THEY CAN REPRESENT US. I'VE SENT A FEW SCURRYING AWAY IN MY DAY. I DON'T WANT IT TO BE PERCEIVED THAT I AM TRYING TO INFLUENCE THE ELECTION BY BACKING FAVORITES. I WON'T DO THAT. I DO, HOWEVER, SUPPORT THE INITIATIVES PUT FORWARD BY THE COMMITTEE FOR DISTRICT GOVERNMENT OVERHAUL, KNOWN AS "ONE MUSKOKA," AND IF I DECIDED TO RUN FOR OFFICE, I WOULD BE BACKING THEIR INTERESTS, TO REDUCE THE SIZE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND ELIMINATE THE DUPLICATION OF SERVICES. I WON'T RUN IF I CAN FIND CANDIDATES WHO SHARE SOME OF MY INTERESTS, IN MAKING CHANGES IN THE WAY OUR MUNICIPALITY OPERATES. LET'S JUST SAY THERE'S A LOT OF ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT, BUT THESE FOLKS TODAY, BELIEVE THEY'VE GOT THE PERFECT SYSTEM; SO WHY TAMPER WITH A GOOD THING? IT'S COMFORTABLE. THEREFORE IT WORKSW. I CAN THINK OF A LOT OF REASONS OFF THE TOP, BUT IT WOULD TAKE A COUPLE OF HOURS TO FULLY DOCUMENT. SO WITH THIS MUCH ON MY MIND, ABOUT POLITICAL RE-STRUCTURING, I DON'T WANT TO "CLOG THE BLOG," WITH MY ONE-SIDED TAKE ON WHAT'S WRONG HERE. I'D VERY MUCH LIKE A CAVALRY OF COUNCIL-HOPEFULS TO SPRING FORWARD, EARLY IN THE NEW YEAR, AND BRING FORWARD A NEW FOUR YEAR DYNAMIC FOR A TOWN GOING NOWHERE IN PARTICULAR. I'M SORRY TO WRITE THIS, BUT IT'S HOW I FEEL. WE NEED YOUNG BLOOD AROUND THAT COUNCIL TABLE.....AS MUCH AS WE NEED EXPERIENCE, AND BUSINESS ACUMEN. THERE IS EVERY REASON TO BE EXCITED, THAT THIS YEAR WILL FOSTER SOME REAL HEARTFELT AMBITION, TO HELP LEAD US TO SOME EXCITING NEW BEGINNINGS.....IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT AREAS OF MUNICIPAL GROWTH AND ECONOMIC DIVERSITY.
     IF THERE IS ONE OVER-RIDING NEGATIVE BURDEN, I FEEL, MORE SO THAN ANYTHING ELSE IN THIS TOWN, IT REGARDS THE DIMINISHING OF THE OPERA HOUSE, AS A CANADIAN ENTERTAINMENT VENUE. NO, REALLY, JUST AS A VENUE AT ALL! IT IS A SAD SHADOW OF ITS FORMER PROMINENCE, IN THIS TOWN, AND TOWN COUNCIL HAS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ITS PRESENT DOWNTRODDEN SITUATION. IT MIGHT HAVE A NEW ROOF, BUT THAT'S ABOUT ALL. I CAN ONLY SUGGEST THE WORD "DEBACLE" COVERS THE PAST TWELVE MONTHS. THERE ARE A LOT OF WITNESSES TO THIS DEBACLE, BY THE WAY, SO IT'S NOT JUST A CASE OF THIS DISGRUNTLED BLOGGER SPOUTING OFF, TO GAIN A READERSHIP OF LIKE-MINDED DISSENTERS. I DON'T EXPECT THE PRESENT TOWN COUNCIL WILL EVER FIGURE IT OUT.....THE PART ABOUT THEM NOT BEING PARTICULARLY GOOD IN THE ENTERTAINMENT GAME; NO MATTER HOW MANY DISASTERS THEY FLIRT WITH, THEY JUST DON'T GET IT! IT'S NOT WHAT THEY'RE GOOD AT! THE ATTENDANCE AUDIT IS EVIDENCE ENOUGH.....THAT AS A BUSINESS, IT ISN'T PROFITABLE. OH, HANG ON A SECOND.....IT'S A GOVERNMENT THING. WE'LL JUST THROW MONEY AT IT, BECAUSE THAT MAKES MOST SENSE. MANY OF US ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO FINDING OUT THE SUCCESS OF THE SUMMER'S THEATRE PROJECT, AND THE FINANCIAL PROFILE OF JUST HOW PROFITABLE THE EVENT WAS....