Flea markets. The things you can find…

by Jeff Gross, feature writer

In this time of “going green” and recycling, flea markets are a great place to sell your unwanted items and wares. The Voluntown, Connecticut Flea Market and the Plainfield Pike, Johnston, Rhode Island Flea Market are both prime examples of low cost/high traffic markets. 

Each market charges $20 to set up, with no limit on space size. Other markets have limited space size and charge excessive fees. Both of these markets are in high traffic areas and almost always have a high turnout. People are often setting up there as the markets draw more traffic than yard sales. The purchasers are looking for a variety of items such as household decorations, paintings, tools, toys, model trains, and fishing equipment, just to name a few. Beverages and snacks are available at each location. Parking is free and ample. 

Mother Nature has been very cooperative in the weeks as of late, though a little rain mid-week would be very helpful to green up the grass and pack down the dust. Regardless of the dust, dealers are doing very well, often times leaving with half the amount they arrived with. A new friend of mine noted that she came with a very full pickup truck and left with about half. She had some really gorgeous household decor like wrought iron wine racks, and wrought iron tables. These items sold rather quickly.

A little haggling ensues but that is part of the fun of it. Gentlemen often come looking for tools, which this writer has an abundance of. These tools are bought as backups to those which they already have. Hmm I wonder if they were in the military? That is what a veteran would do. 

Well behaved pets are welcome, also, as many pups can be seen on leashes. I was told there is a beautiful Golden Retriever greeting everyone she possibly can. 

Everyone there is always looking for unique finds and bargains, which can be had with a little New England haggling.

One hears of the rare million-dollar paintings being found in an obscure setting like this. The rare gold coin in the bottom of a box. A rare Lionel train from the early 1920s.  Maybe, just maybe, like in a fairy tale, you’ll find a diamond in the rough. I did. I wasn’t looking, but her sparkle caught my eye immediately. All it took was a little kindness to bring out her radiance. Her smile was brighter than the sun in the sky above where we stood.

Jeffrey “Jeff” Gross spent 21 years as an Analytical Chemist at the USCG R&D Center in Groton, Connecticut, Woods Hole Laboratories, and Helix Technologies. Changing careers is a “great learning experience for everyone”, Jeff says, and I’m an avid outdoorsman and conservationist, a student of the sciences, and the world. The US holds too many wonders not to take a chance and explore them”.

Jeff is a Model Train and Railroad entrepreneur. Proud Golden Retriever owner. Ultra strong Second Amendment Advocate and Constitutionalist. “Determined seeker of the truth”. 

Jeff is a RIFGPA Legislative officer, Freshwater Chairman, NRA Liaison, FRISC Delegate.

His subjects include Outdoors, Second Amendment, Model Railroading, and Whimsical.