If you are ever looking for a lamp to light up your front porch, read a book by, or to simply look pretty on that antique table, you should come into the Midtown Mercantile Merchants Mall at 4443 E. Speedway. We have a wide variety of lamps from antique to art deco to kitschy to mid century modern to funky!  Pictured here are some lamp examples … there just might be something similar in the mall right now.

The most expensive lamp in the world is the Pink Lotus sold at Christie’s Auction House in New York, on December 12, 1997 for $2.8 million. It is believed to be the only known example in existence.The Tiffany lotus lamp is made of bronze with a mosaic pattern of leaded stained glass. The shade is formed of eight lotus flowers which overlap to form this beautiful lamp. It is believed to have been made somewhere around 1905.  
Did you know that a small town in southern Arizona is home to an extremely rare example of Tiffany art glass? Keep following this Midtown blog as I’ll be telling this story soon!

Carol Fenn 3-2017

Yep, it’s gettin’ hot out there, but thanks to our air conditioning it’s nice and COLD inside the Midtown Mercantile Merchants Mall at 4443 E. Speedway. The onset of our annual heatwave here in Tucson got me to thinking about how Tucson’s residents used to stay cool back in the day.

Sleeping porches, cooking outside, light cotton clothing, wide brimmed hats, water soaked sheets, thick adobe walls, a fan blowing over an ice filled bowl, and getting the heck out of town! These are some of the ways folks used to survive the hot desert heat.  

Some time in the early mid twentieth century some enterprising guys started tinkering with Rube Goldberg machines in an attempt to invent an evaporative cooler. They experimented with chicken wire, charcoal, excelsior, wallboard and electric fans. These contraptions were known as “swamp boxes” or “swamp coolers.”

The first successful swamp coolers were homemade wooden boxes installed in windows. Charcoal, packed with chicken wire was placed on one side and a hole one-foot in diameter on the other. The box was placed in the window with the hole facing inside the room. Outside, a garden hose slowly dripped water onto the charcoal. An electric fan was placed inside the box to draw air through the charcoal.

By 1935, Phoenix had about 1,500 of these window coolers and a year later the number was up to 5,000. Evaporative coolers soon were seen on roof tops and windows of homes and buildings across the state like wildflowers sprouting after a heavy spring rain.  

Nowadays some of us still have swamp coolers, cool drinks, wide brimmed hats and cotton clothing to help us stay cool. Of course with the advent of air conditioning in our cars, homes, and businesses we can stay nice and cool no matter how hot it gets. So pour yourself a lemonade made from our local Tucson citrus then maybe come on in to the antique mall cuz baby it’s *cool* inside.

Carol Fenn 3-2017

If you come into the Midtown Mercantile Merchants Antique Mall looking to add to your herd of Breyer horses you just might find some. I found a foal grazing on a shelf just the other day. Cute, huh?

The Breyer Molding Company of Chicago made their first model horse, the # 57 Western Horse, in 1950. It was a special order for the F.W. Woolworth Company, made to adorn a mantelpiece clock. The company was flooded with requests from people who saw it and wanted to know if they could purchase just the horse. By filling those orders the Breyer Molding Company changed their focus and changed the play time of children, especially girls, everywhere! Today they are collected by mostly adults. And while most are very affordable there are some rare models that can sell for thousands of dollars.

In the mid twentieth century most little girls read the books, “Misty of Chincoteague” and “Brighty of the Grand Canyon” both by Marguerite Henry.  Breyer delighted many children when they made models of the scrappy pony and the funny little burro from these books.

Today, some are made especially for high end collectors. They start out expensive and tend to go up in value. Sometimes, in the past, a variation in the paint job might have occurred. For example, there is a common mold typically called the Proud Arabian Stallion. For many years it was produced with a dappled gray coat and a gray mane, tail and hooves. However, a few of these models came from the factory with black manes, tails, and hooves, and black socks or stockings. These special, rare models, are considered variations of the Dapple Grey Proud Arabian Stallion and are very valuable compared to the regular model.



Unlike some collectible toys, Breyer horse packaging does not usually add to the model’s value. Unfortunately, there have been some issues with pre-2000s packaging, in which if a model is left in the box for an extended period of time, the box can actually cause harm to the horse’s finish due to rubbing of the paint on the sides of the box or on the plastic ties binding it to the packaging, therefore diminishing the model’s value. So if you have an older model get it out of that box and let it run loose!  

Address: Midtown Mercantile Merchants Mall

                 4443 E. Speedway, Tucson AZ

Carol Fenn 3-2017

In the Midtown Mercantile Mall gazebo we have a French country kitchen with all manner of lovely items. Possibly the most useful are the heavy copper pots that populate this nook.  

