Positive Debut Achieved At The First Kempton Antiques Show
The inaugural Kempton show was a fun event set in a beautiful area of the state that has a tremendous amount to offer, especially to outdoor enthusiasts, including Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, Crystal Caves, and the Appalachian Trail.
The show was run by the Antique Dealers Association of Berks County and managed by Carol Buzzerd. There were 55 dealers in the spacious Kempton Community Recreation Center. The only drawback to the building was that half seemed well lit and the other half not as well. Kempton is a very small and very rural town in Albany Township, yet it is an easy drive off Route 78, not far from Kutztown. Attendance was good for the one-day event, which ran from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The dealers association used to hold a holiday show the first Saturday in December in Leesport, but opted to discontinue that show, opening the door for this new event. We felt that Leesport just wasnt progressing, we needed a little more space, and we also wanted to change the dates, said organizing member John Bartley. There are weekly flea markets held in the Leesport Market building and that didnt work in our favor, because we were holding an antiques show. But, I think the move to Kempton worked out for the best. We were pleased with the gate and most of the dealers seemed pleased, said Bartley.
Kempton is not entirely new territory for antique shows. For those that remember, a small, yet popular antiques show was held there in the early 1980s. Remaining rich in Pennsylvania German history, the town proved receptive to hosting and supporting the new show. Collectors came from both Allentown and Reading and some very nice material was available. Both Raccoon Creek Antiques and Baron Dietz had a large selection of excellent antique Christmas ornaments. Several other exhibitors offered holiday (both Thanksgiving and Christmas) ornaments and decorations as well. Lynn Christy had a good booth of historical and political memorabilia. Gail Gottlund had a variety of art pottery. Tex Johnson and Son had several fine quilts and great country accessories such as woodenware and tinware. Kevin Kruger Antiques put together a nice booth of country material, as always, as did Gene Bertolet, just to name a few.
A fairly wide cross-section of business was conducted, some to new buyers. One outcome of the current market is that it has allowed new buyers to enter. Yes, there is interest from younger generations, and no, the market readjustment or contraction does not only have negative effects on the industry. Through new regional shows such as this, a heightened interest in a variety of antiques from individuals across the age spectrum and with varying levels of disposable income has been seen.
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Images courtesy of the author.