(A PAID ATTENDANCE OVER EACH SHOW, AGAINST WHAT THE EXPENSES WERE, TO ACCOMMODATE THE PLAYS). WILL TOWN COUNCIL PUBLISH THESE FIGURES, TO SHOW RATEPAYERS HOW THEIR TAX MONEY IS BEING SPENT? AREN'T WE ENTITLED TO KNOW, HOW THIS BRAVE NEW PROJECT DID IN TERMS OF ACCOUNTING? I PERSONALLY WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW MANY COMPLIMENTARY TICKETS WERE GIVEN OUT FOR SHOWS, AND IF COUNCILLORS ACCEPTED THEM. I'M JUST A CURIOUS FELLOW. I'M THINKING THAT COUNCIL HOPEFULS ARE GOING TO BE ASKING A LOT OF THESE QUESTIONS, SO IT WOULD BE WISE OF PRESENT COUNCILLORS, TO SECURE SOME ANSWERS.....BECAUSE WHETHER THEY BELIEVE IT OR NOT.....THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR PROFIT AND LOSS, WHETHER IT IS IN THEIR DEPARTMENT OR NOT. NOT KNOWING WHAT IS GOING ON AT THE OPERA HOUSE, IS NOT ONLY UNACCEPTABLE, BUT SHOULD ACTUALLY HERALD THAT MOMENT OF REFLECTION, ON WHY ONE BECAME A COUNCILLOR IN THE FIRST PLACE. IT'S JUST MY OPINION, BUT SOMEONE'S GOT SOME EXPLAINING TO DO. I'M SENDING CANDIDATES TO TALK WITH YOU, ABOUT THE OPERA HOUSE, AS A FIRST STEP IN THEIR CAMPAIGNS FOR OFFICE. JUST THOUGHT I'D MENTION IT.
     I WILL ALSO BE HAMMERING-AWAY ON THE IDEA, ONCE AGAIN, AIMED AT COUNCIL HOPEFULS, TO SERIOUSLY CONSIDER THE PROPOSAL TO CREATE AN OPERA HOUSE OPERATING COMMITTEE, (BOARD OF DIRECTORS) LIKE THEY HAVE AT OTHER FULLY FUNCTIONING ENTERTAINMENT VENUES; IN ORDER TO PUT THE CITIZENS OF THIS TOWN IN A POSITION TO INFLUENCE HOW THE OPERA HOUSE BUSINESS, IS CONDUCTED IN THE FUTURE. THIS IS A CRITICALLY NEEDED IMPROVEMENT, AND WOULD HAVE, IF ADOPTED EARLIER IN THE PRESENT TERM, REMOVED MANY OF THE NEGATIVE ISSUES (MORE THAN A FEW) AND ROAD-BLOCKS, THAT HAVE PROVEN IMPASSABLE OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS.....ABOUT WHAT OUR OPERA HOUSE SHOULD BE....AND CAN BE, WITH THE RIGHT DIRECTION. UNFORTUNATELY, THE TOWN OF GRAVENHURST HAS BEEN UNWILLING TO ADMIT THEY'RE OUT OF THEIR LEAGUE ON THIS ONE.....AND INSTEAD, MUDDLE AND FUMBLE ALONG AS IF EVERYTHING IS WORKING AS IT SHOULD. THEY'RE WRONG. AND THEY'VE BEEN WRONG ALL ALONG. IT HASN'T BEEN WORKING WELL FOR YEARS. JUST BECAUSE THE MANTRA OF THE DAY, IS THAT "EVERYTHING IS FINE," DOESN'T MEAN IT IS "FINE." THIS IS A STATEMENT, OFTEN USED, TO PACIFY THOSE WHO WISH TO BE PACIFIED. IT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S A TRUTHFUL STATEMENT. IT'S JUST A STATEMENT. PURPOSELY EVASIVE. A MEANINGLESS COLLECTION OF WORDS. ESPECIALLY SO, IF YOU HAPPEN TO BE ASTUTELY AWARE OF THE HISTORY OF THE OPERA HOUSE, BACK IN THE DAYS WHEN IT WAS ACTUALLY A GOING CONCERN. IT COULD BE AGAIN, IF THE TOWN WOULD SHAKE ITSELF UP, AND SMELL THE COFFEE. GIVE SOME RESPONSIBILITY TO A GROUP OF APPOINTED CITIZENS, WHO HAVE OUR INTERESTS IN MIND, WHEN MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT OPERA HOUSE ENTERTAINMENT.
