Category: Family Fun

Treasure Hunt 26/07/16

Hello, Donna,

I have this glass-front cabinet with the attached label on the back. It belonged to my mom and dad and they used it as a “china closet.’ I know that they purchased it at a second-hand furniture store in Vermont in the early 1950s. It is in good condition, other than some dust from storage after they passed. It has lovely turned legs and the overlay designs on the side, glass doorknob. The glass is clear glass, I believe original to the piece (not a mirror as the picture might suggest). We are now downsizing and I would like to know if it has value as a vintage or antique item.

Thank you in advance for any insight you might share with us.

Marie

Dear Marie,

Your china cabinet is most likely from the 1930s or 1940s. It does look to be in good original condition. It’s not considered an antique yet but getting there. To be considered an antique it has to be at least 100 years old.

China cabinets from that era are the most desired out of tables, chairs and buffets etc. The more popular ones would have glass on all three sides. I think the ones like yours would be more desirable to be repurposed and painted.

The values are tough because you really have to find that right buyer. It would be in the $75 range, leaving room for negotiations. I also would try to sell it myself, trying like Facebook Marketplace or a yard sale.

Marie, thanks for sharing and good luck finding a new home for the cabinet.

Donna

Kiddie Pool 26/07/16

Family fun for whenever

Fairs & festivals

  • The Second Congregational Church, 25 Gregg St. in Wilton, will hold its annual Summer Fair on Saturday, July 18, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. featuring crafts, food, music, kids’ activities, plant sales, book sales, a food auction at 1 p.m. and more, according to an email from the church. See 2ccwilton.org.
  • The 10th annual Fairy and Hobbit House Festival will take place at Bedrock Gardens, 19 High Road in Lee, Friday, July 17, through Sunday, July 19, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, according to bedrockgardens.org. Come in costume to compete in the Designer Fairy and Hobbit House Competition (see the website for details), vote in the competition, take part in fairy- and gnome-related activities and more, according to the website, where you can purchase tickets and reserve parking.
  • The Nashua Fairytale Festival will take place Saturday, July 18, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Greeley Park in Nashua featuring stage acts, fairytale characters, character meet and greets and “over 30 community vendors with activities, caricaturists, games, books, and more for the whole family,” according to nashuanh.gov/546/SummerFun.

Fun at the theater

  • O’Neil Cinemas, 16 Orchard View Drive in Londonderry, continues its Summer Kid’s Series of screenings of kid-friendly movies on Mondays and Wednesdays at 11 a.m., according to oneilcinemas.com. Screenings on Monday, July 20, and Wednesday, July 22, feature How to Train Your Dragon (PG, 2025).
  • Chunky’s in Manchester has some family-friendly events on its upcoming schedule. On Tuesday, July 21, the cinema will screen Minions & Monsters (PG, 2026) at 11:30 a.m. as part of the Little Lunch Dates series geared to parents and preschool children, “with the lights slightly dimmed…. This is a worry-free lunch without the fear of disturbing others,” according to chunkys.com, where you can purchase tickets.
    The theater also has a family-friendly theater candy bingo event on the schedule on Friday, July 24, at 6:45 p.m., the website said. “With your $10 purchase you receive a Chunky’s complimentary Movie Pass for a future movie & $5.00 off one food item during the event. With this purchase you are eligible to receive a FREE Bingo Card! This event will last around an hour and a half, so we hope to get at least 8 rounds in! We’ll do classic straight bingo and a handful of other creative rounds to win!,” according to the website, where you can purchase tickets.
  • The Summer Movie Clubhouse, a lineup of kid-friendly films running Wednesday and Thursday mornings (with a start time usually around 10:30 to 11 a.m.), continues at Cinemark Rockingham Park (15 Mall Road in Salem; cinemark. com/theatres/nh-salem/cinemark-rockingham-park-and-xd). Catch Dog Man (PG, 2025) on Wednesday, July 15, and Thursday, July 16, at 10:30 a.m. and How to Train Your Dragon on Wednesday, July 22, and Thursday, July 23, at 10:30 a.m., according to the website.

Treasure Hunt 26/07/09

Dear Donna,

I came across this paper in my grandmother’s attic. It’s interesting and very old, as you can see.

Can you give me any information on whether it has a value?

Thank you, Donna.

Helene

Dear Helene,

I think what you have, from the photos you sent, is a section of the newspaper. It could also have been the first of many inserts to come through the year to get ready for the 1876 celebration. The Haverhill Gazette paper from Haverhill, Mass., has a 200-year history.

The value on such ephemera (paper) pieces varies with the collector. If you’re from that area it would be fun to have if a ton of them didn’t survive the times. Finding them in an attic is common. You can find lots of old newspapers this way, as they were used as insulation.

I’m just giving you a value on pieces like yours, Helene. Some ephemera can be very valuable. Your paper section would be in the $10 range to a specific collector. Priceless, though, for all the articles and advertising in it!

Thanks for sharing with us, Helene.

Kiddie Pool 26/07/09

Family fun for whenever

Blueberry season

• Blueberries imminent, is the message at many area farms offering pick your own blueberries. “We are shooting for next weekend the 11th or 12th for opening day!” said a post on the Facebook page of Berry Good Farm in Goffstown (berrygoodfarm.com) on July 2. Blueberries were on the “now picking” list at Brookdale Fruit Farm in Hollis (brookdalefruitfarm.com), according to a July 4 Facebook post. At Applecrest Farm Orchards, 133 Exeter Road in Hampton Falls, they will honor the season with a Blueberry Celebration on Sunday, July 12, with live music from Reunion Hill from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

On stage

• The Palace Youth Theatre Summer Camp, featuring performers in grades 2 through 12, will present The Music Man KidsFriday, July 10, at 7 p.m. at the Palace Theatre, 80 Hanover St. in Manchester, according to palacetheatre.org, where you can purchase tickets.

