Wiggy’s Trading Post: Where nostalgia runs deep and strong

OWNERS — Diane and Austin Kinney stand in one of the showrooms at Wiggy’s Trading Post on Bangor Street, adjacent to Union Square intersection.
Trash and Treasure Sale this weekend at Houlton Rollerama — 16 vendors
By Gloria Austin
Staff Writer
    On January 1, Wiggy’s Trading Post came under new management, as Austin and Diane Kinney took over the business from Steve Wiggin.
    Wiggy’s Trading Post sits at a corner of Union Square intersection and has been there for nearly seven years.
    Wiggy’s Trading Post is a conglomeration of items ranging from furniture to artwork, jewelry to coins, along with a host of bits and pieces invoking a sense of childhood to a more deep-rooted nostalgic recollection.
    On a table adjacent to the counter, Austin points to the items and says, “This is me. Primitive.” He turns to the shelf behind him and says, “That is Diane. Pottery.”
    Wiggy’s has a wide array of interesting facets of historical pieces, filling multiple rooms within the building.
    “It is very diversified,” said Austin. “We have everything from DVDs to fine antiques. Everyone has their own interest.”
    One of the bigger sellers in the store is jewelry.
    “It’s a big hit,” Austin said. “We do a lot with coins, too,” added Diane.
    The one thing that is constant is that items are added daily.
    “We do like to buy and sell,” said Diane. “We are always looking for vintage or estate jewelry or gold and silver coins and currency. We have several big dealers looking specifically for ephemera.”
    Ephemera is the study of paper such as old letter heads to brochures or newspapers.
GEMS — Throughout Wiggy’s Trading Post are an array of antique gems awaiting view.
    “People collect it or glean history from it,” said Austin. “It’s a special interest.”
    Also on their shelves are hard-covered books.
    “Books are big for us,” said Diane, despite the electronic readers. “You aren’t going to get that bindery to put on an oak barrister. People aren’t necessarily buying them to read. It’s more for decoration.”
    The Kinneys did sell a Bible worth $3,400 to a linguist department at a university, which was an 18th century piece.
    When glancing around the store, its obvious items are modestly priced and affordable.
    “We use the computer as a reference,” said Austin.
    Though it hurts to have to tell someone what special item they sat on for 20 years, isn’t really the value they have in mind. Although it is always hard, a fair appraisal will be given.
    This Saturday and Sunday, Wiggy’s Trading Post is sponsoring a Trash and Treasure Sale at Houlton Rollerama on North Road.
    “We have 16 confirmed vendors,” said Austin. “We have jewelry makers, an Avon distributor, others who are spring cleaning and the core of the Southern Aroostook Antique Dealers, which are vendors here at the shop. We will have plenty of antiques and collectibles.”
    The Trash and Treasure Sale will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.
    The couple moved back to their hometown in 2000 and haven’t regretted their decision.
    “We are happy to be here,” said Austin. “We remember the days before the strip malls when downtown was a hustle and bustle place. Every time we’d come home on vacation, we’d see one more empty spot. Now, through the growth of a creative economy, spots are being filled in the downtown.”
    Kinney is referring to Antique Emporium, Re-Imagined and the more recently opened Backdoor Antiques.
    “Our thoughts were about downtown,” said Austin, “making it interesting and a destination.”
    When Loring Air Force Base was open, the Kinneys saw a boom in the antique industry in northern Maine.
    “When Loring closed, a lot of money left,” explained Austin. “Things were quite quiet. But, since we’ve been back and done this consistently, we’ve been able to create a network with the other dealers. We make phone calls on a daily basis. If we don’t have it, we can usually find it.”
    Diane added, “It should never be a competition [between dealers]; we want Houlton to be a day spot, a destination.”
    “We are fortunate we have East Grand, Drews and Nickerson lakes,” said Austin. “People from away come here for the summer. The first rainy day this is the first spot they hit, believe it or not. And, it also happens in the fall, except it’s all men.”
    “They spend more than the women do,” Diane laughed. “It’s amazing.”
    Between summer residents to fall hunters, Wiggy’s Trading Post also gets Canadian traffic, along with those who come through on a monthly basis to their regulars who just drop in.
    “We’ve created a mecca for conversationalists,” smiled Diane.
    Even though the traffic flow varies daily, Austin estimated on the “low end” that about 150 come through their doors in a week.
    “That’s through the winter,” said Diane. “In the summer, we can’t keep up,” Austin added.
    Wiggy’s Trading Post consists of merchandise from 11 local vendors, with five new ones added by the new owners. The Kinneys have also made aesthetic changes, as well as added more diversity to their inventory.
FINE PIECES — Wiggy’s Trading Post carries fine china to jewelry and artwork.
    “Our vendors all have experience, as yard sale pickers to e-Bay sellers,” said Austin.
    Wiggy’s Trading Post is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to whenever. They are only closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
    “People come from out of town and if we aren’t open every single day, we miss them,” Diane explained.
    The Kinneys have been in this line of work for 15 years and had a store on Main Street in Houlton, which is now Visions and before they purchased Wiggy’s, they were a vendor.
    “We look to buy,” said Austin. “So, if you are thinking about selling or facing the task of cleaning out a relative’s house, resist your first urge. Don’t call for a dumpster.”
    Wiggy’s Trading Post can be reached by calling 532-2189 or visit their Facebook page.
    “I had an aunt and nothing in her house was store bought,” recalled Austin. “She was an antiquer. It was neat to go to her house. There would be things to look at, hold and feel.”
    When the couple lived in southern Maine, their “date night” consisted of visiting a flea market each Thursday.
    “We got it in our blood,” said Diane.