A zillion years ago, back in the 1970’s, I was part of an interesting foursome on the golf course. We were two entertainment attorneys, Herb and Bert; a probation officer, John; and me, the horse trainer. I distinctly remember the first time I walked into Herb’s kitchen in Beverly Hills. There, in all their glory, about a dozen copper pots hung above the center island stove. He took down one of the smaller pots and whipped up a bearnaise sauce to go with our steaks. Delicious.  

Why use a good heavy copper pot like Herb did? Of all the metals, copper is the most effective for cooking. The temperature spreads evenly on all sides of the cookware. As you change the temperature on your stove top, the temperature of the pot changes almost immediately allowing you to braise and brown foods to perfection. Hot spots are pretty much unheard of.Your sauces will no longer burn or separate. Melting chocolate will become child’s play.

Plus, there is no denying the beauty of a shining, or well patinated, copper pan. We’ve all seen photos of kitchens in home decorating magazines where invariably the featured cookware is made of copper. Just like that 1970’s kitchen in Beverly Hills. 

So, come on into the mall. Get one of our pots. (Some of them are pictured here) And get going on that sauce!

ADDRESS: Midtown Mercantile Merchants Mall, 4443 E. Speedway, Tucson AZ

Carol Fenn 3-2017

                 
                 

Did you know that after the civil war there was a northern women’s organization, the W.R.C, who put cast iron markers on the graves of some veterans. The markers, like this one in the Midtown Mercantile Mall in Tucson, Arizona, are highly desired by collectors of Civil War memorabilia. This lovely example can be found in space #229 for only $75.

The Woman’s Relief Corps (W.R.C.) is the official women’s auxiliary to the Grand Army of the Republic. (The G.A.R. was a fraternal organization composed of veterans of the union army.)  

The W.R.C. is one of the many women’s organizations that were founded after the American Civil War. It began in 1879 when a group of Massachusetts women started this “secret” organization. The members were to be women who were loyal to the North during the Civil War. They were officially recognized in 1883.

While it might be easy to assume that this organization was only for white women, there were many posts across the country that had African-American women as members as well.

Collecting items like this brings history right into your home. Just imagine the story behind it! Come on in and check it out. 

Carol Fenn 2-2017

Don’t you just love hurricane lamps like this one in space #333 (priced at only $39) … It’s at the Midtown Mercantile Merchants antique mall here in Tucson.

There is something about these lamps that is just, frankly, romantic. For example, just the thought of a hurricane lamp could give me the first lines of a novel I might write one day … “Reading his letters by the shimmering light of a hurricane lamp she felt alone and desperate. Would he ever come back to her?” 🙂

A hurricane lamp is a special lamp designed to work in high winds because it has a tall glass chimney that protects the flame from being blown out. It was invented in 1780 by Francois-Pierre Aime Argand, the son of a Swiss watchmaker. This style of lamp can be a candle lamp, an oil lamp, or today, electric in the decorative style of a hurricane lamp. (Like the one in space #333.) Often used on ships they are also known as a storm lantern. The oil based model usually has an adjustable knob to raise and lower the wick in order to adjust the light. 

One style of hurricane lamp is the “Gone With The Wind Lamp”, named after the Academy Award winning movie. This lamp will usually have a fancy top and bottom, which is often hand painted.  

Some people collect hurricane lamps which can be quite interesting as they have varied in style over the years. If this interests you come on in the mall as we usually have a few that our merchants have gleaned from estate sales, etc.

Carol Fenn 2-2017
  

It’s rodeo season in Tucson! Here in the Midtown Mercantile Mall you’ll usually find a couple pairs of cowboy boots but recently our merchant in space #777 filled his space with them! It got me to thinking about why cowboy boots look the way they do. Most of the anatomy of the boot is about safety.

When mounting and dismounting, the slick, treadless leather sole of the boot allows easy insertion and removal of the foot into the stirrup of the Western saddle. 

While in the saddle, the tall heel minimizes the risk of the foot sliding forward through the stirrup, which could be life-threatening if it happened and the rider were to be unseated. If a rider falls from a horse but has a boot caught in the stirrup, there is a risk that the horse could panic and run off, dragging the cowboy, causing severe injury and possibly death.

The tall leather shaft of the boot helps to hold the boot in place in the absence of lacing. The tall loose fitting shaft and lack of lacing all are additional features that help prevent a cowboy from being dragged since his body weight would pull his foot out of the boot if he fell off while the boot remained stuck in the stirrup. While mounted, the shaft also protects the lower leg and ankle from rubbing on the stirrup leathers. While dismounted, the shaft helps protect the leg and foot from rocks, brush, thorns, and rattlesnakes. 

