Date: Fri 30-Oct-1998

By Previous Employees

Published: Aug 11, 1999 12:00 am

Publication: Ant

Author: DONNAM

Quick Words:

Pottery

Full Text:

Pottery And Glass Collection Provides Retirement Fund. Wall Street Move Over

w/cuts

By Rita Easton

MANHEIM, PENN. -- Thirteen years ago, J. Harlan Miller made the decision to

prepare for his retirement with an unorthodox plan: he invested in pottery and

glass almost exclusively. Not Wall Street stocks in pottery and glass

manufacturing companies, but the actual plates, pitchers, platters, teapots,

and other table ware.

He had an eye for fine examples of spatterware, gaudy ironstone, transfer

decorated ironstone, Staffordshire, Leeds, Lehnware, redware, yellowware --

the whole range of collectibles. It was a move that a stock market

entrepreneur would find wildly speculative.

Now Miller is liquidating. The second auction (and not the last) of these

items offered 393 lots on October 17 by Conestoga Auction Company, Inc. It

grossed over $350,000 on that day alone. The stock market entrepreneur would

be envious, according to information from auctioneer and gallery owner Jeffrey

de Hart. Miller, however, has not revealed the extent of his original

investment. Two hundred eighty-two bidders from 17 states, Brazil, and

Jerusalem participated.

A rare gaudy Dutch coffee pot with dome top, in the dove pattern, sold at

$20,350 to a private collector, capturing the top price of the sale. "I'm told

by several people that that's a record for gaudy Dutch, but I don't have

research on that," said de Hart.

A green and red rainbow spatter Tulip pattern platter, measuring 14 inches by

18 inches, garnered $16,500; a five-color rainbow spatter pitcher and bowl

each went to a different buyer -- $12,100 for the pitcher and $11,550 for the

bowl; and several gaudy Dutch plates realized over $4,000 each. A gaudy Dutch

Dahlia pattern teapot went out at $12,000.

Historical blue was especially strong, with a covered vegetable dish in a

"States" pattern reaching $5,770; a 16 by 20 inch "Castle Garden Battery, New

York" pattern platter selling at $3,400; and a "Beauties of America" series

flare-top footed bowl, in the "City Hall, New York" pattern, achieving $4,180.

A three-color rainbow spatter covered sugar bowl reached $5,600; a red spatter

schoolhouse cup and saucer rang up $4,400; a Dove pattern ten inch plate in

gaudy Dutch sold at $4,500; a 9â¹ inch gaudy Dutch Butterfly pattern plate

reached $4,200; a Lehnware saffron box was purchased at $3,400; a Heinrich

Bucher document box decorated with a typical floral pattern on black ground

sold at $6,325; a mocha earthworm and cat's eye pitcher reached $3,400; a

yellow spatter "Morning Glory" plate garnered $4,000.

A Lehnware miniature cup and saucer reached a $3,550 hammer, and a red spatter

Thistle pattern bowl brought $3,700.

Speaking of Miller, de Hart remarked, "This is the second sale we've done for

him. While it was his entire retirement investment, he only bought what he

really enjoyed."

Prices quoted above reflect a required ten percent buyer's premium.

Nighthawk Track And Field Teams Host Meet

New Heights Vacation Bible School Returning

Next HRRA Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Event Scheduled In Newtown

Genealogy Club's Next Program To Dig Into 'Dissecting A Civil War Pension Record'

Choral Society Planning ‘Voices Of America’ Performance

The editorial took no position on the budget going up or down so you're reading things into the editorial that simply aren't there. The turnout is tied to the lack of passage, in that people who came out to vote last time did not this time, indicating a lack of support on their part. Perhaps it wasn't spelled out clearly enough, but that's what the editorial was driving at, people showing lack of support by not casting a vote. The editorial did address likely concerns among voters that may have led to lack of support and lack of turnout. This lower turnout also follows increasing turnout over the past four referendums in three years (meaning it is an aberration from that), and increased turnout is something that I do push for regularly in editorials. Any disappointment you might be seeing is at the break in that trend, not at whether the budget passed or not. I'd rather see more people come out and vote "no" then not vote at all.

