March 6, 2025 • 37 mins
Discover the fascinating history behind Wakefield-Scearce Galleries and its integral role in Shelby County's heritage. Explore how a family-run business evolved from a grocery store into a celebrated destination for antiques and craftsmanship while unearthing stories that connect us to a rich past.
- Meet Matt Burnett and learn about his journey at Wakefield-Scearce
- Explore the origins of the gallery, from silver rationing to julep cups
- Understand the craftsmanship behind handmade julep cups
- Hear about the gallery’s connections to U.S. presidents
- Discover the impressive silver vault and its historical significance
- Learn about the Science Hill Female Academy's rich history
- Get insights into the festive Christmas displays and their preparations
- Celebrate the upcoming 200th anniversary of the academy and community involvement
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Janette Marson (00:22):
Welcome to Kentucky Hidden Wonders.
I'm Jeannette Marson and I'mMason Warren.
Mason Warren (00:33):
Together we're uncovering the secrets, stories
and hidden gems of Shelby County, kentucky, from unforgettable
places to off-the-beaten-pathadventures.
Join us as we explore Kentuckytreasures and Shelby County's
best-kept secrets.
Our guest today on KentuckyHidden Wonders is Matt Burnett,
president and CEO of WakefieldScarce Galleries in Shelbyville,
kentucky.
Matt, thanks for being here.
Janette Marson (00:52):
Thanks for being here.
Yes, thanks for having me.
Mason Warren (00:55):
Before we get into it, introduce yourself Kind of
what's your background and whatdo you do as the president and
CEO of Wakefield ScarceGalleries Sure sure, sure.
Matt Burnett (01:04):
Yeah, I am a lifelong Shelby Countian.
My family has probably theseventh generation of Shelby
Countian and live here, married,have four children.
We all go to school here andbeen living here.
I kind of moved away a littlebit from Shelbyville, went to
(01:26):
college and worked kind of outnot out of state but out of the
city for probably five or sixyears and then had an
opportunity to come back andwork in the family business and
so that's just a little bitabout me.
You know kind of as we talkabout this, I never kind of
expected to be in this scenarioand then where I'm at.
But I'm truly thankful andgrateful for where I am and the
(01:49):
opportunities that I've had.
Janette Marson (01:50):
So you mentioned seventh generation, any tie to
the history of Wakefield Scarcegoing back in your history?
Matt Burnett (01:58):
So Wakefield Scarce my grandfather started
that in 1947.
So that's how I kind of pluggedinto that, grew up around
Wakefield Scarce, running aroundthere as a kid Great place to
hide when you have 30,000 squarefeet, oh yeah.
But as a kid growing up it wasjust par for the course.
(02:20):
I grew up in a Chippendale twinbed and had a knee-hold desk
for my desk when I was in school.
So you know, kind of livingwith the things that we sold and
we do, and so it was just, youknow it was ubiquitous around me
and whatever, and so you know I, you know just.
Janette Marson (02:42):
Well, let's go back in history to the very
beginning, because that's thehidden gem, the thing that's the
coolest, other than yourincredible gallery right now.
Right, talk about the history,how it began and what it is now.
Matt Burnett (02:58):
So the history and there'll be kind of a similar
DNA and all these stories that Imay tell about how the
evolution of different things,but really World War II was
really how a lot of theseopportunities arose, and
specifically with the gallery,and prior to that, let's say, my
(03:18):
grandfather used to have agrocery store in 1937 here with
his brother at Scarce BrothersGroceries.
He used to have a grocery storein 1937 here with his brother
at Scarce Brothers Groceries.
He was in a bunch of differentthings and then bought a jewelry
store in 1940 that's up on MainStreet now the building there
(03:38):
and during World War II therewas silver rationing going on
and so he couldn't get silverbecause he was a small-time
jeweler and so you had to be abig guy to get it.
So anyway he started, insteadof his cases being empty, even
though it was a jewelry store,he did sell hollowware and
silver and whatnot.
So he put an ad out here in thelocal paper to buy back old
American silver and so hestarted getting a lot of these
(04:01):
old julep cups that would comeback into the store and so kind
of fell in love with them andthe different types that you
would see.
They were all marked bydifferent makers.
We did have some local Chevyoil makers at the time, anyway.
So he decided to take a couplejulep cups and make his own
(04:23):
version of julep cups.
For anybody that knows about theEnglish, the English, there's
an English hallmark system whichis you.
It was used, probably startingin like the 15th century, which
was basically a system If youwere a silversmith, you took
your wares that you made and youwent to the hall and you got up
, went up there in thegovernment which would stamp the
bottom of your whatever pieceit was with a cartouche that you
made.
And you went to the hall andyou got up, went up there in the
(04:44):
government to stamp the bottomof your whatever piece it was
with a cartouches which would bethe monarch, the city, that it
was your maker's mark, um, andin like a date letter.
And so he knew about englishsilver.
And so he said, well, maybeI'll do like an american kind of
spin on this, and so I'll, uh,I'll put a, a little cartouche
(05:06):
on the bottom which is like a,basically a little stamp with a
symbol in it.
Um, and so he put a littleeagle in there and then he said
to date it.
For posterity's sake I'll putthe initials of the um president
of the time it's made.
And so this was, like I said,right at the end of world war ii
, you know, when it was over,but he couldn't get.
And so this was, like I said,right at the end of World War II
, you know, when it was over,but he couldn't get silver.
(05:27):
So that was, that was a way forhim, and so he still couldn't
get silver at this point, but hehad come up with the idea.
And so he you know there's somein his in his writings he wrote
about kind of decision makingsand things like that.
He wrote that he went to NewYork and cried some big tears to
get some silver from one ofthese silver companies and so
got the first kind of and silver.
(05:48):
They come in discs.
Julep cups are made all by handreally.
They call it annealing, whichis a process of heating up the
silver, and then they spin them,which they put them.
There's a chuck which isbasically a form or a shape, and
then they put it on and itspins and then they shape it to
give it the shape of a cup.
(06:11):
So everything is basically doneby hand.
It's not a machine kind ofprocess where a lot of people
may think that especially thegood ones Right, and we think we
have good ones so all thatbeing said.
So then that was he starteddoing those and that was kind of
the evolution of the Julep Cupand having that and so that kind
of dovetailed with WakefieldScarce this is the same time
(06:32):
period there's a gentleman namedMark Wakefield who came to my
grandfather one day with anarticle from the Courier-Journal
that had an ad for the BritishAntique Dealer Association
opening trade up again.
This is right after World War II, the back story of Mr Wakefield
.
He was a Chevyvillian but didbusiness in Louisville and was
(06:53):
in real estate and had divestedhis interest in his real estate
and so he had capital and mygrandfather had knowledge of.
Particularly my grandfathergravitated towards silver,
antique silver, um.
But he came back and he was mrwakefield, was a little bit
older than my grandfather but hesaid hey, why don't you go to
england and buy some of theseantiques, um, and we'll try to
(07:16):
sell them and whatever.
And my grandfather's likewhatever, you know, we're just a
country boy jeweler.
You know this is 1947 whereshelby County still, you know,
if not the largest.
You know burly tobaccoproducers in the state.
You know that's kind of wherewe are, just downtown's, they're
really the hub of the city.
Everything else is mostlyfarmland.
Um, but Mr comes back, I guessprobably a week later with a
(07:40):
plane ticket to England and so,as I say, the rest is history.
But so how, that business inWorld War II and all that, and
then how, where we are today,which is in the Science Hill
Female Academy, the school, sohow, those that business idea
and the school kind of gotmarried together, is once the
school ceased to be a school.
So it started in 1825, ran to1939, the Depression finally got
(08:03):
the best of it.
The Poynter family, which wasthe second family that ran the
school the father had passedaway.
You know times got hard withthe Depression so they shut down
.
The school still rented outrooms to local you know mostly
widowed ladies, and these werethe rooms the girls lived in.
(08:26):
But in the big part of theschool there was a chapel, so
that was not being used.
It was a large, probably about3,500 square foot space but it's
16-foot ceilings in there.
So my grandfather and MrWakefield started renting that.
And so when the first real carof antiques started coming in.
That's where they housed them,and so they put them in there
(08:46):
and then they would auction themoff at the end of the end of
the season and kind of redo thething.
So he was always running up anddown Sixth Street between his
jewelry store and, you know, thestorefront there at Wakefield
Scarce.
And so that's where we startedin 1947 doing that, and so we
did that.
He did that for 14 years beforehe actually took the plunge and
bought the whole building, thewhole, you know, 30,000 square
(09:09):
foot building.
Mr Wakefield kind of bowed outafter about four years, said he
was going to go back to hisfirst love, real estate.
My grandfather said, hey, can Ikeep the name?
