The Milford Historical Society will hold its annual antiques market at Silver Hill from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 6, outside the Parson Thorne Mansion on N.W. Front Street.
For a $1 admission fee, attendees can browse the wares of more than a dozen antiques shops from across the peninsula or take a guided tour of the Parson Thorne Mansion, currently under restoration by the historical society. New this year will be barbecue sold on-site by Three Little Peppers Barbecue of Milford. Money from admissions goes toward the restoration effort.
“It’s not a big fund-raiser, but what money we do bring in helps fund the restoration,” said Ralph Prettyman, treasurer of the society. “And we like to get the property open and utilized as much as possible.”
The mansion is one of the oldest buildings in Milford, and the only one of its kind in Delaware.
“Part of what we do is to utilize the property,” Prettyman said. “It’s an opportunity for people to come and see the property and the mansion.”
Among the antiques merchants scheduled to attend are: Ruth Ann Godfrey of Milford; Nancy Bloom of Bloomers in Felton; Ursula Gedra of Dover; Joyce Olson of Harrington; Joe and Holly Simone of Dover; and Carolyn and Alan Humes of Milford.
The number of vendors grows each year, and many of the regulars have become favorites for the people who come through to buy every year.
“There are dealers who say ‘I have to be in the same spot each year, because I have a following,’” said historical society trustee F. Brooke Clendaniel.
They bring everything from clothes, rugs and furniture from all periods to pop-culture artifacts, cookware and hand-made sculpture.
“There’s always something at the antiques market that you have to have,” Clendaniel said.
Milford, Del. —
