Lititz Historical Foundation Continues Premium Show
LOU ANN GOOD
Food And Family
Features Editor
LITITZ (Lancaster Co.)
“I’ve always loved old things,”
Jean Cook said of her reason for
becoming involved in the Lititz
Historical Foundation’s annual
antiques show and sale.
Her sentiments were echoed by
the 47 dealers from seven states
that exhibited June 28-29 at Bon
field Elementary School, comer
of Front and Oak Streets, Lititz.
“Many shows decline in quali
ty, but this has maintained its
quality,” one exhibitor said. “No
19505-196f1L stuff and crafty
things, just authentic, high quali
ty antiques.”
Both Jean and her husband
Robert grew up in Rhode Island,
Robert Cook, co-chair for this year’s Lititz Historical
Foundation Antiques Show and Sale, said that the show
began in 1962 and has continued to grow in quality and
numbers. Proceeds from show admission and baked
goods provide funds to maintain the Mueller House and
Museum, Lititz.
Cow spills were used to hold rolled paper to keep
kitchen fires going or to light candles.
Children did not always have unbreakable plastic toys.
Instead china figurines and animals were popular. Those
displayed in front of the plates are believed to have been
made between 1750-1800. The most primitive are under
glazed and were formed from two-piece molds.
Lancaster Fan^mg
where they began their antiques
venture. They chose to retire in
Lititz because of its sense of com
munity.
The Cooks specialize in cover
lets, homespuns, copper kettles,
and other items associated with
Lancaster County history.
Teaching school and selling
antiques make a good fit accord
ing to Mareen and Fred Fenton,
Maine. During the summer
months teachers are free to travel
to shows. Antiques satisfy a
teacher’s natural inclination to
research and education, accord
ing to Mareen, who with her hus
band operates Teachers’ An
tiques, Maine.
Some exhibitor names are
more difficult to identify. Ali
Rickstrau of the Kentucky Sand-
piper said that his business name
means odd bird or strange duck.
“That’s me,” he said. Ricks
trau attended his first antique
show when he was 8 years old. “I
got an infectious disease there for
which I seek no cure,” he said of
his addiction to collecting old
things. He specializes in Early
American, country, and period
furnishings folk art and need
ful things “but nothing I
wouldn’t want in my own home,”
he said.
An antiques show is always the
place to pick up ideas to display
and use items. For example, an
Early 19th century child’s table
can be used as a coffee table in
stead of its original intent.
The Lititz Historical Antiques
Show began in 1962, when Lititz
formed a bicentennial committee
for its 200th anniversary. Money
raised from that event was used
to create the Historical Founda
tion. Today the show continues to
be an all-volunteer effort to
maintain the Johannes Mueller
House and the Lititz Museum,
13S-145 E. Main St., Lititz.
The 2003 show is scheduled for
June 27-28 at the John R. Bon
field Elementary School, comer
of Front and Oak Streets, Lititz.
For more information, write to
Bob and Jean Cook at Box 342,
Lititz, PA 17543.
Roger and Nancy Por
sells, York, specialize in
eclectic country. “I’m not
bogged down with Ameri
can-made,” he said. This
Romanian handhewn sled
was pulled by a horse.
A set of Stafford dogs (1840-1860) numbered from 1-6 sell for $30,000. dumber one
is the largest, but the smaller ones are much harder to find, most likely because chil
dren played with .the smaller ones. The sets appear in red and white, black and white,
and copper luster.
6<sy//^y‘
Country furnishings and accessories in original sur
faces are on display at the Teachers’ Antiques,
Harpsville, Maine. The hutch table is typical of a New
England table that flips or comes off for versatile usage.
The Windsor stickback chairs are also from the New Eng
land area. The flo-blue plates are mostly from England
but some pieces were made in America. Notice the soup
tureen with ladle and undertray (1840-1910), which is
priced at $4,000.
Buyers searching for missing pieces to complete a set
can easily see what’s available at the display by Shaef
fer’s Antiques, Md.
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, July 13, 2002-B1
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