We've got a little somethinggoing here.
And so he was like sure, sothat's kind of how we started.
Janette Marson (09:23):
And the rest is history.
Oh, and I have to say I amstruggling with laryngitis, so
excuse my voice, I forgot to saythat earlier.
So, going back to the silver, Iguess it's easier to get silver
now, oh yeah, and you make yourown cups or get the silver.
Matt Burnett (09:41):
So we have craftsmen that make cups and so
we started doing those.
During the Truman administrationmy grandfather found out pretty
quickly.
He got the silver in, as Ialluded to earlier, from New
York and he came in and he had agentleman that was kind of a
jack-of-all-trades, very justgood with their hands and they
could do stuff, and mygrandfather actually bought some
(10:02):
equipment from.
It was like the CincinnatiSilver Company that had gone out
of business and you know he'sthinking, hey, we can just do
this in-house, do this whatever.
He found out pretty quick thatyou know it's a skilled it's.
You got to be skilled to dothis kind of this kind of work,
because you know when you'respinning these cups it's you
(10:22):
know you got to have a certaintouch when you do it, because if
you do it too thin then the cupbreaks, especially when I say
the cup, the body of the cup.
So there's definitely an artform to the whole thing.
And so he ended up findingsomebody that would make him
head along partnership with them.
And so for today I mean westill have a nice partnership,
(10:43):
not with these folks, butanother smaller firm, and this
firm actually makes the KentuckyDerby Trophy.
That makes our cup.
Mason Warren (10:52):
I did not know that that's neat, neat, fun fact
.
Matt Burnett (10:55):
So it's a family business too that they have.
So it's pretty neat.
It's been a good partnershipwith them as well.
And the other thing, with kindof our cups as I alluded to when
we were talking about theHallmark system and the Eagle
Cartouche and putting them onthe bottom, dating them we also
send each president a cup, theirfirst term, and we'll send it
(11:21):
and we'll put the seal of theUnited States, the presidential
seal, and send it to them in awooden box and say,
congratulations, you know, onyour election and whatnot
Doesn't matter if you have an Ror D by your name, right,
everyone gets one, because wehear that a lot about.
I don't want that cup, I don'twant to touch this cup, but we
say, hey, we're just markers andthis is just a marker in time,
right, you know, and we didn'telect them and whatever, we just
(11:42):
make the cup with the mark onit.
Janette Marson (11:43):
Do you get notes back from the presidents?
Matt Burnett (11:45):
Yes, so we do actually have some on display
that we got from actualpresidents and they actually
signed them.
As you've gotten further alongdown the line, they're just kind
of boilerplate.
The form letter.
Mason Warren (11:58):
Yes, thank you.
Matt Burnett (11:59):
But we do have some from like Lyndon Johnson,
eisenhower and things like thatthat are actually signed by them
, which is kind of fun.
And the other thing kind ofwith our cups that not only can
you date them when they're madein a four-year period, and I
guess I should also say if it'sa second term, it's denoted with
a Roman numeral II after thename.
The other kind of maybe quirkything too is when you see our
(12:21):
first cups, the Truman cups, weonly put HT on the bottom.
Quirky thing too is when yousee our first cups, the Truman
cups, we only put HT on thebottom.
We didn't put the three letter,all three letters, on the
bottom.
So since then we've put allthree letters, except with we
call him daddy Bush, but GeorgeHerbert Walker Bush.
Right, we have four initials onthe bottom for that.
So those are kind of a littledifferent than the normal.
But and then the other thing is, once we make those, we make
(12:43):
those cups during that four-yearperiod.
Once that president leaves, wecease to make that cup with that
mark on it anymore and we don'tever set out to make a certain
amount.
It's all supply and demand ishow we make.
So you know, we can forecast alittle bit.
Always when you have a newpresident, like the new ones
that came out with enrollment inWorld 2, we'll have an uptick
(13:10):
in sales, just because we knowwe have collectors that collect
the whole set.
So right now we're up to Iguess this is our 20th cup
that's come out and so we've gotfolks that'll.
They don't, they don't care, ifyou know, if they were
republican or democrat, theyjust want the whole collection.
Um, and so we we always have.
You know, we have a list rightnow that we still have a waiting
list of trying to our craftsmento get those, because we don't
even make the cup, I mean untilafter inauguration, so we don't
(13:32):
make them.
We want it to be pure, purely.
This cup was made once theywere during that time.
Yes, it's not a they're sittingon the shelf and this, that and
the other, we make them and wetry.
So we try to hold firm to thatand make it as authentic as
possible.
Janette Marson (13:47):
That's definitely a hidden gem and
wonder.
Definitely, Absolutely.
Mason Warren (13:52):
So, since receiving one of the cups or a
julep cup as a gift, have any ofthe?
I know you've had letterswritten and responses, but have
any presidents become regularcustomers or anything like that?
Matt Burnett (14:03):
Yes, we've had.
I guess our biggest one wouldbe Lyndon Johnson.
He ordered 650 one year for hiscabinet members.
Oh really Very cool, excuse me.
So he actually he ordered somebeforehand and what the story
(14:24):
goes was that he was at acocktail party with juleps there
I think he was talking aboutthe cup and somebody had said
well, if you'd like to just havethis style of the cup or
whatever, you gotta look on thebottom and it has his initials
on the bottom of the cup.
So um and so that kind of gotus on his radar.
His secretary had called andtalked to my grandfather and
they've ordered just a few, justkind of the trial run, I think
(14:46):
from what the writings, he, hiswritings, and so then one I
think it was September, octoberfrom what he wrote the president
actually called him up on thephone and and they, as he called
it, did a little horse tradingand some for it People said
about Lennon.
Johnson, that was probably.
That was probably very true.
But you know, my grandfatherwas like, well, mr President,
(15:07):
that's a tough order to 650 cupsin this amount of time Like I
said, as I alluded to before,these are handmade and he was
like, well, scarce, I know youcan get it done.
And so anyway, he got it doneand they got it to DC in time to
be able to give those out asgifts to his cabinet members and
whatnot that's amazing.
So that's kind of our biggestone and Johnson's probably our
(15:34):
most popular cup, or the mostmade, I should say I'm sure my
grandfather probably pushedthose pretty hard after he knew
that they were present.
The other presidents we've had Iknow the Bush family used them
as well.
George W Bush, he used thosewhen they would go abroad.
He would use those as gifts todignitaries when they would show
up.
So we'd have our box there in apresentation box and the seal
of the president on there andsometimes something a little
(15:57):
note on the back to denote thevisit or whatever.
So anyway, that was kind ofanother one.
And then we've also I know theambassador to England from the
US, matthew Barzon, I believehis name was.
He bought one to give as aChristian gift for Prince George
a few years ago.
Janette Marson (16:19):
Very neat.
Anyway.
Now, apart from the julep cups,which is very cool, downstairs
you have a really awesome silvercollection.
Is that like the largest silvercollection in the world, or
where did that come from?
I just think it's neat lookingdown there.
Matt Burnett (16:36):
So what she alluded to was our silver vault,
and so our silver vault.
A lot of if you ever come tothe gallery, it's a lot of our
rooms in which you'll seearchitecture is fashioned after
travels in England, and so thesilver vault is fashioned after
the London silver vaults, whichwere basically re subterranean
retail spaces that were revivedafter world war two.
(16:59):
They originally were bankvaults.
They got blown up and then whenthey rebuilt uh, you know
infrastructure, whatever,instead of them being bank
vaults, they ended up puttingretail spaces, you know
infrastructure or whatever,instead of them being bank
vaults, they ended up puttingretail spaces, you know
underground.
And so what you'll see where wehave it is basically you know
what you would see if you wentto the London silver vaults.
And so my grandfather, he lovedsilver and so at one time we had
(17:21):
probably the largest collectionin the US of English and
English silver.
Very good so, and we still dothat.
We've moved it around and westill have silver down there.
You know, our business is ebband flows with times and so
people don't use silver as muchand maybe have the large dinner
(17:43):
parties as they used to, butthere's still pockets of people
that do, and we're kind of asurvivor, I think.
Think in the sense that we'restill here and doing it.
So that smaller pocket ofpeople, you know they, they know
what we do and hopefullythey'll come ring the register
for us.
Janette Marson (17:57):
Absolutely Well.
You must be polishing day andnight, because it's always
beautiful down there.
You know silver.
Matt Burnett (18:03):
And we also.
Yeah, well, there's a lot ofpolishing, but there's also a
lot of in these days.
There's a lot of polishing, butthere's also a lot of these
days a lot of preventativethings that you can maintenance.
You can do prior or after youuse a piece to kind of help put
tarnish at bay a little bit more.
So a lot of good products outthere to help with that.
