Long time stalwarts of the Five Church Rummage Sale, from left, Mary Layton, Linda Cook, Ray Royce, Marjorie Perry and Anna Royce, pause for a photograph while setting up for the sale in Norwich, Vt. (Photograph courtesy Margo Nutt)
Long time stalwarts of the Five Church Rummage Sale, from left, Mary Layton, Linda Cook, Ray Royce, Marjorie Perry and Anna Royce, pause for a photograph while setting up for the sale in Norwich, Vt. (Photograph courtesy Margo Nutt) Credit: Photographs courtesy Margo Nutt

With summer comes festivals, fairs and, perhaps my favorite, rummage sales.

Rummage sales are special to me because they remind me of my grandparents’ crowded basement. When, as a youngster, my little brother and I would stay at their house, it would be a real treat to go into the dark, cool rooms (the cans of soda stored there didn’t even need to be refrigerated) and rummage around for new and interesting things.

Some of my favorites included the board games that my dad and aunt played when they were growing up, the yards and yards of racetrack for tiny toy cars, which my grandparents would let us set up all around the living room, jigsaw puzzles, 45s of children’s songs that we played on a record player in a heavy blue case, and the earliest version of the video game Pong (my grandfather used to own a TV and radio repair shop).

And that was in only one room of the basement.

There was also my grandmother’s laundry room, which had even less light and was quite terrifying, and my grandfather’s workshop.

The variety of things to uncover seemed endless.

And now, in adulthood, the treasures keep coming: a somewhat-hideous green velvet chair (origin unknown and mine now because my mother refused to let it into her house), a set of silver iced tea spoons that I now use for ice cream, and, most recently, a quartet of wine glasses that belonged to one set of great-grandparents.

Over the last decade, as my grandparents have slowly begun to downsize their belongings, items like these have made their way to me.

Children of the Great Depression, they rarely parted with anything that could be deemed useful at any time. And after decades of sitting in boxes, these objects are entering my living space and helping the tiny apartment I rent become home.

At rummage sales, objects are given a new purpose. They become part of a new story. And, best of all, things are sold at a reasonable price.

Here are some sales coming up this weekend:

Five Church Rummage Sale in Norwich: The sale begins on Friday at 11 a..m and goes until 9 p.m. It continues Saturday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (half-price sale, 2-5 p.m.) and concludes with a bag sale on Sunday from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. The 68th annual sale includes toys, jewelry, furniture, books and more. Proceeds benefit the programs at five Norwich churches (St. Barnabas, Norwich Congregational Church, Beaver Meadow Chapel, Union Village United Methodist Church and the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Upper Valley). Tracy Hall, 300 S. Main St. 603-208-7847.

Community Yard Sale in Tunbridge: July 8, 7 a.m. – 2 p.m. Vendors will be set up on the Parish House lawn and at Town Hall. Vendor space available at 802-889-3750. Proceeds benefit The Tunbridge Church painting fund. Free. Tunbridge Village, 273 Route 110. 802-889-5528.

Summer Fair and Yard Sale in New London: July 8, 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. Morning coffee, white elephant, furniture, plants, baked goods, craft items, jewelry, books and more. Rain or shine. Free. First Baptist Church of New London, 461 Main St. 603-526-6511.

Yard Sale in Hartford: July 8 and 9 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. Sale benefits the historical society’s winter fuel fund. Hartford Historical Society, 1461 Maple St. 802-295-2123.

Liz Sauchelli can be reached at esauchelli@vnews.com or 603-727-3221.

Liz Sauchelli can be reached at esauchelli@vnews.com or 603-727-3221.