Parker’s Antiques and Architectural Details at 9 Eagle St. in North Adams is a treasure-house of furniture and decor.
A quick glance reveals a green velvet c. 1830s American Second Empire sofa and matching armchair, whose armrests culminate in splendid lions’ heads and whose feet are suitably fierce claws.
Another sofa combines restrained Victorian carving with serpentine Empire curves. A spool bed is propped against a wall. A deco kitchen table from the 1920s has a windmill scene in black on its white enamel top and six matching chairs.
And then there are the architectural details which set this shop apart. Three faux marble slate mantels were salvaged from a New Jersey mansion that burned; a massive oak mantel with columns was once in a Williams College building, now demolished. Toward the rear of the shop, porch columns are propped against the wall, and display cases contain dozens of ornate vintage doorknobs.
“I started doing architectural salvage to help people restore and renovate old houses in North Adams,†said owner Chris Parker.
Parker and his wife, who is originally from Pittsfield, live in a Victorian house on Cady Hill which they have been enthusiastically restoring.
“I had three to three-and-a-half years’ worth of architectural salvage in my carriage barn, and I couldn’t find my car anymore,†quipped Parker.
He cheerfully calls his hunting and gathering “scavenging,†and said, “I know a lot of contractors who let me know when they’re going to be demolishing a house.â€
“I try to get the owners’ permission to salvage doors, windows, glass, columns, spindles, and so forth. Wrecking crews don’t mind, because they’ll have less to haul away.â€
Parker also frequents tag sales and auctions to find, for example, light fixtures that can be repaired or serve for parts.
He often works with finish carpenter Tom Warren, for example building a desk for a doctor’s office in Pittsfield from three old doors, a custom cabinet from old wood for a Williamstown customer, and a banister for a house on Holbrook Street in North Adams.
“It’s nice to basically recycle,†he said.
Parker’s business has expanded its reach because, he said, an increasingly vibrant North Adams downtown draws people who come home to visit for the holidays. One such customer is buying an art deco bathtub and having it shipped to Buffalo, N.Y.
Parker’s shop has been open nine weeks, but he has a long resume of salvaging and renovating. Before moving to Berkshire County four years ago, he was part of a neighborhood revitalization effort in Grand Rapids, Mich., where he bought — for $38,000 — and restored an asymmetrical Queen Anne house
In that resurgent Cherry Hill neighborhood, he recalled, “We all helped each other.â€
“We created and restored the neighborhood, which was then designated a historic district,†said Parker.
He had earlier started restoring an apartment he rented in a massive Victorian house in Michigan.
And he carries over his cooperative spirit in his shop.
“I sell salvage basically for what I have in it, time and money,†he said. “If I get a good deal on something, I’ll pass it on.â€
And he will give advice, as well as sell items needed for, restorations.
Parker’s upbringing took him to North America, the Caribbean and Europe. Born in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, Parker moved with his family to Port of Spain, Trinidad, then to Oslo, Norway as his father worked for General Telephone, now GTE. Parker’s previous salvaging also included marine salvage in the U.S. Virgin Islands, as part of the contract clean-up after Hurricane Marilyn.
While the shop has a massive mahogany Empire sideboard, on the grand scale, it also has a 1962 Barbie and Ken and a pre-World War II handcarved German toy village. Salvaged items include a mop sink from the old Newberry’s and ice cream stools from the former Rice’s drug store on the corner of Eagle and Main streets, and old school desks.
His current favorite architectural find is, he said, a set of doors rescued from a Bracewell Avenue demolition, doors with carved moldings, beveled glass and ruby glass panels.
About one-third of his items are on consignment, he said. He will also be on the lookout for specific items on customers’ wish lists.
Parker’s Antiques is open Thursday through Monday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; telephone 663-5444, website www.parkersantiques.com.
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Berkshire County Homes Celebrating Holiday Cheer
By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
There's holiday cheer throughout the Berkshires this winter.
Many homeowners are showing their holiday spirit by decorating their houses. We asked for submissions so those in the community can check out these fanciful lights and decor when they're out.
We asked the homeowners questions on their decorations and why they like to light up their houses.
In Great Barrington, Matt Pevzner has decorated his house with many lights and even has a Facebook page dedicated to making sure others can see the holiday joy.
Located at 93 Brush Hill Road, there's more than 61,000 lights strewn across the yard decorating trees and reindeer and even a polar bear.
The Pevzner family started decorating in September by testing their hundreds of boxes of lights. He builds all of his own decorations like the star 10-foot star that shines done from 80-feet up, 10 10-foot trees, nine 5-foot trees, and even the sleigh, and more that he also uses a lift to make sure are perfect each year.
"I always decorated but I went big during COVID. I felt that people needed something positive and to bring joy and happiness to everyone," he wrote. "I strive to bring as much joy and happiness as I can during the holidays. I love it when I get a message about how much people enjoy it. I've received cards thanking me how much they enjoyed it and made them smile. That means a lot."
Pevzner starts thinking about next year's display immediately after they take it down after New Year's. He gets his ideas by asking on his Facebook page for people's favorite decorations. The Pevzner family encourages you to take a drive and see their decorations, which are lighted every night from 5 to 10.
In North Adams, the Wilson family decorates their house with fun inflatables and even a big Santa waving to those who pass by.
The Wilsons start decorating before Thanksgiving and started decorating once their daughter was born and have grown their decorations each year as she has grown. They love to decorate as they used to drive around to look at decorations when they were younger and hope to spread the same joy.
"I have always loved driving around looking at Christmas lights and decorations. It's incredible what people can achieve these days with their displays," they wrote.
The Wilsons' invite you to come and look at their display at 432 Church St. that's lit from 4:30 to 10:30 every night, though if it's really windy, the inflatables might not be up as the weather will be too harsh.
In Pittsfield, Travis and Shannon Dozier decorated their house for the first time this Christmas as they recently purchased their home on Faucett Lane. The two started decorating in November, and hope to bring joy to the community.
"If we put a smile on one child's face driving by, then our mission was accomplished," they said.
Many homeowners are showing their holiday spirit by decorating their houses. We asked for submissions so those in the community can check out these fanciful lights and decor when they're out.
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