Mason Warren (18:19):
And we've talked a little bit about it.
It's a 30,000 square footbuilding.
I don't know how many rooms,but they're all full of amazing
antiques.
Do you source your like?
Matt Burnett (18:34):
how do you get them?
How do you find what you'regoing to sell in the gallery?
So a lot of it is just justgoing to england and sourcing it
.
Uh, that was the original kindof setup it's.
It's changed over the years andalso, um, we have a warehouse,
uh, you know, over on uh, thatruns from Maine to Washington or
to Henry Clay excuse me that wehave three floors in there as
well.
And the reason we have awarehouse is because when you
(18:57):
buy a large amount of antiques,you have to almost get a
container or two of them to makeits cost prohibitive if you try
to just do one piece, so wehave to get a container.
The setup before was, and westill have.
Do one piece, so we have to geta container.
Um, the setup before was, andwe still have a little bit of.
We have buyers over there.
You know, it's kind of buildingrelationships and people end up
knowing what you want, what yourcustomers want, how you operate
(19:19):
, what you're looking for, andso you know the it used to be.
You know, send polaroidpictures and it would you know
three weeks before you getsomething and see it now it's's
just instantaneous.
Yes, no, yes, no.
That's kind of how it workedout.
We also would not buy everyyear.
We're playing with exchangerates, so we have to time when
(19:39):
we buy things and when we don't,because some years we can get
things half price some things.
It's 30% higher.
You've got to do a littleforecasting too on that.
That's primarily where we'vegot it.
It's 30 percent higher, so it'skind of a.
You know, you got to do alittle forecasting too on that,
so that's that's primarily wherewe've got it.
We, we used to say we didn't buyin our backyard, so to speak,
which would be maybe thecontinental us or even closer.
But um, today, with justtechnology and you know,
(20:02):
everything's online and at yourfingertips.
It it makes it a lot easier to.
You.
Don't have to get a hold I.
I can buy things here statesidenow.
Janette Marson (20:11):
Oh, that's good.
Matt Burnett (20:12):
Just because so much was brought over here.
I mean, our look had the heydaywas probably, you know,
starting in the 70s, 80s and 90s.
It's changed but it's there'sstill again where there's
pockets of people it's just notnecessarily, just not
necessarily involved.
We always say we're kind of ina deeper trough in the sense of
the style and what the what thelook is, but it'll come back at
(20:34):
some point.
I mean, if you look at whatantiques uh, some of the pricing
of that today, versus buyingsomething brand new there's got,
there's gonna be apex somewherewhere they cross up where it's
going to cost more just to buysomething brand new that doesn't
maybe even have the history orthe character or the material
that withstands the test of timethat antiques can.
(20:55):
So you know we're just holdingstrong to that and we believe
that, and there's nothing wrongwith new things, don't get me
wrong.
But for those that you knowlove history and love to have
nice things, and you know we'rethere for them love to have nice
things and and uh, you knowwe're, we're there for them, and
you guys are very, very famousfor your Christmas displays
(21:15):
every year.
Janette Marson (21:16):
Yes, um, and so talk a little bit about, um,
what it takes to get ready forChristmas, cause it is for those
of you that have never been toWakefield scarce or seen the
Christmas displays.
It is definitely something totravel for, but how long does it
take to get ready and tell ushow many rooms?
(21:36):
Just describe what it's like atChristmas.
Matt Burnett (21:38):
Sure.
So we have about 30 displayrooms and in every room we do a
different tree, a differenttheme.
So it's a lot and we've alreadyjust to kind of give you the
life cycle of it we've alreadybought for this year.
So markets there's markets alltime of year, but the big one is
in Atlanta and that was thesecond week in January.
(22:02):
So we've already bought andjust now it's more processing
and getting ready and all this.
So we already had our themesready and all this.
And that's just the life cycleof how you do business.
Today Everything's kind ofjust-in-time manufacturing For
certain things, if you want it.
Nobody keeps anything onshelves, so you've got to get
your orders in early and often,and even then you're not
guaranteed to get things.
Janette Marson (22:22):
Now, do you design or do you have some?
Is it your whole team?
How do you decide how to makeit glorious, like you do every
year?
Matt Burnett (22:29):
So we have a Christmas coordinator, okay, and
that's basically.
Mason Warren (22:32):
What a fun job.
Matt Burnett (22:33):
Yeah, that's basically, for the most part,
her singular job is, you know,just to come up with the themes,
come up with the ideas, andthat's ornaments that we call
sit-arounds, ribbons, colors,all the things that kind of tie
it together.
What the room looks like, youknow, and so where it will be
(22:54):
all the different.
Is it going to be a bedroom, isit going to be an office?
So all those different things,and that's kind of her job.
Her job is singular job.
And then the rest of us, we'rethere just to support her.
You know we may help her movethings or, you know, say, yeah,
that's probably this, that orthe other, but but yeah, she's.
Mason Warren (23:13):
She comes in with the vision, correct, gotcha.
Matt Burnett (23:15):
And we'll and we may say you know, obviously I'm
the money guy and I have thepurse drink, so I do have to
give them a budget Right.
So that's the otherconsideration.
And so you know I have to dosome forecasting and saying I
don't know what the economy isgoing to look like from one year
to the next, but you kind ofcan feel a little bit of the
winds, how they're blowing, andso you try to figure that out,
(23:39):
obviously.
Janette Marson (23:40):
So how long does it take you to get all set up?
Once everything comes in,you're like we're ready.
How long does it take?
Matt Burnett (23:48):
So they start probably around September and
part of the reason we start thatearly is that there is a lot.
But also we kind of kick offChristmas earlier than a lot of
people like to, because ourkickoff is always the day after
Election Day and we've had itlike that for years and there's
kind of a couple reasons forthat, because some people are
like I don't want to look atchristmas until thanksgiving is
(24:09):
over.
I get that.
But also we know that peopleplan before before christmas
what their mantle looks like orwhat they want.
You know if they have adifferent theme.
So you know we want we do thatearly so they have time.
So when you know thanksgivinghits, they've already got their
items and they're ready to goversus.
You know, if you start, youknow if we kicked off Christmas
(24:32):
after Thanksgiving, then youonly have sometimes only two or
three weeks to sell things.
So we get I mean, in our homewe get it.
We don't usually pull outChristmas until Thanksgiving.
But that extra, you know, fouror five weeks prior to the
Thanksgiving Black Friday kindof thing, when it official kind
of kicks off just helps Right.
Janette Marson (24:54):
And then all the decorations are for sale.
Yes, people can come in andjust buy it all.
Matt Burnett (24:58):
Yes, yes, and it's fun for us.
I mean kind of the oxygen keepsus going year after year.
As you know, we're kind of onour third generation of folks
that have come in and it's justalways kind of just really cool
to see grandmothers, mothers andtheir kids come in, and it's
their tradition.
They come every year.
It kicks off their Christmas,or they just do it every year,
(25:19):
and they have a lot of theirornaments in their home.
Their tree is.
Each year they pick it off atree or pick something special,
and so that helps us.
When you know you get tired oflooking at it all the time, that
you know you see that peoplelight up and that it's a special
place for a lot of people tocome and and and not only for
just families, but even, youknow, friends.
(25:40):
We're kind of a good centrallocation between Louisville and
Lexington, or we have a lot offolks from Cincinnati that
actually come down our way aswell, which you wouldn't think,
but we do.
They love to come down this way, and so you know those are some
other little things that add tothe whole ambiance of it and
(26:01):
for us on the other side of itto keep us going.
Mason Warren (26:04):
Well, when it's as spectacular as it is, you know,
worth the drive?
Yes, definitely worth the driveyeah going.
Well, when it's as spectacularas it is, you know, worth the
drive.
Definitely worth the drive.
Yeah, so we've talked, we'vealluded to it a little bit, but
can you talk about the spacethat the gallery is in it was?
You talked about the ScienceHill Female Academy a little bit
, but can you explain some ofthe history of that?
Matt Burnett (26:22):
Sure, sure, well, we've, we've got a exciting year
this year.
We've, we'll be.
The school will be celebrating200 years on March 25th of this
year.
Started in 1825 by Julia Tevis.
The school ended up in 1939.
After everything was built itwas a little over 30,000 square
(26:44):
feet.
The humble roots of it itstarted as just a two-story
house on the west side of theproperty, our lot number three
in all of Shelby County.
We don't know exactly when thehouse was built because I think
the lot was sold in like 1792,and then the school started in
(27:05):
1825.
So somewhere in that periodthere was a sale of the lot.
The records got destroyed sothere wasn't.
But because of the appreciationof a sale prior to 1825, the
Tevis's, we figured there wassome kind of structure on there.
