Local Antiques Cooperative Celebrates 20th Anniversary

By Roger Snyder

In May 1997, four couples — all local antiques dealers — decided to open a State College antiques cooperative, where quality antiques could be shown in a gallery setting. After all, successful antiques shows had been important local community events for several years. These events, along with locally renowned antiques shops in the Centre Region, a rich tradition of local early (and continuing) craftsmanship in furniture making and other products, and strong interest in country primitives, was making the area an antiques destination.

After an extensive search, a large hilltop building visible to Route 26 (Benner Pike) was chosen. The building had previously served as a roller-skating rink, business school and church. To turn the building into an antiques shop, walls were erected and a deep green paint was chosen for the walls to complement the rich woods of the furniture and wall adornments.

The owners began to discuss names for the new shop. After considerable research into the history of the building location, a State College “old-timer” told them that in the early 1900s a farm and large apple orchard had been located on that land. Since a cider press building had been situated at the top of the hill, the area was known as Apple Hill. Folks traveled considerable distances to buy delicious, fresh cider in the autumn. Thus, the name Apple Hill Antiques was born.

The main floor area of the shop presents pre-1969 merchandise. Three back rooms house antiques and collectibles, pre-1979 items and Penn State collectibles through 1986. A volunteer monitors the shop to ensure merchandise integrity and maintain these dates.

My wife, Jan, and I currently own Apple Hill Antiques. I am a local dealer and appraiser, and we are familiar faces in the Centre Region’s antique community. We started out as dealers at the Nittany Antique Emporium in State College and have been collecting and selling antiques for many years. My love of antiques comes from my family, and especially my grandfather, who was a buyer for the Fords and Duponts.

Apple Hill has thrived for several reasons: the quality of its merchandise, the expertise and dedication of its dealers, its desire to stay abreast of and be responsive to current consumer interests and its willingness to serve as an educational resource for the antiques-buying public.

Many of Apple Hill’s dealers are well known in the Centre Region. Most are retired or nearly retired business people who have been engaged in antique sales and collecting for many years. Many are experts in popular collecting fields, including country primitives, local antiques, vintage vinyl, Penn State memorabilia, books, coins, dolls and vintage jewelry.

Several of Apple Hill’s dealers are educators and authors. I conduct a local ‘Antiques Roadshow’ to benefit charities and educate the public. Linda Wilson is well known for her annual vintage and antique Christmas ornament talks, which she offers to local groups. Peggy Hartman, author of the popular mystery novel ‘Antiques to Die For,’ has been an antique dealer for many years — her business, the Antiques Sideboard, is located at Apple Hill and offers an eclectic mix of arts and crafts and mid-century modern. Jan Hawbaker has assembled two very popular collections of the favorite recipes of Apple Hill dealers.

Apple Hill also serves as the home of two well-known local businesses. The State College Coin Shop is owned by Dave Kreamer, who may be contacted for information and values about vintage and antique coins, paper money and related collectibles. Arboria Records is a long-time State College destination for quality and hard-to-find vinyl.

For more information, visit Apple Hill’s Facebook page.