News Photo by Jordan Spence Vintage Christmas decorations continue to be a popular option for many people.

ALPENA — Erlene Ranger said she can’t pass by a box of antique Christmas ornaments without stopping to look.

Ranger and Mary Miller of Alpena both work at John Henry’s Coin and Antiques in Alpena.

During this time of year the booths of the store often will have antique Christmas decorations.

Miller said many times people come to the store with specific styles of decorations in mind, many times from the 1950s and ’60s.

“Many people come in and they hunt for the bubble lights. They use those as decoration (bubble lights are strings of lights where there is a bauble full of water heated by an incandescent light bulb),” Miller said. “The older tree toppers that go on the top of the tree. The majority are from the 50s and 60s and people love them.”

This year, she said, has been a popular one for silver aluminum Christmas trees.

“We don’t come across them often, but when we do those are sold right away,” she said.

Miller said people like the older decorations because they’re better quality.

“I think they’re better made, better quality,” she said. “They are different than from the ones that are made today. They just aren’t put together well.”

Ranger also believes this is the reason people love older decor.

“Old decorations are very popular,” Ranger said. “They’re popular with very young and very old. They bring up a lot of memories from grandma’s house and things I saw as a kid on the Christmas tree.”

Some of the most popular brand of ornaments are called Shiny Brights, she said.

“Shiny Brights is an American glass ornament company. They make some of the most beautiful European style glass bulbs you’ve ever seen,” Ranger said.

When it comes to the quality of the ornaments certain countries are known for how good their ornaments are, Ranger said.

“When you’re looking at Christmas ornaments the Germans make the best, next comes Poland and then U.S.A.,” Ranger said.

Other decorations also strike a chord with shoppers, such as the small vintage candles in the shape of churches, angels and choir members.

“Those are Gurley’s,” Ranger said. “Those are popular. So are other things like Putz houses. Those are paper cardboard houses and they’re quite detailed. People like those and they’re from the ’30s and ’40s.”

She said then of course there’s Santa.

“Everybody loves Santa,” Ranger said. “One of the dealers has all different types of Santa around the shop. You  can always find the one you had around as a child.”

When it comes to toys trains are popular, as are model cars, sleds, ice skates, the list could go on, Ranger said.

These types of decorations have been quite popular with younger people, Ranger noted. She thinks younger people like them not just because of nostalgia, but also because of style.

She said older ornaments and decorations had more detail to them. Whether it’s through the shape, color or artwork.

“There’s just so many wonderful Christmas things,” Ranger said.

Jordan Spence can be reached via email at jspence@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-