November 19, 2004

Northern Ave. Clarkston- Estate Sale

I headed to this sale after work on Friday Afternoon. I had never ventured into Clarkston for a sale before, even though it is not far from my place of work. Clarkston has become an interesting community with the largest percentage foriegn born population of any municipality in the state. The émigrés range from Bosnians to Laotians to Somalis. But this sale represented the old Clarkston, a bedroom community for Atlanta in the 60’s. Northern Ave., is just outside 285(but the near part of 285) is an attractive street of early 50’s bungalows nestled on rolling tree covered hills. Walking down the driveway I first encounter a large metal bell on an old table with a tag reading describing it as a farm bell. Outside the front door were several agrarian looking implements as well as a large metal tank that could have been used for the moonshine trade. Inside the home I was met by an atmosphere of mustiness. The sellers tell me that the house had been closed up for a very long time. The old carpeting underfoot adds to the thick smell of the unpleasant miasma. Aside from the bad air the home contained a number of very wonderful artifacts of the prior residents life. In a closet I found a pair of down foot warmers as well as an electric foot bath labeled a Foot Fixer. There were a number of caps lying or hanging around the premises. One was from the USS John F Kennedy, another from the Knoxville Worlds Fair and one was a sample Masonic cap that had a Masonic symbol and the words “your city and state here” on it. In another closet were several old Naval Officer uniforms slathered with mildew. Books included a number of religious titles such as “The Bible Almanac” but I also found an early printing of “Human Sexual Response”. The décor was very simple and pleasant. The bed was covered with a brightly colored chenille bedspread and the walls had some remarkable artwork. In frames on one wall were a number of childlike bird prints on another wall a 3 by 3 inch painting of a clown. Some old colored pencil hand drawings of sailing ships (perhaps done by the naval officer on a long voyage), and a photo of Shriners in an open caddy convertible were in the hallway and bedroom. Most notable of all were two small decopauged prints, one of Jimmy Carter the other of a very faded LBJ.
In the living room was a box of old Newsweeks and Playboys from the 1960’s. In a box of jewelry and other small items there was a pin with the words “Worlds Best Kisser” on it. On a bed was a stack of old aprons and in the back room behind the kitchen hanging on the door was a “Let me tell you about my grandchildren” license plate. I spent a good deal of my time here going though a pile of old postcards. Of which I selected and purchased about 20.