Paul Cote welcomes us into his revived antique space on Main Street in Oxford, Maine, where a lifetime of collecting tells the story of Maine’s sporting past. His journey—from growing up in Poland, to early days in door-to-door sales, to running small-town businesses, seeing some succeed and others fail—ultimately led him to a life built around buying, selling, and preserving pieces of Sporting History.
In this conversation, Paul shares how decades in the pawn business became the foundation for assembling a remarkable 40-year collection of Maine sporting artifacts. We talk about Norway-area snowshoes, Paris Manufacturing sleds and wagons, fish carvings and plaques from iconic makers, and antique firearms that each carry their own story.
We also explore what he’s learned about restoration, why auctions aren’t the right fit for a collection like his, and his decision to begin selling pieces so they can find their way back into people’s homes.
In this conversation, Paul reflects on the value of history, the stories behind the objects, and the importance of keeping Maine’s sporting heritage alive through the people who continue to care about it.
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Host: Michael Jones
Producer: Sheri Maines
Fly Line Podcast is distributed by Podbean.
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