: - "St Stan's": Twenty-seven years and still sold out.
It began when a young Jack Donigian graduated college in 1976,
not sure how to set off on a career path. Should he interview for
some "corporate American" job or med school (he was a premed
undergraduate), or take another direction?
In the early 1970s Jack would accompany his parents to the old
Amherst, N.H., outdoor market in late spring and summer.
Sometimes, in addition to shopping, his parents would set up a
booth as dealers and he would help. Or he would park cars. No
matter what he was doing, Jack always enjoyed his time there, so
his big decision, in the end, was not so hard to make.
Jack discovered St Stanislof's Church in Nashua had a function
hall that was both a fair distance from the church and unused on
Sunday mornings. He made an agreement with church administrators
to go in early Sunday morning and be out in the afternoon. There
was a good deal of on-site parking, a kitchen for the food
vendor, a stage and several entries.
The hall accommodated 45 dealer booths and Jack has produced the
shows from the third Sunday of October through the first Sunday
of April every year since then.
Exhibitors offer simple displays of antiques they have usually
acquired in the prior week on house calls and from other sources.
In addition to collectors and decorators, buyers are frequently
dealers in shops, group shops and shows looking for goods to
resell. It is a "simple basic show [with] its own market, an
affordable 'wholesale market,'" according to Jack. And the
merchandise does sell well.
Mike Hughes, Wakefield, Mass.
On Sunday, December 28, Jack had a full house. Brian Shea
brought a New England lift-top two-drawer pine blanket chest priced
under $400, which sold early. From Saugus, Mass., he is a regular
at this show offering a wide variety of antiques including a doll's
cradle with feather mattress, pillow and quilt; a room-size braided
rug; and a Martha Washington style armchair.
From Vergennes, Vt., Greg Hamilton is also a regular dealer. He
came with a Hendel electric lamp, circa 1915, priced at $2,875,
and a small, fire hydrant-shaped sewing machine at $675. He sold
both in the first few minutes of the show.
In Mike Hughes' booth one table was filled with treenware --
wooden objects made on a lathe -- including several goblets. a
rolling pin. oil lamps, vases, and mortar and pestle sets. Prices
were very affordable so he went home "light" on merchandise.
Dealers at this show can be found offering a very wide variety of
merchandise in their booths. Alan Clark, Worcester, Mass., had
late English brass accessories, such as a hook for fireplace
tools; decorative carvings; a doorbell, the kind mounted on a
store's entry to jingle when a customer enters; and some painted
country accessories. As Jack also has some dealers set up outside
in the parking lot, Alan holds open shop there as well as inside.
J&S Antiques, Revere, Mass., offered art mostly in wall
hangings, including numerous paintings and some samplers.
Additionally they have art glass and early Tiffany style electric
lamps.
Bruce Miller is from West Franklin, N.H., and does many shows in
southern New Hampshire and eastern Massachusetts, usually with
the latest additions to his extensive collection of small New
England antiques. Wooden tools and gadgets, wood and tin boxes,
small Shaker-made items and small furniture are typical of his
inventory.
Bruce Miller, West Franklin, N.H.
From Vermont's Northeast Kingdom came Ruth and Dean Hatch
with their most recent finds. A collection of oil on canvas
paintings from the Nineteenth Century, a Boston-style rocking chair
and a one-drawer pine lift-top mule chest in red milk paint were
among their items. They do not participate every Sunday here, for
they also go to Historic Lakewood in Atlanta every month.
In the special language of antiques, someone who has "a good eye"
can spot a genuine antique at an especially good value. Many
dealers and collectors have it, including Bob DeLuca, Amesbury,
Mass. He brought an early small work table, Hepplewhite style,
circa 1800, in mixed woods, with original finish, priced under
$300. Middlebury, Vt. dealer David Thompson had several pieces of
furniture as well as a patented "no spill" ink well in flint
glass with pewter top from 1851. Another dealer found a teapot in
Old Sheffield plate for under $200. This is a great place for
good stuff at low prices.
Summing up, St Stan's -- a great place for good stuff at low
prices -- occurs every Sunday from mid-October through early
April. Just off exit 6 on New Hampshire Route 3, dealers are let
in at 7:30 am, while early buyers ($4) or season ticket holders
($80) enter at 9:30. Regular admission is at 10:30 ($2). Dealer
space rents for $45, including three eight-foot tables, one card
table and use of a wheeled cart. Spaces are reserved by calling
Jack at 781-329-1192, who has never missed a show in 27 years.
Try to catch one yourself -- it is worth the trip.
