Full disclosure – I have to admit that I am a bit of an antique junkie and have been for several years. Which is why it is so bizarre that I only just discovered Blue Spruce Antiques on Dunning Road a little over a year ago.

I’ve driven down that section of Dunning Road between Innes and French Hill Road at least 30-40 times a year if not more, and never knew there was an antique store that has been there for more than 20 years.

It wasn’t until I did a search for antique dealers near Orléans that I finally discovered the business. When I drove back down Dunning Road, with my eyes peeled, I at long last saw their big sign. In my defence, when I met the owner, Lorraine Seguin, she explained to me that the sign had been obscured for a number of years by several trees which they only just cut down last year.

Seguin bought the business, which included a farm house and 49 acres of land, from the former owner in 2006. She had been a regular at flea markets across the region in Stittsville, Antrim, Masson and Lachute for years and had already built up a sizaeable collection of her own. In fact, it took her a year to move everything from her old house in Orléans to the new property on Dunning.

Since then, she has only added to the collection. In the early days, she was selling almost as much as she was purchasing. More lately, the tables have tipped in favour of new acquisitions, which Seguin admits is the best part of being an antique dealer.

Seguin keeps most of her antiques in a large two-storey barn. A nearby yurt contains the remainder of the vintage items which include everything from a 1947 washing machine to antique dolls, fine china, silverware, antique scales, over 100 antique dining chairs, gas lamps and artwork of all kinds.

The business and Seguin herself have suffered their share of ups and downs in recent years. In 2017, a tornado destroyed a second yurt that contained a number of antiques most of which were recovered, however the yurt was completely destroyed.

The COVID pandemic has also resulted in a significant drop off in business. Like other non-essential retail businesses in Ontario, the antique store has been closed more often than not over the past 18 months.

On top of it all, Seguin was diagnosed with cancer last December. The illness was discovered when doctors had to perform an emergency appendectomy to remove a ruptured appendix. Fortunately, the cancer was discovered in its early stages and the prognosis for a full recovery is extremely positive.

Although she is still undergoing treatment, Seguin is looking forward to seeing business pick up now that the province has moved into Stage 3 of its reopening plan.

Blue Spruce Antiques is open every week-end from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. They are located at 2870 Dunning Road between French Hill Road and Colonial Road.