The Kimberton Show, New Venue And Change For 2023

By Ryan, Rob, and Carole Berley

Change is inevitable in life and in the antiques business. But how do you adjust and deal with it? It was a change of venue on March 18 and 19 for the seimannual Kimberton Antiques Show, which had been held for more than 50 years at the Kimberton (Pa.) Fire Hall. Early birds were waiting, and attendance was up (1,336 showgoers) at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, Pa., located 8 miles/15 minutes east of the fire hall (the fire hall could no longer be rented for the show). It’s a credit to show promotor Lori Rebuck Boger for securing the new venue. The alternative was folding the show. Records indicate the show was started by the managers of Shupp’s Grove Antique Market (Adamstown, Pa.) in either 1968-69.

Seventy dealers from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia exhibited their wares at the Expo Center. There were two common areas where dealers could exhibit larger items/overflow that could not fit in their booths.

The large crowd lined up inside the ample waiting area to enter the show on day one. Familiar faces graced the exhibition hall floor including exhibiting dealer Carroll Swam of the Gatchellville Store greeting folks with his traditional banjo-playing. A major loss to the show and antiquing community, Swam’s wife, dealer Linda Sarubin, passed away since the last show.

A rare and folksy 45-star flag inscribed, “In sweet memory of my Bryanite after the Bryan parade, November 3, 1900,” was priced at $525 by Ivy & Twig of Lambertville, N.J., and sold immediately upon the opening of the show. It was a political flag created by its owner on election day 1900 when William Jennings Bryan lost the presidential election to William McKinley. A threefoot wooden figure of early 20th century cartoon character “Jiggs” as a cigar butler

Gathering On The Farm

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New this year will be the addition of Frontier 1763, a group of independent living historians and craftspeople committed to providing historical support services to public and private entities engaged in furthering the understanding of our nation’s Colonial history. Visitors to the farm and the show will hear presentations on flintlock rifle building by gunmaker Dave Crispin, observe hearth cooking with Christine Tolbert, learn how to make a fire using flint and steel with also bore a sold tag. One customer was especially enthusiastic about a 1940s-50s left- frontiersman Charlie West, and be able to visit with other settlers in period attire engaged in daily activities of 18th-century Mid-Atlantic life.

The show is held on the farm of Linda and Joe Bowden. The log portion of the house dates to 1740, and the stone, to 1830. In 1930, an addition was added to the stone portion. Among the purchased outbuildings is a trader’s cabin, which dates to 1720. From the 1730s into the 1740s, it was a dwelling for Swedish explorer Hans Steelman, an Indian trader and interpreter. For additional information on this country antiques show, call show promotor Connie Gleed at 717-919-4206 during business hours.

SHOW & FLEA MARKET CALENDAR

05/11-14/23, ATLANTA, THURS.-SUN., Antique Market, 3650 Jonesboro Rd. SE, Atlanta Expo Center, North Bldg.

05/09-14/23, BRIMFIELD, TUES.-SUN., Brimfield Antique & Collectibles Show & Flea Market, Show Fields - Rte. 20 betw. Exits 8 & 9 off the Mass Pike (Rte.90), Brimfield, MA

04/30/23, WAYNE, 9:30 AM -

3:30 PM, EARLYBUYER AT

8:00 AM, Mechanical Music Extravganza, 1 PALDrive, Wayne Police Athletic League

04/29-30/23, STORMVILLE, SAT.-SUN., 8AM-4PM, Antique Show & Flea Market, 428 Rte. 216, Stormville Airport, NY

05/27-28/23, STORMVILLE, SAT.-SUN., 8AM-4PM, Antique Show & Flea Market, 428 Rte. 216, Stormville Airport, NY

3PM, Early Country Antiques & Primitive Goods Show, 3558 US Route 62, Heritage Community Center

Pennsylvania

04/22/23, GETTYSBURG, OUTDOOR MKT.: SAT. 8AM-

2PM (STORE/WRHSE. SALE: 9-5), Outdoor Antique

04/22/23, LANCASTER, SAT. 9AM-1PM, 62nd Lancaster Hunting & Fishing Show & Sale, 1383 Arcadia Rd., Lancaster Farm & Home Center

04/23/23, LANCASTER, SUN. 92, Lancaster Doll, Toy & Teddy Bear Show, 1383 Arcadia Rd., Lancaster Farm & Home Center

04/28-30/23, PHILADELPHIA, FRI.-SUN. AT11AM, The Philadelphia Show, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia Museum of Art

04/28/23, KUTZTOWN, FRI.SAT. 9-4, Antiques & Collector Extravaganza, 740 Noble St., Renningers Kutztown

04/29-30/23, ALLENTOWN, SAT. 9-5 & SUN. 9-3, Antq. Advertising, Book, Paper, Photo & Postcard Show, 1929 Chew St., Allentown Fairgrounds Ag. Hall

04/30/23, DENVER, SUN. 5AM4PM, Antiques & Collectors Special Sunday, 2500 N. Reading Rd., Renningers Adamstown

05/13/23, FAIRFIELD, SAT. 9-3, Gathering on THE FARM: Country & Primitive Antq. Event, 1042 Bullfrog Rd., Gettysburg, PA

05/20/23, GETTYSBURG, OUTDOOR MKT.: SAT. 8-2 (STORE/WRHSE. SALE: 9-5), Outdoor Antique Market, 2885 York Rd., Gettysburg, PA

05/29/23, LANDISVILLE, MON. AT7AM, Hempfield Community Flea Market, 1700 Nissley Rd., Amos Herr Park

VIRGINIA

05/19-20/23, FISHERSVILLE, FRI. 9-5 & SAT. 9-4, 70th Antiques Expo, 277 Expo Rd., Augusta Expo Center