Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, May 8, 1994 TAG: 9405110009
SECTION: DISCOVER NRV PAGE: 26 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: ELIZABETH OBENSHAIN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Mention antiques, and many say their favorite place to browse is Main Street, Pulaski, where several antique stores have opened in the past two years.
Others like to browse around Radford, through the wares at Uncle Bill's, Antiques & More, and the New River Valley Antiques Mall.
For others, the mention of antiques reminds them of hours spent combing through the booths of china, railroad memorabilia and country items in the Cambria Emporium in Christiansburg. Or stopping by the Martins, who've sold antiques in Christiansburg for two generations.
Whether you are a local or a tourist, meandering across the valley, dropping into tiny shops and huge antiques malls, poking around for just the perfect curio or chest or set of china can be an entertaining way to spend a leisurely day.
Many of the shops have a range of fine furniture and collectibles.
Others specialize in country collectibles and memorabilia - nostalgic items that you remember from your grandmother's kitchen when you were a child.
Here is a sampling of antique haunts, some suggested by our readers and some discovered in our own exploring.
Pulaski
Walking along Main Street in Pulaski, past the blaze of flowers in front of the newly restored courthouse, anyone on the prowl for antiques will find several stops.
Anchoring the town's recent influx of antiques stores is the Pulaski Antique Center on West Main Street, which has a range of unusual pieces from Victorian wicker chairs and tables to an elaborately carved sofa and chairs.
Along one wall, a handsome apothecary chest, rescued from an old drug store, could hold every odd and end in your house. Its stack of small drawers still display the gold lettering that labels each drawer for the various medicines and herbs stored there in an earlier time.
The Colony of Virginia, Ltd., farther up the street offers both antique and reproduction country items, displayed attractively by owner Debbie Jonas. Old Coke crates, antique crates from milk bottles and other items you might remember from visits to your grandparents are displayed, together with wreaths and country decorative crafts.
Marlis Ryssel-Flynn describes herself as the owner and ``resident artist'' of the Upstairs Downstairs Boutique, which features her distinctive handpainted furniture as well as antique china, silver and household items.
Her shop, also on Main Street, has, in addition to antiques, tables and desks - for both adults and children - that she has painted whimsically with leaves and floral patterns.
Old World Carpets offers a range of both antique and new Persian and Oriental rugs. The shop, also on Main Street, has floors, walls and balconies covered with the dramatic patterns and rich colors that make the rugs so popular.
Court Square Antiques was opened by Pulaski businessman W. Edgar ``Eddie'' Hale in the space over his downtown drug store, Martin's Pharmacy.
Also on Main Street, RP Collectibles offers antique glass and other antique items.
Around the corner, Charlie's Antique & Collectibles Centre offers kitchen and home items as well as furniture of nostalgic interest.
Christiansburg
Mention the words ``antiques'' and ``Christiansburg,'' and most people think of the Cambria Emporium.
Across the street from the historic Cambria train station, the mall offers several dealers a chance to display a wide variety of items, including a good selection of china and furniture at reasonable prices.
Appropriate to its location - an arm's length from the railroad tracks - visitors can sort through old railroad memorabilia while the Norfolk Southern trains roll and rattle by just outside the windows.
In downtown Christiansburg, Virginia Inn Antiques across from the courthouse offers a variety of furniture, decorative pieces and fine china in its collection.
Another place to prowl in Christiansburg is Martin's Antiques, one of the oldest dealers in Southwest Virginia, according to Powell Martin, who has followed his parents as the owner and operator of the store on Roanoke Street.
Radford
The New River Valley Antiques Mall at Mud Pike Road just off Interstate 81 continues to offer one of the valley's finest collections of high quality antique furniture and collectibles.
Under one huge roof are dealers who offer just about everything, from antique tools, fine American furniture dating from the 1800s, quilts and curios to toy trains. The serious collector interested in fine furniture will find much to look for.
In downtown Radford, Grandma's Memories Antiques Shop, on First Street just west of the New River bridge, is well named.
A visit to this shop, owned by Wayne Haymaker, is like poking around in your grandmother's attic. You'll spot items that are familiar from childhood days - old kitchen implements and furnishings. It's a relaxing stop that offers a roomful of curiosities.
Uncle Bill's Treasures is another local antiques store that is a favorite with local shoppers. It is located at 1103 Norwood St.
Blacksburg
Collectors looking for fine antiques and rare crystal know to knock on the door at Martha B. Heiskell's Heirloom Originals on Main Street.
For more than 25 years, Heiskell has operated her shop out of the quaint 1870s frame house where her grandmother lived.
Today, the house bulges with display cases filled with crystal - including those tiny bowls in which your grandmother served salt for special family dinners. Today, these little crystal bowls, called open salts, are collectors' items. Heiskell has hundreds of them in various shapes and sizes.
But the shop also boasts top-quality antique furniture, too.
Other Blacksburg shops include Grady's Antiques, an easy stop if you're strolling downtown in the 200 block of North Main Street. Its windows are full of curios, china and old signs.
Other Times Ltd. is at 891 Kabrich St., just off Main Street.
Nearby, at 1102 Progress Street, Frances Whittaker operates Whittaker Antique and Gift Shop, offering glassware and furniture.
Wytheville
The Wytheville-Fort Chiswell area has become a popular stop for shoppers - New River-area residents attracted by the shops and tourists passing through on the interstates that intersect there.
In the Fort Chiswell area off the interstate is Snoopers, a large antiques mall.
Jeff King, the manager, has 105 dealers showing under one roof. Visitors can browse for hours, sorting through everything from furniture to china to whatnots.
Right below Snoopers, Ron Kime opened the the Old Fort Emporium in October and has about 20 dealers exhibiting there.
The mall stocks corner cupboards, oak washstands, beds and dressers, trunks, kitchen cabinets, old advertising signs, clocks and other collector items.
by CNB