Cindy DiFazio - Staff Writer

One day in August of this year, Roselyn McKittrick, longtime proprietor of Milan Station Antiques & Collectibles and curator of the Milan ’54 Museum, was minding the store as usual. She could not have known that someone was about to walk through her door and change her life. Likewise, Susan and Bryan Woffindale, recent transplants from the UK, the United Kingdom not the University of Kentucky, were unaware that they would be the ones to bring about that change.

Susan reports that the couple was simply out for a walk, exploring their newly adopted hometown, and were drawn to check out the antique shop. She says of their initial conversation with McKittrick, “She wasn’t selling and we weren’t buying.”

However, a few months later, the Woffindales have indeed bought Milan Station Antiques & Collectibles. McKittrick shared that on the day that the Woffindales strolled into the shop, she had been contemplating what direction her life path should take. “It was my (late) sister’s birthday,” she explained, and “I was giving my future a lot of thought.”

McKittrick, who is well known for her love of Milan and the miracle basketball team of ’54, feels she can now devote more of her time and talents to the running and promotion of the Milan ’54 Museum. She stated that the non-profit board that oversees the museum is “tickled to death.” The Woffindales and McKittrick are equally delighted with the arrangement. McKittrick said, “It was just meant to be.”
Recently, Susan and daughter, Blanche, along with McKittrick, sponsored what they dubbed Milan School 2006 - A History Day. They gave tours of the museum, the old barbershop and the new town hall to several groups of Milan Elementary School students.

On Thursday, December 14, the second day of the tours, third graders from Mrs. Mischell’s and Mrs. Powlen’s classes listened intently to Mrs. McKittrick who talked to them about the Milan ’54 basketball team and the importance of loyalty, respect and teamwork.

They were then split into two groups. Blanche, who is soon to become a teacher, took one group to the barbershop and town hall while Susan shared some of her British background with the other group. She had the kids try on old-fashioned hats and Beefeaters’ British royal guard helmets, then explained the British tradition of Christmas Crackers. Two children tugged at each end of the cardboard “cracker” which makes a popping sound when pulled apart. Inside the “cracker” is a paper Christmas hat and a little prize. “You are now knighted,” she told the young man who got to wear the crown from inside the “cracker.” All of the students wanted to try one.

The kids were also very attentive while Susan talked to them about people from other parts of the world. She shared with them, “When you meet people from different cultures, be a little bit patient because traditions and languages are not the same everywhere.”

Finally, each child got to type his or her name on a manual typewriter. Everyone enjoyed the learning experience and enthusiastically welcomed the Woffindales to Milan.

The store, located at 113 West Carr Street, is open Wednesday, 10-5; Thursday-Saturday 10-6 and Sunday 10-5. They are closed on Monday and Tuesday.