Thousands to shop at World's Longest Yard Sale this weekend

Crickett (this is the sole name he goes by) rests in the shade adjacent to Taft Highway atop Signal Mountain after setting up all of his items for sale on August, 4, 2015 in preparation for this years "Longest Yard Sale."
Crickett (this is the sole name he goes by) rests in the shade adjacent to Taft Highway atop Signal Mountain after setting up all of his items for sale on August, 4, 2015 in preparation for this years "Longest Yard Sale."
photo Route of the World's Longest Yard Sale.

A 1955 Disneyland dinner tray. A replica dollhouse. A Confederate sword worth $22,000.

These are the most prized possessions of three different vendors at the U.S. 127 Corridor Sale, or more commonly known as the World's Longest Yard Sale. In its 28th year, it stretches 690 miles from Michigan to Alabama. The sale officially begins Thursday and goes through Sunday, but several vendors already have begun setting up.

"We typically make between $35,000 and $45,000," said Karen Bessels of St. Augustine Church. They've participated for 20 years, raising money for a school in Petite Rivire, Haiti. "That's a big yard sale, isn't it?"

They get regular customers that come from Ohio, Michigan and Florida every year. She even had people from New Zealand come the other day. St. Augustine's merchandise is all donated and the proceeds go to the Haitian school. Mugs costing a quarter and couches costing $5 sit under their tent, ready to be sold.

"The original intent of the sale was to prove the back roads have something to offer," according to a release about the sale. "And that the interstate system was not the only mode for travel."

Through the Chattanooga area, the yard sale on Signal Mountain Road and Taft Highway is a popular destination for shoppers. While the sale gives people a chance to find all different types of treasures, it also clogs up the roadway.

"Oh the traffic's horrendous," Bessels laughed. "I mean it's literally bumper to bumper."

Quintin Perry, who owns Off the Grill, said he opened up his restaurant 14 months ago and remembers what it was like last year.

"By this weekend," he said of the traffic, pointing to Taft Highway, "you won't be able to move on this mountain."

Perry decided to get in on the action this year. His cousin - whose name is actually Small Change - is a picker and found antiques that now sit outside Perry's restaurant.

"We go everywhere," Change said of where he finds antiques. "Little country towns, those are the best."

Up the road, Sam Kehoe has been selling military merchandise for 10 years at the sale, with some items fetching a price tag in the thousands.

While explaining how he keeps his tent cool during hot afternoons, a man carrying a plastic bag walked up.

"I hear you're an expert of this kinda stuff," he said. "I wonder if you can tell me what year this is from."

Before he gets the helmet fully out of the bag, Kehoe confidently said, "1916."

The German WWI helmet was painted like the American flag. Kehoe said it's worth about $700, and he'd buy it for $500 so he could make a little profit. The man isn't selling it today, he just wanted some information. But if he does decide to sell it, he'll come back to Kehoe.

"That's why I love this," Kehoe said, pointing to the man as he walked away. "It's the thrill of finding history."

Contact staff writer Evan Hoopfer at ehoop fer@timesfreepress.com or twitter.com/EvanHoopfer or 423-757-6731.

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