Round Top COUNTDOWN {Spring 10}: History of Round Top Antique Week
Every spring and fall for the past couple of years I have had the opportunity to head to my home state of Texas for Round Top Antique Week. In just six weeks we’ll be headed there again to meet up with old friends and make new ones, to eat and drink and be restored. And of course, we’ll be there to SHOP. Over the next few weeks I’ll be counting down and writing a little about what I’ve learned about Round Top Antique Week over my last few trips. One thing I’ve learned for certain is that I’ve only scratched the surface…
Let’s start with the HISTORY OF ROUND TOP ANTIQUE WEEK…
So what, exactly, is Round Top?? First off it’s a small Texas town, population 77+, located in Fayette County. ONE hour East of Austin, an ONE 1/2 hours West of Houston, and FOUR hours south of Dallas. The Round Top Antique Week, as it is often called, began over thirty years ago in the Round Top Rifle Association Hall, when Miss Emma Lee Turney {left} and her company, Antiques Productions, were asked to do an Antique Show in a little German town that was quietly being restored, Round Top, Texas.
The show quickly became a social event for Houston socialites as they retreated to charming Round Top every Spring and Fall. The show was still small but it was the cream of the crop in quality dealers, and had the leaders and financiers of Houston buzzing. The fresh air and country-style shopping gave the society folk a chance to let down their guard, pick for their beautiful homes, and even guzzle a Shiner or two beneath the shade trees. {For a wonderful interview with Emma Lee Turney, and her account of the Round Top Antique Fair, click HERE}.
Round Top is no longer ONE SHOW. {The Map to the left will be updated regularly!!} Over the years it has become a 10 day event featuring 1000s of merchants spread out over four small towns: Round Top, Warrenton, Carmine and Shelby. The Round Top Register guesses that there are now about 35 separate shows with at least 2,500 dealers. Not to mention the surrounding fields, warehouses, and tents covering cow pastures and black tops… Round Top Antique Week takes place every Fall and Spring with the next show beginning WEDNESDAY, March 24th, 2010 and running till April 3rd, 2010!!
So what ever happened to Miss Emma Lee Turneyand the original venue?? A couple of years ago Miss Turney sold the Original Round Top Antiques Fair to Susan and Bo Franks. They have maintained the standards set forth by Miss Turney by hosting an exceptional quality of dealers, providing stellar service and adding two new shows in the Summer and Winter.
The Original Round Top Antiques Fair now consists of two venues: Carmine Dance Hall and the Big Red Barn, plus two HUGE tents. While the venues are close in proximity, the luxury of a transport and porter is provided to help you get to and from the parking lot. Food from Royer’s Cafe will also be available {mm, mm, good!!}. There is a $10 charge per person, but the ticket is good for all four days of the show at both of the of the Original Round Top Antiques Fair venues & tents.
Last but not least on our itinerary is the Round Top Folk Art Fair& Creative Market. After 40 years of Round Top’s biannual Antique BONANZA, Miss Emma Lee Turney is still in the biz producing this show which features “contemporary artisans in many areas of interest including woodcarvers, tinsmiths, custom and twig furniture makers, needle workers, creators of folk dolls, custom floor cloths, bird houses, paintings, country-style fashions, is a source for custom-made accessories, all to enhance the country lifestyle.”
Click on the boxes below for MORE INFORMATION about Round Top…
Click HERE for Cactus Creek’s Round Top GUIDE
Click HERE for more from Round Top Dealers
{SUBSCRIBE} HERE to have the CactusCreekDaily.com BLOG
delivered straight to your E-Mailbox!!