So if you need cowboy boots come in and get ’em! And now you know that they’ll keep you safe as well! Safe on a horse that is … probably not in Tucson traffic LOL

Carol Fenn 2-2017

I’m always surprised when I meet people who live in Tucson and they don’t know about Trail Dust Town, that charming little western town near the corner of Grant and East Tanque Verde Road. You know, the one with the covered wagon out front? It’s a fun place to take your kids, have a steak dinner, visit a museum or watch a Wild West stunt show!

I’m not surprised though when I learn that most people don’t know about it’s history.



I’ve lived here for over 25 years but I didn’t know until recently that this charming little oasis was built from the abandoned western movie set of an unfinished 1951 Glenn Ford movie.

 

In 1960, with the backing of a small group of businessmen, W. Howard Hamm developed the three acres. He turned it into a late 1800’s style western town with dining establishments, little stores and site appropriate entertainment … including staged shootouts between “feuding” cowboys.

 

Soon after opening though, the battles turned all too real! In 1963 and 1964 Trail Dust Town was at the center of a mini war over vending machine concessions. (!) The town was the fifth establishment within eight months to be targeted by bombers in what local police called an escalating “power struggle” between local mob families. Thank goodness the bombings were just mostly threatening. The fuse would be lit and the dynamite was tossed onto the roof of a business.  

 

After surviving the bombings of the 1960’s this little Tucson treasure has amassed a number of historical artifacts, including an Allan Herschell merry-go-round which was manufactured in 1954. It still has its original horses and benches.

Trail Dust Town is also home to a non-profit history museum; Museum of the Horse Soldier. The museum chronicles the history of U.S. mounted military service. It is notable for having one of the nation’s largest public displays of artifacts from the era of the military horse, including original period saddles, uniforms, weapons, firearms, and ephemera. Some of the museum’s highlights include the only Civil War collection available to the public in the state of AZ and rare U.S. military saddles from the 1830s to present day. 

 

Opening in 1962, the Trail Dust Town steakhouse, Pinnacle Peak, became famous for good food and good fun. In 1971 it burned to the ground but it came back better than ever. 

 Their “No Ties Allowed” policy has always been a part of the Pinnacle Peak fun. If you wear a tie, they will cut it off and display it on their wall for all to see! If you aren’t wearing a tie and want to go through the fun of having it sliced off you can pop into the General Store and they’ll sell you one that’s ripe for cutting! 

If you decide to visit Trail Dust Town it’s best to go in the evening. The lights are twinkling and this is when the Wild West shows occur. Have fun when you go!

Carol Fenn 2-2017

 

Have you ever known someone who collected a color? Maybe it was that kind of wacky, but sweet neighbor who collected anything purple. Maybe she even had a purple toilet! Maybe it was your grandma who collected blue bottles, blue dishes and little blue salt and pepper shakers. Or maybe it was someone who collects pink!  If there is a color to collect, pink is probably the most popular. It’s so cheery. So sweet. And it includes pink elephants!

There’s pink Pyrex and other assorted serving pieces.

Pink kitchen utensils can make it more fun in the kitchen.

… and speaking of pink kitchens!  Check these out!

During the holidays you can get out your pink Christmas trees and ornaments.

 If you’re really lucky you might find some pink furniture.  

And don’t forget the fancier stuff like antique pink lustreware and depression glass.

And of course those adorable pink elephants. They are somewhat elusive, but they can be found.

It’s really fun to collect a color. You can go into the antique mall and usually find something to add to your collection.  I’ll bet there’s something there right now!  

Carol Fenn 1-2017

Most of us who live in Tucson have enjoyed the Festival of Lights in the magical Winterhaven neighborhood. But did you ever wonder how it all began?

 In 1949 Mr. C. B. Richards created a cooperative water company and a modern residential development *north* of what was then Tucson. He named it Winterhaven. That’s right. The Winterhaven neighborhood not only has the Festival of Lights for two weeks every December, but it also has it’s own water company. This is why most of the homes have green lawns, as opposed to the usual Tucson desert landscaping. The residents are required to use the water that is supplied to them at a relatively inexpensive rate to keep their lawns lush.  

Mr. Richards was inspired to create the Festival after visiting a similar display in Beverly Hills, California in the 1930s. He purchased the first set of Christmas lights in 1949 and donated them to the neighborhoods. He purchased the now very tall Aleppo pines from a local nursery that was going out of business. They were planted at regular intervals throughout the neighborhood and electrical connections were hooked up near each tree for the Christmas lights.

So, this year, when you join the other 60,000 visitors to walk, bike, or drive through this sparkly, wonderfully enchanting, Christmas neighborhood, perhaps you’ll think of Mr. C.B. Richards and his wonderful light filled vision.