     THE TOWN ISN'T INTERESTED IN MY OPINIONS AND, DON'T GET ME WRONG....I LIKE YOU FOLKS, BUT THEY'RE NOT INTERESTED IN YOUR IDEAS EITHER. ONLY AT ELECTION TIME. EVEN THEN, THERE'S A LOT MORE "PRETENDING TO BE INTERESTED"....THAN ACTUAL WELCOMING ENTHUSIASM FOR INPUT. I WOULD TRUST A CITIZEN PANEL, TO LIAISON BETWEEN THE TOWN AND THE FACILITY MANAGER. AS LONG AS THE COMMITTEE HAD THE FREEDOM TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT PLANS TO MAKE THE VENUE, NOT ONLY MORE COMMUNITY-RESPONSIVE, BUT A SIGNIFICANT PLAYER ON THE ENTERTAINMENT SCENE ONCE AGAIN. MY QUESTION IN CONCLUSION IS THIS: HOW LOW DOES THE VENUE HAVE TO SINK, BEFORE AN IDEA LIKE THIS TAPS INTO THE PUBLIC WILL, AND DEMANDS FOR IMPROVEMENT? WILL IT BE THIS COMING YEAR? IS A NEW EXCITEMENT BREWING ABOUT WHAT CAN BE DONE TO IMPROVE THIS TOWN, BEYOND FACADE ENHANCEMENTS? WOULDN'T THAT BE SWELL? DON'T HOLD YOUR BREATH. AS HISTORY REMINDS, THIS COUNCIL DOES WHAT IT FEELS LIKE, AND BALLS TO US. I EXPECT IN THE NEXT WHILE, THERE WILL BE ANOTHER MAGNIFICENTLY ORCHESTRATED BIT OF NONSENSE, TO RE-MANAGE THE OPERA HOUSE.....AND LIKE ALL THE OTHER TIMES, IT WILL BE AS FAR AWAY FROM US AS IT PRESENTLY.....LEAVING THE ONLY OPTION FOR REFORMATION, A MUNICIPAL ELECTION AND NEW BLOOD.

ONLY THREE BLOGS LEFT OF THE OLD ME - CHANGE IS IN THE WIND OF CYBERSPACE

     IF I WAS ONLY CONCERNED ABOUT AMASSING THOUSANDS OF READERS TO THIS BLOG, I CERTAINLY WOULDN'T BE WRITING ABOUT LOCAL GOVERNMENT OR REGIONAL POLITICS. HONESTLY, IT'S A READERSHIP DEATH KNELL, TO DRONE ON ABOUT WHAT THIS COMMUNITY COULD BE.....IF THEY ONLY LISTENED TO ME. SO I DON'T WANT YOU TO THINK THAT KNOCKING COUNCIL IS A READERSHIP GIMMICK. IT'S THE COMPLETE OPPOSITE, BUT THERE'S NO POINT OF HAVING THIS BLOG SPACE, IF I CAN'T INSPIRE SOMETHING FROM SOMEONE OF COUNTERPOINT. I LOVE COUNTERPOINT AND DEBATE. WHAT I HAVE INSPIRED, MOST OF ALL, IS THAT LOCAL COUNCILLORS WON'T READ THIS STUFF. WHETHER I'M RIGHT OR WRONG, THEY DON'T WANT TO KNOW. IF I HAVE GOOD IDEAS, OR CRAPPY PROPOSALS TO OFFER, THEY SEE (FEEL) ME AS A PAIN IN THE ASS, AND NOT MUCH MORE. WHICH WOULD MAKE IT SO INTERESTING TO BE SITTING AT A COUNCIL TABLE, STARING AT THEM OVER THE STACKS OF TOWN BUSINESS, FOR THE NEW 2014 COUNCIL TERM. IF THEY THINK I'M A PAIN NOW, WHAT IF WE WERE FACE TO FACE, REALIZING THAT THE NEAT AND TIDY ARRANGEMENTS OF THE PAST, WILL BE NO LONGER. I HAVE A TRACK RECORD OF BEING DISRUPTIVE, AND TAKING MY RIGHTS TO THE FURTHEST EXTENT; I TEND TO BE A STICKLER, ON TOP OF THE PAIN THING. I DON'T THINK SOME OF THE PRESENT COUNCIL, WOULD LIKE TO DEAL WITH A STICKLER, WHO DOESN'T FALL INTO PLACE ALL THAT WELL. EVEN MY MOTHER USED TO TELL ME THAT "I DIDN'T KNOW MY PLACE," IN SUCH THINGS