By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Cathy Walters clung tightly to the pink pool noodle, the stuffed walrus, and the horned hats for her grandkids as she rooted through the plastic farm animals. She was a woman on a mission.
“I came here for anything I can find,” said Walters as she rummaged for items at the Wood County Humane Society Garage Sale on Thursday.
And this wasn’t her first load at the sale. “Two people had to help me carry it out,” she said of her first round which included an incubator for eggs, a vegetable steamer and glassware.
“All I have to do is figure out where I’m going to put it,” Walters, of Bradner, said with a sly grin. “These are great deals. You couldn’t ask for better prices.”
The monster garage sale filling the space under the grandstand at the Wood County Fairgrounds is a major annual fundraiser for the humane society, bringing in $15,000 last year for the organization. It is also a major undertaking for the 80 volunteers who accept donations from the community and organize them for the three-day sale that runs through Saturday.
Items fill the area under the grandstand.
“The donations were incredible for three straight days,” said Joe Schroeder, co-chairperson of the sale with Stephanie Ringler. The group accepts anything “good and useful” and hopes garage sale enthusiasts like what they see.
“Furniture flies out of here,” Schroeder said. Crafts and fabrics are also hot. “They buy them by the box.” And on Friday, clothing goes for 10 cents an item.
“It’s a real guess. What sells one year might not sell the next,” said volunteer Jean Scott.
The scene was a dream for bargain hunters looking for some obscure items to take home.
For the home decorators there were vases galore, candlesticks, snow globes, wind chimes, and ceramic forms of every creature from ducks, elephants and dogs, to frogs, cows and cardinals.
The kitchen gadget aisle bulged with electric griddles, coffee makers, the “miracle chopper,” several George Foreman grills, waffle irons, cookie cutters, muffin pans, woks, ice cream makers, meat grinders, toaster ovens and something called the “camper’s dream,” that promised it could make ice anywhere.
For the younger crowd there were superhero action figures, a Barbie beauty shop, Legos, board games and stuffed animals.
For the more athletic types, there were basketballs, bicycles, a treadmill, skis and sleds. For those wanting a little slower speed, there were rocking chairs, puzzles, movies and books on romance, cooking, sports and do it yourself projects.
There was a row of suitcases for those wanting to travel, a bowl of those tiny umbrellas to put in your exotic drinks when you get there, and straw hats to keep the sun out of your eyes.
Rows of shoes at the sale.
There were bird cages, a chess set, nutcrackers and enough jewelry to adorn a block of partiers at Mardi Gras. To add cozy to the home, there were rugs, blankets, lamps of all shapes and sizes, fireplace tools, and a corner full of Christmas decorations.
In the small appliance and gadget area, there were old phones, alarm clocks, file cabinets, hand tools, weed whackers, gas cans, humidifiers, dust busters, and televisions. If you are missing your TV remote, it just might be there.
For the artistic, there was a guitar, electric organ, old cameras, and Norman Rockwell paint by number sets.
And for those wanting the glory without the gumption, there were discarded trophies available for purchase.
Jenna Schmidt, of Toledo, was struggling to put her last purchase into her car. For the low cost of $5 she was taking home a light-up polar bear to put in her yard during the holidays.
“I’m like freaking out because he lights up. I’m a polar bear enthusiast,” she said as she tried to shove the bear’s head in with her other purchases. She didn’t give up until the bear was crammed in with baby clothes, a chair, flower pots, toys and shoes. “He’s going home.”
Lloyd Evans, of Bowling Green, was searching through vinyl records for some 50s and 60s rock ‘n’ roll. He found that and more, including a record on learning Morse code that caught his eye.
“They smell a little moldy,” he said.
Evans was excited to find a Led Zeppelin album, until he found there was no record inside. But being a fan of the band, he was going to buy the box anyway just to have the album cover.
Ron Bolander, of Bowling Green, found a couple sci-fi paperbacks. “I always come here for the books and music,” he said. But while he was selective, his wife was a little more adventurous in her purchases. “I might need some money, honey,” she said to him.
Jewelry for sale.
Beth Metcalf, of Edgerton, was stocking up on fabrics and pottery. “I’m looking for treasures that resonate with me,” she said.
Devin Baker, of Cygnet, was carting around a patio umbrella – a steal at $10, as Vanessa Carnes, also of Cygnet, carried four pair of shoes and three cordless phones for $3. Carnes, who recently had surgery, was being slowed down by having to use a wheelchair. But she soldiered on. “We’ve got a wide variety of things,” she said.
Kathy Baranski, of Haskins, snagged some kids games like Goosebumps and Don’t Break the Ice for $1 each. But she said her friend, Jennifer Richmond, also of Haskins, was the real garage sale professional.
“We didn’t find anything,” Richmond said, but then broke into a smile and showed a bag full of jewelry. “Just kidding.”
“I like garage sales, that’s what we do,” Richmond said. “My daughter is mad because she’s in school and not here.”
“It’s fun to find good things,” she said, recalling her best ever purchase of three crock pots for $6.
The humane society sale, well, it’s like a neighborhood garage sale on steroids for those who love the challenge of finding a lot for very little. “It’s awesome,” Richmond said.
