This year’s seventh annual Wethersfield Antiques Show, to be held on November 16th and 17th, promises to be a great way to start the holiday shopping season. Held at the Pitkin Community Center, 30 Greenfield St., Wethersfield, CT, the show is sponsored by Wethersfield Historical Society, celebrating its 75th anniversary of “preserving and teaching history.” This established show features a gala Preview Party on Friday evening, November 16, as well as an Early Buying session one hour prior to the show’s opening on Saturday, November 17. Admission to the show is $6.00, $5.00 with discount coupons or show cards. Admission to the Early Buying session is $10. For more information, call the historical society at 860.529.7656.
The Preview Party, which usually hosts about 150 eager collectors and buyers, will take place from 6:30 – 9:00 p.m. on Friday evening, November 16. Admission to the party is $30 and includes hot and cold hors d’oeuvres and beverages, as well as an opportunity to chat with the dealers and purchase items. Reservations for the Preview Party are not required, but are appreciated.
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The Early Buying session, popular with dedicated collectors who want an early look, will be from 9-10 a.m. on Saturday, November 17, before the show opens to the general public. Admission for this session is $10, open to anyone, and during this time patrons may browse the show and purchase items and remain for the duration of the show.
Show manager Joan Hughes will welcome 45 of the finest dealers from the northeast in attractive room-setting booths. The show is expanding into new areas of the Community Center and will feature an expanded Attic Treasures area and lunchroom, the Sunflower Café. Also
included this year will be booth chats with several dealers about their specialties. These will take place between 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. and a schedule will be posted at the show entrance.
Participating in the booth chats this year will be Charlotte Jason of Meadowbrook Farm, Canterbury, CT, who will speak on textiles. She has been in the business with her husband for twenty-five years, the last ten specializing in linens only. Vintage linens, often found in old
drawers and cedar chests, have many uses to show their beauty as Charlotte will explain in her booth chat.
Marvin and Barbara Eliot of Windsor, CT, have traveled to many states in the last 35 years. In 1986, they decided to specialize in Pottles and Panekins, now the name of their shop. Marvin will show and tell by example how to cook, collect and decorate with their hearthside cooking utensils.
Historical Society director Doug Shipman commented that, “The Wethersfield Antiques Show is pleased to be able to expand this year and offer unique settings for the many dealers who return year after year. The show has truly become an event that dealers and visitors alike don’t want to miss!”
There is a loyal core of more than 40 dealers who have done the show for several years and will be returning this year. Among those are Country Squire Antiques of Gorham, ME, New England Home Antiques of Wethersfield, CT and Martha Caverly of Portsmouth, NH. Among those new to the show this year is Nutmeg Treasures, Inc. of Glastonbury, Pioneer Folk Art LLC from Ellsworth, Maine and John Gould of New York. As it has since the show’s inception, Wethersfield Historical Society will offer coffee, muffins and a light lunch in the Sunflower Café, open 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. The popular Attic Treasures booth, in a new expanded space, will also be open during the show. Offering quality smalls and collectibles, this is among the most popular stops for show patrons.
Proceeds from this major fund raising event will benefit the Fountain of Service and Memorial Gardens at the Wethersfield Museum, Keeney Memorial, 200 Main Street. The fountain honors Patricia and the late Henry Allen and all volunteers in service to Wethersfield. The adjacent gardens, with their unique sculpture and restful benches, were established to honor the late Clinton “Jiggs” Hughes, former Fire Chief. Another beneficiary of this event will be the educational programming offered year-round by the historical society. Programs are provided free to students in Wethersfield public schools and for modest fees to outside towns.
The Pitkin Community Center offers free parking and easy accessibility on one floor. For more information, please contact Wethersfield Historical Society at 860.529.7656 or by e-mail at weth.hist.society@snet.net. The Society’s web site, wethhist.org, has a complete calendar of events for the year.
Wethersfield Historical Society is a membership supported, non-profit educational organization offering year-round programs for children and adults.