So it started in 1825, and thenthe first Julia Tevis was from
(27:30):
Kentucky, got educated inVirginia, was quartering a
Methodist minister at this pointand he was being called back to
the wilderness which wasChubbyville and Science Hill is
kind of right on the US 60corridor which was the main
artery between Louisville andLexington.
So he primarily was working inLouisville but he was being
(27:52):
called back to this area.
And then finally, when theschool started 1825, and they
just put out a you know I guess,a flyer, some kind of
advertisement that they were andthey had just kind of day
students.
But as the school grew then hefinally asked if he could be
closer and work in Shelbyvilleand he did.
And so then, as the school grew, they started building more
(28:13):
infrastructure.
So the year after 1826, theykind of built another wing that
faces south, and then the nextyear they built another wing,
another two-story wing, and thenthere was another run that runs
kind of perpendicular to thosethat was built in 1830.
That was the dining room forthe girls.
So that part has been servingmeals and cooking meals since
(28:37):
1830 in there.
The chapel area that I alludedto for the gallery where we had
all our, where we housedoriginally all our things that
we imported, that was built in1859.
And then in 1860, at this point, if you think about it, these
are like four differentbuildings and they all have back
doors, so it's like a kind of aquad.
(28:59):
I guess you would call it stillopen area.
There's grass, probably inbetween or some kind of probably
stone walkways.
But then in 1860, a roof wasput on all these buildings and
they were all kind of tiedtogether at that point.
So that was kind of theevolution of it and that kind of
coincided with the Poynterfamily taking over as well.
(29:20):
The Poynter family kind of tookthe school to the next level.
Dr Poynter would go up northlike toley and Vassar and see
what their curriculums were, andthen he brought that back here
and basically had a partnershipwith them.
If a girl graduated here shehad automatic admission to those
(29:41):
schools which were the top girlschools.
And Science Hill was unique inthe sense that it was, I think,
the first Protestant girl'sschool west of the Allegheny
Mountains.
So that was another one.
And also Julia was veryprogressive for her day.
It's called Science Hill.
(30:03):
It's a pretty simple formula.
If you see our building, we'reup on a hill right down from
where we're doing this podcastand she wanted to teach girls
math and science, all the thingsthe boys were taught that the
girls were not really focused on.
So she was very progressive fora day and that was kind of what
was called that.
Janette Marson (30:23):
Well, very, very , very, very cool, and you were
talking about the 200thanniversary, so do you have big
plans for?
Tell us about it.
Matt Burnett (30:33):
So the bicentennial we've been planning
we're going to have a Saturday,march 22nd, from 10 am to 4 pm.
We're going to have kind of acommunity event day and we'll
have a stage in kind of theindoor courtyard area and we'll
have different, differentactivities.
We're going to have somebodythat will be there in as Miss
(30:58):
Tevis that will kind of be doinga monologue and kind of talking
as Miss Tevis.
Then we'll have somebody thatwill be doing historical,
appropriate clothing kind ofwhat they call it clothing
deconstruction, so you'll beable to on the men's and women's
side.
So you'll be able to on themen's and women's side, so
you'll be able to kind of seewhat they wore and how they wore
it and those things.
One fun thing we will have iswe'll have a spelling bee Very
(31:21):
good and then we'll have someother folks up there that will
be kind of being like scienceteachers of the time and then in
the rooms we'll have differentyou know kind of different
easels and different props andthings that kind of.
You know, as you walk throughthe building kind of be like,
well, this room was used forthis, or this is where the girls
lived and this is how manylived in there and things like
(31:43):
that.
So that day we'll have peoplekind of on the campus as well.
That will be, you know, like aleather maker, maybe a
woodworker.
You know people that were inthat time period and how they
worked and whatnot.
I think we may have a couplefood trucks over there as well,
just, you know, for people tohave lunch and whatnot, and we
(32:06):
will have a schedule of times.
We will be posting that to ourwebsite and then also facebook
and kind of instagram.
And then that evening, startingaround six o'clock, we'll have
we're gonna have a bicentennialdinner.
It'll be reserved only to 75people.
Tickets are 75 each.
So we'll start a cocktail hourand we're gonna have a we're
(32:29):
gonna-appropriate punch, kind ofa liquor punch I don't know
exactly what it's called, butthey're going to make a punch
for that.
I think we'll have some wine.
We're going to have liveentertainment somebody playing
the piano for a little cocktailhour for about an hour and a
half, and then we will havedinner start at 7.15, and we
will have a um kind of speakingon.
(32:51):
Uh, julia actually wrote aboutthe first her thoughts on the
first day of the school when itopened, and so we're going to
read from her book with thatkind of an opening, and then
we'll have, um, I might, I maytalk a little bit just saying
hello and welcome.
And then we'll have anotherhopefully speaker kind of
talking about historical, uh,maybe just even education in
(33:12):
Kentucky and how it all ties inthere.
And then we're going to have akind of a we'll have a
period-appropriate meal out ofan old cookbook from I think it
was 1827 or something like that.
Janette Marson (33:22):
That sounds fabulous, Sounds very fun.
So how do you?
Mason Warren (33:25):
I have a ticket, but how do other people get
tickets?
Matt Burnett (33:27):
Sure, yeah, the biggest thing will be if they go
to our Facebook page.
That's probably we'll have aflyer there.
We'll put flyers out as well,but it'll be a QR code on there
that you can scan with yourphone.
That's probably going to be theeasiest way, because if things
change then without making itset you know, we can always
change things and make it alittle more fluid.
But that's pretty much the setschedule there.
(33:49):
But they go to Instagram orFacebook or even just our
website, wakefieldscarescomslash events.
You should be able to find allthe information there.
Hopefully you already liked ourpage on Facebook.
Mason Warren (34:02):
If not, go like it please, and on Facebook you're
Wakefield Scares Galleries.
Matt Burnett (34:05):
Yeah, just Wakefield Scares.
Okay, Just Wakefield Sca.
Yeah, so, um, and that's yeah.
So we're, we're excited aboutuh, about that, you know.
So we're uh, and we'll probablyhave some other things
throughout the year.
I mean, we'll be celebratingall year, but this will be the
main kind of kickoff forcelebrating the 200th year Very,
very exciting.
Janette Marson (34:24):
So, um, people are going to probably listen to
this and they're going to wantto rush over to wakefield scarce
galleries.
Um, what's your hours like on aregular basis?
Matt Burnett (34:33):
sure days and so right now our winter hours are,
uh, wednesday through saturdayfrom 10 am to 4 pm.
We're always open for privateshowings and and other.
You know those kind ofschedules because we know people
travel on certain days andthat's fine too.
But, um, you know thewise,that's it.
When it comes to Christmas,then we'll be open an extra day.
(34:54):
We'll be open Tuesday throughSaturday, but that usually
doesn't hit until October,november.
So that's kind of our mainschedule right now.
Janette Marson (35:07):
Well, for those of you that have never been to
Wakefield Scares Gallery, it istruly spectacular.
It's an experience both insideand out.
You've got the garden area thatit feels like you're just
walking into an English garden,which is probably what it's
fashioned after it is yeah.
Matt Burnett (35:26):
Yeah, and we know some people don't like antiques,
but we still say come on out,because even if you can
appreciate some history, oh, thehistory behind everything and
the things.
Yeah, I mean you can come bringa lunch, sit down in our
courtyard, inside or out, andenjoy the thing.
I mean we have a lot of things,you know, walls of photographs
(35:47):
and manuscripts and report cardsand just some.
You know paraphernalia andthings like that from the school
that you can get a, get caughtup on it and see their
curriculums.
You can see what you know, thegrades, you see what the girls
wrote about.
Even kind of up on the thirdfloor there's the window panes
up there where the girls livedyou know there's etchings of
their with their, with rings,diamond rings that they would
(36:09):
put their names in there, andthe dates and stuff like that.
So definitely history aroundevery corner.
Whether you're into antiques orjust historical buildings, it's
been a good marriage for whatwe do business-wise and a good
historical property.
Janette Marson (36:23):
Well, I remember you showed me the boiler room.
I even thought the boiler roomwas awesome.
Matt Burnett (36:27):
Yes, yes.
Janette Marson (36:30):
Every inch of it is amazing.
Mason Warren (36:31):
Yeah, yeah, all right.
Well, thank you for being here,and then I don't have any other
questions.
Do you have any?
Janette Marson (36:37):
I do not Thank you so much for being here.
Matt Burnett (36:39):
Yeah, we appreciate you.
Thank you all for inviting usand come see us.
Absolutely, thank you.
Mason Warren (36:49):
This has been Kentucky Hidden Wonders.
Thank you to Matt Burnett forcoming on the show to talk about
Wakefield's Cache Galleries andthank you for listening.
