Celebrities seek out Jim Stubblefield’s custom furniture. People of all types sort through his shop, Coal Street Antiques looking to add to their collections. And Stubblefield travels the country, constantly restocking his own hoard. It’s something he has been doing for 64 years, since he was 13 and his grandmother owned an antique shop.

While Stubblefield taught industrial arts at Mexico High School for 30 years, he always collected items.

1. What’s the appeal of antiques?

Everything has a story. I had a partner from Massachusetts and we went to an old farmer who had a shop in Moberly. In a basket there was a hospital gown embroidered with Biblical scenes. In the collar it said “Fulton State Hospital.” The farmer was going to give it to her but she paid him $10. She takes it back to Massachusetts and sells it for $90. Six months later she’s at the Smithsonian Institution and they have a folk art display and there’s that hospital gown. That’s quite a trail. But young people don’t like antiques.

2. Why aren’t young people interested?

They’re going more for a look than the history. They’re the electronic age.

3. Do antique electronics sell?

LPs are selling. People have come back to vinyl.

4. How much has technology changed the business?

Ebay has changed the business. The internet has changed the business. People are more knowledgeable – they can look up anything.

5. Is it hard for a collector to sell?

Yeah. I think most dealers have a good collection and no money. But the trick to selling is buying.

6. What do you look for?

I’ve got so much stuff. But I still like china and cut glass, stuff that doesn’t sell. I’m old school.

7. What’s a typical day like?

People bring stuff in all the time. But I have a workshop, too – custom furniture. That sells better than antiques.

8. How about the strangest thing that’s happened?

We had Governor Blunt come in and he wanted to buy two baby changing tables – one for his house, one for the Governor’s Mansion. We had to close so the secret service could check all the rooms first. He said ‘boy there are a lot of places to hide.’ One day my wife called and said ‘Did you know you locked two people in at Coal Street? That’s not the first time. It’s a big place.

9. How has Mexico changed over the years?

It’s not as big as it was. There are not as many white collar jobs. It’s more of a blue collar town.

10. Would you ever quit antiquing?

No. I’ll quit the day they throw dirt on me. It gives me purpose. Did I buy anything today? Yep. It’s a sickness.