Many adventures can be had along the antiquing trail

Recently I decided to stop in and see Jimmy Rosen at the Old Sled Works Antique & Craft Mall in Duncannon, Pa. Jimmy has done a great job of thinking of different ways to attract new visitors to his mall. He has a sled museum and a vintage arcade where you can really play many of the games. The last time I was there I got hooked on his skee-ball machines. I thought perhaps I would drop in and get in a few games of skee-ball before heading into Allentown.

But, there was a surprise waiting for me at the Old Sled Works. A huge 110-foot-tall fire watching tower was in the parking lot. It turned out it had just opened to the public the weekend before my arrival.

Jimmy had saved the Dauphin Water Gap Tower from demolition and had it moved to his mall site. The tower had been built in 1940s as a tourist attraction at a nearby restaurant. Jimmy hated to see it torn down and he thought it would be a good attraction at his mall. If you ever decide to move a 110-foot fire watching tower to your mall, give Jimmy a call first. He may try to talk you out of it. You might be amazed at all the red tape and extra costs that can happen when you are working with something this big.

But, despite months and months of frustrations and red tape, extra concrete and more steel railings, the tower finally opened. Jimmy was excited to show me the view from the top. It was a gorgeous October day. The mall sits on a small river and the fall colors were great. I grabbed my camera and some film and went into the entrance booth for the climb up the tower.

First Jimmy gave me a rubber duck. He has placed wading pools on the ground all around the base of the tower. When you get to the top, you throw your rubber duck and if you get the duck in one of the pools you win a prize. Jimmy gave me an extra duck so I could practice.

Jimmy and I started the climb to the top. The tower is all open. The steps and the floor on the landings are open gridwork. You can look straight down at all times. I got about half way up and suddenly began to feel like I was going to plummet right over the edge despite all the extra ironwork Jimmy had been required to install. This must be vertigo I reasoned to myself. Never one to give up, I kept climbing, but I did give Jimmy the ducks to carry so I could use both hands to hang onto the rails. I didn't want to worry Jimmy, but I had already decided that there was absolutely no way I could climb down. I wondered if any cranes could reach that high and just pluck me off. On two platforms where the stairs made turns, the walkway was very narrow and I had to turn sideways to get by. I almost froze there, but found the courage to keep going as we were nearing the top. The top was an enclosed structure with windows all around. I thought I would feel better there. I was wrong. The tower swayed. There was another couple up at the top. This was their second visit to the top of the tower. They loved it. Jimmy said it was time to throw my ducks and he opened one of the windows so I could lean out and aim at the swimming pools. They were a long way down. I closed my eyes and tossed the ducks. They landed far from water. Then it was time to go down.

Jimmy was talking to me as we made our descent. Then he must have caught a look on my face because he quit talking and said we would talk after we got down. Good idea. I was having a hard time retaining my breakfast and making intelligent conversation. As soon as we got down I went and sat for a few minutes in the company van. It was a close call, but I did not get sick. I was able to go back into the mall and shop. Jimmy said that in the spring he would have "I survived the tower" T-shirts. I hope he sends me one. I'm sure not climbing up there again just to get one. But, looking at the photos I took from the tower, the view is just great. If you aren't bothered by heights then the $1.50 price to climb to the top is well worth it. You can see some of Jimmy's vintage arcade games, the mall's eBay items for sale and many other features at the Old Sled Works' website at www.sledworks.com


Article Reprint Courtesy of AntiqueWeek