If you’re looking for a special something for that special someone this Christmas, the Richmond Hill Historical Society may have something, well, special for you.
The Society is hosting its second Estate Sale on Saturday from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Richmond Hill Museum.
"It would be a wonderful way for people to pick up quality merchandise," said Society Treasurer Barbara McPipkin. "With the economy being what it is now, and with Christmas coming, you may find a unique gift for that special person. Everything is very reasonably priced."
Items on sale range from copies of old maps to a cherry dining room set. There are books, CDs, DVDs, bird houses, baked goods, furniture, golf clubs, knick knacks and more, much of it donated by local residents.
"In a sense, the museum is the attic of Richmond Hill," said Society Vice President Sarah Volker. "We’re cleaning out other people’s attics."
The sale is one of the Society’s two fundraisers - the other is a golf tournament in the spring - and proceeds go to the operation of the museum, which costs about $12,000 annually, McPipkin said.
Currently, the museum depends on the fundraisers, membership fees, donations and gift shop sales to stay afloat.
"This helps us keep our doors open," Volker said, noting the museum is a "keeper of history" for Richmond Hill and Bryan Neck.
The building housing the museum is historic - it was built in 1941 by Henry Ford to serve as the kindergarten buildling for Ways Station kids - and currently serves other groups as well as the Society, including Arts on the Coast and Bryan County Master Gardeners.
The latter group is landscaping the building.
In addition, local artists have donated artwork, which will be available to purchase through a silent auction from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Five local women - including Volker - are giving the public a first look at their hand painted floor cloths, which also will be on sale.
"Pretty much every organization that has been using the building is going to have some type of representation at the sale through their donations," Volker said.
There also are lots of books. Historically accurate hardbacks will be on sale for between $3-8, other hardbacks will be on sale for $2 and paperbacks will be $1.
And then there are the donated goods, which Volker said are still rolling in and will be accepted through Friday. Anything not used will be donated to Goodwill.
The museum averages about 250 visitors a month, Volker said, and though many are travelers from elsewhere, Society members hope the estate sale attracts a large local turnout.
"We’ve priced it all to move," McPipkin said.