Will the muffineer stay in Goshen?

St. James to host antiques auction, By Tim Duzick Goshen — Going once, going twice... On Saturday, March 3, antiques donated by local residents will be auctioned off at St. James Episcopal Church to benefit the church’s building and restoration fund. Furniture, jewelry, dishes and silverware, and other items are all up on the block. But why would someone donate an antique? Maybe that old clock has outlived its place on the fireplace mantle. Or maybe the donor likes the idea that an item will fetch a good price, finding different owners who will be appreciated anew, and benefiting a community church in the bargain. Marsha Burke has donated several pieces of antique furniture to the auction. None of them hold any sentimental significance for her. But she loves the way they look in her house. “I like to decorate with antique furniture,” she said. “It adds a certain character to our home. Instead of purchasing a full furniture set that I would keep for 10 plus years, I buy and sell antique furniture over a couple of years. That way, my house has the look of an old house, but the décor is ever-changing. The items I selected to donate for auction might not hold any lasting memories, but they are pieces that have real value.” Sharon Sprague isn’t donating anything to the auction, at least not this year. She isn’t quite ready to give up a set of wine glasses from Poland that her grandmother gave her. “I’m not much of a wine drinker, so their small size was perfect for me,” she said. “A few years ago, I used to host a book club. One day, I decided to buy a small bottle of wine and pulled out the glasses my grandmother gave me. Five of us spent the next three hours discussing the book. I kept refilling the wine glasses but we never ran out. “I always viewed that day as some kind of miracle. I know at some point I will donate them for auction, but the memories of that day with the book club are still fresh in my mind. I’m not ready to part with them yet.” Kitt Wallace is donating an antique muffineer. For those of you who may not know what a muffineer is, it’s a larger shaker filled with sugar and other spices for sprinkling on top toast or muffins. This particular shaker has a distinctive history. “Both my parents and the Quackenbushes were longtime friends who lived in Goshen,” she said. “In 1970, my parents took me to the Cotswals region in England for vacation. We walked into an antique store and, lo and behold, there were the Quackenbushes. What were the odds of that? Allison Quackenbush then saw the muffineer and wanted to buy it, but for some reason, she didn’t. As soon as they left the store, my mother bought the shaker and gave it to Allison as a gift. A few years ago, the Quackenbushes decided to move into a smaller house. Allison felt that it was important that the shaker should stay in Goshen, so she gave it to me.” But if you are putting it up for auction, isn’t there is a good chance it will leave Goshen? “Well, no,” said Kitt Wallace. “I think someone in town will buy it.” Clair Leonard, a friend of Wallace’s, quickly came to her defense. “I have no doubt that this shaker will stay in Goshen, and that’s final.” I guess we’ll all find out Saturday… The auction begins at 6:30 p.m. at the church, located at 1 St. James Place, Goshen. Mark Vail of Pine Bush will be auctioneer. A preview will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Wine, cheese and desserts will be offered. For more information call the Rev. Carl Lunden at 294-6225.