• The Palace Theatre’s 2026 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Series continues with Peter Pan Jr.Thursday, July 9, at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. and Friday, July 10, at 10 a.m. at the Palace Theatre in Manchester, according to palacetheatre.org, where you can purchase tickets. Next week’s show is Willy Wonka Jr. with showtimes Tuesday, July 14, through Thursday, July 16, at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. and Friday, July 17, at 10 a.m.

• RB Productions, which is a “non-profit community theatre organization founded in 2003 by Ryan Brown to provide experiential and educational theatre opportunities for youth and young theatre professionals throughout greater Concord and the state of New Hampshire,” will present Footloose Youth Edition on Friday, July 10, and Saturday, July 11, at 7 p.m. the Capitol Center of the Arts’ Chubb Theatre in Concord, according to ccanh.com, where you can purchase tickets.

• The Secret Garden, based on Frances Hodgson Burnett’s novel, will be presented by Majestic Productions at the Derry Opera House, 29 W Broadway in Derry, on Friday, July 10, and Saturday, July 11, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, July 12, at 2 p.m., according to majestictheatre.net, where you can purchase tickets.

Concerts for kids

• The Hampstead Public Library, 9 Mary E. Clark Drive in Hampstead, will host Mr. Aaron on Thursday, July 9, from 4 to 5 p.m. at the library pavilion (rain location will be inside), according to hampsteadlibrary.org. “He’s bringing an exciting musical extravaganza including synthesizers and plants (yes — plants can make music too!), bringing imaginative and interactive music making for all! Great for families and kids of all ages,” according to the website, which said reservations were appreciated but not required. See mraaronmusic.com for a look at Mr. Aaron’s videos.

• The Somersworth Festival Association continues its Kid Concerts at the Pavilion at Somersworth High School on Wednesdays, July 15, at 6 p.m. with Miss Julieann, according to nhfestivals.org. See missjulieann.com to see Miss Julieann’s videos and get a look at her new book, There’s A Dinosaur at My Door.

Treasure Hunt 26/07/02

Dear Donna,

This blow dryer belonged to my mom. I can remember her using it on my sister and my own hair. It still actually works, although I wouldn’t want to use it. The heat from it is pretty intense. Does anyone collect such items?

Thank you, Donna, in advance.

Denise

Dear Denise,

OK, can I start with that my mom also had one and used it on my hair as well. LOL

This handheld style has been around since the early 1900s. Yours is from the 1950s ish.

Can you believe hair dryers have been around since the late 1800s, when they were invented?

There were several manufacturers and colors of a similar style to yours. Different colors, stainless steel, and with stands as well.

The values today I would think are for decorative and nostalgic reasons, and some repurposing reasons as well. I personally wouldn’t want to use it either. The heat is intense and I can’t even imagine the electrical cost! Also the cord could have age drying damage to the wiring.

Values are in the range of $30+ in good clean working condition. Some styles bring a little more for unusual colors, bases etc.

Denise, thanks for sharing and putting a smile on my face.

Kiddie Pool 26/07/02

Family fun for whenever

Summer of theater

• Catch the first production from a Palace Youth Theatre Summer Camp, featuring performers in grades 2 through 12, at the Palace Theatre, 80 Hanover St. in Manchester, on Thursday, July 2, and Friday, July 3, with Diary of a Wimpy Kid, according to palacetheatre.org, where you can purchase tickets. The production is a 60-minute version, according to the website.

• The Palace Theatre’s 2026 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Series kicks off the next week with Peter Pan Jr.running Tuesday, July 7, through Friday, July 10, with shows Tuesday through Thursdays at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. and Fridays at 10 a.m., all at the Palace Theatre, 80 Hanover St. in Manchester, according to palacetheatre.org, where you can purchase tickets.

Game time

• The Nashua Silver Knights have several upcoming games at Holman Stadium in Nashua, according to nashuasilverknights.com, where you can purchase tickets. In addition to the 10:30 a.m. game on Saturday, July 4, against the Norwich Sea Unicorns, the Silver Knights will play the Lowell Spinners on Monday, July 6, at 6:03 p.m. and then face the Vermont Lake Monsters both Tuesday, July 7, and Wednesday, July 8, at 6:03 p.m., the website said.

• The NH Fisher Cats play a series of games against the Portland Sea Dogs Tuesday, July 7, through Sunday, July 12, according to milb.com/new-hampshire, where you can purchase tickets. Games Tuesday through Saturday start at 6:03 p.m. and Sunday’s game starts at 1:05 p.m. On Tuesday, July 7, and Sunday, July 12, the first 500 fans each day will receive bobbleheads #1 (July 7) and #2 (July 12) in the three-bobblehead Manchester Chicken Tenders series, the website said. On Tuesday the team plays as the Manchester Chicken Tenders and on Sunday the team will play as the Manchester Buffalo Tenders, the website said. On Wednesday, July 8, the first 500 fans can get a Coca-Cola Soccer Jersey, the website said.

Stay in the loop!

Get FREE weekly briefs on local food, music,

arts, and more across southern New Hampshire!