Start in New Baltimore and travel to the Thumb
By Barb Pert Templeton
It’s been more than two decades since Mary Teichow first pitched the idea of establishing a yard sale trail for the thumb area in St. Clair County and she can’t believe it’s still going strong.
All those years ago, she and her family had a ball at a similar event whose trail started in Kentucky and ended in Alabama.
“We spent six days on the trail and we never even saw Alabama,” Teichow laughed. “I don’t think we got beyond Tennessee actually but boy we had fun.”
Now marking the 21st annual Antiques Yard Trail Sale, which takes place this Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 11-13, the trail continues to grow. It begins in New Baltimore – near 23 Mile and Green Street, then takes in Clay Township, Algonac, Marine City, St. Clair and continues right on up through Lexington and Port Austin before concluding in Sebewaing.
Teichow vividly recalls bringing the idea for the trail to members of the Blue Water Antique Dealers Association telling them “We have to establish a trail here.”
The 200-mile trail of yard sales starts in New Baltimore and travels right up the coast line to Port Austin.
“I think they thought I’d bumped my head or something at first,” Teichow said. “But then they saw the vision.”
Initially the trail started in Algonac and traveled to points between there and Port Austin but as the year’s have passed it’s expanded to include lots of new communities. Some cities and townships have even incorporated other events into the weekend like opening up museums and lighthouses for tours, Teichow said.
When COVID-19 hit in 2020 it put a damper on the trail sales as did soaring gas prices during some past summers. Still, the event has lots of loyal participants including both sellers and shoppers and continues to rebuild itself each year.
Teichow said most sales are at private residences although some communities utilize their city parking lots to allow additional vendors to setup along the trail.
“The nice thing is everyone can shop at their own pace,” Teichow said. “But I always also remind people to please honor the rules of the road.”
Having a passenger along to navigate where the sales are along the route while the driver concentrates on the road is something Teichow preaches all the time. Keeping an eye out for brake lights, turn signals, children and the elderly, who may take an extra moment or two to cross a road, are among Teichow’s safety tips.
“I always like to say please practice courtesy when driving,” she added. “I really can’t stress the driving safety enough.”
A huge variety of items from furniture, to household goods, baby clothes and toys to collectibles can be found along the Yard Sale Trail.
Being polite and courteous are also highly recommended to the sellers who are greeting customers at their homes.
“We encourage everyone to welcome customers to the thumb and treat them like you would want to be treated,” Teichow said. “And we really do appreciate the good people of the thumb who make this all possible.”
Feedback about the trail event comes back to Teichow each year either via direct phone calls or the website, yardsaletrail.com. She said having to run around and put out fires during the sales is now a thing of the past and today the event pretty much takes care of itself.
After the fact she enjoys hearing how things went and she’s particularly touched by the phone calls she receives, sometimes even on Christmas Day, from families asking for the upcoming summer trail dates so they can all plan to get together and shop.
“People call from across the country and I just think it’s really nice because it means they like what we’re doing and their whole family is getting together to enjoy it,” Teichow said.
Heading into the 21st weekend along the trail, Teichow said most places open at 8 or 9 a.m. and remain open into the early evening. The forecast this weekend looks pleasant with a few clouds noted but there’s not supposed to be any rain.
“I think it’s going to be a good weekend,” Teichow, who owns Teichow’s Treasures Antiques in Fargo said. “I’ll have tables set up at a friends’ place in Lexington all weekend.”
To find out more about the Antique Yard Trail Sale visit the Facebook page, Yard Sale Trail M-25 / M29 or yardsaletrail.com.
