Columbus Architectural Salvage-Long time coming!

We have all been been scrolling Facebook, only to find ads based on our interests that we pursue outside of Facebook. I watch a lot of home improvement, renovation, salvage, historical architectural preservation type shows, and so in early 2020, when FB suggested an account for me to follow, I was overjoyed and made plans to go as soon as I got time. We all know how that went.

Things have changed since then, but I still had a lot going on in different ways, and so my trip was put on the back burner. Sure I have been to Columbus a gazillion times in the last couple years, but I am a firm believer of everything in it’s own time, and some things deserve a special, carved out time slot at that. Many things keep rapidly, positively changing in my life, and I felt it was the perfect time to finally go. I asked Bill a couple weeks ago if he would like to go with me, and he happily said he would like to make a day of it with me.

Finally, I made it to Columbus Architectural Salvage!

Ooooooh people! I walked in the door and I had to open all the drawers on a huge old card catalog that held bits and bobbles…well, more like antique cabinet hardware, house numbers and letters, chandelier crystals and much more. Holy wow. And all the doorknobs…swOOOooon!!! Holy moly. I was in awe, in love, and in a happy place! I tend to take a Frank the Tank mentality, what it if is something I have never seen before?? I hadn’t even made it past the smalls y’all, Bill had to come back and retrieve me as I was chattering about, making myself a nuisance for other customers that wanted to also look in the drawers, although I think my enthusiasm was contagious and joyful and this prompted their desire to look too.

Bill and I saw so many things that we oohed and ahhed over. I was seriously like a kid in a candy store, so much wonder and awe, perhaps the feeling was more like being in a magical kingdom? I touched a lot of things…A LOT. I felt the history, the stories untold. I felt nostalgia with my own experiences, in my own places and time. It was in this wonderful place, that my thought about these things materialized fully.

If we do not love and preserve the things that bring us these moments of nostalgia, will we remember to feel, to recall, to relive and appreciate or show gratitude for the times in our lives?

-E.Robinson

I think not, I think it will be wiped from our minds and our memories, and from our history. So I gripped this place a little tighter in my heart.

As I was meandering about, not hearing or seeing others around me, in my own world, a man approached us. This man was either the owner or an esteemed employee, he stopped and asked us if it was our first time there. I said yes, was it obvious? I acknowledged that I didn’t know how to feel, I was so positively overwhelmed. He said, like you may faint? I smiled, and said you know, clearly. He told us to enjoy, I declared we would be back, first time, definitely not the last time. I made a mental list of what I am going back for, I checked the prices of a few things I would dream about, and I left with the biggest smile on my face and amazing joy in my heart!

I was floating on a cloud all the way up 71 to our lunch destination. I could not stop smiling or remembering the feeling of the woods, metals and marble under my fingertips. The positivity of being around amazing old things filled my heart to an overflow, an overwhelming overflow! Bill kept telling me how happy he was to see me so giddy and happy, I was happy to see him delighted and filled with joy too!

I love that we share a love of history, architecture, and overall cool old things. Bill has his eye on a few things, none of which surprise me. We are both convinced he was a military man in a past life, and the things he is drawn to, support this thought. I tend to be drawn to expensive things, but I think it is more so the quality and value of an item. I keep telling Bill I saw the quality in him long ago, he sees it now too. I love that!

This brings me to my question today. What old things from your life, bring you nostalgia? What old things from your life bring back memories of your youth? What old things do you feel drawn to or compelled to touch? Maybe that was three questions, but please drop me a line, I absolutely would love to know! If you would enjoy a trip to find a treasure, or a step in to history, head to Columbus Architectural Salvage, you will be amazed at what all comes back to your mind!