Springfield, Ohio And A Stop In Indiana

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of driving my daughter to Bloomington, Indiana to begin her freshman year at Indiana University. With the car loaded to near bursting, stopping on the way out there to "antique" was out of the question. On the way back was a different story. We planned to spend two days driving home to give us time to hit as many antique spots as we could. As it happened, the September issue of "Country Living" magazine had an article on Ohio, specifically, Springfield, Ohio. The article featured a show there but also talked about the various Antique Malls. What a coincidence! Our route from Maryland to Bloomington took us right through Springfield. We decided to spend a day there and stop at any other Antique Malls who had a sign along Interstate 70.

We left Bloomington in the morning and decided in the interest of fairness we needed to include at least one Indiana Antique Mall, so we stopped at Webb's Antique Mall, in Centerville, Indiana. This is one of three Antique Malls owned by the Webb's, the other two being in Florida. There was a dealer there who carried the stained glass windows that were installed in English homes in the early 1900's. Apparently homeowners consider these windows very "dated" and have been replacing them at an astounding rate. The pieces are very architectural and are great for craftsman style homes, as decoration or to use. We spent some time at the mall. I have to say there was little else of interest. I purchased some windows and off we went.

In Springfield, Ohio, our first stop was the AAA I-70 Antique Mall, 30,000 square feet of showroom. Sounds like a lot right? We went through there in under 45 minutes. In the entire mall I found one item to purchase. My partner did quite well, he collects carte de visites, and purchased a half dozen of them. There were very few dealers there who carried actual antiques. Don't get me wrong, vintage stuff can be great. But "Antique" malls should have predominantly antiques. Truth in advertising and all.

Our next stop was literally right behind the building we just exited. The Springfield
Antique Center has 50,000 square feet of space. (By the way, both of these malls are at Exit 59 off I70 in Ohio.) When we entered the mall I was very encouraged. The lobby area was filled with furniture, porcelain and oddities (including a bear skin coat) from mid 1800's to about 1910. The rest of the mall was a mix. Lots of collectibles, vintage items, and some antiques. I purchased one item, my partner was again fortunate in finding several carte de visites. And we called it a day.

The next morning we were rested and ready to take on Heart of Ohio Antique Center. Located off Exit 62 of I70, it is the largest antique center in America, with 116,000 square feet of space and 650 dealers. When you enter you are provided with a map and advise on how best to tackle the place. Obviously in a place that big there is bound to be something to appeal to everyone. I was a bit more successful here, actually purchasing 5 items, and my partner was thrilled he found Civil War carte de visites that did not require selling off his first born. We did this mall in under 3 hours. Granted I am a very focused buyer, and have specific items and time periods that I concentrate on. But I always keep an eye out for the unusual piece that can be repurposed to fit modern life. This takes time and thought as you go through the booths. And we were done in under 3 hours.

With plenty of space still left in the car, we decided to stop at any antique shop that had a sign along I70, and would not require to large a diversion from our trip home. That's how we ended up at the Barnesville Antique Mall, located off Exit 202 off I70. The mall is in a converted store front in quaint Barnsville. There are three floors of dealers. I found a wonderful primitive bench that was very reasonably priced, and since I still had plenty of room in the car, I bought it. My partner was again lucky with the carte de visites. We loaded the car and hit the road.

We stopped in Cumberland, Maryland for fuel and dinner. Cumberland is experiencing a rebirth. Buildings are being renovated and restored attracting new life in the downtown. On Friday evenings (which it happened to be) they close off the streets of the central downtown area and have music and dancing. The restaurants have outdoor dining, and people fill the streets. We ate at a wonderful Mexican restaurant, walked around a bit and then continued our trip home. To learn more about Cumberland, and what they offer visit their web site.

The antiquing was not all I had hoped for on this trip. But I have not given up on Indiana and Ohio. I picked up two brochures along the way on Indiana's famous Antique Alley, trail 1 and trail 2. These trails are located in Wayne County (not quite sure where that is in relation to where I will be traveling) and look promising. You can find out about them by visiting the web site.

Be sure to visit our store, Comfortablestyle.com for great antiques, decorative accessories and unique gifts!

Central New York State, Syracuse and beyond

It has been quite a while since my last entry, and I do apologize. I haven’t stopped or even interrupted the quest for antiques. I just haven’t had the time to write about it! Enough for excuses, on to the interesting stuff…..


