In Ledyard, we recently experienced the second of two major roadside extravaganzas, which featured a lot of junk and antiques for sale at various and sundry locations. There were antique shops, which are permanent locations, and then there were mysterious tents and table locations, which sprout, like desert flowers, only for these special selling occasions.
What am I talking about? Why, the ancient and honorable Route 90 sale, of last month, and the new Route 34B sale, which happened this month.
For those who are not familiar with these occasions, a committee establishes one weekend per year, promotes the occasion for selling excess household goods and anything else, as well as the goods on hand at established retail locations. Included in the preparations is a definition of the length of highway on which the sale extends. The Route 90 sale goes over routes 5 and 20 to Montezuma and Route 31. The Route 34B sale goes from Fleming all the way to Lansing. Unless you want to shop the sales, you do not want to be trying to drive on those stretches of either highway when the big sales are going on.
Which brings up my cautionary thought for this journal: divert the big trucks that insist on coming through during the sale day. On Saturday of the 34B Sale, I was standing on the shoulder of the highway, taking digital pictures of the soon-to-be Sherwood Corners Antique Shop, not paying attention to traffic, when an 18-wheeler dry tanker (U-boat) pulls into the middle of the road and whistles by me. And all kinds of other people walking to or from the stores and home sales. It took me by total surprise and got the adrenaline flowing. A state trooper at the ends of the sale route, diverting all truck traffic would be a simple answer.
I suppose the dealers might make some money on the sales, but the homeowners just want to move out unused or obsolete items at a fraction of the original cost. Understandably, there are fantastic bargains available. The Route 90 sale is very old, and the items available are not of the quality of the item's early years.
I'm told that a lot of family heirloom quality items were sold back then, because people did not recognize the values. That is what brings in the huge influx of shoppers and dealers from out of state.
The 34B sale suffered from rainstorms this year, so it was not as strong as the established Route 90 one. At the 34B sale, you could buy a pair of Sea Doo speedsters; a 30-year-old fiberglass cruiser; any kind of glassware, barware or kitchenware you could dream up; adult clothing or baby clothing at the Dinosaur Dry Goods or at most house sales; motorcycles, bicycles and on and on.
I just go for the thrill of the search, looking for that impossible bargain. But I have to remember that a majority of the bargains my wife and I pick up wind up in our sale items collection years later. Looking at the storage shelves in our basement and attic, I'm thinking like George Carlin: We have too much stuff, and that we will have to do the Route 90 sale again next year. Look for two tents in the front driveway.
William Dugan is former supervisor for the town of Ledyard.
For those who are not familiar with these occasions, a committee establishes one weekend per year, promotes the occasion for selling excess household goods and anything else, as well as the goods on hand at established retail locations. Included in the preparations is a definition of the length of highway on which the sale extends. The Route 90 sale goes over routes 5 and 20 to Montezuma and Route 31. The Route 34B sale goes from Fleming all the way to Lansing. Unless you want to shop the sales, you do not want to be trying to drive on those stretches of either highway when the big sales are going on.
Which brings up my cautionary thought for this journal: divert the big trucks that insist on coming through during the sale day. On Saturday of the 34B Sale, I was standing on the shoulder of the highway, taking digital pictures of the soon-to-be Sherwood Corners Antique Shop, not paying attention to traffic, when an 18-wheeler dry tanker (U-boat) pulls into the middle of the road and whistles by me. And all kinds of other people walking to or from the stores and home sales. It took me by total surprise and got the adrenaline flowing. A state trooper at the ends of the sale route, diverting all truck traffic would be a simple answer.
I suppose the dealers might make some money on the sales, but the homeowners just want to move out unused or obsolete items at a fraction of the original cost. Understandably, there are fantastic bargains available. The Route 90 sale is very old, and the items available are not of the quality of the item's early years.
I'm told that a lot of family heirloom quality items were sold back then, because people did not recognize the values. That is what brings in the huge influx of shoppers and dealers from out of state.
The 34B sale suffered from rainstorms this year, so it was not as strong as the established Route 90 one. At the 34B sale, you could buy a pair of Sea Doo speedsters; a 30-year-old fiberglass cruiser; any kind of glassware, barware or kitchenware you could dream up; adult clothing or baby clothing at the Dinosaur Dry Goods or at most house sales; motorcycles, bicycles and on and on.
I just go for the thrill of the search, looking for that impossible bargain. But I have to remember that a majority of the bargains my wife and I pick up wind up in our sale items collection years later. Looking at the storage shelves in our basement and attic, I'm thinking like George Carlin: We have too much stuff, and that we will have to do the Route 90 sale again next year. Look for two tents in the front driveway.
William Dugan is former supervisor for the town of Ledyard.
The Citizens' Say
There are No comments posted.