Date: Fri 14-May-1999

Publication: Ant

Author: SHIRLE

Quick Words:

Renninger's-Extravaganza

Full Text:

Renninger's Extravaganza

(with 18 cuts)

By Cathy Sykes

KUTZTOWN, PA. -- There's only one sure way to jump start spring in our part of

New Hampshire and that's by heading south 450 miles to Renninger's

Extravaganza in Kutztown. As we got below Connecticut, the forsythia colors

started turning vibrant yellow, the new grass was lush green and the

temperature started rising.

Kutztown is part of Northern Berks County which is also much better known for

its Amish and the massive stone barns with hex signs. Wallace Nutting's book

Pennsylvania Beautiful helped create the term and its association with many

superstitions when he referred to barn signs as "Hexafoos or witches foot."

Hex signs, with their beautifully faded reds, blues, yellows and whites, are a

form of folk art for the Pennsylvania Dutch. Their old baptismal certificates,

coverlets and chests are similarly decorated. The six-pointed star, the

turning sunwheel, the heart and the tulip were in use long before, in textile

designs, borders and in fraktur writings.

Hex signs today have no bewitching power associated with them, but they are

beautiful to view and a visit to this area showcases them nicely along Route

222.

Also on Route 222 we stopped at the Airport Diner which is pure pink, green

and very chrome all over. It's a good luncheon stop -- one step up from fast

food, this 1950s diner serves up nostalgia along with great grub. We overheard

a waitress lament about having her daughter out of school for the day to help

at the diner because they were extra-busy with the Antiques Extravaganza going

on.

Renninger's Antique Market and Farmers Market in Kutztown goes on every

weekend year round. They also have another market with 600 dealers (give or

take) in nearby Adamstown each Sunday after Kutztown. Adamstown was started as

a farmer's market in 1955 and is still the backbone of their business. Fresh

cut meats, cheese, fruit and baked goods are plentiful and scrumptious. The

particular April show, as well as June and September, are billed as extra

large "Extravaganzas" because of the influx of New England snowbirds dealers

who pass through. Many of the faces also are seen at Renninger's winter shows

in Florida.

Kutztown is a beautiful, small, historic town. Noble Street, which leads to

the Antiques Market, is lined with sweet homes with Victorian porticoes,

wonderful architectural details and fancy fretwork trim on the porches.

Kutztown is also home to Kutztown University which has magnificent brick

buildings that are especially well maintained. The countryside is home to big

fields, big barns and big farms. There is no shortage of open space.

Of course my Yankee heart and eyes are always drawn to the New England

dealers. I found Maine picker and long-time dealer Harry Hepburn of Bridgton

who offered a beautiful circa 1880 painted bed with a well executed scene on

the headboard for $450. Jim Hicks of New Ipswich, N.H. had a rocking horse in

original paint as well as a gold leaf sign which would be perfect if you knew

someone named S.J. Hansen.

Lloyd Lindholm of Triple L Sports in Winthrop, Me., was anxious to be home in

New England after exhibiting all over the south for months. His huge

assortment of balls and bats is sure to fit any baseball player young or old.

David Hall Sr and Jr continue their long forays to antiques markets hauling

pianos. They offered a magnificent Arts & Crafts era sample in extra strong

oak graining. This aging baby boomer is always attracted to Pez dispensers and

Steve Yuhas of Allentown, Pa., had a colossal display.

June Cass of Roadrunner Rock Shop, Bethel, Pa., presented a Kudu (similar to a

deer but with long curly antlers) for $1,100. The Cheshire Cat of Ephrata,

Pa., who specialized in Bessie Pease Gutmann prints, had a nice display.

The back rows of Renninger's were fairly bare and the dealers pretty thin.

There is also a fair amount of new merchandise mixed in. Renninger's staff

bills their market as a farmer's market first, the antiques market second, and

last on the list a world famous antiques & collectors extravaganza, which it

is.

As hard as it is for me to believe, sometimes people do collect new items and

I don't think any of the dealers are malicious with their intent to

misrepresent what they are selling. As with any antiques market, short of a

vetted antiques show, the old adage of caveat emptor is a good tip for this

market. So is wearing sneakers and sunscreen.

Traditional spring weather brought showers mid-day and the red Pennsylvania

dirt turned into a slippery mess, driving people inside to peruse the covered

booths.

Harriet Moskowitz is a long time trusted jewelry dealer from New Jersey and is

often seen through New Jersey and Pennsylvania -- she has exhibited at

Renninger's for years. We came upon the cutest little dog all cuddled up in a

blanket who smartly stayed in his truck and wouldn't even brave the rain.

For further information, contact Renninger's in Kutztown, Monday through

Thursday, 877/385-0104, and Friday and Saturday during show hours at

610/683-6848. Their address is 27 Bensinger Drive, Schuylkill Haven, PA 17972.