May 20, 2007 By Lori Ann Goodwin 4 min read

For those living in southwestern Pennsylvania, the warm weather and sunshine can only mean one thing. That’s right – it’s yard sale season. For local bargain hunters, there’s no more sleeping in on Saturday mornings, and it’s time to look for those unbelievable bargains.

Now imagine what one can find at an 824-mile-long yard sale. The idea is not far-fetched, because this year is the second official year for the Historic National Road Yard Sale, which runs from Baltimore, Md., to St. Louis, Mo., along Route 40. The event will be held from dawn to dusk from Wednesday, May 30, to Sunday, June 3. Last year’s event coincided with the National Road’s 200th anniversary.

President Thomas Jefferson signed legislation in 1806 that created the National Road. Eventually it stretched from Cumberland, Md., to Vandalia, Ill., and served as a gateway to the West for many pioneers.

During the National Road Festival, which continues today, towns from Addison, Somerset County, to West Alexander, Washington County, host celebrations of life along the National Road through the centuries.

Patricia McDaniel of Dublin, Ind., is chairwoman of the event and runs Old Store Front Antiques on Route 40 in Dublin.

“I really want people to get involved in Pennsylvania, especially Fayette County,” she said. “I took a promotional tour through Brownsville last year, and I just loved the area and the people.”

McDaniel, 59, said she took a month last year and ventured along the whole route with her dog, Lily.

“Participating in or traveling through the yard sale is a great way to meet new people, and it’s a lot of fun,” McDaniel said.

She added that her idea for the yard sale is to keep it unstructured, so she said no maps are printed and there is not a list of participants.

“The thrill of the hunt is what makes it great,” she said. “Sometimes taking the secondary road rather than the main road is a lot more fun. And, it’s a great way to give back to the community.”

McDaniel said the idea for the yard sale was to have something that everyone could participate in, whether people are working with a small or large budget.

“A lot of people can’t go on expensive trips, and with the price of gas today, families can decide how far they want to travel, gas up the car and go,” she said. “That way they can stay within their limits.”

And, she said, those who want to sell their old items can really make a lot of money.

“One woman made more money in five days than working her regular job,” she said.

McDaniel gave some tips for those who decide to venture out to this year’s Historic National Road Yard Sale.

“One of my favorite things is to not stop at chain restaurants, but to stop at the mom-and-pop places and get a feel for the local flavor,” she said. “Last year, some small towns actually ran out of lettuce and tomatoes because of the number of people passing through and stopping.”

McDaniel said that those in Fayette County who are interested in participating should just set up shop along Route 40 and see who stops by.

More information on the 2007 Historic National Road Yard Sale can be found at www.oldstorefrontantiques.com.

But, for those bargain hunters out and about this weekend, one event coinciding with the National Road Festival is the annual Addison Community-wide Yard Sale being held though today.

Joann Whetsell, president of the Old Petersburg/Addison Historic Society, said that there would be a flea market/treasure hunt at Fran Augustine’s former craft store, as well as numerous local residents who will have yard sales at their residences.

Also, new to the community event this year is the Participating Artists of the Turkeyfoot Highlands, which consists of local artists within 15 miles of Addison, and there will be colonial children’s’ games. There also will be a car show today.