Community yard sales set May 2 in New Athens

New Athen's community yard sales will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 2.

Anyone may participate. Residents who want their names included on the map of sale locations must contact Barb Censula 740-968-4395 or on Facebook by April 27 so the map can be printed.

There is no fee to participate. Sellers keep all money they make.

Sales are planned throughout town. So far, participating locations include Main Street, Edwards Road, West College Street, McFarland Road and Culbertson Drive.

Flyers have been distributed throughout the town and county. A list of participants will be available starting at 7 a.m. May 2 at Doc’s, the post office and the Presbyterian Church at 140 S. Main St.

The Presbyterian Church also will have food available during the sale, including hot dogs, sloppy Joes, Coney dogs, coffee, water and soft drinks. The church also will hold a rummage sale that day.

The community yard sales began after Sid and Judy Secrest, who moved to New Athens from Baltimore in January 1999, brought the idea from neighborhood sales they had enjoyed there. That spring, a notice was posted at the post office seeking interest, and 10 to 12 families signed up.

In the early years, the museum sponsored the event, allowing it to be promoted as a community activity and receive free newspaper publicity. Participants were charged a fee to help cover signs and other expenses, and any remaining money was donated to the museum. After the museum stopped sponsoring the event, fees continued for several years to help pay for advertising before eventually being dropped as promotion shifted online.

The Secrests handled publicity and advertising through 2012. After Sid’s death, Judy continued through 2013, when Barbara Censula took over those duties.

The sales have been held on the first Saturday in May since they began. Organizers said many visitors know to look for them each year on that date.