GOSHEN — Furniture, china, antiques and more than 1,000 books donated by multiple families are just some of the items that will be up for sale this weekend at a big three-day tag sale hosted by the Williams-Boltwood House Trust.
The sale is a fundraiser for restoration of the historic Williams House, at 2 Williams Drive, where the sale is taking place. All sales will go to renovating the house, with those buying items getting to choose which areas their donations will go to.
Part of the Williams House was built in the 18th century while the other part was built in the early 19th century. The house hosted Goshen’s first Town Meeting, and also served as the town’s first post office and general store.
Kam Oborne bought the home last year and transferred the property to the Williams-Boltwood House Trust in February. The goal of the trust, of which Oborne is a trustee, is to transform the home into a museum after extensive renovations.
The tag sale will take place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday and from 8 a.m. to noon on Monday.
Many of the items for sale once belonged to Margaret Waggoner, a former Smith College professor who died last year at the age of 95. Waggoner was a supporter of preserving the Williams House and was a trustee of the Williams-Boltwood House Trust.
“She loved history,” said Melanie Lamere, a friend of Waggoner’s for two decades of and the successor trustee of her estate. Lamere grew up in Goshen and her family has roots in town. She’s also a trustee of the Williams-Boltwood House Trust, which she said Waggoner helped her get involved with.
“Goshen’s very dear to me, and Margaret Waggoner has a way of drawing you in,” she said.
The trust is also looking to put on a “ruins tour” of the house this summer, a fundraiser that will feature hors d’oeuvres and tour guides dressed in period clothing.
A number of old and potentially valuable books and documents, including a pre-Revolutionary War handwritten book of sermons, have been found at the house. However, they’re all being stored off-site and they are not for sale this weekend.
The trust is looking to complete foundation work on the house as well as water mitigation. Other work involves restoring the buggy on the property.
WILLIAMSBURG — Students at the Anne T. Dunphy School have donated a number of art pieces to an art auction that seeks to raise money for people in Ukraine.
The seven pieces of art are going to be auctioned off alongside the works of luminaries that include Gerald Wise, Greg Stone and Susan Tilton Pecora.
The students also donated $500 to the effort that they raised through selling art at the Dunphy School’s recent production of “The Phantom Tollbooth Jr.”
The June 18 auction is being organized by Tracy Magdalene of Haydenville, and it will be held at the Haydenville Congregational Church from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“We’ve got quite a few pieces,” said Magdalene, who noted that 72 pieces have been collected for the auction so far. She said the student donations are in keeping with the true spirit of the auction.
“Kids in Ukraine can’t have plays,” said Magdalene, paraphrasing the kids.
All of the money being raised by the auction is going to a Ukrainian friend of Magdalene’s who runs a soccer nonprofit and is using his networks to help people flee Ukraine and support those who have chosen to stay.
More than $25,000 has been raised through Magdalene’s efforts, including thousands of her own money. “I hope that people will spread the word far and wide,” she said.
Additionally, Magdalene said that the auction will feature art in “every price range.” from $5 to $500.
HAYDENVILLE — Haydenville American Legion Post 236’s Raise Up Our Veterans event will be held on its new date of June 18.
Organized by Jim Hall, junior vice commander at the post, Raise Up Our Veterans is a biannual event where volunteers refurbish the bronze veterans plaques at St. Mary of the Assumption Cemetery in Leeds/Haydenville.
The event was originally set to be held on May 21. However, the high temperatures predicted for that day caused it to be moved.
“There’s no hiding in that cemetery,” said Hall.
The event on June 18 will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., weather permitting. Those interested in participating can call the Legion post at 413-268-9264, or they can email Hall at jmes.ha@comcast.net.
Bera Dunau can be reached at bdunau@gazettenet.com.