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Calamity Jane’s Brings Nature HomeStore Sells Collection of Native American ItemsBy DAVID FOREMANThe Winchester StarMac and Sue Wilbur’s lives have become a calamity.Calamity Jane’s that is.The couple own and operate Calamity Jane’s Trading Post Nature Emporium located in a 180-year-old building at 706 S. Cameron St. in Winchester.The property is guarded by Chief Wooden-head Runamuck, who sets the tone and feel for the store.The Chief is an eight-foot tall hand-carved cigar store Indian who meets and greets all who enter the store.Calamity Jane’s grand opening starts today and runs through the weekend.The Wilburs operated Calamity Jane’s 15 years at Valley Mall in Hagerstown, but purchased a building in Winchester early this year.“We wanted our own spot and we live in Winchester, so this was an ideal situation,” Sue Wilbur says.The store sells a little bit of everything in its themed rooms.From Native American Dream Catchers to Spirit Masks, old west signs and posters, nautical theme works, nature items, more than 150 Afghans, one-of-a-kind furniture, and hand carved jewelry from mammoth tusks, there is a something for everyone at the store.Just ask Mac to show you around.His eyes flicker with excitement as he leads his quarry through the renovated house to the different rooms, the hallways and staircases lined with items.“It’s a bit eclectic, but it is fun,” Mac says with a grin.And to think it all started with a country and Victorian themed store.“We didn’t introduce the Native American works until five years ago,” Mac Wilbur says. “When we started, people didn’t know what a dream catcher or a mandella was. The weeks before Christmas we really got hit with people and we didn’t expect it.”After that experience, the Wilburs make an 11-state trip in February and March to Native American reservations to purchase firsthand the items they sell in the store.Mac says the legend behind the dream catchers is that Native Americans believe theSee Calamity Jane’s Page C2Star Photo by Ginger PerryMac and Sue WHbur stand with Chief Woodenhead Runamuck in front of their new store Calamity Jane’s at 706 S. Cameron St. The Wilburs sell everything from Native American jewelry to more than 150 styles of Afghans.
Newspaper Details
Winchester Star
Winchester, Virginia, US
Thu, Jul 10, 1997
Page 25
Full Page
Clipped by
Mark K.
NA, 09 Oct 2020
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