The Rice County Flea Market

While driving south into Faribault last week, I noticed a sign advertising a flea market for the upcoming Saturday. I mentioned to Gary that maybe we could host a stand at the flea market as a way to sell some of our stuff. We stopped in and found that a $20 donation to the History Center was all that was needed to reserve a spot. We thought we could recover our $20 and maybe make some money, while recycling our useable, but unwanted goods. 

The flea market started in front parking lot of the historical society. We were in the back section.

So, we signed up and had two days to gather and mark our stuff. That worked out well… since we didn’t have weeks to think about it…just a day to gather, and a day to mark. 

Setting up at 7 am.

We didn’t know we would end up with an ideal spot for our tables. We were under a shade tree the whole time, from 8 am -2pm. We had a money belt, coffee, and donuts …we were settled in for an adventure.

We did sell our things at a good price…cheap. We did get rid of a lot of our stuff. It was fun to people watch, and we had a several good interactions with people.

There were some interesting characters…one guy admitted to buying our stuff for cheap and told us he will sell it for a profit next spring! Good for him.

Enjoying the people watching, and interactions.

One guy was enthralled with an unusual buoy off a fishing net that my mother brought back from Norway in 1969. He said he’s never seen anything like it, and he bought it.

We had a wonderful spot for our tables.

I printed up a story for the glass canister I had for sale. After an older woman from my church passed away years ago, her son gave me her one remaining painted-glass canister jar, which he knew I liked. She had told me she wanted metal canisters when she set up housekeeping in the 1940’s, but because of the war she had to settle for glass. A customer at the flee market saw that story and said she had to have the canister. 

The Rice County Historical Society’s old church and school in the background.

It made me feel good that some of our items were really appreciated, and going to good homes.

This new adventure for us, selling our wares at a flea market, was fun. We hope to do it again sometime.

New Prague

We went to check out a new (to me) thrift store in New Prague, Minnesota. It is housed in the warehouse of an old flour milling site, and it’s called the Urban Flea Market. It’s fairly large, and had some “flea market items” along with antiques. There were several people browsing and finding bargains.

After the flea market we walked along New Prague’s historic main street. We passed different shops and bars and businesses…and several vacant store fronts. The booming businesses seem to be on the east side of town, before entering the downtown area.

This is the front of the church…and it is larger that it looks!

However, the magnificent cathedral is a looming structure on main street, right downtown.  St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church is beautiful. Its cornerstone is dated 1906, but the congregation was established in 1857. We’ve driven past the church many times but have never been inside. When we walked up the steps we were surprised the doors were unlocked, so we went in.

From the altar looking towards the entrance and pipes for the pipe organ.

Once inside, we could see the lovely stain-glass windows and the many organ pipes and a lot of evidence of a vibrant church community. I’ve learned there are public concerts and events held in this great space. 

Many of the stain-glass windows were of different saints.

We learned Saint Wenceslaus is the patron saint of Czech people. The New Prague area prides itself in its Czech heritage, affiliations and community.

King Wenceslas statue.

On a plaque about St. Wenceslaus, it explained he ruled Bohemia from 924 to 929 AD, therefore called a King. I remembered an unfamiliar Christmas Carol with the title “Good King Wenceslaus” in my old piano book, but I didn’t know who King Wenceslaus was.

A John W. Schaum Christmas Album piano book from my childhood. I got a star sticker! 😉 I’m not sure I have ever heard this carol sung. There is no date…it reads an Old English Carol.

Also on the plaque, I found it interesting to read, “Raised a Christian and educated by grandmother Ludmila, he ruled strictly but justly.”

A beautiful stain-glass window depicting events of the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Exploring this church was a highlight of our time in New Prague.