Trunks offered by Sadie Funk Antiques, Hudson Falls, N.Y.
Keith Allan Dayer’s Techinical Wizardry, Greenwich, N.Y.
Sunny Day, Bright Sales for Washington County Antiques Fair
GREENWICH, N.Y. – George Green’s 5th annual Washington County Fairgrounds Antiques Fair and Flea Market opened on August 5 to sunny skies and a full parking lot. After a week of continuous rain and gloom in upstate New York, collectors and pickers alike were glad to get out of the house. And no one was disappointed with the 150 booths that exhibitors set up on Friday, when early buying was available for an admission fee. There was no admission charge to the main show on Saturday or Sunday.
The Fairground is perched high above the Hudson River on Route 29, just west of Greenwich, N.Y. The antiques fair and flea market is held twice a year in May and again in August. The show is known as a good place to get a bargain or make a find; many of the horsy set from nearby Saratoga Springs were in attendance. They were seen buying early Saturday morning so they could make it back to Saratoga by post time.
Just inside the gate, Wilda Southard’s Reflections of the Past had a nice array of old glass lampshades, ceramic lamps, paper fans, dishes and collectibles. Wilda, who is based in Middleton, Pa., had a second spot just outside the door that showcased her new business, Nice Stuff. Nice Stuff consists of wrought iron lawn and garden decorative products.
Across the hall from Reflections was Carol Vespi’s “Lookin’ Up”, a booth no antiques show can be without. Lookin’ Up sells price guides and reference materials for antiques, ranging from Fire King to American furniture. They also feature restoration products like polishes and display rdf_Descriptions. Carol can provide specific price lists according to subject matter. Lookin’ Up can be found locally in Albion, N.Y., from April to October in Wildwood, Fla., from October to April.
Dave Waters of Hoosick Antiques, Hoosick, N.Y., had his eclectic booth full of collectible toy trucks, plastic toys, old oilcans, and plastic animals. Next door to Dave, Bob Hardesty of Pilar to Post Antiques had a varied mix of furniture, beer steins, lamps, kitchen stuff and a nice stuffed red fox. Bob also had a very cool yellow and red handkerchief of a cowboy playing a guitar. The design and color on the piece was outstanding. Bob was asking $90 for the handkerchief.
Along the walkway, Chris McCaillon’s Pickers Delight booth was garnering a lot of attention. Chris had his wares laid out on long tables and each table was designated as a two-dollar or three-dollar table. Chris had something for everybody in his assortment of glassware, ceramics, and kitchen rdf_Descriptions.
If furniture was your game, Sadie Funk Antiques from Hudson Falls, N.Y., had your eye. Sadie had a nice group of old chairs, tables, beds, and super trunks. The furniture was varied in age and style. A drop leaf table with fluted legs in red paint could be had for only $75. Some of the pieces had been refinished and some were waiting for the new owner to do as he pleased.
Next booth over, Mike Hill had his own mixed furniture display. He had an old high chair, pine one drawer cabinet, shutters in green paint, wooden trunks, crocks, and a low one-drawer dresser.
Building 4 had everything from wooden planes to artwork by Chandler under its roof. John Hewitt of Perth Flea Market, Perth, N.Y., had his end booth filled with a number of old chairs he stripped, refinished, and re-caned. John also had a nice assortment of snowshoes and other Adirondack rustic rdf_Descriptions. He had a number of smalls including some striking blue and white canisters.
Charlene Albers had her homey booth filled with old kitchen implements arranged on a super 50s white and red enameled table. Charlene had a pair of old wooden ironing boards against the wall and some great linens. A number of ceramic smalls dotted the booth as well. Charlene also had a Victorian drop front desk and miscellaneous tables and chairs.
Sherri Newton of Sherri’s Country Accents, Selkirk, N.Y., had her best re-upholstered pieces on display along with refinished tables and painted furniture. Sherri does the reupholstering herself and is comfortable working on antiques. She encourages clients to bring their own fabric and let her do the work. Sherri had a nice vanity with mirror in the back of the booth. She had a cabinet that looked like an ice chest with bottom drawer up front. Sherri also had a comfy old rocker with footstool reupholstered in a gentle, green floral pattern.
Linda and Jack Lafalace were up from Florida and had their booth full. They had a huge cedar multi-drawer cabinet with brass pulls for only $695. The piece was about 7 feet long and might have served as a document storage cabinet from a former business. Linda and Jack had sleigh bells in all sizes hanging on the post out front. A table of old bottles and lanterns were nearby. Chairs in all styles were lined up at the entrance of the booth. Inside, the Lafalaces had a nice assortment of artwork, dishes, vases, and miscellaneous in every range.
Helen and Bob Saddlemire of H&B Antiques, Fort Edward, N.Y., and Village Antiques of South Glens Falls, had one of the more colorful booths on site featuring the best carnival glass and colored glass of all kinds. Helen had cranberry glass, blue/white decal dishes, and blue glass in every hue. She had vases, candy dishes, serving pieces, dessert dishes, and goblets. Helen showed Depression glass in yellow, pink and green.
Greenwich resident Keith Allan Dayer had his booth full of rdf_Descriptions that reflected his business, Technical Wizardry. Keith buys, sells, repairs antique cameras, tube Hi-Fi, radios, jukeboxes, and Victrolas. He had some Zenith radios in black with metallic accents on his table and a few cameras. Keith featured a mix of clocks, books, and toys from the 1900s. He also had a tiny velvet top hat.
Carol Wehner drew the crowd to her booth with four painted chairs in black, red, and yellow design. The design was reminiscent of Pennsylvania Dutch, but had some Scandinavian elements as well. The seats were thatched with a rope-like material. Carol had other furniture inside such as tables, a twig chair, high chair, and a child’s maple roll to desk. She also had a great mixture of smalls.
Linda Williams from East Line Candleworks, Ballston Spa, N.Y., had her end booth nicely set with decorative furniture, rugs, baskets, and pottery pieces. She had some lamps and other rdf_Descriptions with that cottage feel. Linda was happily passing out Madison-Bouckville postcards with her booth number on the back.
Ed Ruff had the most popular piece of the entire show in his booth. His Budweiser lamp mascot, Spuds McKenzie, garnered the most attention and adulation. The lamp is a recent advertising/beer collectible. Spuds, the white dog with the bull’s-eye brown spot on his eye, was a popular advertising campaign for Budweiser. The dog was seen in commercials before the Budweiser frogs and lizards. Ed had the dog lamp right on the front table next to an old popcorn machine. The piece was quite realistic and in excellent condition. Ed had the lamp turned on for the crowd. Behind Spuds, Ed had some coins, other beer rdf_Descriptions, and old toys. But, many in the crowd did not look beyond Spuds. Some had to fight the urge to pet him.
Other buildings were peppered with mixed booths containing war rdf_Descriptions, uniforms, swords, and new rdf_Descriptions like tools and gadgets. Art pottery pieces by Roseville, McCoy, Fiesta, and Haeger were spotted around the buildings. Michele Phillips of Saratoga was happy with her pottery purchase. She added a white English ironstone milk pitcher to her collection. At the old record booth, Michele’s husband Mark was happy with his purchase of military music and Irish records. The old record booth had guitars for $12 and records for a dollar.
The Washington County Fairgrounds show continues to grow each year and is popular event in upstate New York. It is worth the drive. One can usually find what they’re looking for at the Washington County show. A rug hooker reported that she found a whole box of wool remnants of last year’s show!
Next year’s show dates are May 5 and 6, and August 4 and 5. Early buying and setup is always the day before on Friday.
