Category: Family Fun

Treasure Hunt 23/09/28

Hi, Donna,

I enjoy your Treasure Hunt and hope you can give me an idea of the market and value of this unique mirror.

I salvaged it from a barbershop in Central Falls, Rhode Island, in either 1979 or 1980.

We had intended to open an ice cream shop and use it for the back wall; that didn’t work out but we hung on to it anyway!

Unfortunately I didn’t get a photo while it was still standing at the barbershop.
There are six sections approximately 3’x4’. The top three are clear mirror. The bottom three are blue mirror.

The top has four additional clear sections accented by eight blue strips/panels (approxdximately. 4’x3.5”). Each of the four accent pieces also has lights.
There are three blue strips that run horizontally across the top (approximately 3’x3.5”).

You can see from the picture that I have one narrow panel that broke in a move.
Thanks for your input.

Dan

Dear Dan,

Antique architecture is always collectible! You just need to find it a new home and use.

I think your Art Deco barber shop mirror could easily be repurposed in a business or a home. First you have to start with a value. I have a saying: ‘Find me another one.’ Then you have to say to yourself you have no use for it any longer. It would be better for it to be seen again.

As far as an approximate value I would start in the range of $1,000. Then work from there to find it a good home. I also think to do that you’re going to need to advertise that you have a treasure.

Dan, thank you for reading the Hippo and sharing with us. Good antique salvage save!

Kiddie Pool 23/09/21

Family fun for whenever

Celebrating schools

Celebrate Manchester School District schools at CelebratED, a production of the district and Manchester Proud, on Saturday, Sept. 23, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Park in Manchester. The festival will feature food, entertainment and activities, according to a press release. Free transportation to and from the park will be available by the Manchester Transit Authority, the release said.

Fall fun

The Presentation of Mary Academy (182 Lowell Road in Hudson) will hold its Fall Fun Fest on Saturday, Sept. 23, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. This fundraiser will feature inflatables, face painting, pumpkin painting, ax throwing, food trucks, a petting zoo, touch a truck, a bake sale, vendors and more. Find them on Facebook.

Exploring outdoors

Portsmouth Fairy House Tours take place Saturday, Sept. 23, and Sunday, Sept. 24, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Portsmouth at the Strawbery Banke Museum, John Langdon House and Prescott Park. See more than 250 fairy houses and enjoy storytelling, face painting, crafts and games — wearing wings is encouraged, according to strawberybanke.org, where you can purchase tickets: $12 in advance for adults ($15 at the door); $8 in advance for seniors ($10 at the door); $5 in advance for ages 3 to 12 ($7 at the door) and a family pack admission for four of $30 in advance ($25 at the door).

Cars & trucks

See airplanes, fire trucks, helicopters, police vehicles and electric vehicles close up at Wings and Wheels on Saturday, Sept. 23, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Nashua Airport (93 Perimeter Road in Nashua; nashuaairport.com). The event is free.

This weekend in Toddlerfest

The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (6 Washington St. in Dover; childrens-museum.org, 742-2002) continues its Toddlerfest this weekend with events including a Frozen dance party with Musical Arts of Dover (11 a.m.) and Science Friday: Color Mixing (2:30 p.m.) on Friday, Sept. 22; a bubble show (10 a.m.) and a celebration of the museum’s 40th anniversary on Saturday, Sept. 23, and a mini yoga class (10 a.m.) on Sunday, Sept. 24. Next week’s offerings include Wacky Art Wednesday (2:30 p.m.) with a dinosaur theme and a Books Alive! Program with A Very Hungry Caterpillar on Friday, Sept. 29. The museum is open Sunday and Tuesday, 9 a.m. to noon, and Wednesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to noon or 1 to 4 p.m. Reserve an admission slot online; admission costs $12.50 for everyone over 12 months ($10.50 for 65+).

A show for the ages

American Girl Live stops at the Capitol Center for the Arts (44 S. Main St., Concord) on Thursday, Sept. 28 at 7 p.m. The show brings American Girl characters from various decades to life with music and dance, emphasizing friendship and empowerment. Tickets range from $43.75 to $75.75. Visit ccanh.com.

Treasure Hunt 23/09/21

Dear Donna,
I picked this small autograph book up a few years back. It’s 5”x7” and has about 60 autographs from Holyoke, Mass., 1884. I’m done enjoying reading it, so now I’m looking for a new home. Can you give me a value on this? Thank you for any help, Donna.
Alex

Dear Alex,
Autograph books were a very popular thing in the Victorian era. Earlier ones can also bring high values.

With autographs you’re looking for any significant ones of known people, events in time, drawings, etc. The more content the better, and hand drawings as well.

If it’s just a school autograph book with multiple friends signing it. I think there are collectors for just that as well. The values seem to run in the $25-$40 range. Again, though, if there are drawings or small paintings on pages etc., could be more.

Alex, I hope this helps finding your book a new home. Thanks for sharing with us.

Donna Welch has spent more than 35 years in the antiques and collectibles field, appraising and instructing. Her new location is an Antique Art Studio located in Dunbarton, NH where she is still buying and selling. She is a member of The New Hampshire Antiques Dealer Association. If you have questions about an antique or collectible send a clear photo and information to Donna at [email protected], or call her at 391-6550.

Treasure Hunt 23/09/14

Hello, Donna.
I’m trying to find out any information on these children’s toys. My main question is would they be safe for my granddaughter to play with now?
Claire

Dear Claire,
What you have seems to be a mixture of children’s tin cooking toys. Age-wise I think anywhere from the 1950’s through the 1970’s.