This summer I took to the road with my daughter to visit colleges. Our destination was Syracuse, New York. Not knowing what we would encounter in terms of traffic and road work, we did not stop at any of the many antique malls between Maryland and Binghamton, New York. But once we reached Binghamton and realized there was only a short way to our destination, I gave in to the urge and pulled off I-81 to explore the Antiques district. This took me all of 20 minutes. Okay, it was a Monday in July…..but even on a Friday, there would have been few choices. Most of the shops were closed; a good number had gone out of business. The one we did find that was open had no real antiques to speak of. The gentleman informed us that he was selling out, hoping to move to Florida. I purchased one card de visite, as a gift, and got back on the road.

First I want to say that the central area of New York State is incredibly beautiful. We made the decision to take the back roads whenever possible. The rolling hills and farm land and the old homes made traveling a pleasure. On our first full day there we did an early morning tour of Syracuse University. Both my daughter and I were very impressed with the school. By noon we were done and decided to visit Cooperstown and see the Baseball Hall of Fame. My daughter is a HUGE baseball fan and looked on this journey as a pilgrimage. So we cut a deal, I could stop at Antique shops along the way and look without being hurried, and in turn she could go into every baseball shop, wax museum, etc in Cooperstown. We shook hands and hit the road.

We took the Thruway a short distance and then cut to the back roads. It was the most relaxing drive I have ever done. The rolling hills and farmland provided very soothing scenery. Being use to the traffic mayhem of the Washington, DC area, the drive was pure heaven. And as you drove through the rural areas, there would be an Antique Shop at the entrance to the driveway to some one’s farm. If the open flag was out, we stopped. In Mohawk, NY, we stopped at Shedd’s Antiques, Wickerman Hill – Route 28-S. I found a few interesting things there, mostly primitive style, although they had many styles. While speaking with the owner she told us that the area was experiencing a “heat wave” and many people did not have air conditioning, as it was rarely necessary. The temperature had hit 90 (with very little humidity) but was quite comfortable for my daughter and me as the Washington summers high temperatures are accompanied with staggering humidity. But apparently this would affect the number of shops that would be open, since people were reluctant to sit in their hot shops for the occasional tourist. When we hit downtown Cooperstown there was a shop right in front of us. Ron Mitchell Art and Antiques, at 73 Chestnut Street. I found two pairs of 19^th century shutters with all the original hardware still on them. Thank goodness they fit in the rented minivan! Then we were off to see the sites of the Baseball Capital. If you have anyone in your family who is a baseball fan, I highly recommend Cooperstown. The town is so charming and offers something for everyone. Our mission however, was baseball. And we went into every shop, toured the wax museum, and spent hours in the Baseball Hall of Fame (which was open late). I took my daughter's picture next to almost every display. She had tears of joy in her eyes from being surrounded by so much “baseball”.

The next day we were off to Ithaca to tour the school of that name and see downtown Ithaca. The school sits on a hill above the town. It was a very nice little town with restaurants and shops but we did not come across any antique shops that day. In the evening on our way to dinner we discovered a high rise in Downtown Syracuse that had been converted into an Antique Mall and put it on our list for the next day.

Day three we were off to visit Colgate University in Hamilton. Traveling along Route 20 we came across the Cobblestone Store, a multi-dealer Antique Shop at the intersection of Route20 and 46, in Bouckville. It was a lovely old building, built in 1844. Unfortunately, a truck had hit the building the day before and things were a bit chaotic inside. BUT THEY WERE OPEN! I found some interesting things and had a nice talk with the owners. They gave me some information about the Madison-Bouckville Antiques Community functions, which includes a Spring, Summer, and Fall sales. There is a 5 mile antique corridor on Route 20 between these two towns. We also found a shop next to someone’s home were I purchased two great antique quilts. Then on to Colgate, which by far is the most beautiful school I have ever seen. The buildings both old and new are set perfectly into the wooded hilly campus. On the way back to our hotel we stopped at the high rise in downtown Syracuse. The Syracuse Antiques Exchange, at 1629 North Salina Street, had three or four floors of dealers, with everything from primitive to mid-century modern. The owners were very nice people, helpful and informative. I purchase a few things and we were on our way.

