January 2010 High Cotton Antiques

The Merry Weather Garden Club held its first meeting of 2010 on January 21st at High Cotton Antique Mall in Woodbury.  Hosting the meeting were Babs Gordon, Linda Wilburn, and Sally Infinger.
   The new mall is operated by four owners Sally Infinger,  Cathy Crouch-Oliver, Lane Farmer, and Alan Brown.  Sally, nicknamed the “basket lady” moved here in July and is the Woodbury Methodist minister’s wife.  Her basket shop in the mall displays her woven creations.  She began weaving baskets in 1986 and held basket parties which were much like Tupperware parties but three hours later the guests each had created a basket.
   Infinger gave a history of the building now holding the antiques.  Built as the showroom for a car dealership in the early 1900s, the building is best remembered by people in Woodbury as being owned by Mr. Fred Durand.  Walker Chandler bought the building and remodeled it last year and the mall opened in October.  The four proprietors thought the location ideal as it sits along the busy thoroughfare of Woodbury and has constant traffic.
   Most of the vendors at High Cotton are in the antique or furniture business and drop in weekly to “tweak,” rearrange, add or subtract items. Vendors booths along the walls are 10 by 12 feet and interior display spaces are 8 by 10 feet. Currently thirty two vendors have their wares for sale.  There is room for forty six.  The mall is open seven days a week from 10-6 and 1-5 on Sundays.
    Infinger pointed out that it is not a flea market and garden club members thoroughly enjoyed the shopping experience as the pieces are a history lesson or walk down memory lane or reveal clever talents of the artist.  The mall displays everything from tools, quilts, china and glassware, old farming tools, and furniture to unique clothing.
  The mall owners provided the club members delicious refreshments as well as sending the members home with a potted herb. During the business meeting led by Linda Wilburn dues were paid and the club meeting year was planned with members choosing months to host or provide the programs. Members will be attending the Southeastern Flower Show at the Cobb Galleria the first week in February.