Category: Family Fun

Treasure Hunt 23/05/18

Hi, Donna.

Here’s a photo of a desk that has been in our family since the 1920s. Can you tell us anything about it? We were living in Michigan at the time.

Thanks.

Judi

Dear Judi,

Nice clean piece of furniture. It could have even been manufactured in Michigan.

It looks like a secretary desk or butler’s desk. This is why the front drops down. The piece dates from between the early 1900s and the 1930s. It’s walnut and, as I said, very clean and in great condition. Looks great where you have it.

Values are tough because demand dictates everything. But if I appraised it for insurance purposes, I would say in the $1,000 range. Not sure it would market for that. But to me it’s worth that. It has stood time well.

I hope this was helpful, Judi, and thanks for sharing with us.

Donna

Kiddie Pool 23/05/11

Family fun for the weekend

Outdoor adventures

• Join the Beaver Brook Association at Maple Hill Farm (117 Ridge Road, Hollis) for Homesteading with Rivka on Thursday, May 11, at 6:30 p.m. This class is geared toward teens ages 14 and older and will teach how to make healthy snacks and treats from plants that can be foraged in and around the state. The session costs $30 and spots can be reserved at beaverbrook.org.

• The Goffstown Old Home Day is back on Saturday, May 13, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be live performances at Rotary Park and the Common, a cake and pie auction, vendor booths, food, activities and more. Visit facebook.com/GoffstownOldHomeDay for more information.

• Visit Derryfield Park (Highland Street in Manchester) on Saturday, May 13, for a Family Fun Fair from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be activities and entertainment, music, food, fun and chances to win prizes like tickets to a Kidz Bop concert. There will also be vendors and booths for parents to shop. Visit wzid.com to learn more about the free event.

• The Turf Depot of Hooksett (39 Londonderry Turnpike) is hosting Cruising The Depot Car Show on Wednesday, May 17, from 5 to 8 p.m. The Depot is partnering with Nor’eastern Pontiac-GMC-Oakland Club to co-host this family-friendly event. In addition to the classic cars, there will be prizes, food, ice cream and music. Dogs are also welcome; visitors should bring their own chairs to sit on. The event is free. For more information, visit turfdepot.com.

Indoor fun

• Calling all princesses, mutant ninja turtles and superheroes: The annual Kids Con New England is on Saturday, May 13, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be cosplayers dressed up as beloved characters, children’s books writers and illustrators, comic book creators, crafts, food, a costume contest and more for everyone to enjoy. Tickets cost $15 per person, free for kids ages 5 and younger. Visit kidsconne.com and see the story in the May 4 issue of the Hippo. Go to hippopress.com and check out the e-edition, the story is on page 11.

• Symphony New Hampshire is putting on Peter and the Wolfon Saturday, May 13, at 11 a.m. at the Keefe Center for the Arts (117 Elm St., Nashua). The classic piece of music, composed by Sergei Prokofiev, has charming, thrilling and dramatic moments. This production has been made even more family-friendly with guest narrator Andrew Pinard. Tickets can be purchased at the door, and prices start at $10. Visit symphonynh.org for more information.

• The New Hampshire Reptile Expo is on Sunday, May 14, at the Courtyard By Marriott (70 Constitution Ave., Concord). Get up close and get to know the different reptiles, exotic animals and amphibians at the show. Kids ages 12 and younger are free, while tickets cost $10 to $15 for those over the age of 13. Visit showmesnakes.com for more information.

Farmyard celebrations

• Brookford Farm (250 West Road, Canterbury) is hosting a Heifer Parade on Sunday, May 13, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event is to celebrate the cows moving to their springtime pastures. Visitors will have the option to buy a lunch made with the farm’s fresh ingredients. The fair costs $10 per person and the lunch’s price is yet to be determined. Visit brookfordfarm.com for more information.

• Celebrate all things sunflower with The Educational Farm at Joppa Hill (174 Joppa Hill Road, Bedford) at their Sunflower fun event on Monday, May 15, at 4 p.m. The interactive program is designed to teach children of all ages about the characteristics that sunflowers have. Kids will get to do a craft while they learn about the sunny plant. Spots are $15 and can be purchased at theeducationalfarm.org.

Treasure Hunt 23/05/11

Hi, Donna.

Our daughter got these two pieces about 20 years ago in Somerville, Mass. and was told they were antiques. We can’t find any markings. The bureau hardware is not original to the bureau.

She has moved to the West Coast and asked us to sell these pieces. We don’t know what prices to ask. Any assistance will be much appreciated.

Thank you for your time.

Vikie

Dear Vikie,

The box in the photo is an antique blanket box in an original painted finish. Being from the 1800s and in the original finish does give it value. Prices have changed so much because of the current generation having minimal need for such pieces. Looking at it that way, I would say you still could sell it in the $100+ range.

The chest of drawers is not as old and in tough shape. The value would be if someone needs one and is willing to give it TLC to fix it.

