My Mrs. Butterworth’s lamp is, I think, hands down, my best flea market find. There’s a Marlboro ashtray and hand-painted ceramic hot-dog dog that might protest, but if I’m naming most beloved flea market treasures, I’m mentioning Mrs. Butterworth’s first every time.
Discover your own flea market favorites from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 3, at the Wood Dale Historical Society’s annual Flea Market at Yesterday’s Farm Museum, 850 N. Wood Dale Road.
“One year, I picked up a pleated lampshade for $3, and it’s just beautiful,” said Joanne Hosek, Wood Dale Historical Society Program Manager. “I just love it and can’t believe I got it for such a great price. You never know what you’re going to find. That’s all in the fun of the day!”
With more than 60 booths, every inch of the farm grounds is packed with flea market goods such as antiques and collectibles, tools, jewelry, books, glassware, random garage sale items and even new products like Avon and Tupperware.
“You’ve got to see this — anything and everything is for sale,” Hosek said. “Everywhere you look, there’s booths filled with all sorts of things.”
Even the society will have a booth — visitors are welcome to donate items — to benefit the museum.
Booths still are available: $15 for a 10-foot-by-10-foot space; $20 for 10-foot-by-20-foot space; $25 for 20-foot-by-20-foot space. Registration after tomorrow, July 25, is an additional $5 for each space. To register, call Museum Curator Ann Morong, (630) 766-4216. If room is available, registration will be accepted the morning of the event.
Attendance is free. Parking, which also is free, will be across the street in the Wood Dale Park District lot. The society will sell refreshments.
“The crowd is always turning,” Hosek said. “Not only are there over 60 booths of stuff, but we’re open until 6 p.m., so there’s a lot of action going on all day.”
Flea Market on the Farm has been around for at least five years. Hosek said they easily have 1,000 visitors throughout the day.
Upcoming events include Harvest Fest on Sunday, Sept. 7, October’s Ghost Stories in the Barn and December’s Holiday on the Farm.
In other society news, the society was finally able to put their plans to restore the second floor of their rare Pegged T-barn into action with help from a grant from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and members of Bensenville’s Grace Lutheran Church volunteering to help.
During the restoration, handprints made by Wood Dale scouts of Girl Scout Cadet Troop 442 and Boy Scout Troop 410 were discovered when vinyl covering near an entryway was removed.
Some of the prints belong to current society members, such as society and museum president Jennifer Ryan. Her mother, Judi, who was the troop leader, is also a member, serving as publicity coordinator.
The prints were thought to be made between 1978 and 1980 since both troops were active at the farm then. Each handprint was traced onto contact paper and placed on the wall in paint. Names were then written on them.
“It was amazing they were so well preserved,” Hosek said. “We don’t want to lose them again, so we’re looking for an acrylic cover or something similar that would protect and display them for the future.”
The barn is basically finished, with new windows and a fresh paint job on the way. Another recent grant will help purchase a water heater for the 1920s main farmhouse. A new project will be to rennovate the inside of the 1840s prairie house.
“We’re always working on something and always need more people,” Hosek said.
Only 50 families are members of the society.
“It’s sad we don’t have more members because the Historical Society is an investment in your community,” Hosek said. “I don’t think people realize what we have here. They don’t realize what they’re missing.”
Yesterday’s Farm is open to the public from 1 to 4 p.m. Sundays and 1 to 3 p.m. Wednesdays. Group programs can also be arranged.
The society is looking for new members and volunteers to help with projects. Call the museum, (630) 877-7777, or museum curator Ann Morong for more information.
“We have a big job maintaing this facility,” Hosek said. “If people would only come and see it, then they would understand how unique and special it is. This is a great history lesson. It’s much more memorable than something out of a book because you’re able to actually be here, touching it, smelling it — you’re where the history of your town began. Flea Market on the Farm and our other events get people here to visit, and we sure do hope they stay to help.”
Border Bounding is a weekly column appearing on Thursdays. Ideas and items for the column can be e-mailed to hipychk73@yahoo.com.
