800 Jefferson St.       Burlington, IA 52601-5432      

Ho, ho, ho! Hope everyone got what they wanted for Christmas! If not, remember you can still find a special item at the Old Stone Mill. Come in and look around!

With all the talk about "green" things these days, did it ever occur to you that buying and using antiques in your home is the ultimate form of recycling? Not only are antique items "greener", they are more unique than the rubber stamped stuff produced in China these days, are usually much better quality, and are pieces of history in themselves. This concept doesn’t just have to apply to things that are 100+ years old. We also have exceptional pieces from the 1950 through the 1970s that are considered "retro". We invite you to our store to see for yourself. Go green! Buy an antique!

~ Linda

The big news for our store this past month has been the weather. We had everything from snow, to sleet, to ice, to more snow, to thunderstorms and heavy rain. We try our best to stay open, but the day after the big ice storm we were closed, as were many of the other merchants in the area. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that the weather will be at least acceptable for the rest of the winter.

The Hull pottery factory began in Crooksville, OH in 1905 and was in operation for approximately 80 years. By 1910 they had proclaimed themselves to be the largest manufacturer of Stoneware Specialties in the U.S. One of their well-known lines of kitchenware was "Zane Grey", also known as "blue band. In the 1920s the popularity of art pottery propelled Hull into new directions, utilizing new colors and glazes. They began producing more ornate kitchenware, as well as tiles, bathroom accessories, nursery ware, and garden pottery. During the 1940s, art pottery became a staple at the company. It produced many decorative items in pastel colors embossed with realistic floral sprays. Chain stores such as Woolworth’s, Ben Franklin, and Kresge were leaders in Hull sales. In 1950 the Hull plant was destroyed by fire and flood. It reopened in 1951. Hull introduced a "House n’ Garden" line in 1960 as an alternative to Pfaltzgraff items, and continued production until 1985 when it closed its doors.

The popularity of Hull Pottery to collectors was apparent by the 1970s. After its closing in 1985, Hull collecting has become very popular. Collectors specialize in specific art designs, such as wall pockets, baskets, or ewers, specific time frames such as pre- or post-1950, and specific patterns. There are some collectors who collect all eras, styles, and glazes.

We have many attractive pieces of Hull to choose from in our store. To read more about Hull Pottery, see The Collector’s Ultimate Encyclopedia of Hull Pottery by Brenda Roberts.

Here are some additional examples of Hull Pottery now in stock:

Finding a wonderful antique quilt can be very exciting, but also brings up an important question. How do you clean it? Exposing any antique textile to stress is not a good idea, however dust and dirt can damage the fibers.

Airing the quilt outside on a nice sunny day can remove dust and freshen the piece. Lay it on dry grass with a clean sheet under and over it, or drape it over a railing with the same sheet protectors. Vacuuming with the brush attachment on a low powered vacuum cleaner can also remove dust.

If the quilt is stained, regular wet washing in your machine is possible. Just remember that any type of wet washing can potentially damage or ruin a quilt. Fill the machine with water and hand agitate, then let soak. Allow the machine to spin out the excess water on its most delicate spin cycle. Be sure to use the mildest soap that you can find such as Ivory or Dreft. Thorough rinsing is a must. Residual soap will attract more dirt. To dry the quilt, lay it out on a flat surface that has been padded with clean towels, or hang over a railing that has been padded. Cover it with a clean sheet and run a fan on low speed over it to provide air circulation. Rotate the quilt so that it dries evenly.

You can learn more about owning and caring for your quilts by reading this book. Much more information on quilts can be found at the following website: