Stranger in Town

by Greg Levrault

Cape Girardeau has a peculiar appreciation for its history. Neither swept aside in the name of progress, nor packaged for the tourists, Cape's 300 years of history has the substance of family secrets: universally accepted but rarely discussed, except for those moments of reunion or communal observance. Perhaps that's why there's so many darn antiques shops - or maybe it's just being the halfway point of civilization between St Louis and Memphis. For whatever reason, antiquing is a popular pastime around here, and a useful skill for the new resident needing cheap furnishings.

My lady had taken antiquing to heart, but it was still a mystery to me. I decided to conduct an experiment: starting just north of what stands for Cape's downtown, I would explore as many antique malls, collectible businesses, and consignment stores I could reach on foot. Perhaps this anthropological excursion would let me discover what the big deal is with buying other peoples' old stuff.

I needed an alibi for entering these stores, so I thought of two items that I'd never imagined I'd find. Then I narrowed it down to things I'd actually want to take home: a portable turntable that plays 78 rpm records, and an oversize wooden fork and spoon set, suitable for wall mounting.

My first stop, Antiques, Etc (225 N Sprigg), fit the contemporary picture I have of antique shops: an old house, packed to the nooks and crannies with classic pottery, costume jewelry, and a fireplace with teeth. No spoon, but for my mother-in-law, I found a framed picture of a kitten with big eyes, like those velvet paintings of Mexican kids. Cost: $10

Annie Laurie's Antique Mall (536 Broadway) used to be the Civil war-era mansion of a riverboat captain, then a funeral home, complete with bedrooms for grieving family members to stay for a few days. In 2003, the mall housed the wares of around 50 sellers, concentrating on true antiques. They had a portable record player, but it needed more electrical knowledge than I had. I found a pamphlet from the 40's collecting the musings of a rambling Knoxville, Tennessee columnist. Far be it from me to disdain a kindred spirit, I took it home. Cost: $5

Peddler's Corner (111 N Sprigg St) is not strictly an antique place, but they're listed with the 'antique guild'. They consider themselves a furniture store, selling quality used furnishings to the underprivileged - like college students. Most of their findings come from estate sales, and they find their share of treasures from cleaning out old or abandoned homes. I found the speakers that went with the last turntable in the place; no spoon. I bought a coat tree from this place, back when I was still wearing a coat. Cost: $30

The Furniture Garden (18 N Sprigg St) was started seven years ago by a former SEMO professor and self-made acquisitions expert. The store is a showcase, with hundreds of unique pieces impeccably reconditioned to their original luster and collected into fully imagined settings. It's the mark of a true antiques fanatic who had to start a store just to support his habit. The owner found a brass spoon with Arabic writing engraved in the handle; close but no cigar. I also found a hand-painted wooden serving tray, like something my mother would have at her disposal. In fact, maybe she did.

Once a grocery store, the cavernous expanse that became Brick Street Gallery (19 N Spanish) houses one of Cape's signature antique malls. No spoon, no record player. Found a lime-green dentist's chair in the flea market section. Alas, it belonged to the clerk. It was just as well; how the heck would I carry it home?

One of the newest stores, Spanish Street Mercantile (26 N Spanish) is still being refitted - for an ice cream parlor. I found a autographed picture of Roy Rogers and his horse Trigger (signed by Roy Rogers, to clarify.) Lacking confidence to barter the picture down to the nickel and dimes in my pocket, I let it go.

Dockside Consignments (5 N Main) is as long as the block. My eyes began to glaze as I drifted from room to room. I found a wall section of classic Star Wars figures. I'm too embarrassed to admit how many of them I already had. I need to insure them first, anyway.

I entered Heartland Antiques (701 William St) two weeks from its shuttering. The former owner passed two months prior, and most of the sellers had already moved on to other stores in the city. I found a 2-disc vinyl pressing of the Broadway recording of "Time", Dave Clark's entry and exit to the Great White Way. Cost: $1

Mr. Ed's Furniture Barn (625 Broadway) This place is more about collectibles than antiques; then again, collectibles are anything under 100 years old. A family business, they have the flea market feel, with everything from reconditioned furniture and swords to streetlights and old Nintendo games. The spoon and fork I was looking for had sold a few months ago. I found a bean bag doll of Winnie the Pooh dressed as one of the Beatles. My wife likes those kinds of things... Cost: $1

Unexpected Treasures (626 Broadway) caught my eye as soon as I saw the Egyptian sarcophagus in the window. The store's special appointment only, while the owner fixes up the building. However, the combination of international and kitschy treasures shouldn't be missed. I found a pair of carved elephant bookends, in Asian dress. With my parents' wedding anniversary on the horizon (and I think this year is the elephant anniversary,) it was an easy choice. Cost: $15

My excursion would wind up at Another Time, Another Place Antiques (715 Broadway), another one-house operation, specializing in the little things. Wouldn't you know, I found a turntable! But is it 'the' turntable? It doesn't have speakers, and I don't like buying used electronics without testing first. Plus, I was feeling broke.

As I returned to the sidewalk, my mind raced at the other opportunities I was preparing myself to miss. What about Annie-Em's or the Golden Goose? What about the Salvation Army shop on Independence or Attic Treasures? However, the hockey-loving right side of my brain beat the left into submission, and I went home.

So, what did I learn? I learned that most antique dealers are antique buyers first; they're pretty uncompetitive, and they're still looking for stuff to finish their collections. I learned that there's a difference between antiques and antiquities, and they both cost too much. I learned that furniture from 1978 is not back in style yet. And I learned that E-bay can't replace wandering through a store and finding a different surprise at every turn. Antiquing is like going through someone's well-manicured trash: the castaways tell you all about what was once important, and might be again.