THAT HAVE PROTOCOLS. I COME FROM THE SCHOOL OF THOUGHT, THAT PROTOCOLS ARE ADAPTABLE, AND RULES ARE, WELL, MADE TO BE BROKEN. SO ONCE AGAIN, I WOULD BE TAKING MY DISRUPTIVE SELF INTO TOWN HALL....TO SEE HOW THAT WORKS OUT. I JUST WON'T WRITE ABOUT IT, WHICH SHOULD PLEASE THE MAJORITY OF READERS, WHO ARE TIRED OF MY CRITIQUES OF THE OLD HOME TOWN. I TRY TO BE BALANCED, AND FAIR WHEN I CAN BE, BUT LATELY, IT JUST SEEMS THE IMPOSSIBLE DREAM TO BE PASSIVE. BUT I WON'T CHANGE MY MIND. THE POLITICAL STUFF ENDS WITH MY FIRST BLOG ENTRY OF 2014. I'M NOT SURE HOW WELL I'LL DO WITH THE WITHDRAWL, BUT I'LL JUST TRANSFER THIS ENERGY, IN DIALOGUE, ONTO CANDIDATE HOPEFULS INSTEAD.

WRITING ABOUT THE ANTIQUE TRADE - MUSKOKA STYLE, WITH HISTORICAL INTERVENTIONS, COMING SOON
  
     MY FIRST PUBLISHED COLUMN, DEALING WITH ANTIQUES AND COLLECTABLES, WAS PUBLISHED IN THE FLEDGLING BRACEBRIDGE EXAMINER, BACK IN 1978. IT WAS A SHORT-LIVED COLUMN, BECAUSE I SOON BEGAN AN EDITORIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH MUSKOKA PUBLICATIONS, WHICH WAS THE COMPETITION IN THOSE DAYS. THROUGH THE 1980'S, I HAD NUMEROUS COLUMNS ON ANTIQUES AND AUCTIONS, IN THE MUSKOKA ADVANCE AND THE MUSKOKA SUN. I HAVE HAD LONG TERM ANTIQUE COLUMNS APPEARING IN THE WAYBACK TIMES, AND CURIOUS; THE TOURIST GUIDE, AS WELL AS
THE GREAT NORTH ARROW. I STILL WRITE FOR CURIOUS AND THE NORTH ARROW, AND THE AUDIENCE IS A BIG ONE IN ONTARIO. CURIOUS; THE TOURIST GUIDE, IS ALSO PUBLISHED ONLINE, AND THE GREAT NORTH ARROW, IS PUBLISHED FROM DUNCHURCH ONTARIO, AND REACHES AN AUDIENCE AS FAR NORTH AS NORTH BAY, AND DOWN SOUTH INTO MUSKOKA. IT'S POPULAR IN ALGONQUIN PARK AS WELL. I LOVE BOTH THESE PUBLICATIONS BECAUSE OF THEIR TRADITIONAL APPROACH TO PUBLISHING, AND THEIR KINDNESSES TO WRITERS LIKE ME. FOR ONE THING, THEY DON'T CRITIQUE THE LENGTH OF MY SUBMISSIONS, AND THEY'VE NEVER ONCE ASKED ME TO ATTEND EDITORIAL MEETINGS. I USED TO HATE THOSE AT MUSKOKA PUBLICATIONS, AND CHANCES ARE, I WOULD HAVE PUT MY FINGER IN THE MANAGER'S COFFEE, JUST TO BE A TOOL. I'M NOT JUST ORNERY AS A BLOGGER....I'M THE SAME IN PERSON. SO LET ME TELL YOU, WHEN I FIND FOLKS WHO ACCEPT ME AS-IS, WHO CAN VOUCH THAT I'M ALWAYS TRUE TO MY WORD, THEN I'M HOOKED-UP WITH THEM UNTIL THEY GROW WEARY OF MY COMPANY. SO I WILL UNDERSTAND, IF ONE DAY, BOTH THESE FINE PUBLICATIONS WANT RID OF ME. JUST SO YOU KNOW, THESE COLUMNS OF WHICH I REFER, ARE ABOUT ANTIQUES AND COLLECTABLES, SO THERE'S NOT MUCH TO GET OFFENDED ABOUT. I DON'T GET POLITICAL ABOUT HARVEST TABLES AND FLAT-TO-THE-WALL CUPBOARDS.....TRILLIUM PATTERN CUPS, AND SAUCERS, OR FENTON'S CRANBERRY GLASS VASES. I GUESS THAT EXPLAINS WHY I'VE BEEN WRITING FOR THESE FOLKS FOR SO LONG. NO CONTROVERSY FROM ME.