Lower Turnout Results In Two Budget Defeats

Clearly, property owners no longer want to bear the burden of expenses while the state does not meet it’s responsibilities. Rising costs must be addressed by actions that do not include yearly increases of property owners’ taxes. The state of CT must meet its share of the educational costs, and other costs.

Town And School Budgets Fail At Referendum

This feels like an oddly misleading headline and narrative, particularly coming from the Editorial Board. The headline "Lower Turnout Results in Two Budget Defeats" pushes a misleading narrative regarding voter turnout, and then seeks to tie the outcome of the referendum to that misleading narrative. Sure, voter turn out for this year's referendum, 18%, was lower than last year's. However, last year's turnout, 25.4%, represented the highest turnout in the most recent 10 budget referendums. If you take the time to examine turnout percentages between 2017 and 2026 (2017: 19.9, 2018: 15.7, 2019: 17, 2020: 0, 2021: 8.98, 2022: 7.7, 2023: 8.8, 2024: 15.1/17.49, 2025: 25.4, 2026: 18), this year's turnout was actually the third highest in the past 10 cycles. Perhaps the headline of this article should say "Lower Voter Turnout Than Last Year", which is more accurate, rather than creating an impression that this year's turnout is some type of aberration - a narrative that the turnout numbers, in all their binary glory, simply do not support. Further, the headline of this article appears to tie the "lower turnout" to the defeated budgets. Sure, that could be true. But, perhaps, its more likely that Newtown residents are feeling the squeeze of multiple economic influences. In Newtown, we've experienced property revaluations and increased municipal spending. Eversource continues to raise rates. The state legislature gives PURA the authority to impose Public Benefit charges that benefit a tiny percentage of the public (and subsequently burdening the rest of us). At the national level, inflation has run rampant for years and many of those costs remain high to this day. In short, the data tells a far less dramatic—and far more honest—story than the headline suggests. This wasn’t an electorate vanishing in apathy; it was a fairly typical turnout delivering an verdict that, perhaps, some at the Editorial Board didn't like. At some point, it’s worth considering that residents aren’t confused, disengaged, or misled by turnout; they’re simply doing math at their kitchen tables and concluding that “no” is the only responsible answer left.

Enjoyed the forum which only confirmed my support for Brandon Moore as the Democratic candidate to run for the state representative position. Brandon Moore did not waiver about his duty to all the people, if elected, when an issue presents itself that requires that he voice a difference of opinion for the wellbeing of Newtown residents. If Michelle Ku’s 16 years have led to her loyalty being to other elected officials, as she implied, then Newtown is going to continue to witness actions that do not protect its residents. She could not unseat republican, Mitch Bolinsky, during a Blue Wave, and once again, will not do it now. Winning that seat is critical for all. That explains why her previous campaign committee now campaigns for Brandon Moore. It explains all the endorsements he has received from local elected democratic officials. It’s why we need Brandon Moore to be the democratic candidate to run for state representative.

Second Newtown DTC, League Of Women Voters Candidates Event Planned

Appreciated the opportunity to hear from both candidates as we were present for the College Dems forum but only heard from Brandon Moore. It was an opportunity to see who can unseat the Republican incumbent and there is no doubt that Brandon Moore should be the Democratic candidate. One concerned parent posed a question about discrimination unaddressed by the school district and interestingly enough, Michelle Ku, who proudly speaks of her Board membership years, said little, while Brandon Moore passionately addressed the issue along with his experience as an Apache Helicopter Commander. This family is supporting Brandon Moore. We need change and someone who is not afraid to disagree, especially about the rising costs of living in Newtown.

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Date: Fri 30-Oct-1998

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