Museum to hold appraisal fundraiser
Published 10:43 pm Friday, March 16, 2012
Clean out those attics, closets, basements and storage units — it’s time once again for Riddick’s Folly’s Hidden Treasures Appraisal Show.
The 14th annual fundraiser for the historic house museum on North Main Street will be held March 24 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Suffolk National Guard Armory, 2761 Godwin Blvd.
People are invited to bring in their old documents, artifacts, coins, dolls, furniture, paintings, sports memorabilia and all manner of other antiques to find out how much they may be worth.
“People are really shocked when they find out what some of their items can be worth,” said Lee King, curator of Riddick’s Folly. “These are items they may have been getting ready to throw away or found in the attic.”
In years past, Suffolk residents have brought in letters penned by Albert Einstein, Syrian clay and stone tablets, a Union frock coat from the Civil War appraised at $15,000, a pre-Columbian tomb figure appraised at $1,200 and more.
“They’re finding things they’d really forgotten about,” King said. “It’s really fun when they find out it is really valuable.”
More than a dozen volunteer appraisers, all experts in the subject area they will be dealing with, will help with the event.
Each item a visitor would like to be appraised costs $7, and they are responsible for transporting the items from their vehicle into the armory.
“I would suggest getting there early,” King said. “We have more appraisers there this year, so those lines should go pretty quickly.”
For more information on the show, call 934-0822.