A Gunflint Trail Volunteer Fire Department emergency rescue vehicle was cleaned, polished, and on display for the mid-Trail fundraiser which attracted a tent full of supporters to the event. Photos courtesy of Margaret Arko
The Mid-Trail Flea Market, Boutique, Auction and Quilt Raffle was held on Wednesday, August 7… and it rained! However, a little (or even a lot) of rain doesn’t dampen the spirits of us Northerners, and the turnout was great.
With the sale in the fire hall and the auction and boutique in Michael Valentini’s big tent there was plenty of room for folks to sip coffee or lemonade and munch muffins as they shopped.
The flea market was filled with dishes, linens, camping supplies, puzzles, games, books, equipment and anything else you could want. There was a beautiful clear glass dish with a tin top that, if you are a Downton Abbey fan and watched closely, you would have seen in the kitchen. We also sold an incinerator toilet. This diversity of lovely sale items isn’t accidental. We search for flea market finds all year and have already started for next year.
The boutique was again filled with beautiful handmade gifts, many made by the Mid-Trail Quilters.
At the auction there were gifts and gift certificates from local businesses, beautiful works from local artists, Waterford crystal, trips to Costa Rica, a sailboat, a hand-made canoe, and, of course, vintage quilts and quilts and wall hangings made by the Mid- Trail Quilters.
The Mid-Trail Quilters started this celebration of community years ago when a group of women got together and made a quilt, sold raffle tickets for it and donated the monies to the Gunflint Trail Volunteer Fire Department. Over the years we have grown bigger and added the flea market and auction but the quilt raffle is still the high point of the day. It was especially great for me this year because I won it!
When all was said and done, the tent down, the fire house cleaned and we could put our feet up we counted the money and were able to donate $18,500 to the Gunflint Trail Volunteer Fire Department. This is a new record!
These are our friends and neighbors who drop what they are doing to help us when we call. Last year I needed them, and I can testify to the professional, compassionate care they provide. We are already planning for next year’s event, which will be on August 5, 2020, the Wednesday after Fireman’s Picnic weekend. We hope to see you there.
The stunning craftsmanship is evident in this quilt that was raffled off at the fundraiser. This year’s big winner was none other than Margaret Arko, who authored this article.
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