The Hershberger Antique Mall, one of the best places in Amish Country to find outstanding antiques, is located between Charm and Farmerstown. To get there, you'll travel through some of the prettiest rural areas of Holmes County. In August, you might see horses working in the fields, buggies on their way to and from town, empty rural Amish schools, and bountiful crops, nearly in their prime.
Ben Hershberger knew early on he didn't want to farm for the rest of his life because his real love was furniture. He was always fascinated by the craftsmanship of the older pieces -- the dovetailing, intricate detail, one-at-a-time production -- handcrafted without today's modern tools.
So Ben decided to go into antiques and antique furniture sales.
"My dad thought I was crazy," Ben said, "but after a couple years he thought I'd made the right decision. Actually, now he works for me! And so does my sister."
In business now for more than a dozen years, the antique mall consists of two 4,000-square-foot buildings plus a "rough room," where furniture in need of repair is housed.
Hershberger Antique Mall is a combination of antiques; most are owned by Ben and some are on consignment. Ben used to have to go out and look at auctions for his antiques to sell, but now, most of them just come in the front door!
"I even do house calls," Ben said laughingly. "People tell me they have this or that and want me to come to their home to see it. Sometimes I buy the piece, sometimes I end up buying the whole houseful!"
Browsing the mall, you'll discover at least 500 pieces of antique furniture (75- to 100-year-old) for sale.
"You could come in here every week -- nearly every day -- and see new furniture on display," Ben said.
During the last couple years, Ben has begun to focus on rare, unusual items, especially bigger, even massive pieces. Large cupboards and sideboards are extremely popular right now, as are large mantels. These mantels are nearly a wall-full of old charm -- some have large mirrors, some are plain, some have intricate woodwork.
"We're trying to find unusual pieces that aren't found most places," Ben said. "Most of these aren't here very long; they come in and are snatched up by a buyer very quickly."
Personally, I enjoy browsing for antiques like those I already own, discovering their worth and adding to my collection. The day I was at Hershberger's, I found a Shirley Temple pitcher from the 1930s like the one my grandmother gave me, and a Bozo the Clown record. My record is "Bozo Under the Sea" and this one was "Bozo on the Farm." I was tempted to buy the cup and plate to match my pitcher and the other record, but that will have to wait for another day!
Although many customers coming to the antique mall are tourists from Ohio and beyond, a large contingent comes from Holmes and neighboring counties -- especially for the furniture, Ben said. Many of the local bed-and-breakfasts furnish their guest rooms with furniture and accessories from Hershberger's.
Outstanding customer service is part of Ben's business philosophy.
"If people are looking for a specific item and can't find it here, we'll hunt for it and give them a call when we find it," Ben said. "We offer layaway, arrange for delivery and can have anything shipped."
The mall is a beautiful site during the summer when 1,500 to 2,000 flowering plants fill the area around the mall with bright color. Some of the antiques displayed outside are filled with blooms, as well!
How do people find out about this fabulous antique mall?
"Word of mouth is one of the best ways," Ben admitted. "Someone comes, then goes back home and tells someone, and that's just how it goes."
Ben related a story to me about a lady and her mother who drove down from Michigan.
"They had been looking for a very big hall seat," Ben began. "They just happened to talk to someone who'd been down here visiting Amish Country and had seen a hall seat here at the mall. The two ladies drove down, looked around here in this building and couldn't find it. They were really disappointed. We asked if we could help, and they told us their story. Well, to their delight, the hall seat was up at the other building (just up the hill a few steps). They were thrilled."
This antique mall is definitely not to be missed. You'll discover things you've been looking for and things you've forgotten about. I bet youll say, "Oh, I remember that!" more than once. And you'll always see good antiques.
"We sell quality here; not junk!" Ben concluded.
Hershberger Antique Mall, 3245 State Route 557, Baltic 43804; answering service at (800) 893-3702, ext. 0300; hours: Mon., Tue., Thu. Sat., 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Wed. Fri., 8 a.m.-8 p.m.; closed Sun.August 2004 issue