Spies Farms Antiques: July 2008

Welcome, Ohio Travelers!

Planning a trip to Ohio Amish country? A stop at our family-owned shop, Spies Farms Antiques, in Dover, Ohio is a must. When you see our two big showrooms of one-of-a-kind antiques, you'll be sure to find special yet affordable treasures that you’ll cherish for a lifetime. Your friends will wonder where you found unique, well-made pieces like these for such a good value. Items we frequently have in stock include antique solid wood tables (e.g. harvest, dining, library, etc.), various styles of antique wooden chairs, antique sideboards, dressers and chests of drawers, antique store counters, antique shutters, doors and mirrors, enamelware and other old-time kitchen items, as well as rustic accents such as lanterns, coal buckets and old farming tools. Our family constantly searches throughout Ohio Amish country, selecting and procuring unusual, rare finds – virtual “buried treasures” that have often been tucked away for over a century.

Our main antique shop is housed in our old barn (built in the 1800s) which has been in our family for 4 generations. The post Civil War barn is in its original state, with beams made from hand-hewn logs – it even contains some wooden nails, so the shop itself is something to see. Don’t miss our auxiliary building which holds some of the larger furniture items plus unusual finds like antique rug looms, work benches and cider presses. The newest addition to Spies Farms Antiques is our authentic log cabin, originally built in southern Tuscarawas County, which our family “rescued” and painstakingly moved and rebuilt, log by hand-hewn log, near the main antique showrooms. When you visit, take a peek inside the cabin at the old-style chinking in the log walls, the restored original wooden floors on both the ground floor and the second floor loft, and the working stone fireplace that we rebuilt by hand with stones from local farm fields.

Getting to Spies Farms Antiques is easy – we’re located at 2694 State Route 39, about 1 mile west of the Interstate 77 Dover exit, heading towards the heart of Ohio Amish country e.g. Sugarcreek, Walnut Creek, Berlin and Millersburg. (Note: Ohio is home to the largest Amish/Mennonite population in the entire world). Our hours are: March - September and November: Thurs., Fri. & Sat. 8:00 - 5:30, and by appointment. October: Mon. - Sat. 8:00 - 5:30. December - February, open as weather permits.

Many of our customers seem to think we’re worth a repeat visit – we regularly have visitors to Spies Farms Antiques from across the nation, all the way from Washington State to Florida to Texas and everywhere in between – plus Canada, so we think they must appreciate both our wide selection of antiques as well as the friendly conversation and our “insider” advice on local attractions. Especially in these times of high gas prices, we know you want to make your trip to Ohio Amish country as memorable and worthwhile as possible, so check this site often; we'll be offering our suggestions for other interesting places and events in the local area, plus updates from the antique shop.

Sunday, July 27, 2008

Fall is in the air...Already! Update & Decor Ideas from the Shop

Even though it'll only be August 1st this Friday, thoughts are already turning to fall in the antique shop. Some folks from Washington state just bought a wine press from us (we're thinking the grape harvest can't be far off -- and we're betting that the cider press we have in the auxiliary showroom won't be here long). We've noticed that crockery sales have started to pick up as well. Fall is such a beautiful time of year -- the rustic earthenware crocks we have in stock now are perfect for displaying arrangements of bright fall foliage, dried thistles, branches of bittersweet, bull rushes (or "cattails" as we always called them), miniature shocks of wheat, the list goes on -- you are only limited by your imagination. A simple crock and a "nature walk" on an Ohio country side road (don't forget a pair of gardening gloves, trimming shears and a bag to hold your "harvest") can provide you with a striking arrangement of Mother Nature's bounty for your dining room table or mantle, adding a warmth and a connection to the seasons to your living space that is just priceless. (And we bet you'll enjoy the walk too!) We look forward to chatting with you when you stop by -- we'll see you soon.

Friday, July 18, 2008

Warther's Museum -- It's a Must-See on Your Trip

Warther's Museum is just down the road from Spies Farms Antiques, in the town of Dover, Ohio. Of all the things to do and see in the immediate area, this is the one with the biggest "claim to fame", as it features the history and works of the world-renowned master carver, Ernest "Mooney" Warther. You will see amazing fully-functioning train carvings, each one with exact miniature parts carved from materials like ebony and walnut -- 64 in all (the Smithsonian considers them to be "priceless"). Back when Mooney was still alive he would carve a working set of pliers from a solid piece of wood in a few seconds flat for the schoolchildren who visited, which never failed to amaze all of us. And his fame is not just local -- he was even a guest on the Johnny Carson Show. His son and grandson are carrying on the carving tradition (including the wooden pliers!) Other highlights at the museum are the "Button House" housing the massive button collection of Mooney's wife, Freida, an impressive arrowhead collection, Swiss gardens and the carving workshop. It's a great opportunity for those who love fine craftsmanship, trains, art -- you can even bring the kids along because they really get into it. Don't miss it.

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Trumpet in the Land - It's Worth Seeing

Trumpet in the Land is "Ohio's first Outdoor Drama" -- we went to see it when it first opened and have seen it since then too, and it still stands the test of time. Now it's in its 39th year (time flies!) and we still send friends to see it when they come to visit, so check it out when you're in the area. It's right nearby, in New Philadelphia at the Schoenbrunn Amphitheatre. It's about the early days when Ohio basically was the "wild west" -- right at the beginning of the Revolutionary War, and it's actually quite intense and moving. They now have another related performance called The White Savage, which focuses on one of the main characters from Trumpet in the Land (the "bad guy", Simon Girty). If you're interested in learning more, here's their web site: www.trumpetintheland.com. Hope you enjoy your time in Ohio.

Spies Farms Antiques

Vintage Transportation

A Collection of Some of Our Items

Pie Safe

Our Main Antique Showroom