It has been half a century since Arlene and Bob Kendra started the very popular Antiques & Collectibles Market at Historic Hanna’s Town in Westmoreland County. Originally it was called Fleatique.
“The first one had 54 dealers and grew from there,” said Mrs. Kendra.
“A few years after I started there were so many cars lined up along Route 119 that the State Police sent a helicopter to find out what was causing the traffic jam and ended up at Hanna’s Town,” she recalled.
Hanna’s Town is a Revolutionary War era village which was founded in 1773 in what was essentially the wild frontier. Hanna’s Town became part of Southwestern Pennsylvania when a dispute broke out between Virginia and Pennsylvania over the land.
Today the reconstructed village is a popular destination for history buffs. The antiques market is held at 809 Forbes Trail Road, Greensburg.
“The Antiques & Collectibles Sale is our most reliable fundraiser and it is responsible for putting most of our log structures in place,” explained Lisa Hays, executive director of the Westmoreland Historical Society.
There will be nearly 150 vendors on site this Sunday, kicking off the seasonal monthly market. Admission is $3 fee per car, which goes to support the Forbes Road Fire Department and Historic Hanna’s Town. The market opens at 7:30 a.m. and runs until early afternoon. The log buildings open at noon for those looking for tours of the village.
“There are people who come every month because they just love the hunt. There are always different vendors,” Hays noted.
Vendors who just set up for one weekend are charged $40 for a 20- by 28-foot spot on the lawn. Those who pay for all six shows in advance are charged $30 per month.
“The most dealers we had at one time was 401,” noted Mrs. Kendra proudly.
That was in the 1980s and early ’90s, when antiques were at their peak popularity. Her husband, Bob, is an avid antique tool collector and still comes to every show looking for tools to buy and add to his extensive collection.
“The real antique buffs arrive very early because they want to be the first ones to see everything,” noted Hays.
The sale is held on the second Sunday of every month through October. Upcoming sales are June 11, July 9, Aug. 13, Sept. 10 and the final one of the season on Oct. 8. For more information, go to westmorelandhistory.org.
Patricia Sheridan: psheridan@post-gazette.com.
First Published: May 11, 2023, 9:30 a.m.
