Charming town a prime destination for antique shopping
As one enters Nanton about 40 minutes south of Calgary along Highway 2 the town sign greets you with the phrase “Where history lives.” There’s no better way to describe the community of 2100 people (though in fact the town is rebranding with a new slogan: “Authentic Alberta”).
To the right lies the celebrated Bomber Command Museum of Canada home to one of the world’s few remaining Lancaster Bombers along with other aircraft and Second World War vehicles and displays. “It’s an enormous draw for this town” says Nanton Chamber of Commerce president Pam Woodall who is also owner of the local bookstore/jewelry store/coffee shop Because I Said So.
A short distance down the road is the Museum of Miniatures which features an assortment of historic western-themed displays all in miniature of course. Then comes Main Street which lies at the centre of Nanton’s Antique and Art Walk one of the primary reasons people come from all over Western Canada to visit the community. “About 15 or 18 years ago there was one antique shop in town then there were two and it just became a place where antique shop owners decided to congregate. For one thing the rent is cheap here in rural Alberta and once you’ve got two or three stores people will come” she explains.
Currently Nanton has a half-a-dozen stores selling antiques and collectibles from smaller boutiques like the Iron Horse Gallery to the very large Sentimental Journey Antiques to newcomers on the Nanton antique scene like R.A.V.E.N.
The owner of Sentimental Journey Terry Dixon estimates that on a busy summer weekend she can have up to 2000 people pass through her store in one day. “With the younger generation it’s really taking off. I think people are getting sick of the throw-away world and all the stuff from China and they want good quality” she says.
If you like antiques Sentimental Journey alone is worth the drive to Nanton. It features thousands of square feet of space every inch covered with antiques — from beautifully coloured cranberry glass to books to fine china to jewelry. The building itself is a piece of history: It started life as a hardware store in 1909 and housed airmen during the Second World War. Dixon’s personal passion is furniture which also happens to be her bestseller along with other architectural items jewelry and chandeliers.
Among the discoveries what looks like a lamp dripping with several red globes is not meant for a living room; it’s actually a lightening rod for the roof.
Jan Mather who runs the magazine Discovering Antiques says one of the most unusual items she ever spotted in an antique store was a Victorian-era mourning wreath made of human hair. She also provides the definition of “antique”: an item that is more than a century old. Anything younger ranks as “vintage” or “collectible.”
As to the question of “what’s hot” and “what’s not” on the Alberta antique scene Dixon says some of today’s hottest items are oil-and-gas related collectibles such as old cans pumps and signage. (In fact Dixon recently opened a second store in Calgary called Iron Crow that carries vintage petroleum-industry pieces.)
Calgary’s John Syratt who operated the now-defunct antiques and collectibles newspaper Treasures says items made in Alberta are also popular including Medicine Hat’s Medalta Pottery and Altaglass art glass. He adds that country collectibles are also “really big” and Nanton’s antique stores aren’t short on those items. In the window of Nostalgia Antiques on Main Street for example rests a child’s red wooden sled that wouldn’t look out-of-place on a turn-of-the-20th-century Christmas card.
Syratt says much of the fun in buying antiques lies in “the hunt” — Nanton’s antique shops are all in walking distance of one another and parking is free with no time limitations which allows a relatively uninterrupted hunt.
Although purchasing an antique is often an investment Dixon says it’s most important to buy something because you like it. “If you buy an antique you’re not going to lose money on it…. But you have to hang on to it for a while to get your money back” she says.
While history reigns supreme in Nanton as further evidenced by three original grain elevators that stand sentinel along the eastern side of town (one of them is open for tours) there are a few truly timeless attractions in town — most notably the Candy Store. A quick tour of the shop yielded such vintage sugary treasures as Popeye Sticks Nerds Jolly Ranchers gigantic jawbreakers and Neapolitan taffy sticks. “Things you normally can’t get in Canada or things you didn’t think they made any more you can get in the Candy Store” says Woodall.
Not surprisingly in back of the Candy Store there’s a room full of lower-priced antiques to rummage through — several Altaglass swans were among the treasures. And right next door is the Nanton Ice Cream Shop.
Rounding out Nanton’s attractions many of which are open only during summer months to cater to the Alberta day-tripper: the Ultimate Trains Big Sky Railway which offers visitors a ride on its garden railway; the 18-hole Nanton Golf Club; and the Nanton Nite Rodeo.
“Nanton is one of the very few towns within a driving distance of Calgary that you can spend a whole day in. There’s so much to do here” says Dixon.
ANTIQUES ROAD TRIP
If you can’t get out of Calgary you can make a day of the city’s own antique-shop offerings including: Iron Crow’s vintage — petroleum goods; Inside Avenue Antiques — Calgary’s antique mall; and Heirlooms Antiques — higher-end items including furniture and Sherman jewelry.
If you want a dense antiquing experience Discovering Antiques editor Jan Mather recommends you head north as there are many antiquing destinations en route to Edmonton.
Your northern journey can start in Airdrie home to one of Western Canada’s “premiere antique malls” called Where on Earth Did You Get That? As you make your way towards Red Deer check out Rockin’ Retro Antiques & Collectibles in Olds and The Old Creamery Antiques in Innisfail.
Red Deer is home to several antiques stores including: Antique Mall Red Deer Inc.; Red Deer Antiques and Collectibles; and The Dented Can with its “shabby chic” décor and repurposed furniture.
Just west of Red Deer is HolmeHus Antiques which is unique because of its focus on European and Scandinavian collectibles and antiques.
Treasures ’ John Syratt says Lacombe is a particularly notable spot for antiques calling it “Nanton north.” He recommends And Everything Nice Antiques & Collectibles and Antiques Collectibles & More.
There are a few more stops to make before you hit Edmonton including: Past Connections Emporium Antiques in Bentley; Sisters Roadside Treasures between Rimbey and Bluffton and the Leduc Antique Mall.
Arriving in the capital there are three antique malls to visit: The Old Strathcona Antique Mall the Rocky Mountain Antique Mall and the newest on the Edmonton scene Blue Jar Antique Mall. There are also several antiques stores in the city including: Black Swan Antiques & Collectibles — vintage jewelry; Gateway Boulevard’s Pieces of the Past Antiques Inc.— furniture; and Ibon Antiques and Collectibles Inc. — Moorcroft Pottery.
Aside from Nanton you won’t find as many antiquing destinations south of Calgary. However Lethbridge is home to Grandma’s Antiques and Taber has a hybrid antiques store and pawn shop called 2 nd Chance Antiques and Collectibles.
Syratt says it’s also worth considering the several antiques shows that take place throughout the summer months including the Fort Macleod Antique Show & Sale on June 21 and 22.
