Who thought they would be an organ grinder when they grew up?

Dean did, and he has lived with that idea since seeing an organ grinder perform with his monkey in Bombay, India back in 1968 when he was 12 years old. The experience was such a joy, he never forgot it. Around that time, Donovon, along with the Beatles, had been in India and Donovan wrote the song "Hurdy Gurdy Man." Dean loved the song but it wasn't until years later that he really paid attention to the words, only to discover that they perfectly described his experience of hearing the organ grinder while peering out over the ocean.

"Thrown like a star in my vast sleep
I opened up my eyes to take a peek
To find that I was by the sea
Gazing with tranquility;
It was there when the hurdy gurdy man
Came singing songs of love."

Donovon

Dean's life has taken many turns since those days but he has recently been living out his dream as co-owner of a new business called, yes, you guessed it, Hurdy Gurdy Man Antiques, where he and his partner, Diane, sell vintage clothing and collectibles in Framingham, MA.

When Diane and Dean met, their mutual interest in antiques culminated in a decision to develop an antique business. Originally they sold furniture and collectibles but eventually decided to primarily focus on selling vintage clothing.

Ironically, both Diane and Dean had monkeys growing up in their family homes, so when Dean proposed the idea of using an organ grinder as the theme for the business, Diane readily agreed.

Just outside the shop (which is housed in an early 19th century barn) there is a huge, fiberglass sculpture of a clowns head which was once at Coney Island. Upon entering the shop, dressed in bygone fashion, Dean greets customers with glass-bottled Coca Cola from a 1950's Coke cooler. Two other greeters include mechanical organ grinders from the 1930s and 40s. One of these has a very life-like monkey atop his shoulder which moves his head and tilts his metal cup for pennies. The other is coin operated and moves his head and stamps his feet while playing the organ.

In one corner of the room there is an antique ticket booth which will eventually be used to sell tickets to the organ grinder shows Dean plans to conduct for children's parties once he and Diane have trained a monkey.

Hovering over a rack of vintage Hawaiian shirts for sale on the second level is a 12 ft. high paper mache hula dancer which was once part of an international display at the 1964 NY World's Fair.

Throughout the shop there are numerous displays accentuating a wide range of clothing from the Victorian era through the 1970s. This store is unusual in that it carries an equal amount of men's and women's clothing. Here you can buy anything from a 1920s chiffon evening dress to a hippie era leather fringe jacket!

This exciting new store was fueled by passion and it shows in the attention to detail. It is a casual, comfortable atmosphere for those who want to browse and find that special item of vintage clothing.

Hurdy Gurdy Man Antiques is open on a part-time basis. Diane has another full-time business so Dean manages most all of the business's affairs. Currently the shop is open by appointment.

Dean can be reached via phone at
207.963.7575 or 508.788.6369. Email him at dean@hurdygurdymanantiques.com.