University Daily Kansan
Wednesday, January 19. 1972
7
Quantrill's: A Showcase for the Unexpected
By RANDY STARR
Kansan Staff Writer
Quantrill's Flea Market
If you've never heard a player piano or seen glass blown or tin cans sculptured, you haven't had the old warehouse at 811 Newampshire, Quantrill's Flea Market reflects more than a small change in how skilled wide skillet dating from pioneer days hangs a few stalls away from hand-woven Persian rugs. There's a shop made candles, and one which houses a beautifully restored cherry desk. Quantrill's is a great place to visit aftertern. And if you find it fascinating to stroll down its wide cement walkway and perusing an array of artworks, you can go back again Sunday.
The idea of a flea market is not new. Flea markets originated in postwar France and got their name from the flea-infested plants, such as peasants. Such markets became popular on the West Coast in the 1960s, and have moved into the Midwest during the past few decades. In this regard, these markets must go to their "something for everyone" character. There are no restrictions on what can be sold at a flea market, just as there is for what might interest its clientele.
Lawrence's fea market was conceived on an impulse by a former University of Kansas businessman, Bridgman. He had been wholesalering antiques in the Kansas City area for more than five years before retailing. His plan to open a booth at the fea market in Kansas City Mall would allow waiting list eight months long. Not wanting to wait that long, Bridgman decided to go into the fea market and see if markets are that popular," he thought, "why wouldn't one love in lawrence." A friend and colleague contacted in Lawrence and offered a partnership in the endeavor. Fair accepted immediately, and Quantillius was born.
The first obstacle to confront the young entrepreneurs was finding a place to house the company. A new New Hamshire was their final choice and gave rise to the name of "Quantrill's." It was built by the Bartledes Seed Company, but it was sold out by Quantrill's Raiders in 1863. Rebuilding on the original structure began the next day, and the warehouse was completed. The company was moved to Denver in 1961 and the warehouse was taken over by Frank's Furniture Store. Frank's went out of business, leaving the building vacant.
When Fair and Bridgman took possession of the warehouse in San Francisco, modernization had to be done before current building code standards could be met. But it was in 1964 that they began building "the place that had never been cleaned," remarked Fair. "We took a hundred years of dirt off of here." The finished product included cracked stucco walls and slightly-musty odor, was the perfect setting for the free trade agreement.
If the items for sale are interesting, the people who sell them are just as appealing. Quantity's merchants are interested in helping eager to share their enthusiasm with all who visit the market. Most of the merchants are from the Lawrence area, although some visitors represent representing Perry, Ottawa and Manhattan. One woman from
Kansas City has rented a stallermanently.
Thus far the market has been dominated by antiques. There are remarkable similarities between antiques and make antiques their business.
For most, collecting began as a hobby, and now most have a foci on antiquities. Antiquers like what they do, they are victims of the antiquing process.
In booth number one is Carol Abernathy, the matriarch of Lawrence antiquers.
"Don't get the antiquing bug," she warned. "No antibiotic will cure you once it gets into your blood. I started collecting when I was about two years old," she said. "I used to collect marbles."
. . thrives on diversity . . .
Fair and Bridgman are typical of younger enthusiasts. "I got interested in antiques when I was furnishing my own apartment," said Fair. "So much of what you need in houses is plastic." explained Bridgman. "Antiques were made with much more price and quality."
Filling their shops is no problem for those in the antique and estate sales is a common practice, and much trading goes on between the dealers themselfs and the owners to go." said one, "the fastest trading goes on between the dealers the hour before the show
"It doesn't take long for the veteran collector to decide what he wants. "I buy what excites me," said Don Tallman of Lawrence's Ant-T-Q. "I may make a lot of good things that way, I may buy a lot of things I need, but I have to like what I buy."
Mrs. Abernathy had some advice for auction-guers: get to the sale early. "If you have time, take the guide." You'll know what you need on." She also cautioned against getting carried away at sales, although admitted to getting "so much information that she bought an entire booth."