Some of the pans look like ones from my childhood, Easy-Bake oven pans!
There is a collectible market for the older pans and Easy-Bake ones as well. Values are in the range of $5 to $10. As to whether they are usable today, I say yes for pretend food but not for real food. And only if they are clean with no rust or damage.

Because I am in the antiques business, my grandchildren play with lots of older toys with my supervision. I enjoy telling them stories of how toys made it through so much time.

Claire, thanks for sharing and have fun playing with your granddaughter.

Donna Welch has spent more than 35 years in the antiques and collectibles field, appraising and instructing. Her new location is an Antique Art Studio located in Dunbarton, NH where she is still buying and selling. She is a member of The New Hampshire Antiques Dealer Association. If you have questions about an antique or collectible send a clear photo and information to Donna at [email protected], or call her at 391-6550.

Kiddie Pool 23/09/14

Family fun for the whenever

Season ender

The New Hampshire Fisher Cats play their final home games of the season with a series slated to start Tuesday, Sept. 12, against the Somerset Patriots. On Thursday, Sept. 14, game time is 6:35 p.m. and the evening’s theme is 2000s night, with post-game fireworks and a performance by Tyler’s Amazing Balancing Act. On Friday, Sept. 15, game time is 6:35 p.m. and the Fisher Cats become the Gatos Feroces de New Hampshire for a night. The game also begins at 6:35 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 16, when the first 1,000 fans will get a bobblehead and there will be post-game fireworks. On Sunday, Sept. 17, the game starts at 1:35 p.m. and the theme is Fan Appreciation. See milb.com/new-hampshire for tickets and more information — and to get a peek at 2024. According to the schedule, the first home game of next season will be Tuesday, April 9, when the Fisher Cats will once again play the Patriots.

Special screenings

Chunky’s Cinema Pub (707 Huse Road, Manchester; 151 Coliseum Ave., Nashua; 150 Bridge St., Pelham, chunkys.com) has two special screenings planned for this Friday at all three theaters. A sensory-friendly presentation of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (PG-13, 2023) will screen at all three theaters on Friday, Sept. 15, at 3 p.m. The sound will be down and the lights will be up. Also on Friday at 3:30 p.m. all three locations will present a “Little Lunch Date” screening of Horton Hears a Who (G, 2008); admission is free but reserve a seat with a $5 food voucher.
And save the date for some upcoming non-movie happenings at Chunky’s. On Friday, Sept. 22, at the Chunky’s in Manchester it’s family-friendly theater candy bingo at 6:15 p.m. Admission costs $10 (plus fees). On Sunday, Sept. 24, 6 p.m. at Chunky’s in Nashua it’s family-friendly Taylor Swift trivia night. Farm fun

DeMeritt Hill Farm (20 Orchard Way in Lee; demeritthillfarm.com, 868-2111) will hold a Family Weekend at the Farm on Saturday, Sept. 16, and Sunday, Sept. 17, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., featuring face painting, children’s games and photo opportunities with the tractors, according to the website.

For the little guys

The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (6 Washington St. in Dover; childrens-museum.org, 742-2002) will hold Toddlerfest, its annual celebration of the littlest museum-goers featuring special activities and events, Tuesday, Sept. 19, through Saturday, Sept. 30, including a reading of Eric Carle’s A Very Hungry Caterpillar with a visit from the Caterpillar (Sept. 29 and Sept. 30), a celebration of the museum’s 40th birthday on Sept. 23 and a Frozen dance party on Sept. 22. The museum is open Wednesdays through Saturdays with play sessions from 9 a.m. to noon or 1 to 4 p.m. and Tuesdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to noon. Admission costs $12.50 for everyone over 12 months; $10.50 for 65+.

Save the date

The Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains will hold Lead Like a Girl, a community walk and fundraiser, on Saturday, Sept. 23, from 9 a.m. to noon at Manchester High School West. The cost to register is $15 per person with a $50 family cap, according to a press release. The first 100 people to register get a free T-shirt; sign up at https://bit.ly/LeadLikeaGirl.

Performers and puppeteers bring to life the time of the dinosaurs in Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo on Saturday, Feb. 10, at 2 p.m. at the Capitol Center for the Arts Chubb Theatre (44 S. Main St. in Concord; ccanh.com) with tickets on sale now for $35.25 and $48.25. For an additional $28.75 you can also attend a VIP meet and greet.

Treasure Hunt 23/09/07

Dear Donna,
Can you give me a reason to not toss this item? Found in the attic of my parents. Looks to be building blocks but all pretty much the same. Any help appreciated.
Stacy in Andover

Dear Stacy,
Your box of blocks is actually from the late Victorian Era into the early 1900s. It’s a self-contained building block toy. In this case it would construct a mansion-type building. There were many different ones made. When you’re done playing, it all tucks away back into the wood box.
Stacy, the value is in having a complete set. With blocks or doors, roofs or other pieces missing the values drop. Complete and in good clean shape these tend to run in the $150+ range.

So now you have to figure out if it’s complete. Building it is one way, or doing further research on this one and seeing the complete version.

I hope this was helpful to you. Thanks for sharing, Stacy.

Donna Welch has spent more than 35 years in the antiques and collectibles field, appraising and instructing. Her new location is an Antique Art Studio located in Dunbarton, NH where she is still buying and selling. She is a member of The New Hampshire Antiques Dealer Association. If you have questions about an antique or collectible send a clear photo and information to Donna at [email protected], or call her at 391-6550.

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