I know there were a lot of shops I missed. And I hope to return there if my daughter chooses to go to school in the area. And maybe even if she doesn’t.

Be sure to visit our shop at www.ComfortableStyle.com to see all the wonderful new additions!

Hunting for Antiques in Hunt Country Maryland

Hunting for Antiques in (Soggy) Hunt Country

On Saturday April 2 my partner and I set forth on a quest for fine antiques after a hiatus of nearly a month (due to sickness, personal commitments and lack of local events). The show was the Mid-Atlantic Antiques Market at the Howard County Fairgrounds in West Friendship, Maryland.

We braved a monsoon rain and a few traffic accidents to suburban Baltimore for the show. We had attended this show once before and found it to our liking. The admission fee is $7 per person. The facility is a single fairground building which is all indoors. Once out of the monsoon-like rain we paid our fee and were onto view the treasures. With 100 dealers from Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Florida, New York, Ohio, Massachusetts, Tennessee, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Michigan, Maine, New Jersey, Delaware, Connecticut and South Carolina it is a real treat for the serious collector of antiques. Almost without exception the antiques are quality eighteenth, nineteenth and early twentieth century. The booths, for the most part, are well laid out and displayed as a treat for the eye. The prices, overall seemed somewhere between reasonable and high. Few bargains were to be had. But people were buying – and buying. A few dealers offered a slight discount. But an equal numbers stayed firm on the prices.

A few of our favorites from the show deserve mention below:

Tom and Judith Whitmore Antiques from Frederick, Maryland. They offer “classic American country”. They had a nice offering of yellow-ware, a great collection of ironstone and some lovely mirrors.

Snug Harbor Antiques – Tom Huff and Janette Barto of Cambridge, Maryland specialized in country furniture and accessories. In particular, we were taken with their quilts, baskets, tables and shaker boxes. They were especially helpful when we were considering (and later bought) one of their quilts.

Riverview Antiques of Marietta, Ohio, (e-mail @ riverview antiques.com) offered a nice collections of glass, brass, great paintings, wonderful painted Baltimore style chairs and fancy lusterware.

William and Teresa Kurau who offer historical Staffordshire and collectors items ((www.historicalchina.com) had an incredible collection and selection as always. We have seen their top of the line offering at other shows and are always breathless. From Lampeter, Pennsylvania, their historical China is always worth seeing even if it is not your collecting specialty. A true treat for us in that it is one of ours.

Granthum “1763” specializes in early painted American antiques and folk art plus unique smalls. They hail from Denton, Maryland. They too had a nice selection of painted early furniture.

Charles and Lucille Berge Antiques from South Easton, Massachusetts (email c.berg@comcast.net) specialize in “American antique furniture and furnishings of Colonial and Federal eras”. Of particular interest were their two-tine forks (harder to find), feather-edge plates and a very nice plate rack.

Gardiner’s Antiques (Andy Gardiner) from Johnson, Vermont and Falls Church, Virginia specialize in country furniture and architectural elements. Andy offered some wonderful frames, prints, paintings and nineteenth century mirrors.

Sorisio’s Antiques – Mario and Reggie Sorisio, from Leechburg, Pennsylvania offer American furniture and accessories. Their quilts, chairs and farm table were quite memorable.

A personal favorite is Jeff R. Bridgman American Antiques – or the flag man (www.jeffbridgman.com) We have met Jeff several times at Brimfield. He is out of York, Pennsylvania and specializes in early American flags, painted furniture, folk art and decorative textiles.

The most eye pleasing display belonged to John Melby Antiques from Sunapee, New Hampshire. They specialize in early painted furniture, cabin, garden and leather bound books. The mantle, chests, chairs, and numerous volumes of early books were visually impressive and true finds for the collectors at the show.

Also of interest:

Jas. S. Poles of Frederick, Maryland and Washington, DC (jim120253@aol.com)

Colleen Kinloch Antiques from Laurel, Maryland and Bristol, Maine.

Dogtreasures.com – “the website for dog antiques” from Coatresville, Pennsylvania.

Vintage Rose Antiques from Falling Waters, West Virginia with very nice transfer ware and children’s plates.

