Question? I have a glass candy dish. On the bottom of it reads, "Henry's" "The Store Ahead" Dry Goods, Millinery, Cloaks, Furs, Marietta, Ohio. I have lived in Marietta for 75 years but don't remember a store named "Henry's." Can you tell me where it was in Marietta and when? - M.O., Marietta.
Answer: When our family first moved to Marietta in 1959, there was a store on Greene Street where Murphys Supper Club once stood called "Henry's." My older brother worked there a short time, But in your e-mail you stated that the candy dish reads, "Dry Goods." This advertising slogan would have been used more in the late 1800s identifying it more as a general store selling dry goods and other items. Another guess in answering your question, in 1853, Henry Wendelken brought his family to America from Hanover, Germany, and opened a dry goods store called Henry's on Front Street in Marietta, across from the post office. Henry operated the store from 1855 up until 1870, then his kids and other relatives ran the store called "Wendelken's," up until it closed in 2001. If anyone out there remembers another store called "Henry's" in Marietta, write me in care of The Marietta Times.
Q.: I'm emailing a photo of a print that's been in a frame as long as my grandmother can remember since the early 1900s. Can you tell me anything about it and its value? It's marked Tyrone Chemical Company Lithograph. - C. Marietta.
A.: In the late 1800s, Dr. James Wilson, a prominent Tyrone, Pa., physician, developed a formula for white cloverine salve. In 1895, his son began manufacturing the salve, but having limited funds to market the salve on a large scale, he placed ads in comic books and other magazines for agents to sell the salve. Agents would receive 12 boxes of salve with 12 pictures. The agent would sell the salve for 25 cents to the customer, who would receive a 9 by 11 four color picture such as your grandmother did with her purchase. Marketing of these prints stopped around the late 1960s, early '70s, due to prohibitive costs. The company went out of business in 1985. Your print is what was called "Village Church." One hundred seventy-four different prints are known to exist today and are valued at $20 to $25 each to a collector.
Q.: I have a 1976 Playboy hardback magazine. It's in great shape. Can you tell me what it's worth? - S.T., Marietta.
A.: They were several different printings of the 1976 hardback and they differ in value. I would need a copy of the front cover to tell you what it's worth. The most valuable Playboy Hugh Hefner published is the first edition of Playboy 1953 which was undated. It featured Marilyn Monroe, and is the most sought after edition worth $1,100 up to $6,300, depending on condition.
Larry Koon is author of several price guide books on antiques and collectibles. His column appears every Monday on Life. Send letters to Treasure in the Attic, c/o The Marietta Times, 700 Channel Lane, Marietta 45750; or e-mail him at koonantiques@yahoo.com. When writing, send a complete description of the item, along with size, color, any markings on the item along with condition the item is in, and how the item was obtained. If possible, send a photograph. Letters will be answered through this column.
