When people visit Ohio's Amish country, they come ready to experience all the riches of the rural landscape, from rolling green and gold hills to generous, homestyle meals. Undoubtedly, the Amish culture of this area is imbued with the old, as certain aspects of their lifestyle seem to mimic life more than a hundred years ago.
But there is another dimension to Ohio's Amish country - it is truly a hotspot for old things not relating to the Amish. From sprawling antique malls with multiple vendors, to quaint family-owned shops (and everything in between!) antique-lovers are sure to find this region a veritable trove of treasures to be discovered.
Recently my sister and I set off to see what treasures we could discover in an entire day of antique sightseeing.
We decided to start big. After taking in adequate fuel (breakfast and coffee), we headed first to Riverfront Antique Mall in New Philadelphia, one of the largest establishments of its kind in Ohio, with more than 80,000-square feet of items - each one a treasure in its own right! As we strolled down the aisles of the mall (cleverly, each aisle is a street, making the mall feel like a small city and also allowing for ease in navigating this massive building) we marveled at the displays of furniture and unique items for sale, including a beautiful display of old stained glass windows, imported from England.
We were nearly overwhelmed by the number of things to see - around each corner was a new display, seemingly more wonderful than the last!
Our second stop offered a completely different atmosphere. Winesburg Antiques Sweets, located in a gorgeous old stone building, boasts many unique items, including the most unusual piece we saw all day, a breathtaking 500-year-old wooden desk from Persia. According to the shopkeeper, the desk had at one time belonged to an archaeologist. It certainly reminded us of something out of an Indiana Jones movie!
This shop offers visitors a chance to satisfy not only their appetite for antiques, but their taste for sweets as well. Chocolates and other candies are displayed behind an old-fashioned countertop. Of course, we were forced to take advantage of the opportunity for chocolate!
Enchanted by this first Winesburg establishment, we headed across the street to another antique store. We both uttered the same word as we stepped in the door: Cool.
The Winesburg Antique Store has the atmosphere of an old general store - long and narrow, with wood floors that creaked delightfully as we strolled inside. The walls are lined with shelves and drawers, each filled with well-preserved items from the past. We even spotted a Cidillac, a kiddy car made to resemble its larger counterpart, the Cadillac! We lingered beside a beautifully displayed white porcelain wash bowl and pitcher, then made our way to the back room of the store, which features a folk art gallery.
Downstairs, larger pieces of furniture are prominently displayed. A beautiful and ornate wood mantlepiece at one end of the basement dominated our attention, and we noticed tiny nail holes along the front - perhaps from nails holding Christmas stockings long ago?
By this time, we had oohed and ahhed at so many beautiful things we were ready for lunch. We walked up the street a little way to the Winesburg Family Restaurant, the kind of place you hear about in nostalgic stories, where regulars walk in and order the usual.
It's truly a place where local people gather, and we heard the waitresses calling quite a few customers by first name. We devoured garden salads and great bowls of the soup du jour (homemade chicken noodle), then made our way to our final stop of the day.
Without a doubt, anyone visiting Amish Country will want to visit Berlin, with its plethora of gift and craft shops, and many attractions nearby. But Berlin is also home to a large antique mall, and it was here that we ended our enjoyable day of sightseeing.
On the lower level of the building, I finally saw what I had been keeping my eyes out for all day: a beautiful old mirror with a simple dark wood frame - perfect for over my own mantle! I was delighted with my find, partly because I knew this store was my last chance to spot something I needed. After purchasing the mirror and snapping a few last photos, my sister and I headed home. I couldn't wait to display my new treasure!
Thanks for coming with us.
Other Hot Spots:
Uptown/Downtown, 215 West Liberty Street, Wooster - wide variety of items; unique silver jewelry; steps away from downtown dining and shopping.
Hartville Flea Market and Antique Mall, corner of Market Ave. Route 619, Hartville - hundreds of vendors; year-round flea market Mondays and Thursdays; close to the famous Hartville Kitchen.
Village Antique Mall, 4750 Kidron Rd., Kidron - cozy, intimate atmosphere; directly across the street from Lehman's Hardware and other shops in Kidron.
Medina Antique Mall, I-71 and Rt. 18, exit 218, 2797 Medina Rd., Medina - 400+ vendors, 50,000 square feet of antiques; close to uptown Medina.
1881 Antique Barn, 927 US 62, Wilmot - quilts, furniture, glassware, pottery and primitives; located in the small village of Wilmot.
Antiques on Main, 143 W. Main, Ashland - located in the small city of Ashland; unique items; don't miss this one!
* Note: We've only scratched the surface here. For many more antique dealers, go to the Visitor's Guide section. Also see local Yellow Pages for more locations. And enjoy your exploring! (October 2001 Edition)