Antique shop under new ownership
MONSON — A former antique shop in Monson is coming back to life.
Longtime collectors and authors Sean and Johanna S. Billings have purchased the building and contents of the former Moosehead Trail Antiques on Tenney Hill Road, with an eye toward reopening as The Lily Cat: Northwoods Antiques and Buttons. The name was chosen to honor their sassy but lovable tuxedo cat.
An official store opening date has not yet been set. The building contains a huge inventory from before the shop closed in 2017, and it fills the first and second floors as well as the basement. The couple plans to spend the winter making room for fresh merchandise by going through and selling off many of the bigger items. Items for sale will be posted on the store’s Facebook page. Potential buyers can also call 207.248.2660 or email lilycatantiques@gmail.com to make an appointment after Jan. 1.
LILY CAT ANTIQUES — Sean and Johanna S. Billings have purchased the former Moosehead Trail Antiques on Tenney Hill Road with an eye toward reopening as The Lily Cat: Northwoods Antiques and Buttons.
The Billings began collecting in their youth, Sean with beer cans and Johanna with superballs. The collecting passion continued into their adult life with items as diverse as electrical insulators, Victorian art glass, miniatures and postcards. Johanna also collects buttons and currently has more than 250,000 in stock, and these will be added to the Lily Cat inventory. The store will continue to offer the kinds of items Moosehead Trail sold, such as oil cans, electrical insulators, tools and books, but will expand to include other collecting categories. The store will also offer a variety of $1 items.
The couple co-authored two books on Victorian art glass, “Collectible Glass Rose Bowls,” published by Antique Trader Books in 1999, and “Peachblow Glass,” published by Krause in 2001. They have also authored a number of books on local history. The most recent one, “Petit Manan Land Company Near Bar Harbor, Maine: The Making of a National Wildlife Refuge,” was released March 30 by Fonthill Media.
MERCHANDISE — Lily Cat Antiques will have inventory from the former Moosehead Trail Antiques as well as other items that are now available on the store Facebook page.
Both Sean and Johanna have written numerous articles on antiques and collectibles for publications such as “AntiqueWeek” and “Antique Trader,” among others. In the 1990s, they launched the Rose Bowl Collectors club to connect with others studying and collecting the shape in art glass. The couple served as vetters for the former Atlantique City antique show, where they were tasked with spotting reproductions masquerading as antiques and having them removed from the show floor. Johanna also served as a price guide advisor for Warman’s and Antique Trader for several years.
They began selling online in the 1990s and plan to continue selling at their booth at 1A Relics in Ellsworth.
The couple lives in Greenville with Lily and three other cats, Macy, Pasheva and the Little Guy.
NAMESAKE — The Lily Cat Antiques namesake, a sassy but lovable tuxedo cat.