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McHWffV COUNTY INSURANCE ASCNCV WINDOWS Shaw/Free Ptaw Media Group. Inc. 1^84 Fair QuMaHPaoe 59 Old items of boundless variety cen tie found et the fair's antique show. The contest offers education as weM as awards, with the judges explaining the history of items and offering tips on determining value. GO OUT OF YOUR WAY! it WHEN IN WOODSTOCK, COME TO -- MAIN ST. AND SAVE „ ~ ' KRRJ*"" SAVE -• 40% to 60% OFF Sale Now In Progress ORIGINAL PRICES OF SHOES J^Shoe SHop 233 Mam Street. Woodsloch. 338-6030; Mon Ihurs 9-5. Fri. 9-8. Sst. 9-5 Antiques-- continued from page 58 the show popular -- a flair for the unusual. - "People who have been entering for years rummage around trying to find something new," she said. "We don't want the same old stuff. We're looking for something new." Margaret Szlachta, who served as the director of the fair's first antique show in 1973, said the show was designed to ensure diversity. After entering her antiques for several years in an antique show in Elkhorn, Wis., Szlachta decided the time was right for an antique show in McHenry County. She said the Elkhorn shows were too restrictive, so she and others behind the antique show laid the foun­ dation for a more open, diverse contest. To help ensure a variety of entries, the founders created classes for unusual items such as Depression glass, farm tools and McHenry Coun­ ty historical items. Rules also prohibit contestants from entering the same item for two consecutive years. Dahm said this rule makes sure each year's show isn't a repeat of past shows. "It helps keep things unusual," he said. One unusual entry in last year's show was a folding, pocket-sized pro­ spector's scale used to weigh gold in the gold rushes of the 19th century. The scale won the blue ribbon in the miscellaneous category. The diversity of the show is not limited, however, to the antiques. The owners of the. antiques, Dahm said, represent a broad range of McHenry County residents, including men as well as women and young peo­ ple as well as old. "You would be surprised," she said. "Age has nothing to do with it. We even have several male collectors. And they're very proud of their entries." Because of the value of some of the ontiniiac capuritv fnr the chnw jg tight. All entries, including the win­ ners, are made anonymously. The an­ tiques are locked and closely watched until the fair begins. Szlachta said that at the first anti­ que show many people were afraid to part with their cherished possessions for even a few days. But the show has continued for 12 years without an inci­ dent of theft and each year, Szlachta said, the show has expanded and been improved. The show's success over the years, Dahm said, parallels a change in at­ titude about antiques. "Nostalgia -- that's the big thing," she said. "Years ago, you just got rid of antiques. Now you want to keep them and find out about them. They're roots." INSURANCE SERVICES • Homeowners • Renters' Policies • Condo Policies • Jewelry, Furs, Antiques • Mobile Homes • Business Insurance • Auto Insurance • High Risk Auto • Motor Homes • Recreational Vehicles • Boaters and Boats • Life Insurance • Mortgage Insurance • Disability Income • Health Insurance • Motorcycles FINANCIAL SERVICES • IRA's (Annuities) • Stocks • Muti al Funds • Variable Annuities • Bonds • Oil & Gas Leases • Tax-Free Funds • Real Estate Limited Partnerships P.O. BOX 566 1209 N. Green St.. McHenry, tL 60050 INSURANCE ALL LINES