Family History Essay Competition 2008 Antique Fair A Success by ...

after the 4 th of July and Friday was a preview from 5 to
7.
The Third Annual Barn Sale shifted to Archie
McAlpin’s Healdsburg Classics Antiques. The venue,
not quite as old as Fagan’s barn, was also somewhat
historic. The Quonset-type building was erected in 1946
with “priorities for materials granted by the
government.” The “modern facility will have an
attractive glass brick and glass front with 9,000 square
feet of floor space. Built on the property of L.D. Gilbert,
this is the first new building to be built on the main
thoroughfare in a number of years.” [Healdsburg
Tribune, July 26, 1946, p.1:2] This “Barn Sale” set a
precedent for having containers on site to store
collectibles ahead of time and for having a “big tag
item,” the first being Persis and Jack McCarley’s
Chrysler LeBaron 4-door sedan.
Over the next few years, the event kept growing:
the preview parties were being sponsored by members,
storage trailers were donated, trucks for pick ups were
loaned, and the Salvation Army came in at the end and
“cleaned up remainders.” In 2003, 2004 and 2005,
Sundays were added but closing around 1 p.m. The days
seemed to be getting hotter, the volunteers actually were
getting older, and the end results were diminishing. The
Barn Sale had become too labor intensive for the returns.
Thus it was that in 2006 there was no Barn Sale.
There were calls from locals wondering when pick ups
were going to be made and sadness over a long time
event being discontinued. Therefore, in 2007 Bob
Rawlins (who had dutifully been storing our antiques),
Al Loebel, Pam Vana-Paxhia, and Charlotte Anderson,
representing the Museum, took part in the first of three
large antique sales in the Plaza. We had linen-covered
tables on which were displayed some of our finest
collectibles. Although Bob is still hauling, storing, and
displaying our wares, the intensity has lessened, our
tables are in the shade outdoors in the Plaza, and we take
Visa!
A Hot, Cool and Warm Langhart Dinner
by Joe Norton
It was 100 degrees when
we gathered for the 15 th
Annual Langhart Award
dinner honoring Kent
Mitchell. The Vintners Inn
has a beautiful patio but the
elegant Ballroom is air
conditioned, so most of the
champagne sipping and hors
d’oeuvre nibbling was done
inside.
There were many
familiar faces, including past honorees June Smith,
Norbert Babin, Bob Rawlins, Barbara Baxter, Eleanor
Zak, Catherine Curtis, De Andersen, Charlotte Anderson
and BJ Green. Kent’s long Healdsburg history drew
some newcomers to the festivities; including a
delegation from City Hall – Lisa Schaffner, Mike
McGuire, Eric Ziedrich and Chet Wystepek.
Ann Mahoney was down with the Healdsburg Flu
but Al Loebel had the tux and talent to step in as M.C.
He introduced Mark Gleason who introduced Kent with
a humorous account of some serious community service
the two of them have done together over the last 20
years. Kent’s gracious acceptance speech opened with
his acknowledgement of his 94 year old mother, Lyla,
who was present–stylishly dressed and smiling radiantly.
Bob Rawlins and Catherine Curtis
Kent reviewed the development of the Museum
and Historical Society as a significant source of
community spirit. He recalled his involvement in several
events; most notably the Healdsburg History video
presentation that filled the Raven Theatre for four
performances and Healdsburg’s 150 th Anniversary
Celebration last year.
It was the sort of heart-warming evening that makes
us glad to be living in Healdsburg and proud to
participate in Museum celebrations.
Joe Norton, Janet Norton, and Frank Zak (left to right)
4