     SO BEGINNING ON NEW YEARS DAY, I'M GOING TO BE WRITING MORE ABOUT ANTIQUES AND COLLECTABLES, BASED ON MY EXPERIENCES AS A HUNTER-GATHERER, MIXED IN WITH SOME RARE HISTORICAL INFORMATION THAT I HAVE COME UPON....THAT YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN KNOWING. OUR BUSINESS, HERE IN THE OLD MUSKOKA THEATRE BUILDING, IN UPTOWN GRAVEHURST, WILL BECOME EVERYTHING SUZANNE AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT, IN THE YEARS LEADING UP TO HER RETIREMENT, LAST SUMMER, AFTER THIRTY-ONE YEARS IN THE TEACHING PROFESSION, BETWEEN OUR TWO TOWNS. AS FORMER MUSEUM MANAGERS, FROM BRACEBRIDGE'S WOODCHESTER VILLA, TO THE BRACEBRIDGE SPORTS HALL OF FAME, UP TO AND INCLUDING ALL THE MUSKOKA HISTORY WE HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH, OVER THE PAST THIRTY ODD YEARS....WE CONSIDER OURSELVES HISTORICAL ZEALOTS. IT'S TAKEN US A LITTLE TIME TO GEAR IT ALL UP, TO REFLECT OUR MUSKOKA ROOTS, DATING BACK TO THE EARLY 1860'S, BUT WE'RE GOING TO BE READY THIS YEAR. SO IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT MUSKOKA HISTORY, WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF SOFAS IN HERE, AND SOME TIME TO CHAT. NO CHARGE.
     AS FOR INVENTORY, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING TO SPECIALIZE IN COOKBOOKS AND OLD BOOKS GENERALLY, AND LOCAL PIECES WITH PROVENANCE. WE LIKE THAT A LOT. SO WE PLAN A FEW SURPRISES IN THE NEW YEAR, AND WE'LL SHARE THEM WITH YOU, IF YOU'RE INTERESTED, IN THE COMING MONTHS. SUZANNE AND I AGREED SOME TIME AGO, THAT ANY STOREFRONT WE OPENED IN THE FUTURE, WOULD MIRROR OUR RESPECT FOR THE REGION.....AND OFFER OUR GUESTS A MUSKOKA EXPERIENCE.....MADE IN MUSKOKA. WE WANT YOU TO SENSE THAT THIS SHOP ISN'T CITY INSPIRED, OR JUST FOR COTTAGE DECORATING. IT'S FULL OF HISTORY, BUT NOT AS CONFINING AS A MUSEUM. WE'VE INCORPORATED MUSEUM EXPERIENCES AND PROTOCOLS, BUT HAVE REMOVED THE BARRIERS; YOU CAN ACTUALLY TOUCH OUR ARTIFACTS. BUY THEM IF YOU'RE PARTICULARLY IMPRESSED.
