STURBRIDGE, MA – The Federated Church of Sturbridge and Fiskdale will hold its 71st and final Annual Antique Auction on Saturday, August 14, 2021, on the beautiful Sturbridge Common across from the landmark Publick House Historic Inn. The auction will be held, rain or shine, under tent, with a preview of items to be sold beginning at 9:00 a.m. and bidding starting promptly at 10:00 a.m.
A real old fashioned country auction, this event is known as the longest annually held church auction in the nation, according to auction committee chair, Tim Bardsley. Items up for bid include an assortment of antique items and collectibles donated by church and community members, many in original condition and some lovingly restored by local artisans.
As in prior years, any bidder whose purchases total $500 or more will receive dinner for two courtesy of The Publick House Historic Inn and Restaurant. Bidders whose purchases total $1,000 or more, will receive one night of lodging and dinner for two.
A highlight of the auction is the sale of two featured decorated chairs. As a special feature of this year’s auction, the Church will be auctioning off two of each chair – the Sturbridge Chair (#27 and #28 in the series) and The Publick House Chair (#49 and #50 in the series) – instead of the usual two because last year’s auction had to be canceled due to the pandemic.
These highly prized items, which always command a lot of attention, are decorated in bronze powder stenciling with a lovely Sturbridge or Publick House scene. The chairs are part of a limited series with only one of each produced each year and they are only available at the Federated Church annual auction.
The event also includes a silent auction featuring gift baskets, handmade crafts, gift certificates from local vendors, a bake sale and food booth. The auction is handicapped accessible and open to the general public free of charge with ample free parking around the Common and the Church.
The auction is being conducted for the 47th year in a row by the highly professional and entertaining Robert Glass Jr. and Gwen Glass Carbone of the Robert H. Glass family of auctioneers. For more information, please call the Church office at (508) 347-3915 or email churchoffice@sturfed.org.