.
.
.
#ScarboroughShow #AntiqueShow #VintageMarket #Americana #MaineAntiques #GurleyShows #RachelGurley #JoshGurley #NanGurley #LizzieBorden #TrueCrime #MarineAntiques #NativeAmericanArtifacts #AntlerSheds #HeywoodWakefield
The Scarborough High School Antique & Vintage Show, held on April 5 in Scarborough, Maine, was a well-attended event that drew a crowd of eager shoppers shortly after opening. Organized by Rachel Gurley, this show holds a special place in her heart, as it was the first she planned and ran independently in 2016, during a difficult time when her mother, Nan Gurley, was battling cancer. Nan, a well-known dealer in Americana and a promoter of antiques shows, passed away just a week before the inaugural event. Rachel and her brother Josh grew up in the antiques business, learning the intricacies of running shows from their mother, and they now continue her legacy with a focus on creating a welcoming and supportive environment for their dealers, whom they consider family.
This year’s show, the ninth edition, featured around 35 dealers and was held in the spacious lobby and gym of Scarborough High School. The affluent community of Scarborough, a suburb of Portland, Maine, supports the school, which also hosted athletic events during the show. The event showcased a wide variety of items, many of which were fresh to the market and sourced directly from Maine homes. The offerings included Americana, primitives, Native American artifacts, jewelry, folk art, vintage photographs, ephemera, and even shed antlers.
One of the standout items was a June 21, 1893, edition of the Boston Herald reporting the acquittal of Lizzie Borden, who was famously tried for the murder of her parents in 1892. The newspaper, priced at $125 by Birch Bay Antiques of Rangely, Maine, highlighted the enduring fascination with this true-crime story. Other notable items included an early L.M. Ericsson skeletal desk telephone, known as the Eiffel Tower model, priced at $695 by Vera Kaufman of Rochester, N.H., and a large Midcentury sculptural group by potter Jane Kaufman, depicting a woman hanging laundry, priced at $895.
Local dealer Glenn Brandon offered a beaded Lakota Sioux dress priced at $1,000 and an iron lion sculpture from a Hollis, Mass., collector marked at $250. Jim LeFurgy and Judy Waner of East Winthrop, Maine, displayed a rare early Louisville Slugger baseball bat with a “mushroom handle,” priced at $450, and a Midcentury Heywood-Wakefield cabinet that sold for $750. Roger Williams of Wiscasset, Maine, brought nautical-themed items, including a pond model boat and a three-masted schooner model priced at $375, though he noted the rigging was inaccurate. He also offered a unique pair of American flags made entirely of seashells, priced at $525.
The East Boothbay Trading Company of Boothbay, Maine, featured a selection of shed antlers, with prices ranging from $25 to $245. These antlers, naturally shed by deer or moose, are collected by enthusiasts who search wooded areas for them. The show also included marine paintings and other coastal-themed items, reflecting Scarborough’s seaside location.
Rachel Gurley emphasized the show’s community focus, noting that it supports the high school and offers free admission to students. Over 300 free passes were distributed locally to encourage attendance. The Gurleys’ next event is the Dover Antique Show & Vintage Market in Dover, N.H., on May 10. For more information, visit www.gurleyantiqueshows.com or call 207-396-4255.
Overall, the Scarborough show was a success, offering a diverse array of antiques and vintage items while fostering a sense of community and honoring the legacy of Nan Gurley. The event continues to attract collectors and dealers alike, showcasing the best of Maine’s antiques and vintage treasures.