If you've made it this far,make sure you subscribe and
leave us a review.
It means the world to us.
We'll be back in two weeks witha brand new Kentucky Hidden
Wonder.
Bye everyone.
(37:15):
Kentucky Hidden Wonders is aShelby KY Tourism production.
Your hosts are Janet Marson andMason Horan.
To learn more about Shelby KYTourism and to start planning a
visit, head to visitshelbykycom.
Welcome to Kentucky Hidden Wonders.
I'm Jeannette Marson and I'mMason Warren.
Mason Warren (00:33):
Together we're uncovering the secrets, stories
and hidden gems of Shelby County, kentucky, from unforgettable
places to off-the-beaten-pathadventures.
Join us as we explore Kentuckytreasures and Shelby County's
best-kept secrets.
Our guest today on KentuckyHidden Wonders is Matt Burnett,
president and CEO of WakefieldScarce Galleries in Shelbyville,
kentucky.
Matt, thanks for being here.
Janette Marson (00:52):
Thanks for being here.
Yes, thanks for having me.
Mason Warren (00:55):
Before we get into it, introduce yourself Kind of
what's your background and whatdo you do as the president and
CEO of Wakefield ScarceGalleries Sure sure, sure.
Matt Burnett (01:04):
Yeah, I am a lifelong Shelby Countian.
My family has probably theseventh generation of Shelby
Countian and live here, married,have four children.
We all go to school here andbeen living here.
I kind of moved away a littlebit from Shelbyville, went to
(01:26):
college and worked kind of outnot out of state but out of the
city for probably five or sixyears and then had an
opportunity to come back andwork in the family business and
so that's just a little bitabout me.
You know kind of as we talkabout this, I never kind of
expected to be in this scenarioand then where I'm at.
But I'm truly thankful andgrateful for where I am and the
(01:49):
opportunities that I've had.
Janette Marson (01:50):
So you mentioned seventh generation, any tie to
the history of Wakefield Scarcegoing back in your history?
Matt Burnett (01:58):
So Wakefield Scarce my grandfather started
that in 1947.
So that's how I kind of pluggedinto that, grew up around
Wakefield Scarce, running aroundthere as a kid Great place to
hide when you have 30,000 squarefeet, oh yeah.
But as a kid growing up it wasjust par for the course.
(02:20):
I grew up in a Chippendale twinbed and had a knee-hold desk
for my desk when I was in school.
So you know, kind of livingwith the things that we sold and
we do, and so it was just, youknow it was ubiquitous around me
and whatever, and so you know I, you know just.
Janette Marson (02:42):
Well, let's go back in history to the very
beginning, because that's thehidden gem, the thing that's the
coolest, other than yourincredible gallery right now.
Right, talk about the history,how it began and what it is now.
Matt Burnett (02:58):
So the history and there'll be kind of a similar
DNA and all these stories that Imay tell about how the
evolution of different things,but really World War II was
really how a lot of theseopportunities arose, and
specifically with the gallery,and prior to that, let's say, my
(03:18):
grandfather used to have agrocery store in 1937 here with
his brother at Scarce BrothersGroceries.
He used to have a grocery storein 1937 here with his brother
at Scarce Brothers Groceries.
He was in a bunch of differentthings and then bought a jewelry
store in 1940 that's up on MainStreet now the building there
(03:38):
and during World War II therewas silver rationing going on
and so he couldn't get silverbecause he was a small-time
jeweler and so you had to be abig guy to get it.
So anyway he started, insteadof his cases being empty, even
though it was a jewelry store,he did sell hollowware and
silver and whatnot.
So he put an ad out here in thelocal paper to buy back old
American silver and so hestarted getting a lot of these
(04:01):
old julep cups that would comeback into the store and so kind
of fell in love with them andthe different types that you
would see.
They were all marked bydifferent makers.
We did have some local Chevyoil makers at the time, anyway.
So he decided to take a couplejulep cups and make his own
(04:23):
version of julep cups.
For anybody that knows about theEnglish, the English, there's
an English hallmark system whichis you.
It was used, probably startingin like the 15th century, which
was basically a system If youwere a silversmith, you took
your wares that you made and youwent to the hall and you got up
, went up there in thegovernment which would stamp the
bottom of your whatever pieceit was with a cartouche that you
made.
And you went to the hall andyou got up, went up there in the
(04:44):
government to stamp the bottomof your whatever piece it was
with a cartouches which would bethe monarch, the city, that it
was your maker's mark, um, andin like a date letter.
And so he knew about englishsilver.
And so he said, well, maybeI'll do like an american kind of
spin on this, and so I'll, uh,I'll put a, a little cartouche
(05:06):
on the bottom which is like a,basically a little stamp with a
symbol in it.
Um, and so he put a littleeagle in there and then he said
to date it.
For posterity's sake I'll putthe initials of the um president
of the time it's made.
And so this was, like I said,right at the end of world war ii
, you know, when it was over,but he couldn't get.
And so this was, like I said,right at the end of World War II
, you know, when it was over,but he couldn't get silver.
(05:27):
So that was, that was a way forhim, and so he still couldn't
get silver at this point, but hehad come up with the idea.
And so he you know there's somein his in his writings he wrote
about kind of decision makingsand things like that.
He wrote that he went to NewYork and cried some big tears to
get some silver from one ofthese silver companies and so
got the first kind of and silver.
(05:48):
They come in discs.
Julep cups are made all by handreally.
They call it annealing, whichis a process of heating up the
silver, and then they spin them,which they put them.
There's a chuck which isbasically a form or a shape, and
then they put it on and itspins and then they shape it to
give it the shape of a cup.
(06:11):
So everything is basically doneby hand.
It's not a machine kind ofprocess where a lot of people
may think that especially thegood ones Right, and we think we
have good ones so all thatbeing said.
So then that was he starteddoing those and that was kind of
the evolution of the Julep Cupand having that and so that kind
of dovetailed with WakefieldScarce this is the same time
(06:32):
period there's a gentleman namedMark Wakefield who came to my
grandfather one day with anarticle from the Courier-Journal
that had an ad for the BritishAntique Dealer Association
opening trade up again.
This is right after World War II, the back story of Mr Wakefield
.
He was a Chevyvillian but didbusiness in Louisville and was
(06:53):
in real estate and had divestedhis interest in his real estate
and so he had capital and mygrandfather had knowledge of.
Particularly my grandfathergravitated towards silver,
antique silver, um.
But he came back and he was mrwakefield, was a little bit
older than my grandfather but hesaid hey, why don't you go to
england and buy some of theseantiques, um, and we'll try to
(07:16):
sell them and whatever.
And my grandfather's likewhatever, you know, we're just a
country boy jeweler.
You know this is 1947 whereshelby County still, you know,
if not the largest.
You know burly tobaccoproducers in the state.
You know that's kind of wherewe are, just downtown's, they're
really the hub of the city.
Everything else is mostlyfarmland.
Um, but Mr comes back, I guessprobably a week later with a
(07:40):
plane ticket to England and so,as I say, the rest is history.
But so how, that business inWorld War II and all that, and
then how, where we are today,which is in the Science Hill
Female Academy, the school, sohow, those that business idea
and the school kind of gotmarried together, is once the
school ceased to be a school.
So it started in 1825, ran to1939, the Depression finally got
(08:03):
the best of it.
The Poynter family, which wasthe second family that ran the
school the father had passedaway.
You know times got hard withthe Depression so they shut down
.
The school still rented outrooms to local you know mostly
widowed ladies, and these werethe rooms the girls lived in.
(08:26):
But in the big part of theschool there was a chapel, so
that was not being used.
It was a large, probably about3,500 square foot space but it's
16-foot ceilings in there.
So my grandfather and MrWakefield started renting that.
And so when the first real carof antiques started coming in.
That's where they housed them,and so they put them in there
(08:46):
and then they would auction themoff at the end of the end of
the season and kind of redo thething.
So he was always running up anddown Sixth Street between his
jewelry store and, you know, thestorefront there at Wakefield
Scarce.
And so that's where we startedin 1947 doing that, and so we
did that.
He did that for 14 years beforehe actually took the plunge and
bought the whole building, thewhole, you know, 30,000 square
(09:09):
foot building.
Mr Wakefield kind of bowed outafter about four years, said he
was going to go back to hisfirst love, real estate.
My grandfather said, hey, can Ikeep the name?
We've got a little somethinggoing here.
And so he was like sure, sothat's kind of how we started.
Janette Marson (09:23):
And the rest is history.
Oh, and I have to say I amstruggling with laryngitis, so
excuse my voice, I forgot to saythat earlier.
So, going back to the silver, Iguess it's easier to get silver
now, oh yeah, and you make yourown cups or get the silver.
