Published in Tackaberry Times, March 2007
     Women who were girls in the ‘50s and ‘60s, take note: Hampton’s Antiques of Georgetown has “real” charms for bracelets. Not the flat square charms that are popular today, but the exquisite, realistic silver or silver-plated charms that are now almost impossible to find. Beer mugs, typewriters, dogs, skiis, shamrocks, thimbles, champagne glasses, zodiac signs…there is something for everyone’s tastes and interests.
     There is plenty of other jewellery as well, both costume and real. Rhinestone diamonds and coloured-glass brooches are displayed near silver, turquoise, amethyst and pearl pieces.
     The shop is crammed with glassware and china. There are coins, clocks and candelabra, silver-plated teapots and wood tea tables. The basement is packed with wooden furniture of all kinds.
     “I’ll fish out the furniture if people really want to see it,” offers Michael Jameson, owner.
     Michael buys at estate sales, and people come in every day to sell or trade their treasures, so there’s new stock daily.
     “I don’t like to see history destroyed,” he says. He has World War II memorabilia including a Japanese knife. There is a framed reward poster for the murderer of Abraham Lincoln. Michael even has a lead medallion that he dates to the 1600s.
     Before the high school formals in spring, there is a run on the beaded, satin and chain evening bags he displays by the front door.
     “It’s a fun business,” he adds. The shop on James St. is open Mon. to Sat. 10 to 2, or by appointment at 905 873 9076.
     The Stone House of Campbellville specializes in antique stained glass windows. There are some shelves of glass bottles, vases, jars, insulators and pottery, but people flock to the thousands of stained glass windows of all sizes and patterns.
     All the windows have been recovered or salvaged from old houses, buildings or churches in England or Scotland. Once a year, a container of windows arrives by ship. Regular customers are notified of the date that the new pieces will be unpacked and available.
     Many of the windows have been completely reframed or have had their wooden frames refinished. Most are available with their original pine frames. Inside the shop are 350 windows, including some colourful, enormous examples from churches, that are not for sale. A covered display area stores 1200 more windows, while in the summer months, a further 1200 pieces are displayed outside. Prices start at around $75.
     These antiques are usually bought to be hung in front of existing windows, but there are other decorative uses for them. They can be built into room dividers, cabinet doors, shower stalls or bath enclosures. They can be put into table tops or overhead light fixtures. Some of them can be used to replace windows.
     Owner Paul Singleton shares the experience of one of his frequent customers. After adding several antique windows to the interior of her house, she was asked by a real estate agent to name “a wildly high figure and within a week she had a cash offer for that amount, providing the windows stayed.” Paul adds “She sold the house, bought a new one, and is now buying more windows.”
     Located at 8565 Guelph Line south of Campbellville, The Stone House is open every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Their Web site is www.thestonehouse.ca.
     Beaumont Mill Antiques & Collectibles in Glen Williams is a restored 1875-era knitting factory that is now entirely filled with the treasures of 20 dealers. It’s hard not to be drawn to something, whether housewares, tools, toys, furniture, lamps, books, paintings, glassware, china or geological specimens.
     The whole enterprise is managed by Peter Arsenault, who moved the dealers into the building in April 2006. On a Saturday afternoon the place is busy with customers, many of whom Peter knows by name and preference.
     He greets one of them, adding “There’s an Elvis piece down there you might be interested in. I’ll show it to you shortly.”
     The dealers fill three sprawling floors of the vast building. Most of them live in Georgetown or Glen Williams, but some come from Brampton, Mississauga and further afield in southern Ontario. There is a waiting list for dealer space.
     The vendors are not usually present. All their items are marked with prices that seem affordable. There is no “sticker shock.” Customers are free to browse and bring their selections to Peter at the cash desk near the front door.
     Some dealers have signs in their areas advising of sale prices. Some shelves of small items are marked $1 each. In the furniture gallery is a permanent sign “We will consider all offers within reason.” A Hoosier-style cabinet is marked at $850.
     “Customers are smiling when they come in, and smiling when they go out,” says Peter.
     Thursday evenings, the dealers restock their areas for the weekend. “Friday is the best day to come in,” confides Peter.
     The building is owned by Malcolm Black of Blackbox Automation. “We just saw eye to eye,” Malcolm says of Peter. “He had vendors to fill the place. It’s fun and it works. It’s right for the building. It’s a combination of shopping and entertainment. And Peter’s part of the show.”
     Beaumont Mill is at 586 Main St. at the north edge of Glen Williams. It’s open Wed. to Sun., 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends and holidays, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays. Peter can be reached at 905 873 4407.
     For 14 years, Campbellville has been the site of Gregory Brand Rustic Handcrafted Furniture. Gregory Brand makes all his pieces from vintage lumber dating from the turn of the 20^th century, mostly pine.
     “They’re antiques made fresh daily,” Gregory says.
     His shop on Main St. is a showroom on two levels, and is filled with a wide array of finished pieces, including tables, chairs, sideboards, jam cupboards, cabinets, armoires, bookcases, display cases, mirrors, benches, chests and vanities for sinks. A shed in the back yard stores additional large pieces.
     Yet he mostly does custom work now. He estimates that 80 per cent of his business is custom, with people coming in with sketches or ideas that he then draws. He asks for a deposit of a few hundred dollars, and two to three weeks later, the piece is ready. Customers can choose from such stains as dark walnut, golden walnut, attic walnut, smoky walnut, old pine, golden pine, special mix or black.
     “I keep it simple,” says Gregory. “I don’t do painted furniture.”
     Gregory has no Web site, because he’s inundated with orders. [Since this article was printed, he has created a site at http://www.gregorybrand.ca .] His business is booming due to word of mouth. People also drive by and are drawn by his signs.
     He mentions one couple from Montreal who had a horse at Mohawk Raceway up the road, and who dropped into his shop and loaded up their car with ready-made furniture. They told Gregory they might come back for more.
     Gregory Brand is located at 39 Main St. in Campbellville and is open every weekend from 11 a.m to 4 p.m. His phone is 905 854 2902. By Gloria Hildebrandt