Southdown gears up for yard sale

Big bargains will be busting out of the Buquet Pavilion on the grounds of Southdown Plantation House Aug. 25 when Southdown Plantation’s sixth annual Yard Sale takes place from 8 a.m. to noon, rain or shine.

In keeping with the tone of southern grace surrounding the former plantation, all items for sale at the event will be “gently used,” said Karen Hart, director of the Terrebonne Museum located inside the house.

Money raised from the yard sale will help fund the programs and exhibits of Southdown Plantation House & The Terrebonne Museum.

“Some things are like new, even in their original boxes,” Hart said.

“Our yard sale is a great place to find things for … use in camps, boats and dorm rooms,” she said. “It’s also good for crafters to find miscellaneous supplies and items that can be repainted or rehabilitated.”

The list of things for sale at the event is as long as the August day.

Items will include home furnishings, kitchen goods, glassware, giftware, seasonal decorations, books, jewelry, bags and accessories.

The sale also includes two bicycles, a baby crib, baskets of all shapes and sizes, shoes, purses, videotapes, music tapes, CDs, tools, hardware parts, toys and kids’ games.

“We will take donations of items until Wednesday, Aug. 22, so there’s no telling what else might come in,” she said.

Hart is excited about the cheap prices as well.

“Our prices are usually a steal,” she said. “There’s a lot of stuff priced at 25 cents and 10 cents. Of course, newer and nicer items are tagged a little bit higher, but there is not much over five dollars.”

“We have been able to raise $1,000 to $1,800 at past sales,” she said. “That’s a lot of quarters and dimes adding up.”

Hart said that Southdown wants to make a profit from the event, but it also does not want items remaining after the yard sale ends.

In past years, second yard sales sometimes had to be held to sell off remaining items.

One thing Southdown will not be offering is clothing. The yard sale has encountered problems with displaying the clothing items, and sorting them into types and sizes.

“We tried clothing one year, but it made for a bit of chaos,” Hart said. “But we do take hats, purses, belts and shoes. We encourage people to take any clothing items to another charity such as St. Vincent Thrift Store or Goodwill.”

Call Southdown at (985) 851-0154 to donate items for the sale. No large furniture pieces or big appliances can be accepted.