In closing for this week’s antiquing adventure, the food at most antique shows – inside or out is usually awful. Well, at this one there was a rare treat. I braved the rain to grab cheeseburgers, French fries, a soda and coffee at the Fairgrounds single open restaurant. It was fast, well prepared, quality food. A nice change of pace for these events and in deserve of recognition as such.

We packed up the SUV and braved the rain home to compare notes on a very successful and pleasant day of antiquing.

Don’t forget to visit www.ComfortableStyle.com for a wonderful selection of antiques, decorative accessories and gifts.

Antiquing in Hancock, Maryland........NOT

This entry is a bit late because, honestly, I have been struggling to find a way to review last week’s destination without being totally insulting. I finally decided that, as always, honesty makes the best policy. So here goes…….

We took off Saturday morning for Hancock, Maryland. Located in western Maryland, it is the northern most large town along the Potomac River and just minutes from the Pennsylvania border. Our destination there was the Hancock Antique Mall, with over 250 dealers. Why?????? you may ask…..Because it was there. We thought the rural location would provide us with lots of country furniture You know, tables and dry sinks, cabinets and benches. So we went.

We arrived in Hancock at lunch time and decided to eat at Weavers Restaurant & Bakery located at 77 West Main Street. It was a very pleasant little restaurant. We both had soup and a sandwich. The sandwiches were very good, due to the excellent bread. The soups were okay. But the best part was the bakery. We left with a dozen peanut butter cookies and four small pumpkin loaves ( loaf shaped cupcake with wonderful icing). They were excellent!!

The Antique Mall is just a few blocks from Main Street, there is a big sign to point the way. The parking lot was pretty full when we pulled up, which was encouraging. The main entry to the mall is lined with old restored stoves from the turn of the century (20^th that is).They are amazing pieces of equipment, some almost works of art. Old pieces of farm equipment, benches, and crates decorated the space. Things were looking good!!! So we went in.

Well my fellow antiquers, I have to tell you (remember honesty is the best policy) that I was probably the oldest thing in that Mall. And unlike the merchandise there, I am well preserved. And to add insult to injury, the prices were way out of line. Stoneware bowls that I sell for $60 to $80 in perfect condition were selling for OVER $100 with chips and cracks. We were patient. We did the entire Mall, all 250 dealers. And I can honestly say that there was NOT ONE THING I was even tempted to buy.

So we headed home. We soothed ourselves with a few peanut butter cookies and decided that we really needed an antique fix. So we stopped at Beaver Creek Antique Market www.beavercreekantiques.com . It is a place we frequent because it is on the way to the house we are restoring in Williamsport, Maryland. And to make it even more inviting, over the few years we have been stopping there the quality of dealers has continued to improve. I found two pieces for my store and my companion found some CDV’s , (carte de visite) which he collects. Next door is Antique Crossroads, www.antiquexroads.com . I found several brooches there last fall (they were the hot fashion item for fall/winter).

And finally we headed home, discussing the best way to be honest with out being sued. In the end I just decided to tell it like it is.

Be sure to visit my store ComfortableStyle.com at www.ComfortableStyle.com for Antiques, decorative accessories and gifts.

Antiquing in Lambertville, New Jersey

This week I take you to New Jersey, the Garden State. Specifically, Lambertville, which is located along the Delaware River and directly across that river from New Hope, Pa. – another village as well know for its artistic community as it is for antiques. Lambertville is situated along the 30-mile Delaware and Raritan Canal Path. It was settled by Emanuel Coryell in 1732. It was a home to the Lenni-Lenape tribes and an area familiar to George Washington during his martial years. The Historical Society is located in the Marshall House at 62 Bridge Street and contains 1834 furnishings, an exhibit on Shad history and quilts. It is open from 1-4 on weekends from April through October. The town is not only famous for its historic homes but also accommodations, restaurants and shops (antique and otherwise), It hosts several festivals throughout the year. These include the Shad Festival in April, an Autumn House Tour, October Antiques Show and a Winter Festival. But what attracted me was that Lambertville is known as the “Antiques Capital of New Jersey”. More information can be found at either www.lambertville.org or www.lambertvillehistoricalsociety.org.

I started my journey at the foot of the Watchung Mountains in suburban New Jersey. I traveled Route 22 West to Route 202 South. From there to Route 29 South. It took me about an hour and is approximately a 90-minute drive from New York City. I felt the stress of suburban life fade away the further I drove from the New York metro area. The older homes and farms and rolling hills greeted me. Unfortunately some of those fields now have crops of mini-mansions sprouting from the soil. I passed by Flemington, home of the fair and many discount outlets. I continued on the Lambertville.

