How old is something before it's an antique? Fifty years old? Seventy-five? According to Webster's College Dictionary, it's 100 years.

Leroy Raber, manager of the Walnut Creek Antique Mall, not quite revealing his age, says, "Well, for me, it's got to be something from the 1940s or before. Definitely no bar codes or ZIP codes, because those came later."

I, not quite revealing my own age, agree!

Regardless of your definition of "antique," you'll no doubt find that special antique, collectible and/or memorabilia you've been looking for at the Walnut Creek Antique Mall. With 11,000 square feet of displays, antique consignors from near and far (Millersburg, Zoar, Canton, Akron and Pennsylvania, among others) have been showcasing their cherished wares for more than eight-and-a-half years.

Leroy, his staff and consignors pride themselves in offering a very large variety of antiques.

"That's our draw," Leroy said. "Over the past couple years, our customers have really come seeking a variety of things, and we have something to suit nearly everyone's fancy."

He went on to say two very popular things at the mall , however, are Millersburg Glass (from a local glass factory that operated from 1909 to 1913, producing some of America's most distinctive Carnival glass) and antique jewelry.

Many customers, Leroy said, are looking for particular antiques to use, not for their original purpose, but for a craft item. Examples he gave were old milk cans, crocks and rough primitive pieces.

Customers come from far and wide to visit this antique mall, as well as those from just around the corner.

"We see people from the Carolinas, West Virginia and Virginia, especially," Leroy said. "Soon, these become regular, repeat customers. And others come from all over the United States as well as foreign countries."

Soon there will be some specials going on at the mall, as dealers make their "winter negotiations," according to Leroy. He said there'll be some "dickerin' and dealin'" going on, as dealers rotate their wares.

I asked Leroy if he was good at telling the difference between a real antique and a fake.

"Oh, I learned that the hard way a couple times," he said. "You really have to do your homework and read up on a lot of different antiques. I got burned once or twice, selling something at a pretty low price when it was worth way more. But my 'eye' is much better now, and I know more what to watch for!"

To find the antique mall, just look for the water tower in Walnut Creek. It can be seen for miles and miles in nearly every direction. The mall is located just beneath it. You'll see multitudes of antiques all around the building as you drive up.

The holidays are over, and it's too soon to plant the garden, so use this time to go antiquing in Amish Country. And oh, yes ... be sure to start at the Walnut Creek Antique Mall!

Just to give you a little sample of what I found at the Walnut Creek Antique Mall, I compiled a list of some of the things that caught my eye:

Toys, crocks of all sizes, window frames, shutters, old doors, copper boilers and copper teakettles, lunch boxes (both metal and plastic), kitchen items too numerous to mention (including the popular red-handled and green-handled utensils), baskets, jewelry, dolls, furniture of every description, dishware, aprons (these are becoming very popular among collectors right now), purses, cookbooks, enamel basins, sleds, cookie jars, tools, baby buggies (remember when we called them that instead of "strollers?"), metal sewing machine stands, books, lanterns, shelf brackets, buckets, pictures, trunks, tool boxes, advertising signs and promotional items and wooden spools.

Walnut Creek Antique Mall -- 4872 McKinley Place Dr., Walnut Creek, OH 44687, (330) 893-4010; hours: Mon.-Thu., 9-5, and Sat. Sun., 9-6.