Twenty dealers will display at antique show

By JULIE NELSON
Staff Writer

The recently renovated Combs Center on Centre College's campus seemed to be the perfect place for this year's Danville Antique Fair.

The Combs Center, or ``The Warehouse,'' is itself a great antique for the people of Boyle County. It was redesigned years ago for Centre's use as a restaurant and entertainment center.

``The open, wooden beams and the wooden floors provide a very antique atmosphere,'' said Cindi Lacy, chairman of the antique fair and board member of The Heart of Danville.

This is the third year that The Heart of Danville has sponsored this event. ``We're really excited to have it at the Combs Center this year because we had to take off a year. We are really glad to bring it back,'' said Julie Wagoner, program director for The Heart of Danville.

Antique dealers from across the country will set up their antiques in the Combs Center for display during the Great American Brass Band Festival. Show Manager Charlie Miller of Chapel Hill, N.C., was responsible for contacting the dealers and bringing them in from different states. Such dealers as Forsyths from Nashville, Tenn., and Vago from Omaha, Neb., will be at the fair along with other dealers from Connecticut, Missouri and Florida. There will be a total of 20 antique dealers in all.

The antiques that will be on display range from fine furnishings, silver, jewelry, porcelains and garden accessories. The dealers will set up their antiques in a room-like setting in the Combs Center so that the public can get a sense of what the antiques look like in the home.

``The antiques will primarily be 18th and 19th century antiques,'' said Lacy.

The antique fair opens to the public Friday. However, there will be other opportunities for the public to see the antiques. On Thursday, the Heart of Danville will host a Gala Preview Party. There will be complimentary hors d'oeuvres along with the band, ``Four Sentimental Reasons,'' and a fun, party-like atmosphere. The public is encouraged to come to the party to get the best selection of antiques.

Saturday morning there will be a Collectors Tour held by the show manager. Miller will take a small group through and discuss prices and quality of the antiques.

``This tour is good for people wanting to learn more about antiques,'' said Lacy.

Finally, on Sunday afternoon there will be an appraisal session. The general public can bring in any antiques they have and for $5 an item find out the value. The Heart of Danville asks that antique furniture owners bring pictures of the furniture instead of the antique.

The board for the antique fair is as follows: Cindi Lacy, chairman; Cindy Baeker, co-chairman; Bennett Prichard, mailings coordinator; Ephraim and Linda Helton, preview party coordinators; Carolyn Strauss and Emily Clark, publicity; and Patty Ward and Laurie Ellis, workers.

These are the dates and times for the events of the antique fair. Please note that admission is $5 for general admission, $25 for the preview party (reservations suggested), and $10 for the collectors tour (reservations suggested). All proceeds will benefit the operating expenses for The Heart of Danville.

Hours are: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday and Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday.

Gala Preview Party: 6-10 p.m. Thursday,.

Collectors Tour: 9-10 a.m. Saturday.

Appraisals: 1:30-4 p.m. Sunday.