Something Old for the Holidays
What better place to find that perfect antique or collectible gift to give than in an old town that still remembers its past. Every building in Waynesburg bears the stamp of the era that gave it life, from the late 1800s through the roaring 20s to the post War years and those more modern contours. All are stitched together with lamp posts bearing the decorations of the seasons as they come and go.
Waynesburg’s three established antique shops have items on their shelves and tucked away in nooks and crannies that were once owned by local families with their own tales to tell. Most have come from local auctions and some are on consignment from local families. But all have the power to make the right person glad to give them another forever home.
“I always dreamed of having an antique shop but I was working full time,” Lou Ann Abbadini admits. “So I went to auctions and bought things – for thirty years!” Her shop It’s About Time (143 E. High Street) is the place to go for items that Lou Ann puts on her Facebook page to be browsed, then stop on by and pick up if that is your pleasure.
It’s About Time is just a few doors away from Jan’s Country Nook, once the Ace Hardware Store and now a treasure trove of antiques and collectables along with what remains of the amazingly diverse inventory of the old hardware store itself.
Stroll west up High Street to the Greene County Courthouse and you will encounter Church Street, named for the Presbyterian Church that once stood across the way from the courthouse. When the elegant Downey House on Washington Street – a place for fine dining and ballroom dancing, with rooms for out of towners, upscale offices and shops – caught fire on December 23, 1925, it destroyed an era. The courthouse dome was set ablaze and General Greene’s wooden statue and cupola bell were lost. Winds then blew embers eastward and destroyed the church.
Luckily the even older Sayers building on the corner of High and Church streets was saved and is now home to Fischer Antiques. This fine brick edifice from the late 1800s is filled with “booths packed with antiques, local crafts, collectables and oddities.” Owners Mark and Tammy Fischer know their antiques as well as Mark knows the fine cigars, humidors and smoking whatnots he keeps in stock. Google Fischer Antiques and see what antique services they offer, from renting a spot inside to sell to helping locate that perfect piece to buy.
Ready for an antique road trip? Plan on coming early to Downtown Waynesburg. Jan’s Country Nook opens at 8 a.m. and is usually closed by noon. Fischer Antiques opens 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. It’s About Time is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday.
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While visiting Greene County, we ask visitors to observe social distancing, wear face coverings, and follow current CDC regulations to keep our community safe and our businesses open.