Peace Signs at Mowers Saturday Sunday flea

Gary has been working the flea market for almost a decade. He started out as an antiquer in 2015 selling collectible items including an incredible selection of Loony Toon drink glasses and other advertising memorabilia. One year he decided to change his whole booth over and he became the maker of Peace Signs. The peace signs are now his most popular and fastest selling items. Artistically inclined, Gary enjoys the creative process and especially likes trying out new items. He is very skilled at determining what the public is looking for and then creating an item to fill the interest. Gary is also one of our Woodstock Festival era historians. He has a great depth of knowledge of the 1960’s era music scene in Woodstock and enjoys talking with people about that piece of the history of Woodstock, N.Y. Gary sets up every weekend and you can find him down the Maple Lane side of the field. Gary is one of our vendors who returns every weekend.

Stephen and Julia and Blue Dot Mandalas and Antiques

Stephen and Julia first appeared on the Mower flea field c 1994 as Blue Dot Books and Blue Dot ceramic tile and designs. Stephen was pictured in a Kingston Daily Freeman article about the flea market in 1997, standing in front of his Blue Dot Books yellow school bus. Julia, a very talented artist, would be found at her booth with her iconography, working under the name Universal Saints. Two decades later, Julia, now known as the woman who creates the beautiful Blue Dot Mandalas on perfectly rounded stones, continues to enjoy the creative experience her art work brings to her. The work is similar to her iconography in the past, however as she says, “Wow, imagine working with stones as old as the planet.” Julia can be found at https://www.facebook.com/bluedotmandalas Stephen has changed the focus of his booth to feature antiques and specially selected vinyl records. He enjoys the process of searching for the more refined items that he knows his customers are looking for. Stephen’s discerning eye can expertly spot an item at a sale or an auction. You can find Stephen and Julia every Saturday and Sunday in the shade, under the Blue Dot umbrella. Stephen and Julia are vendors who return every weekend.

Walter Mower Expands His Farm Lot on Maple Lane

Walter Mower's Fruit Trees 

The South East corner of Walter Mower's Maple lane property. 

Excerpted from American Tapestry the Mowers of Maple Lane pg 65

Walter expanded his holdings on Maple Lane with the purchase of an area known as “the Higgins lot” in 1914. This piece of land was contiguous to a section that was still part of the proposed “Deming Addition.” There was a constant running feud between Walter and Dr. Deming. It seems as though Walter wanted to plow up and farm the whole area. Dr. Deming insisted on putting signs up in an area he believed to belong to him, continually annoying Walter. Walter would eventually plow up and plant as much land as he could on Maple Lane, including the area known as the “Higgins lot: and additional land he would subsequently purchase from Herrick. In addition to his other crops, the farm field was now alive with cherry, quince and apple trees, asparagus and strawberry plants.

In the 21st century, the entire field is used by John and Janine Mower for Mower's Saturday Sunday fleamarket.  

Copies of American Tapestry the Mowers of Maple lane are available for purchase from Janine Fallon Mower at the flea market or call  845-679-6744.  $ 16.00 each includes tax. 

 

Mackinzie's Specially Selected Vintage Clothing and Jewelry

 

Excerpted from the American Tapestry the Mowers of Maple Lane pg 19

“Vendors shop everywhere! All one needs is a car, a roll of cash and a tank of gas and you could be in business. Two of the most popular places to shop are; house sales and yard sales. “Your trash is my treasure: the motto expressed by successful antique seller Len Sickler of Kingston is modeled by many Woodstock vendors. Many will take on the task of cleaning out houses, barns and garages of entire contents, with the hope that one or two valuable items will make the hard dirty work worth the effort.

New vendors and different products for our 45th season.

In the 21^st century, vendors still continue to hunt for resalable items at house sales and yard sales.  However, as we enter into our 45^th season of flea marketing, we notice that what vendors bring to the market has changed somewhat.  Now, there is quite a demand for vintage clothing and wearable items.

Mackenzie is one of our newer vendors who brings along items for sale that are not the usual items you would see at a house content sale. Mackenzie had one season at the flea in 2016 and then had a pause in the selling part of her life, reemerging in the summer of 2021.  By her own admission, she enjoys the “thrifting” side of the hunt for those hidden gems she has for sale at the flea.  Mackenzie sets up every Saturday and she also sells online and can be found at her Instagram page under the name mack_bones.  Her booth is filled with quirky and fun items, a few of which she has created herself. Overall, vintage clothing and jewelry is her focus.

Debbie's Knock Out Dogs

 

Excerpted from American Tapestry the Mowers of Maple Lane pg. 25

            "The transition from outdoor barbeque style food booth to hot dog cart was traumatic. The all-day barbecue created a fun atmosphere on the field. There was also the challenge of finding just the right person to fit into the family atmosphere. The transition was made easier when Colleen Mower and Jason Young stepped in. Jason built a hot dog cart and the young couple began selling the tastiest fresh squeezed lemonade along with the usual hot dogs and soda. Gone was the delicious outdoor breakfast menu. However, over time everyone adjusted. When Jason became a member of the Woodstock police force, the couple retired from the hot dog cart business. The Paccheo family set up their cart for a few years, followed by Kingstonian Jody Ettinger. Matt Ciardi, who purchased Jody’s cart and was selling on Main Street in Kingston during the week decided to give Woodstock a try. After two years, Matt decided it was time to go to college and sold his car to current Saturday hot dog vendors Bill and Deb. When the market expanded to Saturday and Sunday a second hot dog vendor was recruited. Sean Miller, who sets up at the Main Street site by the Kingston post office, agreed to join the Mower’s Market family.”