Matt Burnett (09:41):
So we have craftsmen that make cups and so
we started doing those.
During the Truman administrationmy grandfather found out pretty
quickly.
He got the silver in, as Ialluded to earlier, from New
York and he came in and he had agentleman that was kind of a
jack-of-all-trades, very justgood with their hands and they
could do stuff, and mygrandfather actually bought some
(10:02):
equipment from.
It was like the CincinnatiSilver Company that had gone out
of business and you know he'sthinking, hey, we can just do
this in-house, do this whatever.
He found out pretty quick thatyou know it's a skilled it's.
You got to be skilled to dothis kind of this kind of work,
because you know when you'respinning these cups it's you
(10:22):
know you got to have a certaintouch when you do it, because if
you do it too thin then the cupbreaks, especially when I say
the cup, the body of the cup.
So there's definitely an artform to the whole thing.
And so he ended up findingsomebody that would make him
head along partnership with them.
And so for today I mean westill have a nice partnership,
(10:43):
not with these folks, butanother smaller firm, and this
firm actually makes the KentuckyDerby Trophy.
That makes our cup.
Mason Warren (10:52):
I did not know that that's neat, neat, fun fact
.
Matt Burnett (10:55):
So it's a family business too that they have.
So it's pretty neat.
It's been a good partnershipwith them as well.
And the other thing, with kindof our cups as I alluded to when
we were talking about theHallmark system and the Eagle
Cartouche and putting them onthe bottom, dating them we also
send each president a cup, theirfirst term, and we'll send it
(11:21):
and we'll put the seal of theUnited States, the presidential
seal, and send it to them in awooden box and say,
congratulations, you know, onyour election and whatnot
Doesn't matter if you have an Ror D by your name, right,
everyone gets one, because wehear that a lot about.
I don't want that cup, I don'twant to touch this cup, but we
say, hey, we're just markers andthis is just a marker in time,
right, you know, and we didn'telect them and whatever, we just
(11:42):
make the cup with the mark onit.
Janette Marson (11:43):
Do you get notes back from the presidents?
Matt Burnett (11:45):
Yes, so we do actually have some on display
that we got from actualpresidents and they actually
signed them.
As you've gotten further alongdown the line, they're just kind
of boilerplate.
The form letter.
Mason Warren (11:58):
Yes, thank you.
Matt Burnett (11:59):
But we do have some from like Lyndon Johnson,
eisenhower and things like thatthat are actually signed by them
, which is kind of fun.
And the other thing kind ofwith our cups that not only can
you date them when they're madein a four-year period, and I
guess I should also say if it'sa second term, it's denoted with
a Roman numeral II after thename.
The other kind of maybe quirkything too is when you see our
(12:21):
first cups, the Truman cups, weonly put HT on the bottom.
Quirky thing too is when yousee our first cups, the Truman
cups, we only put HT on thebottom.
We didn't put the three letter,all three letters, on the
bottom.
So since then we've put allthree letters, except with we
call him daddy Bush, but GeorgeHerbert Walker Bush.
Right, we have four initials onthe bottom for that.
So those are kind of a littledifferent than the normal.
But and then the other thing is, once we make those, we make
(12:43):
those cups during that four-yearperiod.
Once that president leaves, wecease to make that cup with that
mark on it anymore and we don'tever set out to make a certain
amount.
It's all supply and demand ishow we make.
So you know, we can forecast alittle bit.
Always when you have a newpresident, like the new ones
that came out with enrollment inWorld 2, we'll have an uptick
(13:10):
in sales, just because we knowwe have collectors that collect
the whole set.
So right now we're up to Iguess this is our 20th cup
that's come out and so we've gotfolks that'll.
They don't, they don't care, ifyou know, if they were
republican or democrat, theyjust want the whole collection.
Um, and so we we always have.
You know, we have a list rightnow that we still have a waiting
list of trying to our craftsmento get those, because we don't
even make the cup, I mean untilafter inauguration, so we don't
(13:32):
make them.
We want it to be pure, purely.
This cup was made once theywere during that time.
Yes, it's not a they're sittingon the shelf and this, that and
the other, we make them and wetry.
So we try to hold firm to thatand make it as authentic as
possible.
Janette Marson (13:47):
That's definitely a hidden gem and
wonder.
Definitely, Absolutely.
Mason Warren (13:52):
So, since receiving one of the cups or a
julep cup as a gift, have any ofthe?
I know you've had letterswritten and responses, but have
any presidents become regularcustomers or anything like that?
Matt Burnett (14:03):
Yes, we've had.
I guess our biggest one wouldbe Lyndon Johnson.
He ordered 650 one year for hiscabinet members.
Oh really Very cool, excuse me.
So he actually he ordered somebeforehand and what the story
(14:24):
goes was that he was at acocktail party with juleps there
I think he was talking aboutthe cup and somebody had said
well, if you'd like to just havethis style of the cup or
whatever, you gotta look on thebottom and it has his initials
on the bottom of the cup.
So um and so that kind of gotus on his radar.
His secretary had called andtalked to my grandfather and
they've ordered just a few, justkind of the trial run, I think
(14:46):
from what the writings, he, hiswritings, and so then one I
think it was September, octoberfrom what he wrote the president
actually called him up on thephone and and they, as he called
it, did a little horse tradingand some for it People said
about Lennon.
Johnson, that was probably.
That was probably very true.
But you know, my grandfatherwas like, well, mr President,
(15:07):
that's a tough order to 650 cupsin this amount of time Like I
said, as I alluded to before,these are handmade and he was
like, well, scarce, I know youcan get it done.
And so anyway, he got it doneand they got it to DC in time to
be able to give those out asgifts to his cabinet members and
whatnot that's amazing.
So that's kind of our biggestone and Johnson's probably our
(15:34):
most popular cup, or the mostmade, I should say I'm sure my
grandfather probably pushedthose pretty hard after he knew
that they were present.
The other presidents we've had Iknow the Bush family used them
as well.
George W Bush, he used thosewhen they would go abroad.
He would use those as gifts todignitaries when they would show
up.
So we'd have our box there in apresentation box and the seal
of the president on there andsometimes something a little
(15:57):
note on the back to denote thevisit or whatever.
So anyway, that was kind ofanother one.
And then we've also I know theambassador to England from the
US, matthew Barzon, I believehis name was.
He bought one to give as aChristian gift for Prince George
a few years ago.
Janette Marson (16:19):
Very neat.
Anyway.
Now, apart from the julep cups,which is very cool, downstairs
you have a really awesome silvercollection.
Is that like the largest silvercollection in the world, or
where did that come from?
I just think it's neat lookingdown there.
Matt Burnett (16:36):
So what she alluded to was our silver vault,
and so our silver vault.
A lot of if you ever come tothe gallery, it's a lot of our
rooms in which you'll seearchitecture is fashioned after
travels in England, and so thesilver vault is fashioned after
the London silver vaults, whichwere basically re subterranean
retail spaces that were revivedafter world war two.
(16:59):
They originally were bankvaults.
They got blown up and then whenthey rebuilt uh, you know
infrastructure, whatever,instead of them being bank
vaults, they ended up puttingretail spaces, you know
infrastructure or whatever,instead of them being bank
vaults, they ended up puttingretail spaces, you know
underground.
And so what you'll see where wehave it is basically you know
what you would see if you wentto the London silver vaults.
And so my grandfather, he lovedsilver and so at one time we had
(17:21):
probably the largest collectionin the US of English and
English silver.
Very good so, and we still dothat.
We've moved it around and westill have silver down there.
You know, our business is ebband flows with times and so
people don't use silver as muchand maybe have the large dinner
(17:43):
parties as they used to, butthere's still pockets of people
that do, and we're kind of asurvivor, I think.
Think in the sense that we'restill here and doing it.
So that smaller pocket ofpeople, you know they, they know
what we do and hopefullythey'll come ring the register
for us.
Janette Marson (17:57):
Absolutely Well.
You must be polishing day andnight, because it's always
beautiful down there.
You know silver.
Matt Burnett (18:03):
And we also.
Yeah, well, there's a lot ofpolishing, but there's also a
lot of in these days.
There's a lot of polishing, butthere's also a lot of these
days a lot of preventativethings that you can maintenance.
You can do prior or after youuse a piece to kind of help put
tarnish at bay a little bit more.
So a lot of good products outthere to help with that.
Mason Warren (18:19):
And we've talked a little bit about it.
It's a 30,000 square footbuilding.
I don't know how many rooms,but they're all full of amazing
antiques.
Do you source your like?
Matt Burnett (18:34):
how do you get them?
How do you find what you'regoing to sell in the gallery?
So a lot of it is just justgoing to england and sourcing it
.
Uh, that was the original kindof setup it's.
