- By Dan Veaner
- Around Town
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For many people the sale is a tradition. Wendy Davis of Genoa had a big spread from her front yard to her garage, filled with crafts and collectibles of her own and from family members. Her aunt Judy Davis was displaying crafts that she makes and sells, including solar lights, dolls, and wedding albums. "We have a brother and his family, and I've got an aunt that has stuff here," she says. "My sister has got some, my nieces and nephews and their children. Basically our family is here."
Judy Davis (left) and Wendy Davis sell collectables and crafts
in Wendy's garage
Engaged and shoppoing, Pat Anderson with finance Sandy
In King Ferry Pat Anderson and his finance Sandy came early from their home in Waterloo. Pat has come every year since the beginning and planned to shop between King Ferry and Summer Hill, west of Locke. Sandy, who attended the sale for the first time, said she was looking for bargains. "We're going to redo the kitchen with a winery theme, so I'm looking for things for that." Pat said he would be looking for hunting and fishing equipment. The couple planned to shop until mid-afternoon.
Mike Lonsky and Pastor Dick Welsh
Not everybody was selling something. Deacon Mike Lonsky and Pastor Dick Welsh were among those manning a tent in front of the Cornerstone Community Church in King Ferry with a big sign offering 'free books.' This was the first year the church participated in the event. "We decided this year we wanted to be part of the tradition of the community," said Lonsky, who works at Bolton Point in Lansing. "We have nothing to sell, but we thought it would be hot so we'd give away water and bibles. We're taking prayer requests. God's still in the business of answering prayers, so we try to encourage people in that."
While some sellers were local people, others make a tradition of traveling to the area to sell their wares. Shirley Wyak, who owns the Avenue Antique Gallery in Endicott, has come to the same location in front of the King Ferry Bakery and Cafe every year for about 15 years. "It's a lot of fun," she says. You meet a lot of nice people." She sets up her tent at the Madison-Bouckville Outdoor Antiques Show as well.
Shirley Wyak
Wyak enjoys talking to the people who come to her tent, and learning what they will do with the things they buy from her. "It's nice to know where the things go and what they're going to do with them," she says. "Sometimes they have some really unique ideas about what they're going to do with things, too. I had a little doll bed once. I thought it was so unique for some little girl's doll. But this girl said she had four cats and only had one without a bed."
Wyak says she has met people from as far as Canada at the sale. "A lot of people come on their way down to Cayuga Lake, too," she says.
The 50 Mile Yard Sale was started by Union Springs bed & breakfast owner Barb Noden and book store owner Connie Tallcot. "The first year we started by selling American flags to help cover the cost of advertising and asking people to display the flag with their sale," recalls Richard Tallcot. "It quickly became overwhelming so fast that we just told people to fly their American flag and have a good time. It's become a major fund raiser for many non-profit organizations along the route, a minor fund raiser for individuals that have sales, and a major fun time or pain in the neck depending on one's perspective."
"The first year we had no idea what to expect and felt it would be like an auction, depending on the weather," Tallcot continues. "It took off with a life of it's own and by establishing the same day every year has sustained itself. It was always one of the best business days for our book store."
Richard says Connie went to some of the sales, but generally ran the book store during the event. But Richard once traveled the entire route on his motorcycle. "Staying on Rt. 90 without doing the hundreds of sales just off the route, and trying to stop at each sale at least long enough to quickly, in a few seconds, see what they had, I arrived in Montezuma at 5 p.m. 54 miles in nine hours," he says. After 19 years the event has become one of the largest tourism events in Cayuga County.
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