Former Chicken Coop, Factory Transformed Into Antique Center
SHREWSBURY (York Co.)
New uses for old items makes up
part of the collectibles market.
But even buildings evolve from
one use to another.
Take the Shrewsbury Antique
Center. It boasts 10,000 square
feet filled with quality antiques.
It’s difficult to fathom that the
building started out as a chicken
coop in the early 1900 s and was
later converted into a sewing fac
tory before being transformed
into a quality antiques shop.
Nancy Hildebrand is one of the
54 dealers with individual booths
in the building. She said, “I like
This white iron bed
frame with roils and wheels
is listed at $490.
Displays should be sparse when trying
to sell shelves, cupboards, and tables,
according to Nancy Hildebrand. Otherwise,
This butter churn with original paint and customers notice the items on the shelves
stand is in excellent condition. and not the item itself.
Jane Workman is fascinated by country and Victorian-era collectibles. She holds an
apron in front of an oak flat wall cupboard filled with vintage tablecloths, pottery, and
other items.
this shop for the variety and high
quality. The owner doesn’t allow
any reproductions or crafts. Ev
erything must be older than 1965.
We have a quick turnover of
merchandise here, but not in
dealers.”
Hildebrand and her husband
Gerry specialize in primitives, as
do some of the other dealers.
“But I try to fill our area with
a varied selection to appeal to all
types of buyers,” Hildebrand
said.
Through many years of selling
and buying, Hildebrand as gar
nered a few tips for marketing,
which she is willing to share.
“Many dealers crowd shelves
and tabletops so full with items
that customers don’t notice
unique cupboards and tables,”
she said. “If you want to sell fur
niture, you shouldn’t cover it
with other items.”
A few well-chosen items placed
on furniture will capture a cus
tomer’s eye and bring attention
to the item it sets upon.
Hildebrand has an early 1900 s
jelly cupboard where she displays
a few items such
as a slaw board,
a wooden bowl,
a yelloware tea
pot, and a brown
tobacco bowl.
“I could fill
these shelves
with a lot more stuff that I have,
but then people wouldn’t notice
the cupboard itself,” Hildebrand
said.
Adjacent to the cupboard is a
large wooden butter chum with
original yellow paint. The chum
is unique in that it is set on a
wooden stand.
Other booths such as one by
Margaret Carroll are filled with
Victorian furnishings. A pair of
Regency-era pole fire screens
with intricate built-up crewel em
broidery are especially eye catch
ing and unique. The screens are
for sale at $3,500.
Jane Workman combines
country, Victorian, and vintage
items in her booth.
“I buy what I like,” she said of
displaying items from several dif
ferent eras. Her large collection
of vintage tablecloths, aprons,
and dresser scarfs are displayed
in an oak wall cupboard believed
to be built between 1900 and
1910.
A growing market is items
from the retro era.
“Baby boomers remember
Nancy Hildebrand stands at the old country store dis
play at the Shrewsbury Antique Center.
growing up with items from the
19405-19505, and that is what
they want,” Hildebrand said of
the reason for the interest in retro
items of plastic, chrome, shiny
leather, and aluminum pieces. A
whole section of the center is re
served for retro items.
David Keller said that when he
purchased the property about 15
years ago, the building was al
ready used as an antiques shop.
Before Keller took over owner
ship of the center, antiques and
collectibles were crowded hodge
podge into the building.
Today’s customers prefer or
derly arrangements with items
that complement each other and
prices and information about the
items well marked.
“I like the variety that differ
ent vendors bring,” Keller said.
“It works better than having only
one dealer displaying items. This
way we have items from many
different eras.”
Keller has expanded the origi
nal building. In one end of the
building, an old country store is
set up. Huge wooden display cab
inets, scales, and other items re
minscent of the era are for sale.
“I try to incorporate older
styles into the building project,”
Keller said. For example, he
found iron handrailing in a de
molished building at Baltimore
Inner Harbor that he used. He
also used old barn siding on some
of the walls.
Shrewsbury is listed in the Na
tional Register of Historic Places,
and is a delightful village known
for its variety of antique and spe
cialty shops.
Dave Keller owns Shrewsbury Antique Center, which
has more than 10,000 square feet and 54 dealers. He did
much of the work in transforming the building. He incor
porated old barn siding and iron handrailing into the re
modeled building.
These Regency-era pole
fire screens have intricate
crewel-embroidery detail.
The screens were used to
block the heat from a fire
while women sat near the
fireplace while completing
hand-stitching projects.
Shrewsbury Antique Center is
open seven days a week from 10
a.m.-5 p.m. For more informa
tion, call (717) 235-6637. The
center is located one-half mile off
Exit 1 of Rt. 83. Follow Rt. 851
west about one-half mile, and
turn right on Highland Drive. It’s
the large yellow building behind
the Factory Center.