Annual 100-Mile Yard Sale a treasure trove for bargain hunters

By M.D. Kittle

Southeast Missourian

GORDONVILLE, Mo. -- If you've been searching the Earth for that elusive black vest with assorted, creepy-looking jack-o'lantern designs, there's some great news for you. But you'd better act fast.

The vest was among scores of apparel -- from shirts to what appeared to be Sansabelt pants -- up for sale Saturday afternoon in the parking lot of Sparkman Auto and Marine Sales in Gordonville.

It was bazaar in the truest sense of the word, with a melange of items for the taking. In the market for plastic flowers? An old treadmill? Saddles? A dune buggy? How about a pair of skis or a camouflage Budweiser thing? Well, you've come to the right place.

Sparkman Auto and Marine served up just a sample of what has become an annual rite of retail passage for the scores of homes and businesses peddling their wares along Highway 25 in the 100-Mile Yard Sale. It's a bonanza of used stuff for sale this Memorial Day Weekend, from Jackson to Dutchtown to Delta to Dexter, into Malden and Campbell, and ending in Kennett, Mo.

The 13th annual yard sale, running through Monday, appeared to be as busy as ever.

Ask Amber Bridges. Business has been good.

The Tamms, Ill., woman worked a table filled with multicolored handbags, purses, wallets, shoes and clothes at her friend's home, between Gordonville and Dutchtown. The property stands adjacent the old cemetery at Zion Lutheran Church.

Bridges held a wad of cash in her hand. She said she had moved $600 worth of merchandise by shortly after noon Saturday. The day before, she said she pocketed $600. The proceeds should help cover the costs of an upcoming vacation.

"We're planning on going to Florida, so we're working on it," Bridges said.

Not everybody was thrilled, however. Jessica and Richard McNeely of Scott City were in the market for clothing and items for their children and some steals they could resell on eBay.

"We haven't seen much of anything," Jessica said. "There's a lot of junk."

They joined a number of other shoppers who complained about the traffic along Highway 25, more so the danger the congestion and some of the other dri-vers presented.

Missouri Department of Transportation electric message boards alert motorists and pedestrians to use caution and watch out for yard sale traffic.

mkittle@semissourian.com

388-3627

Pertinent address:

5967 Highway 25, Gordonville, Mo.,

5291 Highway 25, Gordonville, Mo.

Highway 25, Gordonville, Mo.