Wayne County Treasures: Antiquing in Cambridge City and Architecture in Centerville

I recently spent a day in Wayne County discovering what attractions the area has to offer. This is the first post in a four-post series about my trip.

On my whirlwind tour of Wayne County, the area surprised me with its richness of attractions and welcoming atmosphere. Locals recommend a three-day trip to fully explore all of Wayne County, and I agree.

My tour began in Cambridge City on the west side of the county. The heart of antique alley, this quaint downtown area is filled with antique shops that will delight any collector. You could spend hours searching through National Road Antique Mall, Hole in the Wall Antiques or Vinton House Antiques for that perfect treasure.

I recommend stopping at Pour House Antiques and Sweets for a piece of homemade fudge – it’s made from a very old family recipe. Don’t miss the beauty of the original log cabin building holding The Log House Antiques. The nostalgic scent of wood greeted me as I meandered through it admiring both the structure and the wares. These shops and more are all within a few blocks of each other and several also offer locally-made artisan products for sale.

I followed the National Road (U.S. Route 40) into Centerville, allured by the scenery the entire way. Centerville just about charmed my socks off with its fascinating brick archways connecting 1830s row houses. More antique shops can be found here, along with a farmers market that sells both fresh foods and decor.

Just outside of Centerville I found Shafer Stoneware, where Scott Shafer has been turning clay into exquisite dishes for more than 30 years. With a friendly smile he showed me his kilns and explained the process of firing them with salt, baking soda and wood ash to create various colors and designs. Not only is his work beautiful, but it’s also affordable! At $20 for a vase and $16 for a mug, you probably won’t find a better deal on handmade pottery.

Right off I-70, Warm Glow Candle Outlet puts Centerville on the map. This local company makes about 5,000 candles daily – all by hand! The outlet store is a sight to behold with 11,000 square feet of candles, home decor, kitchenware and delicious foods. I was overwhelmed by the selection of candle scents they offered, including caramel corn, blueberry cobbler, Santa’s cider, morning latte and orange cranberry. They were even featuring Bella, Edward and Jacob-scented candles in recogntion of the new Twilight movie release! Every month two featured scents are 25% off and the selection of candles and decor changes frequently.