| Niagara on the Lake is very old. Established by British | | | | and of course doll houses, vintage bar supplies and |
| Loyalists in 1778, this quaint little town at the mouth | | | | nostalgia pieces from the 1920s and 30s. The area is |
| of the Niagara River is one of oldest settlements in | | | | also rich in antique toys, primitive iron tools, and |
| the nation. Use this handy guide to find bargains in | | | | collectible fruit sealer jars. |
| Niagara on the Lake. | | | | Look for handcrafted wood furniture Known for |
| First you must understand the History of Niagara. | | | | gorgeous homemade 'primitives', the entire Niagara |
| The entire Niagara peninsula is steeped in Canadian | | | | region is rich with homegrown wood furniture |
| history because: | | | | sometimes made of fruitwoods. Inside Europa |
| 1) The settlement is really old | | | | Antiques, shoppers will no doubt admire handmade |
| 2) It contains a cool waterfall | | | | wooden chests, side tables and wardrobes, pine |
| 3) Its right on the border with the United States and | | | | dressers and bookshelf units all being sold for less |
| they haven't always been so friendly. | | | | than $350. The proprietors of this business, located |
| The place was entirely settled and collecting dust | | | | at 1523 Niagara Stone Road, inside a 'dear old red |
| before the Dominion of Canada was born in 1867. | | | | brick church', have an interesting attitude toward |
| Thirty years later the Niagara Historical Society | | | | recycling furniture as part of their contribution to |
| & Museum was founded (in 1895) to encourage | | | | reducing climate change. Can you see the green |
| the study of Canadian History and Literature, and to | | | | Reduce, Reuse, Recycle triangle on their hemp |
| collect and preserve Canadian historical records and | | | | shopping bags? This business is here to sell good |
| relics. The Niagara Peninsula has at least nine other | | | | furniture cheap, and keep the inventory moving by |
| museums, and more historical reenactments per | | | | offering very low prices. And BEST OF ALL, if you |
| square mile than anywhere else in Canada. | | | | buy over four hundred dollars worth of furniture they |
| Etienne Brûlé was the first European to | | | | will deliver it for free as far away as Toronto! |
| see Niagara Falls in the summer of 1633. The first | | | | Bakelite is a good buy in Niagara The area is |
| eyewitness account of the falls in written text was | | | | becoming known for unusual Bakelite items like radios |
| by Father Louis Hennepin in 1683 wherein he | | | | and picnic vessels, tableware and all manner of period |
| described it as, 'the most beautiful and altogether the | | | | Art Deco objects. These gorgeous early wood plastic |
| most terrifying waterfall in the universe'. | | | | luxury items were imported by retailers to |
| John Butler The first European settlers were primarily | | | | accommodate Niagara Falls tourists in the booming |
| British Loyalists fleeing America in 1778. At the end of | | | | 1950's. Today vintage Bakelite is very sheik, and |
| the American Revolution, these Loyalists were given | | | | these antiques are cool to collect and relatively |
| land grants, and the town of Niagara was laid out on | | | | inexpensive here because of their availability. |
| the west bank of the Niagara River. As the first | | | | Pottery, porcelain and fine china Lakeshore Antiques |
| farms were cut from the wilderness, the first | | | | and Treasures is located at 855 Lakeshore Road in |
| orchards were planted with apples from Quebec and | | | | the center of Niagara on the Lake. This is a well |
| the Maritimes, and red cherries from the east coast | | | | stocked 7000 square foot building wherein 15 |
| of the United States. The whole settlement | | | | separate merchants offer up their wares. Overall |
| prospered under the leadership of John Butler, who | | | | there are good prices here on painted pine furniture |
| had led a regiment of rangers during the revolution. | | | | and English china. The shop is filled with tables and |
| In 1792 the first lieutenant-governor of Upper | | | | chairs and early Canadian pottery, porcelain, and |
| Canada, John Graves Simcoe, chose Niagara as the | | | | English fine china and American kitchenware from the |
| temporary capital of the province. He held parliament | | | | 1940s and 50s. Antique chandeliers hang from the |
| here until 1796. Unfortunately the town was just too | | | | rafters over many merchant holdings. |
| close to the United States for comfort. Indeed, this | | | | Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian antiques Creighton |
| fertile region was the principle theater of operations | | | | House Antiques is a family business located on the |
| for both the War of 1812, and the Fenian Raids of | | | | main street of Jordan since 1982, but Joe and Pauline |
| 1867. Between these years are wonderful stories | | | | Creighton have been in the area, selling antiques for |
| about Laura Secord, the Mackenzie printing press, and | | | | thirty years. Their large shop is located in the carriage |
| the last stop on the Underground Railroad where so | | | | house next to their 1850s Georgian home. They have |
| many African American men and women finally found | | | | lots of Canadiana, Victorian, and Edwardian furniture |
| freedom. | | | | pieces, turn-of-the-century oak wardrobes, and |
| Where to shop for antiques? The old towns of | | | | quality mahogany and walnut furniture of the 1920s. |
| Niagara on the Lake, Virgil and Jordan are terrific | | | | The antiques are in "as found condition", and range |
| places to shop for antique furniture, vintage | | | | from fair to good condition. Joe does the buying and |
| kitchenware, stain glass windows and lamps. Although | | | | prides himself of the selection ý" there's |
| military collectibles are surprisingly scarce, there exists | | | | something for everyone here. |
| an extraordinary amount of sheet music, lace, dolls | | | | |