THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 8, 1995 TAG: 9509060145
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Briefs
LENGTH: Short : 35 lines
The shop took its name to the 300 block of High Street when it left Prison Square at the corner of High and Dinwiddie.
Dave Stuart and Fred Rice, owners of the shop, already have filled the 4,500-square-foot space originally occupied by Cooper's jewelry store.
The two are busy sorting the antiques and collectibles that range from the whimsical to more serious and imposing items.
The space was most recently occupied by Barry Scott, a goldsmith who now is associated with Olde Towne Gallery. At one time, it housed Olde Towne Sales.
The back room of the two-story space is a large walk-in vault centered by a hand-decorated safe.
``We figure the safe was put here and the building was constructed around it,'' Rice said. Manufactured by York Safe and Lock, it dates back to the turn of the century.
Many of the cabinets and drawers that were installed to hold silver and china for the jewelry store are still in place. In addition to the vault, the floor has several other rooms - all full of interesting items collected by Stuart and Rice.
Stuart has put up a very special door on one of the rooms - a door from the old barracks at VMI.
But it's all legitimate, Stuart said. When the military school remodeled the living quarters, he bid on and bought 125 of the doors. by CNB