This article appeared in The Parkersburg News on Sunday, August 1^st, 2004

Choices abound at flea market

By BELINDA CAPEL

The Antique Flea Market and Glass show is being held this weekend at the Washington County Fairgrounds.

This is the Marietta Civitan Club-sponsored market's 22nd year of operation.

"So far it's been an excellent year for the show," said Vernon Ault, president-elect of the Marietta Civitan Club and co-chair of the market's board.

About 70 vendors from areas as far away as Illinois and Colorado attended the market, he said.

"The number [of buyers] is up from last year," Ault said.

This year, the club provided an all-you-can-eat pancake and sausage breakfast for $3. This was the first year for the breakfast.

"We ended up serving about 500 people about 1,600 pancakes," Ault said.

Members of the Civitan Club prepared and served meals a la carte throughout the weekend.

"(Saturday) we started at about 4 a.m. and we'll finish around 4 p.m.," he said.

Many of the vendors are dedicated sellers who attend the show every year.

Joan Shoenfelt and her husband Hank, both of Rootstown, Ohio, have been selling at the show for eight or nine years. They are always accompanied by their long-haired dachshund.

The Schoenfelts sell glassware, jewelry, small furniture and other miscellaneous antiques.

"We stopped here on our way to Tennessee," said Joan Shoenfelt. "We're on our way to the 400-mile garage sale."

The Shoenfelts vend at many shows throughout the year. They have noticed differences in the shows in recent years.

"All the sales at the markets have been down (due to) the economy," Joan Shoenfelt said. "With the gas prices so high, people from far off can't afford to come to the shows to sell."

"There are several empty spaces without vendors," said Alice Hall, a current vendor and original founder of the market. "Also, I see a lot of people walking around without packages."

One vendor described much of Saturday's attendees as BLT's, or breakers, lookers and touchers.

Hall and her husband, the late Don Hall, founded the market in 1982.

"We were looking for a good place for people to sell (glassware) during the Fenton convention," said Hall. "My mother's cousin and her husband were in charge of taking care of the fairgrounds at that time."

Hall said because she and her husband did not have children, they were always interested in charity work.

"We wanted to do something for our hometown," said Hall. "We were both born and raised in Marietta, Ohio."

"Dealers pay for their space and after the advertising and other costs are paid for, the money is given to the Marietta Civitan Club," said Hall.

In 1994, the Club dedicated a pavilion on the grounds to the Halls.

Many vendors reported that Saturday's rain hurt their sales.

"The rain's definitely dampened our sales," said Hall.

"This rain has put a big damper on (the show,)" said Shoenfelt.

Many outdoor vendors' sales were virtually non-existent due to the sporadic showers throughout the day.

"We usually do well with this show, but the rain has slowed down sales a lot," said Char Cornille of Metropolis, Ill.

Cornille and her husband travel all over the United States in their RV to sell their glassware, cutlery and miscellaneous antiques. This was their tenth year attending the show in Marietta.

Organizers are still hopeful about today's sales.

"Tomorrow we hope to catch up what we lost today," said Ault.

Many buyers in attendance enjoyed the market. Julia Vaughn of Beverly,Ohio, attended the show with her sisters.

"I don't collect any certain pieces of glass, but vases are my favorite," she said.

"I think the show's really nice, a big choice. There are lots of things I'd like to have," joked Vaughn.

Vendors agreed that the show was of a high quality.

"We meet a lot of nice people here," said Shirley Nicholl of Colorado.

Nicholl and her husband Hugh used to bring their two Yorkies to shows with them. The two dogs passed away this year.

This show, the Nicholls began breaking in their nine-month-old Yorkie puppy.

"She's been the hit of the show," Nicholl said with a smile.

The show continues today from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Washington County Fairgrounds.