Historical Society hosts Sylvania 'pickers'
One person’s trash...another person’s treasure.
During a week when Sylvania residents are tossing stuff curbside during unlimited pickup, only to have it taken by others who see some sort of value in the discards, it seems fitting that a Sylvania Pickers day is in the lineup of weekend activities.
The local event is akin to the History Channel’s American Pickers that features Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz who pursue the ever-elusive rusty gold, telling the history of America, one treasure at a time. During their regular road trips they search garages, basements, barns, and other sites brimming with unusual, and valuable, treasures.
The Sylvania Area Historical Society has thousands of interesting items of its own, and the organization is inviting families, individuals, and students to give picking a try at the Sylvania Historical Village Sunday following the city’s Fall Festival Parade.
The Sylvania Fall Festival, which includes a parade set to step up off at 12:45 p.m., is taking place Sunday afternoon along South Main Street.
Amateur treasure hunters can pick up their “Picker Sheets” at the Heritage Center Museum, 5717 N. Main St., from 2 to 4 p.m.
The person or family that picks the top five valued antique items in the historical village will win a $100 gift certificate to Sautter’s Market in Sylvania. There will also be tours and refreshments offered at the village during the day.
The entry fee for the contest includes a one-year membership in the Sylvania Area Historical Society. Fees are $25 for families, $18 for individuals, and $5 for students. Membership includes complimentary access to all programming throughout the 2013 season and a subscription to the quarterly Sylvania history newsletter.
“This is a fun way of engaging our community with our local history,” said Bob Smith, historical society president, in a release from the historical society. “We have so much to share here with local residents. We are looking forward to this event because it will provide individuals and families a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon and everyone will learn some things about our local history at the same time. Plus, we think there are a lot of fans of the American Pickers show out there who will want to take on the challenge of ‘picking’ the village for the top five historical items. This will be a real blast from the past.”
If taking part in the picking event grabs you, there are some official rules to follow. Copies are available on the Sylvania Area Historical Society’s Web site.
Founded in 1991, the Sylvania Area Historical Society inspires people to create a better future through historical understanding. One of the most active historical societies in the area, it is home to thousands of documents, textiles, photographs, and historical items. Its collections encompass more than 150 years of Sylvania’s history—from its 19th-century origins to contributions of current-day residents.
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