   Food vending in the 21 st century at Mower’s Saturday Sunday flea market.

For more than two decades, the Knock Out Dogs hot dog cart has been the first thing visitors see when they enter the flea from Deanies Alley.  Debbie took over the hot dog cart from her brother Bill in 2012, and was our food vendor for every Saturday. About five years ago, Debbie took over the Sunday spot and now does both days, weather providing.  Her most popular selling Sabrett dog is the combo with chili followed by the dogs with kraut or relish and mustard.  New to Debbie’s Knock Out Dog hot dog cart is a tasty Sabrett dog topped with cole slaw.  Debbie uses Sabrett brand rolls, onions, kraut and of course,  hot dogs!

 At least once a year Debbie has a visit from Mr. Sabrett and a group of his friends. His first visit in 2022 was on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend.  Mr. Sabrett and ten friends gathered round the Knock Out Dog cart and started ordering their favorites.  Mortified, Debbie had to announce that she was sold out of Sabretts.  Mr. Sabrett laughed; everyone took the announcement in stride.  He laughed, saying “that’s what everyone wants to do! Sell out!”  Debbie’s cart is ready to serve Sabrett dogs,         11 am ish to 3 30 pm ish every weekend, when the flea is open.

Remembering Al Mower who died April 18, 1966

 

Can it really be fifty six years ago that Al Mower died as a result of injuries sustained in a head on collision?  His six children are grown. He has great great grandchildren who have yet to learn of the wonderful loving influence he had on his family. 

“The World is Round and often what seems like the end is really the beginning”  OVID

“Very often, small communities change subtly over time. For example, a rural area like Lake Katrine in the Town of Ulster was once dotted with dairy farms which stretched for miles along the sandy banks of the Esopus Creek. At some point in the early 1950’s, the Town Ulster welcomed the construction of the IBM center and within ten or fifteen years the neighborhood changed to include strip malls, a drive-in theatre and four lane divided highways. 

Occasionally, a small town experiences a heralding event that creates a quick shift in the social and economic fabric of it.   In 1968, Woodstock was a rural township, a conglomeration of seven unique hamlets each content with the Town’s overall dual image as a bed room community for IBM and Rotron as well as a mature colony of the arts.  Locals will fondly recall that during this time period, from Labor Day to the following Memorial Day, one could roll a bowling ball down the center of Mill Hill Road and never hit a person or a car.  In spite of occasional complaints, most year-round residents were able to adjust to the seasonal up tick of activity that accommodated the music and art population.

Managing the town government was more or less a part time endeavor; the Town Clerks’ office was on Tinker Street in the Town Hall building, the Supervisor worked out of the same office or from his home. The constabulary consisted of four or five local men who worked a day shift and half an evening shift during the summer season. The Mowers of Maple Lane, now residing in West Hurley, were finding their way in life. Each one adjusting to the untimely loss of their husband and father, Al Mower, as a result of injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident while on vacation in 1966.”

Excerpt from American Tapestry, the Mowers of Maple Lane, Janine Fallon Mower- Anam Cara Press

Woodstock NY, 2007    Available from the author email woodstockfleamarket@hvc.rr.com

How John Mower Started the Flea Market in 1977

 

 

       We celebrate our 45^th year in flea marketing this year.  As we get ready to open up again at the corner of Deanies Alley and Maple Lane in Woodstock, N.Y., join us as we look back at our many years in business by posting highlights of Janine Fallon- Mower’s history of the Mower family of Woodstock, N.Y.  This book, American Tapestry, the Mowers of Maple Lane,  includes the history of the first twenty-five years of Mower’s flea market.  The book is available though the author for $ 15.00.  Contact Janine at woodstockfleamarket@hvc.rr.com or stop by the flea market and purchase one there.

       " Mower’s Saturday Market on Maple Lane began over 30 years ago when there became a need for a new venue at which to hold the traditional market fairs. Ralph Tripico, an antique dealer who operated a booth at the Woodstock Playhouse Saturday market fair site approached John in the spring of 1974 about renting the vacant lot on Maple Lane for an antique market.  

          After careful consideration, John had a contract drawn up by local lawyer Richard Anthony. The markets opened that summer under Tripico’s management and ran on Saturdays from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Ralph and his wife eventually decided to move to the Virginia Beach area to be near family and open an antique shop. John, now seeing the merits of having the income to cover the property expenses, indicated his interest in continuing the market.  At first, it looked like it would be a challenge to create a vendor list. As luck would have it, Bill Lubinsky, Woodstock Festival Tee Shirt was very interested in having the markets continue in Woodstock and offered to help contact potential vendors. John and Bill shook hands and Bill declared;

Figure 1 John and Janine Mower with Bill Lubinsky in the back row. Robert Depew Reynolds, kneeling. Allan and Colleen Mower, center.

 “Well, John, now you are in the flea market business”

        John Mower began renting spaces to sellers of everything under the sun in 1977 on the lot of land that was purchased by his great grandfather, Walter Mower in 1907.  Vendors attending numbered about 20 in the early years and were set up along Deanies Alley, under the stately pine trees that the France boys used as their summer time camp site in the mid 1950’s. Parking for customers and vendors was in the lot below the property. John made arrangements with old friend Deanie Elwyn to rent this lot on Deming Street for a nominal annual fee. Eventually, the old “Pinball Palace” building and lot were sold and the rental agreement was dissolved. With input from the town planning board, John decided to move the vendors off the alley and deeper into the field.                                                                                   

Excerpt from American Tapestry, the Mowers of Maple Lane, Janine Fallon Mower- Anam Cara Press Woodstock NY, 2007    Available from the author email woodstockfleamarket@hvc.rr.com