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Dumfries Va - If George Washington were to pass through the old seaport town of Dumfries today, he would have great difficulty recognizing the bustling city it has become. Dumfries lies halfway between Alexandria and Fredericksburg, but unlike those 18th-Century towns, Dumfries reveals little of its early history.
The Stagecoach Inn on the Old King's Highway, now Route 1, and Parson Weems' bookstore are all that remain from 200 years ago. Today's visitor will find the Weem's house (and the Botts family addition) resyored and operated by Historic Dumfries, Va. Inc. The Weems-Botts Museum welcomes visitors and sells copies of Weems' famous biography, Life of Washington.
Also of interest is the Quantico Marine Corps Aviation Museum, housing more than 20 aircraft, ordnance and other aviation material from 1941-1945, located near the Marine Corps air facility at Quantico on the South side of town.
Although the antique station capped its successful first year of operation with a two-day holiday celebration on Dec, 3, and 4. Dozens of door prizes were contributed by dealers, and were awarded to costumers every 15 minutes during the weekend, with refreshments in Tiffany's Tea Room, and many booths attractively decorated for Christmas, the holiday season was fully launched with weekend sales specials.
Booths are identified by number, and often the owners have placed their business name on an interesting sign. I have noted a sampling of items I found during the celebration.
Yellow June pattern bowl was $45: old fostoria leaf-shaped victoria relish, sale priced $21; Patrician amber cookie jar, $60; handsome coffee service by J&G meakin, english china, white with classic black transfer border-coffee, sugar, creamer, six cups and saucers, $85 the set; and by-beeblue pottery vase, $10.
A-Bite-of-antiquity is a complete booth of lamps, and is also an authorized dealer for Aladdin lamps and supplies. A nickel-plated German student lamp, not electrified, was $365; Aladdin Alacite Lincoln Drape, electrified, ready to use, $140; piano lamp with marble and brass, $450; and a victorian hanging lamp, complete with prisms, $425.
Virginia Traders specialize in good Oak furniture in restored condition. A Larkin writing desk, fall front, drawers below was marked $595; Larkin chest of drawers chiffonier $47, $495; Oak bookcase with four adjustable shelves, 1890's, $205, and an office chair with a black leather set, $95.
About Antiques featured a pair of pair point auroria (amber) glass candlesticks with engraved berrels and leaves, a chip on the base of one, for $325; pressed glass 10-inch compote, Jacob's ladder, Bryce, Pittsburgh, $75; Red Wing art Pottery vase, ming yellow, $45; Rockwood pottery tall blue candlestick, twisted column, three dolphins on the base, 1919, $130; Greentown cactus bowl, $130; purple slag creamer, flower & Panel, $95; oil painting, ginger jar filled with violets, circa 1885, $125; torquay china cup and saucer, "Speak Little Speak," $35; collection of goss china minitures, $9.50 to $18; and two English teapots marked "EPBM," polished, ornate designs and Ivory knobs on both, $75 and $95.
Meeting house antiques showed a black Baltimore chair, circa 1825-1933 with its original gilt designs for $125; and a plantation-style desk, cira 1870's, Walnut finish, $725. The Emporium Antiques had a castiron double bed, painted white, early 1990s, Rosepoint goblets $28.50 each; Heisey Orchid large bowl, $68, and goblets, $40 each.
Wood'n' Wales had an english ironstone china tureen, marked "W&C corn, Burslem, priced $50; Heissey custard tumbler, Ring Band, $85; single Bellflower flint glass open sugar, $60; and a large copper apple butter kettle with a dovetailed bottom, on a wrought-iron frame, $385.
The Rafters had a white opaque glass syrup painted blue with flowers, original lid for $95; strech glass vaseline console bowl on a black glass base, and matching low candlesticks, $82.50 the set; and Baltimore-style chair, black with original striping $82.
Time and strike featured clocks including a wall regulator at $100, and a victorian shelf clock, also $160. A collection of mechanical advertising pencils ranged from $5 to $30, and old fountain pens, $25 to $100.
In both $38, Dennis Stevens and James Falls offer restored church and parlor organs. If they're in their booth on the day of your visit, you'lle be treated to a mini-concert. An Estey reed organ, golden oak, shown in a 1912 catalog, completley reconditioned, with an electric suction unit, was $2,500, Estey Victorian parlor organ, East Lake, Walnut, $1,257; and a golden oak parlor organ, circa 1890, $495.
Furniture of all peroids is a popular item at the Antique station, and quickly moves out to town houses and homes in the area. However, the center is also popular with dealers traveling through, and a haunt of astute collectors looking for-and finding-bargains, sleepers and sale items. Tiffany's Tea Room is cheerful and inviting; the food is good and the service is quick.
The antique station is open daily except Wednesday; hours are 10a.m. to 6p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Friday, and Saterday, 10am to 8p.m. Thursday, and noon to 6p.m. Sunday. The antique station is located at Interstate 95, Exit 51, a short distance east on Route 234, one block south of Route 1.Transcriber
Rachel hughesLanguage
English
