by Bob Graham

For fifty-one weeks each year, Bouckville, NY, is just another small town on the long stretch of Rte. 20 between Albany and Syracuse. Years ago, the highway was a main road and bustled with businesses that catered to travelers rushing across New York State but after the construction of the NY Thruway, it became a secondary route taken as an alternative when the endless monotony of an interstate toll road was too onerous a choice.

The adjoining towns of Madison and Bouckville boast over 25 permanent shops and it is an interesting destination that attracts antique lovers year round. But for that one week a year, the towns become antiques central for thousands of people from around the world. The main show with over 1000 dealers, the Madison-Bouckville Antiques Show, is a weekend event that has attracted antique lovers for decades, but it has spawned several other fields that open earlier in the week that have become attractions in themselves.

As a dealer, it is difficult for me to be away from my shop on the weekends, so the fields that open early have been a prime source for merchandise to entice my late summer and early Autumn customers. I think of it as a separate show in itself and one that is not to be missed.

Every manner of merchandise is available earlier in the week and much of it reappears in the main show on the weekend, either in the tents of dealers who do both shows or “picked” by other dealers who then charge higher prices for it.

Great finds under the Quaker Acres tent.

Dealers from all over the country converge on Bouckville in the third week of August to sell and to buy. Many of the dealers also exhibit three times a year in the slightly more famous show held in Brimfield, MA. Quaker Acres, a Brimfield institution, also sets up their tents here and is a prime attraction on the right side of Rte. 20 approaching Bouckville. On the left side is East Expo field, filled with dealers whose merchandise ranges from primitive to sublime. Both show continue almost a mile along Rte. 20 with plenty of independent merchants and garage sales leading up to them.

Among my favorite dealers in the Quaker Acres field is Praisworthy of Guilford NY owned by John Lynch and Doug Taylor. Their selection of merchandise is always worth the trip since it has an “edge” and is definitely not the usual fare.

The show continues along Rte. 20 into the town of Bouckville itself and every available space in lots, yards, and driveways is completely filled with dealers offering every imaginable item possible at prices that range from wholesale to slightly above. In general, prices are moderate but it is a show where bargains can be found. Three years ago, I snagged at great mid-century coffee table for $35 and last year a three dimensional medical model of an eye for under $50. It doesn’t get any better than that.

If you’ve been to big shows like this, you know the drill: get there early, wear comfortable clothing and shoes, have canvas bags with you for “schlepping”, bring plenty of cash, and don’t forget to stop often for a lemonade, water, or a pulled pork sandwich.

And wear a hat. Nothing wears you down like walking several miles in 85 degree heat while carrying tons of stuff you couldn’t live without.

Waiting for the main show on the weekend is fine, but why not start your shopping with the earlier shows along Rte. 20? It’s completely not centrally located in the center of the state of New York, about an hour from Syracuse and slightly more than two hours from Albany.

But you know what? It’s worth it. It only happens once a year and what self-respecting antiquer wouldn’t love to walk around in the blazing sun in the middle of farmers’ fields searching for that one thing that completely changes their life.
If that doesn’t sound like you then stay home. Those of us who love the unique, the unusual, the beautiful and the bizarre will be there.

Mark your calendars for next year. The third week in August. Only fifty-one more weeks to go.