It's changed over the years andalso, um, we have a warehouse,
uh, you know, over on uh, thatruns from Maine to Washington or
to Henry Clay excuse me that wehave three floors in there as
well.
And the reason we have awarehouse is because when you
(18:57):
buy a large amount of antiques,you have to almost get a
container or two of them to makeits cost prohibitive if you try
to just do one piece, so wehave to get a container.
The setup before was, and westill have.
Do one piece, so we have to geta container.
Um, the setup before was, andwe still have a little bit of.
We have buyers over there.
You know, it's kind of buildingrelationships and people end up
knowing what you want, what yourcustomers want, how you operate
(19:19):
, what you're looking for, andso you know the it used to be.
You know, send polaroidpictures and it would you know
three weeks before you getsomething and see it now it's's
just instantaneous.
Yes, no, yes, no.
That's kind of how it workedout.
We also would not buy everyyear.
We're playing with exchangerates, so we have to time when
(19:39):
we buy things and when we don't,because some years we can get
things half price some things.
It's 30% higher.
You've got to do a littleforecasting too on that.
That's primarily where we'vegot it.
It's 30 percent higher, so it'skind of a.
You know, you got to do alittle forecasting too on that,
so that's that's primarily wherewe've got it.
We, we used to say we didn't buyin our backyard, so to speak,
which would be maybe thecontinental us or even closer.
But um, today, with justtechnology and you know,
(20:02):
everything's online and at yourfingertips.
It it makes it a lot easier to.
You.
Don't have to get a hold I.
I can buy things here statesidenow.
Janette Marson (20:11):
Oh, that's good.
Matt Burnett (20:12):
Just because so much was brought over here.
I mean, our look had the heydaywas probably, you know,
starting in the 70s, 80s and 90s.
It's changed but it's there'sstill again where there's
pockets of people it's just notnecessarily, just not
necessarily involved.
We always say we're kind of ina deeper trough in the sense of
the style and what the what thelook is, but it'll come back at
(20:34):
some point.
I mean, if you look at whatantiques uh, some of the pricing
of that today, versus buyingsomething brand new there's got,
there's gonna be apex somewherewhere they cross up where it's
going to cost more just to buysomething brand new that doesn't
maybe even have the history orthe character or the material
that withstands the test of timethat antiques can.
(20:55):
So you know we're just holdingstrong to that and we believe
that, and there's nothing wrongwith new things, don't get me
wrong.
But for those that you knowlove history and love to have
nice things, and you know we'rethere for them love to have nice
things and and uh, you knowwe're, we're there for them, and
you guys are very, very famousfor your Christmas displays
(21:15):
every year.
Janette Marson (21:16):
Yes, um, and so talk a little bit about, um,
what it takes to get ready forChristmas, cause it is for those
of you that have never been toWakefield scarce or seen the
Christmas displays.
It is definitely something totravel for, but how long does it
take to get ready and tell ushow many rooms?
(21:36):
Just describe what it's like atChristmas.
Matt Burnett (21:38):
Sure.
So we have about 30 displayrooms and in every room we do a
different tree, a differenttheme.
So it's a lot and we've alreadyjust to kind of give you the
life cycle of it we've alreadybought for this year.
So markets there's markets alltime of year, but the big one is
in Atlanta and that was thesecond week in January.
(22:02):
So we've already bought andjust now it's more processing
and getting ready and all this.
So we already had our themesready and all this.
And that's just the life cycleof how you do business.
Today Everything's kind ofjust-in-time manufacturing For
certain things, if you want it.
Nobody keeps anything onshelves, so you've got to get
your orders in early and often,and even then you're not
guaranteed to get things.
Janette Marson (22:22):
Now, do you design or do you have some?
Is it your whole team?
How do you decide how to makeit glorious, like you do every
year?
Matt Burnett (22:29):
So we have a Christmas coordinator, okay, and
that's basically.
Mason Warren (22:32):
What a fun job.
Matt Burnett (22:33):
Yeah, that's basically, for the most part,
her singular job is, you know,just to come up with the themes,
come up with the ideas, andthat's ornaments that we call
sit-arounds, ribbons, colors,all the things that kind of tie
it together.
What the room looks like, youknow, and so where it will be
(22:54):
all the different.
Is it going to be a bedroom, isit going to be an office?
So all those different things,and that's kind of her job.
Her job is singular job.
And then the rest of us, we'rethere just to support her.
You know we may help her movethings or, you know, say, yeah,
that's probably this, that orthe other, but but yeah, she's.
Mason Warren (23:13):
She comes in with the vision, correct, gotcha.
Matt Burnett (23:15):
And we'll and we may say you know, obviously I'm
the money guy and I have thepurse drink, so I do have to
give them a budget Right.
So that's the otherconsideration.
And so you know I have to dosome forecasting and saying I
don't know what the economy isgoing to look like from one year
to the next, but you kind ofcan feel a little bit of the
winds, how they're blowing, andso you try to figure that out,
(23:39):
obviously.
Janette Marson (23:40):
So how long does it take you to get all set up?
Once everything comes in,you're like we're ready.
How long does it take?
Matt Burnett (23:48):
So they start probably around September and
part of the reason we start thatearly is that there is a lot.
But also we kind of kick offChristmas earlier than a lot of
people like to, because ourkickoff is always the day after
Election Day and we've had itlike that for years and there's
kind of a couple reasons forthat, because some people are
like I don't want to look atchristmas until thanksgiving is
(24:09):
over.
I get that.
But also we know that peopleplan before before christmas
what their mantle looks like orwhat they want.
You know if they have adifferent theme.
So you know we want we do thatearly so they have time.
So when you know thanksgivinghits, they've already got their
items and they're ready to goversus.
You know, if you start, youknow if we kicked off Christmas
(24:32):
after Thanksgiving, then youonly have sometimes only two or
three weeks to sell things.
So we get I mean, in our homewe get it.
We don't usually pull outChristmas until Thanksgiving.
But that extra, you know, fouror five weeks prior to the
Thanksgiving Black Friday kindof thing, when it official kind
of kicks off just helps Right.
Janette Marson (24:54):
And then all the decorations are for sale.
Yes, people can come in andjust buy it all.
Matt Burnett (24:58):
Yes, yes, and it's fun for us.
I mean kind of the oxygen keepsus going year after year.
As you know, we're kind of onour third generation of folks
that have come in and it's justalways kind of just really cool
to see grandmothers, mothers andtheir kids come in, and it's
their tradition.
They come every year.
It kicks off their Christmas,or they just do it every year,
(25:19):
and they have a lot of theirornaments in their home.
Their tree is.
Each year they pick it off atree or pick something special,
and so that helps us.
When you know you get tired oflooking at it all the time, that
you know you see that peoplelight up and that it's a special
place for a lot of people tocome and and and not only for
just families, but even, youknow, friends.
(25:40):
We're kind of a good centrallocation between Louisville and
Lexington, or we have a lot offolks from Cincinnati that
actually come down our way aswell, which you wouldn't think,
but we do.
They love to come down this way, and so you know those are some
other little things that add tothe whole ambiance of it and
(26:01):
for us on the other side of itto keep us going.
Mason Warren (26:04):
Well, when it's as spectacular as it is, you know,
worth the drive?
Yes, definitely worth the driveyeah going.
Well, when it's as spectacularas it is, you know, worth the
drive.
Definitely worth the drive.
Yeah, so we've talked, we'vealluded to it a little bit, but
can you talk about the spacethat the gallery is in it was?
You talked about the ScienceHill Female Academy a little bit
, but can you explain some ofthe history of that?
Matt Burnett (26:22):
Sure, sure, well, we've, we've got a exciting year
this year.
We've, we'll be.
The school will be celebrating200 years on March 25th of this
year.
Started in 1825 by Julia Tevis.
The school ended up in 1939.
After everything was built itwas a little over 30,000 square
(26:44):
feet.
The humble roots of it itstarted as just a two-story
house on the west side of theproperty, our lot number three
in all of Shelby County.
We don't know exactly when thehouse was built because I think
the lot was sold in like 1792,and then the school started in
(27:05):
1825.
So somewhere in that periodthere was a sale of the lot.
The records got destroyed sothere wasn't.
But because of the appreciationof a sale prior to 1825, the
Tevis's, we figured there wassome kind of structure on there.
So it started in 1825, and thenthe first Julia Tevis was from
(27:30):
Kentucky, got educated inVirginia, was quartering a
Methodist minister at this pointand he was being called back to
the wilderness which wasChubbyville and Science Hill is
kind of right on the US 60corridor which was the main
artery between Louisville andLexington.
So he primarily was working inLouisville but he was being
(27:52):
called back to this area.