I followed the signs along Route 29 South and saw the wonderful little town hugging the Delaware River. To my right, across the river, was New Hope, PA.– connected to New Jersey by an ancient bridge. Seeing a sign for an antique mall two miles ahead I continued onward planning to start there and then back to town to park and walk for the balance of the day.

The antique mall was on the left side of the road and called the “Golden Nugget Antique Market”. Unfortunately some of the dealers were closed for the day. Others sold vintage and collectable items (magazines, records, juke boxes, memorabilia). Three shops of note in the Market. The House of Orsini run by Fred Orsini had a very nice collection of military history books, toy soldiers, all things military aviation and prints. I purchased a few prints and chatted with him (no web site but can be reached on 609-859-8679). S. J. Myles Corporation had an interesting array of framed prints and does restoration work on prints and paintings (www.antiqueartrestoration.com). And lastly, the Red Door Sport Gallery had a wonderful collection of frame autographs and photos including presidents (even George Washington and Abraham Lincoln), military heroes, film and television celebrities (“Man From Uncle”, “I Love Lucy”) and of course sports luminaries. I chatted with owner Bob Buckley (email reddorsg@aol.com).

From the Golden Nugget I drove two miles back to the town of Lambertville enjoying the architecture, narrow streets and wonderful view. I parked on the street (Quarters only). I walked the length of Union Street and stopped in most of the shops – antiques and otherwise. “The People’s Store” on 28 N. Union Street had three levels of quality antiques. I especially enjoyed the selection of historic Staffordshire, painted nineteenth century chairs, silver, vintage clothing and the paintings. The prices seemed reasonable but no bargains. It is open 7 days a week from 10 A.M. to 6 P.M (609-397-9808).

My next great find was “Antiques on Union”, located at 32 North Union Street, it contains ten dealers. Again, quality antiques including furniture, paintings, silver, porcelain, wonderful inkwells, even antique luggage, at “Formal to Funk” (609-397-3300). I purchased several items and enjoyed talking with one of the associates at the shop.

I stopped by “Meryl and Philip” at 28 North Union Street (609-397-3300). Quality antiques and some collectables. “Yesterday’s Delights” which sells vintage clothing at 28 North Union Street and 63 Bridge Street (215-862-9309). Wonderful clothing including: a mint condition pair of men’s shoes from the first quarter of the 20^th century, women’s overcoats, men’s cuff links and women’s hats and shoes from the first half of the 20^th century. “Kline’s Court Antiques” had a little of everything. Located at 11 Kline’s Court and closed on Tuesday, they had paintings, nineteen century photo albums, picnic baskets and furniture.

My last stop was located on 8 Bridge Street – “G. Evans Ltd. Antiques” (www.gevansltdantiques.com). It had high-end, high-quality nineteen and twentieth century furniture, paintings, print, chandeliers and decorative accessories. I fell in love with a two piece campaign chest set date 1870. Also there were some very nice art deco bronzes.

Unfortunately, I did not have time to eat. A crime! There are sixteen restaurants listed in town. Two looked especially interesting, Andiamo at 13 Kline’s Court (www.andiamonj.com). It boasts a “CIA grad serving Italian, French and American cuisine”. “The Swan” is located at 43 S. Main Street (609-397-3552). Described as a “Historic pub with exceptionally fine light fair”.

There were at least eleven antique stores that I did not have time to visit. I’m hoping to return in the spring with my partner and see it all..

Don’t forget to visit www.ComfortableStyle.com for a wonderful selection of antiques and decorative accessories. We have country, cottage, English and French antiques, and unique gifts for any occasion!

Antiquing in York, Pa. and Along the Way

DESTINATION: York, PA

IN SEARCH OF: Architectural salvage for c.1833 house we are restoring and Antiques.

We set out semi early Saturday morning from suburban Washington, D.C. for York, Pa. It’s a rather stressful drive, having to travel both the D.C. and Baltimore beltways. But once you get onto Interstate 83, and reach the outer parts of Baltimore County, it is really beautiful. Large horse farms and old stone homes are visible from the road this time of year. Once Spring is here they will be hidden again. The traffic thins out the closer we get to Pennsylvania, and after crossing the State line we see a sign for an Antique Mall in Shrewsbury. Of course we have to stop.

