WEEKLY WHATISIT

OK... So we realize that our somewhat weekly what is it has been on hiatus for many weeks. This week we're writing about an interesting find that we made.

Sometimes at the end of their sales, other estate sale companies will ask us to purchase sale leftovers. Sometimes we purchase everything, some times a specific collection and other times just a piece or two. We recently purchased a clothing and linen lot from an estate sale in Neenah after it was over. In this case, we left our contact information and requested to purchase the left overs (we paid full price for some of it the first day). We rarely attend other sales because first of all, we usually have a sale going on at the same time and in some cases, other companies don't' like it.

This was one of those that we were just too curious about and we are always suckers for OLD clothes! We actually have an ebay and an etsy store devoted to clothing. Janel's mom, Judie, does all of the listing, ironing, washing and research. As she was preparing some of this clothing and linens for sale, Judie was able to find out quite a bit about it.

In case you are interested in some local Neenah/Fox Cities history, I am posting those findings here...

Research completed by Judie Bedor regarding the clothing lot purchased on Park Ave in Neenah from the Rhoades house:

Most of the clothing in the lot was Edwardian. Mrs. Rhoades was a seamstress, milliner. She owned her own business since the 20s. As far as I could research she was extremely successful - even having material with her Millinery shop stamped on lining in her shirtwaists, etc. There is a Reverend Rhoades still living in area and there is a Rhoades foundation that gives scholarships, there were other Rhoades businesses.

Mrs. Rhoades merged with two other clothiers in sometime before 1934: Haase and Klinke. She even had items in her collection from W. O Thiede Clothiers from Appleton that were in business in the 30s. She must have been really good at what she did and came from a wealthy family. We have a very heavy "bear" coat (with a lot of issues) was made for the merged store - Haase Klinke Rhoades probably in the 30s - judging from the jewelry style closures and the condition/how made.

These items will soon be up on etsy in our antique clothing and textiles store. You can view current items and watch for these new items at this link: http://www.etsy.com/shop/BumblePuppy If you are interested in any clothes and don't want to pay shipping, please keep in mind that the items are near Rice Lake, WI. We can arrange to have them brought to the store, but we only transport items back and forth about once a month.