And then finally, when theschool started 1825, and they
just put out a you know I guess,a flyer, some kind of
advertisement that they were andthey had just kind of day
students.
But as the school grew then hefinally asked if he could be
closer and work in Shelbyvilleand he did.
And so then, as the school grew, they started building more
(28:13):
infrastructure.
So the year after 1826, theykind of built another wing that
faces south, and then the nextyear they built another wing,
another two-story wing, and thenthere was another run that runs
kind of perpendicular to thosethat was built in 1830.
That was the dining room forthe girls.
So that part has been servingmeals and cooking meals since
(28:37):
1830 in there.
The chapel area that I alludedto for the gallery where we had
all our, where we housedoriginally all our things that
we imported, that was built in1859.
And then in 1860, at this point, if you think about it, these
are like four differentbuildings and they all have back
doors, so it's like a kind of aquad.
(28:59):
I guess you would call it stillopen area.
There's grass, probably inbetween or some kind of probably
stone walkways.
But then in 1860, a roof wasput on all these buildings and
they were all kind of tiedtogether at that point.
So that was kind of theevolution of it and that kind of
coincided with the Poynterfamily taking over as well.
(29:20):
The Poynter family kind of tookthe school to the next level.
Dr Poynter would go up northlike toley and Vassar and see
what their curriculums were, andthen he brought that back here
and basically had a partnershipwith them.
If a girl graduated here shehad automatic admission to those
(29:41):
schools which were the top girlschools.
And Science Hill was unique inthe sense that it was, I think,
the first Protestant girl'sschool west of the Allegheny
Mountains.
So that was another one.
And also Julia was veryprogressive for her day.
It's called Science Hill.
(30:03):
It's a pretty simple formula.
If you see our building, we'reup on a hill right down from
where we're doing this podcastand she wanted to teach girls
math and science, all the thingsthe boys were taught that the
girls were not really focused on.
So she was very progressive fora day and that was kind of what
was called that.
Janette Marson (30:23):
Well, very, very , very, very cool, and you were
talking about the 200thanniversary, so do you have big
plans for?
Tell us about it.
Matt Burnett (30:33):
So the bicentennial we've been planning
we're going to have a Saturday,march 22nd, from 10 am to 4 pm.
We're going to have kind of acommunity event day and we'll
have a stage in kind of theindoor courtyard area and we'll
have different, differentactivities.
We're going to have somebodythat will be there in as Miss
(30:58):
Tevis that will kind of be doinga monologue and kind of talking
as Miss Tevis.
Then we'll have somebody thatwill be doing historical,
appropriate clothing kind ofwhat they call it clothing
deconstruction, so you'll beable to on the men's and women's
side.
So you'll be able to on themen's and women's side, so
you'll be able to kind of seewhat they wore and how they wore
it and those things.
One fun thing we will have iswe'll have a spelling bee Very
(31:21):
good and then we'll have someother folks up there that will
be kind of being like scienceteachers of the time and then in
the rooms we'll have differentyou know kind of different
easels and different props andthings that kind of.
You know, as you walk throughthe building kind of be like,
well, this room was used forthis, or this is where the girls
lived and this is how manylived in there and things like
(31:43):
that.
So that day we'll have peoplekind of on the campus as well.
That will be, you know, like aleather maker, maybe a
woodworker.
You know people that were inthat time period and how they
worked and whatnot.
I think we may have a couplefood trucks over there as well,
just, you know, for people tohave lunch and whatnot, and we
(32:06):
will have a schedule of times.
We will be posting that to ourwebsite and then also facebook
and kind of instagram.
And then that evening, startingaround six o'clock, we'll have
we're gonna have a bicentennialdinner.
It'll be reserved only to 75people.
Tickets are 75 each.
So we'll start a cocktail hourand we're gonna have a we're
(32:29):
gonna-appropriate punch, kind ofa liquor punch I don't know
exactly what it's called, butthey're going to make a punch
for that.
I think we'll have some wine.
We're going to have liveentertainment somebody playing
the piano for a little cocktailhour for about an hour and a
half, and then we will havedinner start at 7.15, and we
will have a um kind of speakingon.
(32:51):
Uh, julia actually wrote aboutthe first her thoughts on the
first day of the school when itopened, and so we're going to
read from her book with thatkind of an opening, and then
we'll have, um, I might, I maytalk a little bit just saying
hello and welcome.
And then we'll have anotherhopefully speaker kind of
talking about historical, uh,maybe just even education in
(33:12):
Kentucky and how it all ties inthere.
And then we're going to have akind of a we'll have a
period-appropriate meal out ofan old cookbook from I think it
was 1827 or something like that.
Janette Marson (33:22):
That sounds fabulous, Sounds very fun.
So how do you?
Mason Warren (33:25):
I have a ticket, but how do other people get
tickets?
Matt Burnett (33:27):
Sure, yeah, the biggest thing will be if they go
to our Facebook page.
That's probably we'll have aflyer there.
We'll put flyers out as well,but it'll be a QR code on there
that you can scan with yourphone.
That's probably going to be theeasiest way, because if things
change then without making itset you know, we can always
change things and make it alittle more fluid.
But that's pretty much the setschedule there.
(33:49):
But they go to Instagram orFacebook or even just our
website, wakefieldscarescomslash events.
You should be able to find allthe information there.
Hopefully you already liked ourpage on Facebook.
Mason Warren (34:02):
If not, go like it please, and on Facebook you're
Wakefield Scares Galleries.
Matt Burnett (34:05):
Yeah, just Wakefield Scares.
Okay, Just Wakefield Sca.
Yeah, so, um, and that's yeah.
So we're, we're excited aboutuh, about that, you know.
So we're uh, and we'll probablyhave some other things
throughout the year.
I mean, we'll be celebratingall year, but this will be the
main kind of kickoff forcelebrating the 200th year Very,
very exciting.
Janette Marson (34:24):
So, um, people are going to probably listen to
this and they're going to wantto rush over to wakefield scarce
galleries.
Um, what's your hours like on aregular basis?
Matt Burnett (34:33):
sure days and so right now our winter hours are,
uh, wednesday through saturdayfrom 10 am to 4 pm.
We're always open for privateshowings and and other.
You know those kind ofschedules because we know people
travel on certain days andthat's fine too.
But, um, you know thewise,that's it.
When it comes to Christmas,then we'll be open an extra day.
(34:54):
We'll be open Tuesday throughSaturday, but that usually
doesn't hit until October,november.
So that's kind of our mainschedule right now.
Janette Marson (35:07):
Well, for those of you that have never been to
Wakefield Scares Gallery, it istruly spectacular.
It's an experience both insideand out.
You've got the garden area thatit feels like you're just
walking into an English garden,which is probably what it's
fashioned after it is yeah.
Matt Burnett (35:26):
Yeah, and we know some people don't like antiques,
but we still say come on out,because even if you can
appreciate some history, oh, thehistory behind everything and
the things.
Yeah, I mean you can come bringa lunch, sit down in our
courtyard, inside or out, andenjoy the thing.
I mean we have a lot of things,you know, walls of photographs
(35:47):
and manuscripts and report cardsand just some.
You know paraphernalia andthings like that from the school
that you can get a, get caughtup on it and see their
curriculums.
You can see what you know, thegrades, you see what the girls
wrote about.
Even kind of up on the thirdfloor there's the window panes
up there where the girls livedyou know there's etchings of
their with their, with rings,diamond rings that they would
(36:09):
put their names in there, andthe dates and stuff like that.
So definitely history aroundevery corner.
Whether you're into antiques orjust historical buildings, it's
been a good marriage for whatwe do business-wise and a good
historical property.
Janette Marson (36:23):
Well, I remember you showed me the boiler room.
I even thought the boiler roomwas awesome.
Matt Burnett (36:27):
Yes, yes.
Janette Marson (36:30):
Every inch of it is amazing.
Mason Warren (36:31):
Yeah, yeah, all right.
Well, thank you for being here,and then I don't have any other
questions.
Do you have any?
Janette Marson (36:37):
I do not Thank you so much for being here.
Matt Burnett (36:39):
Yeah, we appreciate you.
Thank you all for inviting usand come see us.
Absolutely, thank you.
Mason Warren (36:49):
This has been Kentucky Hidden Wonders.
Thank you to Matt Burnett forcoming on the show to talk about
Wakefield's Cache Galleries andthank you for listening.
If you've made it this far,make sure you subscribe and
leave us a review.
It means the world to us.
We'll be back in two weeks witha brand new Kentucky Hidden
Wonder.
Bye everyone.
(37:15):
Kentucky Hidden Wonders is aShelby KY Tourism production.
Your hosts are Janet Marson andMason Horan.
To learn more about Shelby KYTourism and to start planning a
visit, head to visitshelbykycom.
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