September 9, 2011

Crowds enjoy lawn sale, nice weather

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H ordes of shoppers and bargain hunters lined the streets ofWhitehallSaturday morning browsing the large assortment of items for sale on the lawns and in the garages of local residents during last weekend’s annual Town-Wide Lawn Sale.

Shoppers from near and far turned out looking for bargains, hard to find items or even gifts for loved ones, while others simply used the opportunity to take a stroll through town, take in the festivities and enjoy what turned out be a beautiful summer day on the eve of more wet weather that was expected to drop a few more inches on top of already saturated ground.

Williams Street and a few of the side streets off of Poultney Street were the center of activity as cars lined either side of the road and crowds littered the sidewalk and yards of sales.

Tracy Ellis of90 South Williams Streetwas one of several dozen residents throughout the community who set up tables and held a yard sale in front of her house.

“We do this every year,” she said. “I had a pulling truck for sale out here one year and the radio station showed up and interviewed me.”

Ellis said she began setting up tables and putting things out for sale on Friday morning and continues right through the weekend.

“We do it all weekend. We’ll be out there tomorrow and on Monday we’ll just let the people pick through it.”

Besides some of typical yard-sale items-used clothing, Christmas decorations, kitchen ware-that ranged anywhere from $.50 to a few dollars, Ellis also had some big tickets items for sale like riding lawn mower for several hundred dollars and an old yellow Chevrolet that was available for $18,000.

Next door, Bob Gendron was busy tending to his own sale. Scoutmaster of the local Troop 83, he had a variety of items you would expect from a man who leads young men into the wilderness for camping trips.

He had three canoes for sale, including two Kevlar boats that weighed about 14 pounds, an entire case of pocket knives, and a variety of fishing gear that rivals what you could find at a larger bait shop.

“We do it every year. I think we’ve done it for the last 10 years,” Gendron said. “We’ve had lots of people but not a lot of buyers. Usually by10 a.m., half the stuff has already been sold.”

Much of his business was probably too busy buying food from the Boy Scouts who set up shop between Gendron and Ellis house. Brandon LaGoy and Garrett Stevens said they had been very busy in the hour leading up to lunch time and several other scouts had their hands full manning the grill.

The sale coaxed many local residents to get out of their homes and walk the streets but it also brought it nearly as many from outside of town.

Sharon Kalinwski made the drive over from Castleton, Vt.. to take a look at what was for sale on Broadway.

She said tries to make over for the sale whenever she isn’t working or busy with the other routines of everyday life.

Although she’s found plenty of deals in the past, she hadn’t purchased anything by late Saturday morning but was content to keep looking.

“I’m not really looking for anything particular just anything I might need.”

Ryan Brown was another patron who made the trip to Whitehall from South Granville with his Golden Retriever.

“I try to make it out every year,” he said, pointing out that he already purchased a chain saw and a few other items.

“You have to get over here early, that’s the secret. People get out early and bring a box and put all the good stuff in the box and then pick through it and take what they want.”

Although there were plenty of transactions and many satisfied customers, for most it was an opportunity to have a little fun and weed out the closet and attics.

“It’s more about trying to get rid of stuff. I got this old 1850 house and it was full of stuff when I moved in; I haven’t even got to the attic yet,” said Ellis, who even sold the bear statue on her front step even though it wasn’t technically for sale.

“I haven’t been as busy as I would like, but I think it will pick up this afternoon,” said Pam Williams, who used to live inWhitehalland made the trip to sell some honey and syrup for Twin Brook Maple Farm at the intersection ofDivision Streetand Broadway. “But it’s a lot of fun,”