Written & Photographed By Theresa St. John

"Some say the antique syndrome surfaced to offset the newness of the land, the homes, and the settlers. Some say the interest was initiated by a desire to return to the roots of yesterday. I contend the entire movement to acquire antiques was born out of sheer respect for things that lasted longer than fifteen minutes."  

- Erma Bombeck

Oh, my goodness, when I think of reasons I love to go antiquing, there are many; thrift, value, the quality of items from the past, and the quest to find a treasure beyond words, to name a few. But the history - wondering who owned each item also intrigues me. I think there's a thread of connection between antiques and shoppers - a faint memory of childhood when things seemed so much easier. 

One of my best friends loves old wine glasses. She spends a gazillion hours rummaging through antiques shops, buying unique designs whenever she travels. She remarks, "I think about the guests coming to my wedding and purchase the stemware with them in mind."   

My oldest sister loved colorful glass marbles and always looked for them during her weekends antiquing in New England. I loved playing with tops as a kid and have spent a pretty penny on several of them while out antiquing.  

You get the idea.

This year marks the 51st Anniversary of New York's largest outdoor antiquing event; the Madison-Bouckville Antique Week - and if you love antiquing as I do - you need to be there! The event began in 1972 as a thrift hunter's dream, with a mere 10-12 vendors displaying their wares on an airstrip next to Route 20. Later, in the late 80s-early 90s, it grew exponentially, taking over several fields and a long stretch of highway. Madison-Bouckville is proud to put on this week-long event; folks from all over the state and country are excited to witness it. And John Mancino, the Madison-Bouckville Promotions president, ensures it runs smoothly. 

Last August, I took a weekend drive to see what all the fuss was about - and man, there was a ton to write home about! The curving roads from Saratoga to my destination were lined with beautiful trees and an expanse of meadows as far as the eyes could see. I was delighted to find a few pull-off spots to take photos along the way. Eventually, the scenic drive led me to the bustling town of Bouckville, where I learned there were over 1,500 dealers in attendance. They lined the charming downtown area along Route 20 – all the way from Bouckville to Madison, New York. 

There were so many interesting people there - some of whom I met and had conversations with, a few I intend to write about at another time. The most fascinating was a young man named John, who fell in love with antiquing when he was very young. He'd ask his parents to drop him off at the fairgrounds for the entire week and then stay with different vendors while he learned the trade. He's in his late 20s or early 30s now and rents a space under the tents. While chatting, he told me he also owns a funeral home, which made me smile. He must have taken 3-4 phone calls from folks looking for this, that, or the other thing while I was there—quite a busy fellow.  

It was beautiful to be out in the fresh air, wandering around with so many others - all of us were just glad to be out and about; socializing with friends, family, and even strangers seemed extra special. I was amazed at the plethora of things available for sale and surprised to find a few treasures myself. I fell in love with the ANRI wooden wine stoppers and bought one that looked like a photographer!

Another sister of mine, who lives in Arizona, collects a unique glassware pattern, and I am always looking for a new piece when I'm out antiquing. When I spent time with her last year, I found one fantastic piece in an antiques shop, and here at the Bouckville event, I found another. I quickly took a picture of it and sent it to her. "Quick, tell me if you have this!" I typed in bold letters. "If you don't have it already, would you like it?" It was an exciting find. She didn't have this Daisy Button piece, so I bought it and shipped it out a few days later. 

I chose Hotel One75 for my overnight stay. The owners had recently refurbished the 93-spacious room hotel and had it slated to open the week I'd be in the area - which meant yours truly would be one of their first visitors! When I looked up places near Route 20, where all the action during Antique Week would happen, Hotel One75 popped up, and I was instantly delighted! I was tickled pink to wander around the outside courtyard, referred to as 'The Quad,' where I saw a massive checkerboard set, corn-hole games, comfy couches, and several tables where people could relax after dark - roasting marshmallows in the fire pit, no less! 

The hotel staff said that soon there'd be complimentary wine and beer offered upon guests' arrival, but they were still getting this welcoming feature set up. It was lovely - they apologized for the inconvenience and offered me ice cream as a consolation prize. That made me laugh – and the cup of ice cream was delicious! Hotel One75 also provided complimentary breakfasts, ensuring every guest had a good head start on whatever they'd planned for the day. 

My room was bright and cheerful, with plenty of space to move about - my favorite part was seeing a lemon-yellow chair at a desk where I could work on stories and photos while away from home. 

Another thing that impressed me was how accessible-friendly this hotel is; from the extra-wide guest room and bathroom doors to allowing service animals, several wheelchair ramps, lowered emergency evacuation instructions, and visual alarms for the deaf and hard of hearing, management seemed to have thought of everything.

I love visiting wineries when I travel, and while I was in Central New York for the antique week's celebration, I stopped at Owera Vineyards. I've been to Cazenovia so many times - it feels like a home away from home, and I was glad I discovered this place because it made me feel the same way! It's a business model that believes wine can bring families and communities together for casual gatherings and special occasions. 

This 57-acre farm was purchased in 2007, and its first official crush was in 2010. Since then, the owners have added a wine production facility, event and promotional center, and a gorgeous tasting room - which was hopping the afternoon I showed up with a friend. We were treated like old friends, and staff members were more than willing to answer any questions we had about the wine. Believe me - we enjoyed a few different varieties with a charcuterie board while there. And yes, we may have bought a few bottles to take home! After being out in the sun and heat all day, sitting inside at the bar and enjoying ourselves for a while was great. 

This year the event runs from August 14-20, 8 am-5 pm. If you haven't treated yourself and a loved one to a few days in this part of New York yet, you should! With 12 independent show fields, food trucks with all kinds of great items to choose from, and free admission into the event, you can't go wrong! I hope you come to shop the two-mile stretch of historic Route 20. Maybe you'll find something you can't live without like I did.