Less than one mile off I83, exit 1 The Shrewsbury Antique Center was a real find. The building was a chicken coop in the early 1900’s, now the renovated structure has 40 dealers. They had a very nice selection of antiques, with minimal “collectibles” and one dealer had an impressive collection of mid-century modern (my childhood passed before me). And to make it even better the prices were quite reasonable. They are open every day from 10-5. We purchased a few things, debated whether to visit the other shops in town, but decided to head on to York. Check out the Shrewsbury Antique Center web site: www.shrewsburyantiquecenter.com.

It was a short drive from Shrewsbury to York. If you have never been there, here’s a brief introduction: It was the first capital of the U.S. The Continental Congress met there in 1777 and adopted the Articles of Confederation. The city has 17 historical markers and 35 brass or bronze tablets marking historical events or places. So, LOTS to see and do for the history nuts. If history is not your forte, then you might want to check out: Bob Hoffman Weightlifting Hall of Fame 717-767-6481 (free); Harley-Davidson, Inc, Guided tours through motorcycle assembly plant and the Rodney Gott Antique Motorcycle Museum, 717-848-1177 (free). There is something for everyone!

There are a fair number of restaurants in York. Some are only open during the week and some only for dinner, so you might want to call ahead to check. (Yahoo! Maps can provide a list of restaurants and their location shown on the map of York). We decided to try The Harp and Fiddle an authentic Irish pub. Located at 110 N. George Street, the pub opened in December 2004. The bar was custom built in Ireland, there are booths, window seating and two fireplaces. The food is good and service is friendly. Visit their web site for more information: www.theharpandfiddle.com .

After lunch it was on to the shopping. First stop, Architectural Warehouse, 224 North George Street. Doors, windows, shutters, fireplace mantles, sinks, tubs, hardware, you name it they probably have it. We were looking for rim locks, and found one at a price that made the trip worthwhile. Then on to the antiques. The Antique Center of York, located at 190 Arsenal Road is open every day from 10-5. The mall had mostly vintage and collectible items, not really what we were looking for. We headed out of town on Route 30, but plan to return in early March when York will be host to The Antique Show at York and The York Folk Art and Craft Show. The antique show features 18^th, 19^th and early 20^th Century antiques, art and collectibles. It is at the Memorial Hall West, York Expo Center.
The Folk Art and Craft Show is a juried invitational show with 110 of today’s finest traditional artisans offering American style crafts, folk art and handcrafted furniture. Visit their site at www.goodrichpromotions.com.

From York, we continued on towards Gettysburg (not our destination today, but more on that another time). Traveling on the quaint and historic Route 30, we stopped at Abbott House Antiques in Abbottstown. The shop is located in the beautifully restored John Abbott Tavern. The shop specializes in painted country furniture, accessories for the country home and antique spectacles and other eyewear. We browsed, chatted with one of the owners regarding the shop and the restoration of the structure. Although we did not make any purchases it was a worthwhile stop on our day’s journey. The shop’s web site is hosted through www.newoxfordantiques.com. The name of the shop is Abbott House Antiques.

After a full day of antiquing, nothing hits the spot like authentic bar-b-que. And it just so happened that one of the best in this region was along our route home to suburban Washington, D.C. The name of the roadside restaurant is Chubby’s. We have been there once before and are now among the throngs of the famous and not-so-famous who love the food there. The pulled pork and beef brisket are “to die for”. We enjoyed take-out, but you can dine in too. And the sauce is also available – even in gallon size! Chubby’s is on Route 15 in Emmitsburg, Maryland. The phone is 301-447-3322.

That brings to an end our day’s adventure. We drove. We shopped. We ate. We conquered. Ready for our next adventure. Visit us next week for more. . And be sure to visit my antique shop on line at www.ComfortableStyle.com.

A New Antiquing Blog

Welcome to our Blog. We hope to post once a week on our adventures. We travel the back roads in search of great antiques, attend auctions, shows and the Brimfield, Mass. marathon. And hopefully will make it to the U.K. this year.

So follow along. Visit our blog often. If you love antiques, history, travel and good food, you are sure to find information of interest.

M.C & G.F.