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Zerns
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RicksAuction
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Rick's
Auction
610-367-9715
AUCTIONS and SALES EVERY FRIDAY AND SATURDAY
YEAR ROUND!
Ricks Auction
Service AU000767L
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WILLIAM
RICK :
AUCTIONEER EXTRAORDINAIRE
When Willy Rick was a little kid, he came to Zern's Farmers
Market, hanging onto his mother's skirt. Now one of our favorite
"ZERNIES," Rick and his auction have been running
continuously for forty-four years. With a background in
carpentry and wood working, Rick, as everyone calls him, was
employed at the Boyertown Casket Company until they went out of
business. Paul Weller, a fellow cabinetmaker, said "You
oughta be an auctioneer," after hearing Rick warble in
auctioneer's lingo while carving the caskets!
This encouragement started Rick out on the path to success,
first working for Louie Adams who used to run the household
auction at Zerns. "I started with women's clothing,"
said Rick. Louie used the young man to auction women's clothing
and unmentionables just to see him blush. Mr. and Mrs. Lipton,
the market owners, thought at twenty, Rick was too young but
were pleasantly surprised when they watched young Willy in
action.
With a vast cornucopia of household goods, antique toys,
Longaberger baskets and junk, Mr. Rick also handles estate
auctions, and often sees the same item be re-auctioned three or
four times from the different owners. One Gaudy Dutch ironware
teapot, circa 1812, chipped and cracked, sold for $3000, eagles
banks brought $200. On Saturday mornings, Rick does Tailgate
Sales, and then sell off the tables, and he'll auction anything
from box lots to entire estates, antiques, household goods etc.
Mrs. Ruth Rick helps her husband to run the auction, and while
some of the new generation does much of the sales, Rick still
auctions a couple of hours a day. There is a steady group of
fans; some have been coming for thirty years, to occupy the
seventy-five seats at RICKS Auction. Though Rick often
gets the request "Sell my wife,"we have never seen
that happen yet.
For more information, contact William Rick, Rick's Auction at
610-367-9725,
AUCTIONS and SALES EVERY FRIDAY AND SATURDAY YEAR ROUND.
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BanjoJimmy
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BANJO
JIMMY
LIGHTS
UP THE
WEEKENDS AT ZERN'S |
Banjo Jimmy LaRue, age 64, is one of our favorite 'Zernies"
and if you are lucky, you can meet him on a Friday or Saturday
night in Center Court or walking through the aisles,
strummin' and jammin' at Zerns Farmers Market. Born in
Coatsville, Pennsylvania, and currently a resident of Leola
resident, Jimmy started banjo pickin' when he was eight years
old.
Jimmy recalled that, "Stepgranddad owned a little banjo and
he used go up to the attic to play sometimes. One day, I sneaked
up to the attic and tried it, one string at time, little ditties
like "You are My Sunshine."
Of course, he got caught, when his grandfather came home
unexpectedly one day. Jimmy was scared of getting spanked up in
the attic, but - - instead of a licking, Granddad said"
"I want to hear you do that again, boy!"
"I was so scared, I started playing on one string, but
granddad got the guitar out and played along on the chords with
me! And after he passed away, I taught myself all the
chords.".
Years later, Jimmy LaRue got his wish to play with the famous
Preservation Hall Jazz Band.
Never married, Banjo Jimmy used to work with ponies, setting up
rides for happy children at festivals and schools in a tri-state
area. Many people remember him working for eighteen years at
John G. Stump gas stations, and in theatres in the Lancaster
region. On weekends at Zern's Farmers Market, Banjo Jimmy is
often joined by Paul Painter from New Jersey, and Bob Krieder of
Lancaster on the bass fiddle. Not long ago, a customer who
played a mean harmonica joined in.
Catch Banjo Jimmy and his cronies at Zern's and join the music
and fun!
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HAlOerlman
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Hal
Perlman,
Book Vendor
West
Wing
Stand Number 141
Hal's Book Store |
Hal Perlman, our affable book vendor, hails from Elkins Park,
Pennsylvania, and started selling books at Zern's Farmers
Market, twenty-four years ago in 1979. During his freshman year
in college, where he was taking courses in marketing and
communications, a car accident curtailed his activities. A
friend told him about a book stand for sale at Zern's; the
former owner, Ned's was retiring after forty years. The transfer
started a new career for Perlman. "I had to dispose of most
of the books," he said, and "start with new
inventory."
Hal began with used paperbacks, inexpensive coloring books,
storybooks and magazines, and all occasion cards, two for $1.
Now he carries much the same stock, plus old National Geographic
magazines, and the full series of Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys
books. There is also a selection of monopoly games, magazines
and books, a bargain at 25% off the cover price. Best buy?
Current paperbacks are 4 for $5. Hal is married to Lisa; the
couple met while she was working at another Zern's stand -
-Carr's Seafood. Their first communication, Hal remembers
sheepishly, was "Can I have a coke please?" The
Perlmans have a nine year old son and one year old Julie, who
can sometimes be spotted being wheeled into the market on top of
the book stacks. Stop by and ask to see photos!
Perlman keeps close tabs on what the industry is doing and what
holds the popularity year after years. The Goosebumps books were
hot for awhile, he commented, and we couldn't keep enough in
stock. Now that has all faded away. One guy asked him for
"used crossword puzzles!"
With two uncles working in bulk magazine sales, Hal Perlman has
a ready supply of fresh stock at reasonable prices, and
maintains another bookstand at New Castle Farmers Market, in
Delaware.
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