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Town Beckons Shoppers
Deals in yards of North Jackson attract thousands of customers
By Elise Franco
North Jackson
The communitywide yard sale in North Jackson is a 12-year tradition that will continue to grow and prosper, said Jackson Township Trustee Olin Harkelroad.
“When I began this, I saw it as a chance for groups to come out and bring people into the community,” he said.
“We want people to come back year after year, and I want to keep it as a genuine community effort.”
Between Friday and today Harkelroad estimates 25,000 will come through the township.
“It’s the biggest day of the year for us out here,” he said. “The streets are jam-packed from the time we open.”
The sales open at 9 a.m., but Lynn and Marilyn Ritchie said they had people waiting near their Mahoning Avenue house at 7:30 a.m. Friday.
Lynn Ritchie said the sale helps her catch up with old friends.
“We see a lot of people who we haven’t seen for a while,” she said. “It always brings people back to the community.”
Harkelroad, who began the Jackson Township Citizens Association when he started organizing the sale 12 years ago, said he offers free parking on a large open field he owns at 11349 W. Mahoning Ave.
He said about 125 people set up tents to sell merchandise in the field, and nearly 100 more residents set up sales outside their homes all over the township. People selling things from their homes or a tent pay $5, with the money benefitting the citizens association.
“What you get here isn’t the professional flea-marketer who just wants to make money,” he said. “And that makes a difference.”
Rochelle Romeo of Boardman said her mom, who lives in North Jackson, has set up a tent on Harkelroad’s property for six consecutive years.
“This is a very nice community thing,” she said. “So many people are doing it that it pulls in a big crowd.”
Romeo said between her things and her mother’s, they set up a half dozen tables and three large clothes racks.
Throughout the year leading up to the sale, Romeo said she’s always adding to the pile of sale items she keeps in the basement.
“It took about three hours to set up,” she said. “But I wish more communities would do this. I wish Boardman did it.”
Youngstown resident Cathy Murray was back Friday for her second year as a shopper. By mid-morning she’d already purchased several pieces of furniture and home decor, spending only about $50.
“It was full of really good stuff last year, so I had to come back again,” she said.