West Virginia League Puts On Antique `Roadstop"

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Credit Union League discovered during its annual convention it has plenty of garage sale junkies. That’s because its own version of the “Antiques Roadshow” a popular TV show on the PBS network all about finding appraised collectibles in attics and garages, proved a big hit. “Our members had a great time bringing their prized antique clocks and railroad watches to the convention to be professionally appraised,” explained Rich Shaffer, vice president of marketing and communications for the league. The League named its evening session the “Antique Roadstop” and brought in a Charleston father and son appraiser team, Roger and Stephen Mullins, to judge merchandise. The League also employed its program and entertainment coordinator, Sandy Sowell of Charleston, to MC the program using a video camera and big-screen TV to display artifacts. Among the items were antique toy trucks, old tennis rackets used by Jimmy Connors and Billy Jean King, dish sets, and show lamps among others. “It was kind of nice to realize that this old tobacco cutter that was in my grandfather’s general store and made in 1910 was worth $475-$500,” said Thomas Walker, a director of Universal CU of Huntington and a retired CUNA Mutual rep. “It’s been a conversation piece in our home for years, but I don’t think I’ll sell it but just pass it on to my kids.” Orville Shaffer, a retired truck driver and director of Kemba Charleston CU, said he was pleased to learn that an antique clock passed down from his father was worth $350. Other members of his family brought in railroad pocket watches worth $350. The most valued item at the “Roadstop” turned out to be one of those toy coin banks valued at $1,300. Schaffer of the League said he brought in two items: a confederate note that had been in his family for years and was appraised by the Mullins team at $400 and a historic 1962 passenger list from a Holland America liner crossing from Amsterdam to New York worth $500-$750. “This was something given to me by a friend years ago and that made me a little uneasy, but it does have historic value to those who collect Kennedy memorabilia,” said Schaffer. On the passenger manifest is the name of Lee Harvey Oswald, who was on his way back to the U.S. after first defecting to Russia. “I think this is something that I don’t think I’ll keep but donate to a charity,” said Shaffer. -