A Unique Setting in Rural Virginia Offers up Fine Antiques and Art to Those Who Happen Upon this Historical Landmark



May 9, 2005 -- Now a part of Virginia's historical landmarks, the Mustoe house cabin was originally built in 1780 by Sergeant Anthony Mustoe. Anthony Mustoe served in the Revolutionary War and in the early 1800's served as Bath County Virginia's sheriff. The log cabin remained in the Mustoe family for generations until it was sold in the early 1940's.

In 1998, anesthesiologist Wayne Alexander happened upon the then for sale log structure. "It sparked my imagination and interest and I thought it made a perfect setting for a unique antique store", says Wayne. A long time collector of fine antiques and art, Wayne began to envision building an exclusive antique store set in the beautiful mountain community of Hot Springs where he planned to spend his retirement. Wayne was successful in first having the cabin registered as a historical landmark and then he began to turn the historic structure into an emporium filled with a large array of English, Continental, architectural and garden antiques. However, the story just begins there. The house offered the starting point the owner and his wife Kay needed but it soon became apparent the space was not large enough to hold all the pieces the two were acquiring for the store .

The next phase came by building a spacious L-shaped barn adjacent to the Mustoe cabin in which the larger antiques and architectural items could be housed. "The barn proved a natural addition to the cabin's rustic charm and gives us the space we needed to offer more items along with an expansive selection of accessories that help accentuate the distinctive style of our store," says Wayne.

To complete the vision Wayne added a third building to connect the Mustoe cabin to the barn which would house more antiques, some reproduction furniture and an eclectic art gallery filled with a variety of work from regional and international artists.

In order to enhance the already pristine atmosphere of this shop set in the mountains of rural Virginia, Wayne designed an English inspired courtyard and garden filled with annuals and perennials as well as a variety of fresh herbs. The garden meanders with brick walkways strewn throughout and truly mimics the century old English gardens Wayne and his wife have visited and long admired. "Many of the people who pass by turn around just to come and admire the magnificent gardens," says Allyson Stevenson, store manager and Wayne's daughter. While admiring the many blooms and foliage in the garden, you also will see many of the store 's garden and architectural antiques placed throughout. "It is a wonderful way for us to display the store 's statuary and garden pieces that we have for sale", says Allyson. "The lush atmosphere of the garden is a perfect backdrop for these pieces."

As if the architecture and history of the Mustoe House Antiques alone isn't enough to admire, the myriad of items inside often awes visitors. "People are usually very surprised to find such a high-end variety of antiques in the middle of the Virginia countryside," says Allyson. "My Dad has a real eye for finding unique and unusual items you won't see just anywhere." The store offers such treasures as an old cupboard (circa 1780) which once belonged to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and was purchased in 1994 from the Longfellow estate in Maine. A huge selection of authentic majolica abounds at the store and includes a set of Minton oyster plates (circa 1874) which were given to Fred Astair by Cole Porter in 1940 and were purchased by The Mustoe House at Sotheby's auction in June of 1999.

"My father loves Old Sheffield plate silver and I believe we have one of the most impressive collections you'll find," says Allyson. All of the store s wares are hand selected by Wayne and his wife who travel throughout Europe twice a year to replenish the store 's inventory. The owners recently returned from a buying trip with several new treasures including an original framed Ohio land deed dated 1822 and signed by James Monroe as President of the Untied States. Also in tow was an original framed picture of the Battle of Waterloo commissioned in London in 1819, just four years after the famous battle was fought between napoleon's France and England. "We hope we will continue to find such fascinating pieces and keep this place a destination stop for those looking for hard to find one of a kind pieces," says Allyson. "People who shop with us always seem to be amazed at what we offer. They continue to return to our little gem in the Virginia foothills to see what new have in store."





A Unique Setting in Rural Virginia Offers up Fine Antiques and Art to Those Who Happen Upon this Historical Landmark