Community Corner

Rentschler Farm Will Have 20 Vendors for Michigan's Longest Yard Sale

The US-12 Heritage Trail yard sale takes place Aug. 10-11.

The US-12 Heritage Trail yard sale might not be the largest garage sale in the country, but it’s certainly the largest in Michigan.

And the Saline Area Historical Society has been participating for the last three years. Held each August, more than 20 vendors are expected to set up at the society’s Rentschler Farm at 1265 E. Michigan Ave (also known as US-12) on Friday, Aug.10 and Saturday, Aug. 11 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

New this year is food vendor Thyme to Eat Catering, said Dean Greb, president of the historical society. Plus, he said, the historical society is offering a special item for sale – a restored pony buggy.

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Shoppers can make a weekend of the huge multi-community garage sale by traveling more than 200 miles from New Buffalo to Detroit along US-12.

The number of vendors has steadily increased each year said Janet Swope, chairman of the event for the historical society.

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State-wide sales include participants selling items from their front yards, barns, parking lots, road-side card tables and vacant fields. Some areas along the roadway have lots of vendors clustered together, while other areas might be further apart due to the rural nature of the highway.

“The sale draws people from across the state,” Swope said.

Shoppers can expect to find everything from antiques and collectables to furniture, fresh farm produce and homemade jellies, jams, cookies and cakes.

The yard sale is used as a fundraiser for the farm and depot museums, said Agnes Dikeman, treasurer of the historical society.

“Profits from booth rental and from the society booth will be used for our museums, specifically for their ongoing restoration,” Dikeman said.

“Some people have told us that they plan the multi-community garage sale as part of their summer vacation. They start out on the western side of the state, drive east to Ypsilanti or Canton, stay overnight, and work their way back home the next day.”

On Friday at the Rentschler Farm, shoppers can expect to find unique gift items from the Pineapple House and yummy breads and sweet treats from Ed’s Breads, both popular Saline businesses.

Expect to see “typical garage sale booths, antique dealers, and other vendors,” said Swope, adding that the farm gift shop will also be open.

Booth spaces went quickly with a 16 by 20 foot outdoor spot going for $20 for one day or $35 for both days. The historical society pays for publicity.

For more information about the state-wide sale, go to www.us12heritagetrail.org. or www.salinehistory.org or call 734-944-0442.


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