Woody Peebles, a Mooresville farmer, is living every man’s dream — to collect old things and have plenty of room to store them. His amazing collection of memorabilia includes early 20th century vending machines, refrigerators, safes, agricultural machines, gas pumps, license plates, and kitchen appliances. His extensive old sign collection by itself would satisfy most collectors. These large colorful signs advertise Texaco, Shell, Gulf, Eveready Battery, Rexall, International Harvester, Dutch Boy, Kiwanis, and Coca-Cola, to name just a few.
Peebles, a sixth generation Mooresville resident, began collecting magazines and coins as a young boy but didn’t appreciate the history around him until he became an adult. He bought his first antique car in 1990 and now owns two 1929 Model A’s that have belonged to members of his family since they were new.
Peebles’ collection of Americana was not planned. He dates his beginning to December 2002 when he walked into an antique mall and saw something he admired. He didn’t buy at this time and kept going back to look at it – and then someone else bought it. He learned a valuable lesson, but he also discovered that if you miss a piece, you should keep looking and working, and something just like it will show up again. His sources for items are auctions, estate sales, antique malls, and, of course, eBay. He never looks for anything specific; “The piece speaks to me,” he says.
When asked what he plans to do with his collection, Peebles is excited to share his vision. “I want to restore our old red barn and modify the large shed and recreate a country store with a canopy and old gas pumps out front. The store will have a wooden floor and a high ceiling and glass front cases resting on old wooden counters. Many items will be displayed in this store. And there will be a large screened porch that opens onto a courtyard with an area for eating. There are some other farm storage buildings that I plan to restore for office space and displaying items. I also want to move the railroad freight depot in Belle Mina here, install some tracks and show a variety of old train cars.”
Peebles then adds, “This is all a dream. If it comes to pass, that’s O.K. If it doesn’t, that’s O.K. too, because I’m having the most fun I’ve ever had in my life!”
A variety of items from Peebles’ collection and some of his antique cars will be on display during the 2009 Walking Tour.
