Antiques often seem to find their owners. Jane Foster, a shopper in Grand Junction, Colorado, was walking down the street when she saw her mother’s wedding picture in an antique shop window. It was a shock since the wedding had been in Arizona in 1948. After the wedding, the dress had been boxed. It was eventually placed, along with other belongings, in a storage locker until her father died. But 12 years ago, the contents of the locker was auctioned off. Later the family searched but couldn’t find any of the items. Foster’s mother had since died. When Foster ran into the store and asked to see the picture, the owner told her he not only had the picture, but also the wedding dress. It was still wrapped in the original box, along with a newspaper dated June 22, 1948, two days after the wedding. Foster asked the price of the dress. The shop owner said there was no price. “It’s made its way back to you. It’s home.” Foster agrees. “This is a message to us that she is still thinking about us,” she said, “and watching over us.” (Based on information from KKCO news in Colorado.)
[s]What a lovely, heartwarming story! And so nice of the shop owner to merely “return” the dress. Restores one’s faith! Some years ago I found a lamp I loved at a yard sale in Staten Island. At the time I wanted everything to match, so I always wished there was a second lamp for the other end table. Many years later I was walking in New Hope, Pennsylvania with a friend of mine. We stopped to look in the window of an antique shop and I couldn’t believe my eyes… There was the exact same lamp as mine! The store owner said he had found it at a recent estate sale and had JUST put it out! I still have both lamps!
Having been a Dealer / Collector for many years, I always love to hear these wonderful stories and have heard so many over the years. Each one is just a breath of fresh air and reminds me every time that we still have humanity & compassion for people. So very happy for the lady to get her Mothers wedding dress back! What a wonderful story to tell her kids & grandkids some day!
This story gave me chills…….as a dealer in antiques and collectibles, I have always felt I’m helping to keep our past alive. Sometimes when we find items that are obviously of a personal nature, I hope they find their way ‘home’ again, and do what I can to help that happen. And kudos to that dealer in Grand Junction for telling her ‘no charge’!
This would totally blow my mind. However, I do believe in miracles. This was a gift back to the family. I hope it keeps being passed on with it history and new story.
Thank you for the lovely story. What a kind store owner also!