MONMOUTH COUNTY – An antique show felt right at home surrounded by the 19th century iron making town at historic Allaire State Park.
Despite the show being limited to the sale of antique items only, the event featured five rows of vendors, with more than six vendors in each row.
One such vendor was Daryl O’Connell, who had a display of Christmas and Easter antiques that included several Santa statues and painted eggs with various characters on them.
O’Connell also doubled as the main organizer for the event, as she is the Director of Development and Operations for the Historic Village at Allaire.
According to the organization’s website, the Historic Village at Allaire is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, licensed by the State of New Jersey to operate and manage the historic property located within Allaire State Park. Allaire Village does not receive any state funding and relies on donations and fundraising events to preserve the site. O’Connell is the main event organizer for all of the village’s events and the regular operation of the village itself.
The event also included several other vendors, with some of these vendors representing local antique businesses. One of these businesses was the Point Pleasant Antique Emporium, which had a stand at the show. The emporium has been in the Hart family for forty years, and they have become regulars at antique shows in the area. Their display featured a silverware collection, vintage football and baseball cards, some old baseball bats, and even a sampler, something that women used to make when they were learning how to sew, from the early 1800s.
A lot of the vendors were hobbyists as well, people who collect and sell for the enjoyment of it. One of these vendors was Richard Gray. Gray’s collection specialized in the 1920s to World War II era as he had a collection of phones from the 1930s, a globe from the 1930s, cameras and radios from the 1920s, WWI and WWII ammunition boxes, along with many other items from around the same time.
Another one of these collectors was Ed Garrison. His collection featured a lot of items from the Industrial Revolution, including oil cans from the era and items that came from railroad workers.
One food truck was also at the show. The lone truck was run by the Brownstone Pancake Factory, which has a Brick location, and was providing various breakfast foods to patrons. However, this wasn’t the only option for food at the show, as the Allaire Village bakery had a stand of its own and was selling cookies, muffins, scones, and much more.
Other local businesses were at the show in support as well. A local radio station, 107.1 The Boss, was at the show to provide music for the event, while Anderson Windows had a display as well.
Unlike the park’s flea market, which occurs once a month, the antique show is an event designed specifically for antique vendors to sell their goods, only coming around twice per year.
This Labor Day weekend show was the second time the event had come to Allaire this year, with the first being on Memorial Day weekend.
The entrance to the antique show cost $5, with all proceeds going to the village.
As the fall season begins, Allaire has some events to usher in the colder weather. The first is their September Flea Market on Saturday, September 13. In addition, the village will also have its annual Fall Harvest Festival, which includes a pumpkin pie baking contest.
