Heat doesn't drive bargain shoppers away from Highway 61 and Scott City yard sales

Despite near record high temperatures, the Highway 61 Yard Sale and the Scott City Yard Sale were in full swing this Labor Day weekend.

The sixth annual Highway 61 Yard Sale began Thursday and continued through Saturday. Although more than 300 sales were estimated to have been scattered along the highway between Jackson and Bloomsdale, Mo., hot spots included Fruitland and Perryville, Mo.

In Fruitland, a group of several sales was set up just after the intersection of U.S. 61 and Highway 177. Local salon owner Alisha Curtis held her sale in the parking lot of her salon, Shear Grace. She was not worried about the heat affecting turnout.

"If you're an avid garage saler, then you're going to be here anyway," Curtis said.

A first-time participant, Curtis said she had been waiting for this opportunity to get rid of some unwanted possessions. Like many of this weekend's vendors, she was selling children's clothing, which she said was one of her best-selling items.

According to Curtis' mother, Caroline Walther, any leftover items will be donated to organizations such as Teen Challenge USA and Birthright.

Perryville was another hot spot along the route, with several vendors setting up in the Perry Plaza parking lot.

David Schrader of St. Louis, a self-proclaimed scavenger, traveled to Perryville on Friday after hearing about the sale on the news.

"You just never know what you are going to find," Schrader said.

Schrader has a booth at South County Antique Mall, which was part of his motivation for attending the sale.

The Highway 61 Yard Sale originally started six years ago as a way to bring traffic and commerce to the highway. According to Diana Thompson, owner of the Uniontown, Mo., antique store Country Charm Emporium, the sale has done just that.

Thompson, who strictly advertises by word-of-mouth, said that the sale has been good for business because it has exposed people to her shop who would not have normally known it was open.

"I have had people who said they intend to come back," Thompson said.

Della Bollinger, owner of Hubble Creek Antiques & More in Jackson, also said that the yard has brought business to her shop.

"It's more of an advertisement for people who have never come through here before," Bollinger said.

The Scott City Yard sale also took place Friday and Saturday. An estimated 40 sales were scattered throughout the city. Several were set up in the caboose parking lot on Main Street across from the VFW hall.

Many sales featured items such as children's clothing, VHS tapes, kitchenware and holiday decor. However, Bonnie Counts and her family were selling rabbits. This isn't the first time the family has brought animals to the citywide sale; in the past they have brought animals such as chickens, ducks and dogs.

Frequent yard sale shopper Terrie Laubach was just one of the bargain hunters who attended the Scott City sale Friday. She is a resale shop owner and was "looking for everything in particular," she said.

Maps providing yard sale addresses were available at city hall and Paradise Express in Scott City. Proceeds raised from the advertisements in these maps will be donated to the Scott City Womens Club. According to yard sale organizer and Women's Club member Chaundra Mason, the club will later use this money to purchase Christmas gifts for children in need.

Pertinent address:

Scott City

Jackson, Mo.

Fruitland, Mo.

Perryville, Mo.