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Page 8 The Antique Shoppe October, 2018
BREVARD COLLECTORS SET MEETING DATES Collecting the Witch City
MELBOURNE— The Brevard Antiques and Collectibles Club holds monthly
meetings at two area locations. The group is open to anyone having an interest By: Carol J. Perry
in learning about antiques and collectibles. There is a different subject of
interest at each meeting and attendees are encouraged to bring in an item for Back in 1891 a Salem Massachusetts department store specializing
further study and discussion. in gifts and jewelry, named for its founder-owner, Daniel Low, began a
At the first Friday meeting (OCT 5) to be held at the Suntree / Viera trend which continues to this day. Salem, known the world over for the
Library, 902 Jordan Blass Dr., at 10:00 AM, the subject will be “SPORTS”. For infamous witch trials which occurred there in 1691, has been a “tourist
additional information call George at 321-254-5831. town” for well over a century. Daniel Low was inspired to create a special
The third Tuesday meeting (OCT 16) will take place at the Melbourne Beach souvenir to sell to the many visitors drawn there by the stories of the
Library, 324 Ocean Ave. at 1:30 PM. The subject of this meeting will be alleged “Salem Witches.”
“POSTCARDS”. For additional information call Melinda at 321-777-1374.
Low contacted Durgan Silversmiths to create a sterling silver spoon
Dade City & San Antonio with a witch design on the handle. He advertised his spoon, along with
other high-end items like gold jewelry and cut glass vases in national
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magazines like Ladies Home Journal. The spoon was an instant hit! It
was soon followed by another, more complicated design and the witch
Meridian Ave design soon spread to other items. But spoon collectors around the world
DADE CITY acknowledge that the souvenir spoon collecting craze began in historic
Salem. Today one of the early Durgan designed witch spoons can fetch a
bewitching $200-$300 range. Some of the later designs, made by Gorham
52 Clinton Ave in heavier silver and more complicated designs may bring double that.
4 Recognizing a good marketing trend when he saw one, Daniel Low

577 579 followed his spoon’s remarkable success with a series of other witchy
souvenirs. A blue transferware plate picturing the Salem Witch House
579A Ft. King Hwy. 301 98 marked Daniel Low is shown on e-bay for $485.

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Park your car in the treeshaded city lots and stroll

among our antique and collectible shops. Enjoy our
small town charms. We’d love to have you!

ZEPHYRHILLS
Celebrating Antiques
21
To Tampa YEARS! on the 54 1 5th Ave.
Gall Blvd.
MAin street

Specializing 41 39
in
Primitives
2 301
To Tampa 3 To Plant City

Peggy Capps, Proprietor
(352) 523-0999

14122 7th STREET DADE CITY
DADE CITY, FL 33525 3

The Hampshire Pottery
AMERICAN EAGLE company produced a

ANTIQUES pitcher in the late 1880s which During the early 1900s, the
Collector’s Guide author Pamela women who worked at Daniel
14232 7th Street E. Apkarian-Russell says is one Low’s store on the corner of Essex
Dade City, FL 33523
352-521-3361 of the most desirable pieces Street, each had a pair of scissors
OpEN 7 DAyS 11-5:30 made by that company. A detailed attached to their aprons for cutting
picture of the witch is on the front ribbon. The scissors, which were
AMERICAN EAGLE Late Century Modern Furniture and the back panel depicts the apparently different from the ones
ANTIQUES, TOO Decorative Arts & Accessories dreadful “witch pins” which were sold to the public, had a picture

Featuring Fine Antiques 11853 Curley St, San Antonio supposedly stuck into bewitched of a witch on one side, and one
14119 7th Street 6 mi. from Dade City / 11 mi. from Zephyrhills girls by the witches. (Those pins of the old Witch House on the
Dade City, FL 33523 352-588-2001 are on view at Salem City Hall.) other. Some Salem Witch scissors
352-521-0390 www.sanantonioantiquesflorida.com The pitcher is currently valued at book in the $100-$200 range.
OpEN 10-5 MON-SAT Proprietor, John C. Herrmann 4 about $200. Continued on Page 23