Jewelry Display Boxes

COSHOCTON -- After running an antique business with his wife for more than 50 years, Fred Hosfelt's eyes crossed a plethora of valuables.

Some he pursued to add to his personal collection, and now he wants to share them with the public.

"I enjoy the hunt," he said. "You never know what you're going to find."

The Coshocton hobbyist has been a longtime member of the Masons and Shriners, with several collectibles of his own and interesting finds to show for it. Hosfelt is one of the local residents giving the public a peek at his possessions -- more than 40 of his pieces will be on display for more than two months at the Johnson-Humrickhouse Museum.

Coshocton Collects, a special exhibit spotlighting memorabilia, keepsakes and other prized possessions of numerous Coshocton residents, will be on display from Saturday to Jan. 2 at the museum.

"It's an inaugural bicentennial exhibit; with Coshocton celebrating it's bicentennial in 2011, this is a kickoff," said Patti Malenke, museum director. "We thought it would be fun to highlight our citizens and what their interests and collections are. Many are related directly to Coshocton, like postcards, china that was made here, and some antiques."

Malenke said the second floor Montgomery Gallery will be filled with diverse items from about 20 local collectors.

"We've got a wide variety," she said. "We've got Western paintings, framed pieces of sheet music, shells, matchbooks from Coshocton, advertising art, crocks, old bottles and kaleidoscopes. Some things you might expect, but others are unusual and unique."

Other items lining the shelves and cases include World War I and II equipment and memorabilia, and a host of locally-made products such as Pope-Gosser china, West Lafayette enamelware, American Art Works Coca-Cola trays and piano babies.

"I'm interested in seeing what everyone else collects," Hosfelt said.

His display will include various glassware, plates, commemorative cups and goblets, Masonic jewelry, badges, pins, necklaces cuff links and much more.

"It's all old, some it dating to the 1800s," he said. "I found most of these while traveling the eastern U.S., and some are mine that I've gotten as a Shriner."

This particular project is no small undertaking with the vast amount of pieces, but it's a rewarding one.

"We've had boxes all over the floor, but I'm excited it's coming forth and to see it happen," Malenke said. "After our young adult group, Generation XY, met the other night, they hauled up 16 cases and all the boxes. It's great to see we have the help of volunteers and young adults. When you curate an exhibit like this that's undirected, you have no idea what you're going to get. It's fun, interesting and gratifying to see the colorful pieces. I like that so many pieces have a Coshocton connection."

A special reception to introduce the exhibit will be open to the public on Oct. 22. Organizers and participants are eagerly awaiting the opening and the exhibit itself to give their neighbors a chance to enter their world, and to get a feel for what their neighbors enjoy.

"When you promote the local people of the county, you promote the welfare of the county as a whole," Malenke said. "We're showing each other that we're interesting people in the process of learning; we're engaged in the world and learning more. It makes us feel good about ourselves."

"I think a lot of people will see things they've never seen before, such as the Coke trays and other things people may not realize were made here," Hosfelt added. "It will be a worthwhile experience."

hrichards@nncogannett.com; (740) 450-6772

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