One man's junk is another man's antique

By Maeleeke Lavan
Poughkeepsie Journal

Antique stores and centers are popping up all over in what used to be quiet little communities, turning them into thriving districts saturated with collectable history.

There’s something rewarding about stumbling across a fantastic treasure that was built and made to last before many of their soon-to-be owners were born.

‘‘In terms of uncovering something like an old painting, or a lamp from the past, it’s exciting,’’ said David Cooke, president of the Cold Spring Antiques Dealers Association.

Cooke is the owner of Sarabeck Antiques in Cold Spring, Putnam County.

Communities like Hudson, Columbia County; Cold Spring, Putnam County; Bedford, Westchester County; and Beacon, Rhinebeck and Millbrook in Dutchess County are already well known or quietly creeping into the spotlight for their antique stores.

Shopper’s paradise

On weekends and particularly during warmer months, antique stores and streets are packed with regulars and newcomers searching for that special something or just browsing through years of history.

Those communities are hot spots in the antiques world for their antique shows and/or antique districts.

On Warren Street in Hudson, 70 antique shops fill five blocks with an array of merchandise.

Some of these communities are thought of as quiet, sleepy towns but are closer to best-kept secrets. They are eclectic places for weekenders and residents to browse through antique stores.

Lucille Valentino, co-owner of Past Tense Antiques in Beacon, has seen firsthand how the local industry has taken off after seven years on the city’s Main Street.

And grandma isn’t her most frequent customer.

Valentino said more and more people in their mid 20s are beginning to make investments in antiques.

So, next time you need a dresser, chest of drawers or decorative lamp, you may want to head to an antique shop instead of a retailer.

‘‘You start seeing the quality that’s out there and prices they’re at and you come back and say, ‘You know what? This is better,’ ’’ Valentino said. ‘‘It’s fascinating, it’s history.’’