April 10, 2002
Antique sale draws diverse collectors
Show proceeds benefit charities
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
Mel Heidsma of Grand Rapids took a trip through time Sunday afternoon.
Visiting the Antique Show and Sale at the Civic Center, bins of antique postcards snagged his interest for a while. As Heidsma sifted one by one through the scenes from towns around Michigan depicted on the cards, he felt childhood memories rising to the fore.
"I like to look at all the places I've been to," he said, adding it is like a trip down memory lane.
The two-day antique show drew 62 exhibitors from around the state bringing everything from furniture, linens and table settings to games, tools and books. The show also featured a rainbow of glassware, cases filled with glittering costume jewelry and shelves lined with toys and other small collectibles.
Silver, wood, iron, paper, cotton and wool were the ingredients of interest as more than 2,500 people came through the show.
Sponsored by the Traverse Area Antique Club, the proceeds from the event are donated to area charities. Last year's recipients included the Women's Resource Center, City Opera House, Cherryland Humane Society and the Northern Michigan Wildlife Rehab. This year's charities have yet to be determined.
The heavy traffic at the show indicates the public's ongoing interest in antiques, said Marcia Forton of Traverse City, one of the co-chairs of the club's 32nd annual show.
"There is a continual interest in antiques," said the veteran antique dealer.
Forton said that even in today's economically uncertain times, antiques are an excellent buy.
"They are one of the best investments people can make now," she added. "Antiques are a stabilized market, unlike the stock market. If you buy a good piece of antique furniture and decide after a few years you no longer want it, chances are you can sell it for what you paid or more."
Former dealer Michelle Zuanet said she has antiques in her blood. A traveling nurse in town for a month-long assignment, Zuanet attended the show Sunday afternoon to look at anything and everything.
"I like things from fancy to real simple," said Zuanet as she examined glassware. "I never made any money as a dealer but I collected what I like."
Sally Ramey and Cory Smeltzer of Benzonia were on a mission Sunday to find more advertising memorabilia for Smeltzer's collection. Smeltzer has been adding to his collection since he was a kid, making his finds at yard and estate sales as well as antique shows.
"I could spend hours in places like these," said Smeltzer, heading home with some pillowcases embroidered with peacocks for his mother, who owns two of the exotic birds, and salt and pepper shakers.
Frank and Susan Bednarek of Whitehall, Mich. spend many an hour at antique shows. Susan owns Edmonds and Company and the two travel around the state on weekends to various shows for her business. Frank Bednarek keeps himself busy during slow periods by polishing silver items in their collection.
"While Susan sells, I like to do this," he said.
Both enjoy exhibiting in Traverse City.
"This is a very knowledgeable crowd here, they really know their antiques," Frank Bednarek said.