Antiquing for a living may be fun, but it requires a great deal of time and patience. "I'd planned to run the fife market and congratulate my friends," said Bridgman, "but this place takes up all of my time." And the owner of one local shop pointed out, "Selling antiques isn't a business, it's a steady income." Some people simply couldn't wait.
Although there is an air of nostalgia at Quantrill's, the many novelty booths add flair to the occasion. The girl in one booth hand painting a plaster figureine of the bride beside her were finished miniatures of Napoleon, Santa Claus and many others. A few brides in blue-orange flame was melting thin glass ribos into a design. He was concentrating that afternoon before she met for the first time." "I learned glass blowing by trial and error," he said, about a year to this good."
In the back of the room, a sitting father and son-auxiliary is resting on their stock, and across the walkway an Iranian student is selling rurs
"These rugs were made by friends," he explained, "and have been in my house. I decided to help pay for my schooling."
In three other boots were miniature garage sales, which featured everything from old
Beer Proposed For Hashinger
Hashinger Residence Hall announced proposed guidelines Thursday for the consumption of beer in the hall.
The guidelines will enable residents to drink beer anytime in Hashinger with these provisions:
Beer will be restricted to the students' rooms or the similar areas, as in the case of a wing function approved by the hall
No kegs will be allowed except with hall senate approval.
In the corner of another room, the glow of an acetylene torch cut the darkness. Lined up on two tables, the art gallery which designs had been "sculptured" by the flame. "We got the idea at an art festival in Sante Fe," explained a young woman in cover-ups, "and we made some sculptures."
Each resident will take responsibility for her guest, and any violations committed will be before the hall judicial board.
The proposal is subject to approval of Hashinger residents. If approval is given, the policy will go into effect Monday. Dec. 13.
Atlantic Monthlies to fabric imported from Spain.
The young man with her was busy behind the torch, but looked up long enough to point out the lamps on each end of the tables.
WICHITA (AP)—A group card college and High School in Kansas is being formed here to support students at state colleges and universities.
Sales had been good, the pair reported. "Materials are cheap," one said with a laugh, "but we have to pay for this torch somehow."
Fair's wife, Debbie, runs the market's refreshment stand. "Debbie's Delight," specializing in pickles, does a booming business.
"When Bill was working nights and I was in school, we never got to see each other," she said.
"We like it much better this way," she grinned.
"My Dad makes those," he said.
But now her booth is a permanent fixture at Quantrill's, as is Fair's huge oak desk just through the archway.
A flea market is always changing. It thrives on diversity. You buy from a good place to display almost any merchandise. Those who sell here know that of the thousands who pass through the market you only see a few who have defended their desire they want. The others will be receptive to a variety of offerings. The man who purchased a 36-star American flag at a store in New York searched for that particular item. Nor did the woman who bought a four-by-five foot oil portrait of former Kansas Gov. Al Lafontain tried to find someone who if you know what you want, you may see it at Quantrill's. But if you are going just to look, you may well find something you want. That's all part of the fun.
The youngsters seem to find everything fascinating, but tend to cluster around the player piano. "Cannon Ball Ball" seems to have same appeal for them as it did their grandfathers 75 years ago.
Most of Quantrill's merchants
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agree that business has been good. “There is much greater exposure here than in a shop,” said one. “Some weekends as many as 2,000 people come to our store an unusual for a merchant selling higher priced items to do $500 worth of business during a weekend.
Lawrence, Ks.
All Sales Final- Entire Stock not Included
state where five or six people turned out," said Bridgman, "but it isn't that way in Lawrence. People here are antique-crazy."
"I've been to sales all over the
Bridgman's own special bridegroom takes "back in the days when men spent hours combing and waxing their hair, and steamed the steam from a hot cup of tea to
wit them,” he explained. “So their girlfriends would give them those special cups with shieldies that have little flowers and love pained on them are quite effeminate,” he continued, “but a warrant was best hung up about his masculine attitude all right to buy him such a gift.”
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