Thanks for sharing with us, Vikie.

Treasure Hunt 23/05/04

Hi, Donna.

I have two of these tiny little plates. They are 3 inches long by 1 7/8 inches wide. As shown on the bottom they are by Nippon and are hand-painted. What are these and do they have any value? They were from my grandmother, who would be 120+ now. Thank you.

Janice

Dear Janice,

Your Nippon dishes were most likely part of a larger set. They could have been used for bone dishes or for other things.

Interesting story of these dishes: Lots were hand-painted here in New England. The blanks were shipped in and local artists would paint the pattern. Then they were shipped back to complete a set.

The value really depends on the detailing. Some can have full scenes on them in detail. Simpler patterns like the ones you have would run about $10 each today.

I hope this was helpful, Janice, and that you still find use for them today. Idea: soap dishes?

Donna

Kiddie Pool 23/05/04

Family fun for the weekend

Cats & dogs

• The Dana Center for the Humanities at Saint Anselm College (100 St. Anselm Drive, Manchester) presents Johnny Peers and the Muttville Comix on Friday, May 5, at 7:30 p.m. A graduate of the Ringling Clown College and a professional clown, Johnny Peers with his gang of shelter dogs combines “the joyousness of physical comedy with man and his best friend,” according to the venue’s website. Tickets cost $45; see tickets.anselm.edu.

• The Seacoast Cat Club’s annual cat show will run Saturday, May 6 (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.), and Sunday, May 7 (9 a.m. to 3 pm.) at the Douglas N. Everett Arena (15 Loudon Road, Concord). Tickets cost $10 for teens and adults ages 12 and up, $7 for seniors, kids under 12 and active military service members, and free for kids ages 4 and under. A $25 discounted price also applies for families of four. See the event page on Facebook @seacoastcatclub for more details.

Taking the stage

• The Palace Youth Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) will present Guys and Dolls Jr., with showtimes on Wednesday, May 3, and Thursday, May 4, at 7 p.m. The mainstage musical will feature student actors in grades 2 through 12, according to the theater’s website. Tickets start at $12.

• The UNH Symphony Orchestra and the UNH Youth Symphony Orchestra will present a public concert on Sunday, May 7, at 6 p.m. in the Johnson Theatre of the Paul Creative Arts Center (on the campus of UNH, at 30 Academic Way, Durham). The performance is free and open to the public, and also available online at YouTube.com/unhmusic, according to a press release.

Fairies, gnomes & superheroes

• It’s Fairy & Gnome Day at the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (6 Washington St., Dover; childresn-museum.org) on Saturday, May 6 — enjoy a live show from Lindsay and Her Puppet Pals (at 10:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m.), a dance performance from the Musical Arts Ballet students at 2:30 p.m., and other ongoing activities, like crafts, scavenger hunts, fairy and gnome home building and more. Reserve admission for either the morning (9 a.m. to noon) or afternoon (1 to 4 p.m.) play sessions, which cost $12.50 for adults and children over 12 months old, $10.50 for 65+, according to the museum’s website.

• Join the Bookery (844 Elm St., Manchester) for a superhero-themed Saturday storytime on Saturday, May 6, at 1 p.m. featuring local cosplayer Jenna Deedy as Captain Marvel who will read the 2019 children’s book What Makes a Hero, by Pamela Bobowicz. Admission is free but registration is encouraged. See bookerymht.com.

Meet the Kid Conservationist

• May’s Super Stellar Friday at the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center (2 Institute Drive, Concord; starhop.com) on Friday, May 5, at 7 p.m., will feature Jack Dalton, known as the “Kid Conservationist.” In 2021, at the age of 10, Dalton released his first book, Kawan the Orangutan, Lost in the Rainforest, hoping to inspire the next generation of conservationists, according to the Center’s website. Attendees will meet Jack and learn about his recent work on the island of Borneo. He will answer questions about orangutans. Admission costs $12 for adults, $9 for kids ages 3 to 12, $11 for 62+ and for students, and free kids under 2.

Treasure Hunt 23/04/27

Hi, Donna.

My name is Karen and I am unsure of what I have. It came to me in a collection of decorative spoons but it definitely does not look like a spoon. On the reverse side it says D. Peres Germany. It has a few brown spots around the tail and where the screw is located which connects the two pieces together. It is approximately 5 1/2 inches from top to the bottom. I would be very interested in knowing what it is.

Thanks.

Karen

Dear Karen,

You made me smile today! The first time I saw one of these I also thought, What are these for?

What you have, Karen, is an egg slicer. That’s why it’s in the form of a chicken. It is a plated material on the coating so you can find brown spots or even chipping of the plating. They were also made in sterling silver, which would be of higher value. What a novel idea to slice your hard or soft boiled egg with this kitchen tool.

The value is not high for the piece but priceless for an education. They run in the $15 range. Karen, thanks for sharing.

Donna

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