At a yard sale Saturday morning, Lou Adkins’ daughter paid $7 for a painting. It might end up making Adkins a bit more.

Adkins took the work over to the Suffolk Hilton, where Riddick’s Folly was holding its seventh annual Hidden Treasures antique appraisals show.

&uot;I’m just trying to find out how much its worth,&uot; she said, hefting the artwork. &uot;If it’s worth something, I might sell it.&uot;

That wasn’t on Yvonne Lovingood’s mind.

&uot;These are antiques,&uot; she said, showing off some jewelry. &uot;They belonged to my grandmother. I want to find out what they’re worth for insurance purposes, to make sure my insurance covers them if there’s a fire or something. I’m not going to sell them; you can’t replace sentimental value.&uot;

Dozens of people brought their offerings to the event, which raised funds for the restoration of the law offices of Nathanial Riddick. A Keystone Toy Steam Shovel was estimated to fetch about $500. A 19th century quilt could bring in upwards of $800.

But the price-stealer of the day was a 1933 baseball autographed by Babe Ruth and several New York Yankees from the times – its owner stood to make a cool $30,000!

Sue Draper stitched her eyes over a large quilt.

&uot;The most unusual things come to events like this,&uot; she said during a break in the appraising. &uot;These are things that people have tucked away. They open their closet, their chest, and they’re as surprised as anyone when they find out how much the things are worth.

&uot;It’s a wonderful way to spread knowledge. There are things that people have been passed by their relatives. They know they were special to their relatives, but they don’t always know why and you get to explain it.&uot;

Across the room, Riddick’s assistant director Lee King checked over Adkins’ art.

&uot;It looks like it was done in the 1960s,&uot; he said. &uot;It’s on Masonite (frame). I would say about two, three hundred.&uot;

&uot;That feels pretty good,&uot; Adkins said afterward. &uot;I had no idea. You come in here with the hope that something’s going to be worth something, and it was. I’ll probably put it on eBay.&uot;

jason.norman@suffolknewsherald.com