Antique show expected to draw large crowd

Variety, uniqueness and quality are what is expected to attract thousands of people to Murfreesboro from all over the country this weekend.

No, it's not the Avenue or all the new restaurants on Medical Center Parkway that are bringing the folks in this time.

"Last year, a little over 2,000 people passed through the doors. About 18 percent of them made multiple entrances ... 48 [came] from Shelbyville and 23 from other places in Bedford County," said Don Detwiler.

Detwiler is organizing the 41st annual Murfreesboro Antique Show, which will be held Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Murphy Center at Middle Tennessee State University.

Voted the 2008 Busy Bee Trader's Reader's Choice winner for "Best Antique Show," he said the show will represent 67 dealers from 14 states, including one dealer, Ledford Mills Antiques, from Wartrace.

Detwiler said the emphasis of the Murfreesboro show is dealer quality.

"Dealers are invited to the show based on the quality of their merchandise and recommendation from other dealers," he said. "This year over 85 percent of dealers from last year are returning."

What will those dealers be selling?

Detwiler aims for variety, including top selling items such as glassware, country furniture, silver, paintings, books and toys. But this year he's excited about featuring the largest dealer of authentic cast iron toys and banks in the country.

"We will also offer for the first time working radios from the 1930s," he said. "We try to have something for everybody."

The Murphy Center is air-conditioned, friendly to the physically challenged, and has free parking. The cost to attend the show is $7, which is good for all three days of the show. For more information, contact Detwiler at (615) 631-0734.