     IT MAY BE THE CASE, THAT YOU DISCOVER A LITTLE MARINA-STYLE HERITAGE IN OUR SHOP AT TIMES. OR FEEL AS IF THE CLERK BEHIND THE COUNTER, IS READY TO TAKE YOUR FOOD ORDER. SUZANNE BRINGS WITH HER THAT ESSENCE OF OLD TIME BUSINESS....FROM HER FAMILY'S DAYS OWNING THE WINDERMERE MARINA, AND THE SKIPPER, THE SNACK BAR ABOVE. ON TOP OF THIS, IS THE FACT HER FAMILY BEGAN HOMESTEADING IN MUSKOKA IN THE 1860'S, AND WERE KNOWN, WITH SOME TREPIDATION, AS THE THREE MILE LAKE WOLVES. I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN TOURIST RELATED BUSINESSES IN MUSKOKA, FROM MY FIRST DAYS OF EMPLOYMENT, DELIVERING FRESH PRODUCE ALL OVER THE MUSKOKA LAKES AND BEYOND; THEN IT WAS THE SAME DELIVERIES BUT WITH LUMBER AND ACCESSORIES INSTEAD. AS AN EDITOR WITH MUSKOKA PUBLICATIONS, INCLUDING THE MUSKOKA SUN, AND THEN WITH THE GRAVENHURST BANNER, BRACEBRIDGE EXAMINER, THE MUSKOKAN, AND LATER IN GRAVENHURST, A COLUMNIST FOR MUSKOKA TODAY....WELL SIR, I THINK I CAN MAKE A CONTRIBUTION HERE, IN THIS TINY BUT DYNAMIC MOM AND POP - SON AND SON ENTERPRISE.....WHERE WE TAKE OUR HISTORY WITH UNRELENTING ABUNDANCE AND FREQUENTLY; AND WE MOST AFFECTIONATELY LOVE TALKING ABOUT IT. AND IT'S SOMETHING I WANT TO SHARE ON THIS BLOG SITE. THIS WILL INCLUDE SOME MORE CURRENT ACTIVITIES, ALONG WITH SOME MINOR RETROSPECTIVES.....AS I HAVE BEEN IN THE ANTIQUE TRADE, IN ONE FOR OR ANOTHER, SINCE THE MID 1970'S. IT ALL STARTED WITH A SMALL FINGER (OIL) LAMP, I PURCHASED FOR TWENTY DOLLARS FROM THE LANDLADY OF OUR BOARDING HOUSE IN TORONTO. I SOLD THE ORIGINAL BUT I ACQUIRED A KEEPSAKE SECOND. SO WHEN SUZANNE COMPLAINS ABOUT THE CLUTTER WE ANTIQUE DEALERS CHERISH, I JUST POINT OUT THAT LITTLE LAMP AND SAY, "SEE, THAT'S WHERE IT ALL BEGAN."
     I DON'T WRITE LIKE THE AUTHORS OF OTHER ANTIQUE COLUMNS, YOU WILL FIND IN COLLECTOR PUBLICATIONS. I'M MORE LIKE A PAUL RIMSTEAD IN THIS REGARD, SO IF YOU KNOW OF HIS WORK, THEN IMAGINE IF HE HAD BEEN AN ANTIQUE DEALER.....AND THEN WROTE A COLUMN ABOUT HIS EXPERIENCES. BELIEVE ME, THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD HUMOUR AND AMUSING ANECDOTES IN OUR PROFESSION. DO ANTIQUE DEALERS MAKE MISTAKES? DO THEY SELL MASTERPIECES FOR PENNIES? DO THEY BUY FRAUDS, THINKING THEY WERE ORIGINALS? YOU BET. WE DON'T LIKE TO TALK ABOUT IT GENERALLY, BUT WE DO SCREW UP FROM TIME TO TIME, AND OUR CUSTOMERS EXPLOIT US FOR EVERY NICKLE. THERE ARE A LOT OF FUN STORIES CONNECTED TO THIS CENTURY'S OLD PROFESSION. I'VE BEEN SAVING UP SOME GEMS FOR THIS YEAR-LONG SERIES. EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE A LOT OF INTEREST IN ANTIQUES, OR COLLECTABLES, THERE ARE SOME ENTERTAINING INSIDE STORIES NONE THE LESS.....SOME THAT YOU MAY BELIEVE....OTHERS SEEMINGLY TOO FAR FETCHED TO BE ANYTHING MORE THAN WORKS OF FICTION. YOU NEVER KNOW. MAYBE THEY ARE. GIVE ME A CHANCE TO IMPRESS YOU WITH SOME OF THESE HAUNTING TALES.....THAT WILL AT LEAST MAKE YOU WONDER, WHAT KIND OF STRANGE PEOPLE WANT TO GET INVOLVED IN A PROFESSION HAVING SO MANY PECULIARITIES. THUS, YOU HAVE TO BE A LITTLE LEFT OF CENTER TO DIVE RIGHT IN! THAT FITS US TO A "T." HOPE YOU WILL JOIN ME IN MY NEW "TED CURRIE" BLOG....WHICH WILL JUST BE THE CONVERSION OF THIS PRESENT SITE.