By Sierra Klein

  

What started out as a hobby for Carolyn Reddish, has bloomed into a business that has lasted 39 years. Reddish Barn Antiques is located right next to Carolyn's home in Holdrege at 505 Broadway St. It is a mixture of antiques and collectables along with Fuller Brush cleaning products.

Carolyn started collecting antiques has a hobby when she heard about a class that was going to start up, taught by Hazel Loar. Hazel, owner of Loar's Antiques, was going to offer a six night class for others to learn the tricks and trades of the antique business. Carolyn attended and the next year when Hazel offered the class again, she joined that too. Thanks to these classes, Carolyn fell in love with "all the old things," she said.

Owning an antique shop has been a trial and error learning curve for Carolyn and after 39 years, she is still amazed at what some of her customers stop by her shop to find! "They come from far and near from Canada to Israel," she said. "They usually have a special type of item they are looking for and then some just like to browse." There is never a normal day for customer flow she said. Some days she will have several in a row and other days none at all.

The skills Carolyn uses to run her shop come natural, "being polite, friendly and welcoming," she said. "Meeting the people, visiting, hearing their stories, where they are from and what the collect," she said makes for a never dull moment at the Reddish Barn.

People from all over the state knock on her door asking to see her diverse collection. Although her hours are unconventional for shoppers, "If I'm home I'm open," said Reddish. "I encourage people to call first to see if I'm home," Carolyn is always excited to show off her collection.

The antique store carries a great variety of objects: glassware, jewelry, figurines, dishes, board games, toys, pictures, pots, salt and pepper shakers and a variety of other odds and ends. "We pretty much have everything," Reddish said. "We got anything we saw that we liked and could afford to buy."

With Christmas around the corner, make a point to stop into Reddish Barn Antiques. You may find the perfect gift for someone special, or maybe even something for yourself!

  

You can contact Carolyn Reddish here: Phone: (308) 995-5184, 505 Broadway St., Holdrege, NE