With the first one just 6 weeks away, I thought it’d be a good time to share the 2014 Mud Sale schedule. “The Dirt on Mud Sales in Amish Country” explains the origin and name of this annual series of auctions in and around the Lancaster County area:
The mud sales were started about 50 years ago, in part to give local farmers a chance to obtain new or used equipment as planting season approached. The name comes from the seasonal change from winter to spring, as the frozen ground, in most rural areas not covered with grass, stones or asphalt, begins to thaw and turn muddy.
These auctions are a significant source of funds for local volunteer fire companies, which play a large role in firefighting operations in Lancaster County. Lancaster County fire companies have a significant plain (Amish and Mennonite) composition, as we’ve seen in a previous post on Amish firefighters in action.
This summer I had a chance to visit the firehouses of Garden Spot Fire Rescue, located in Blue Ball and New Holland. In the photo below you see one of the older vehicles, in the station in Blue Ball. These are impressive machines, especially from up close.
2014 Lancaster Mud Sale schedule
I’ve listed the first dozen or so mud sales below, starting with the February 22 sale at the Strasburg Fire Company. The full schedule is available at padutchcountry.com. If you have a chance to attend one of these I hope you’ll let us know how it went. Remember your muck boots!
February 22 – Strasburg Spring Consignment & Mud Sale
Strasburg Fire Company
46 W. Main Street, Strasburg, PA 17572
717-687-7232
March 1 – Bart Township Auction & Mud Sale
Bart Township Fire Company
11 Furnace Rd, Quarryville, PA 17566
717-786-3348
March 8 – Gordonville Spring Mud Sale & Auction
Gordonville Fire Company
Old Leacock Road, Gordonville, PA 17566
717-768-3869
March 15 – Bart Township Building Materials and Craft Sale
Bart Township Fire Company
11 Furnace Rd, Quarryville, PA 17566
717-786-3348
March 15 – Penryn Volunteer Fire Company Sale
Penryn Volunteer Fire Company
1441 North Penryn Road, Manheim, PA 17545
March 21-22 – Gap Fire Company Sale
Gap Fire Company
802 Pequea Avenue, Gap, PA 17527
717-442-9549
March 22 – West Earl Fire Company Quilt & Consignment Auction
West Earl Fire Company
14 School Lane Ave, Brownstown, PA 17508
717-989-5986
April 5 – Robert Fulton Sale
Robert Fulton Volunteer Fire Company
2271 Robert Fulton Highway (Routes 272 & 222), Peach Bottom, PA 17563
717-548-8995
www.513rffc.com
April 12 – Rawlinsville Mud Sale
Rawlinsville Volunteer Fire Company
33 Martic Heights Drive, Holtwood, PA 17532
717-284-3023
www.rvfd58.com
May 3 – Fivepointville Mud Sale
Fivepointville Fire Company
1087 Dry Tavern Road, Denver PA 17517
717-445-4933
fivepointvillefire.net
May 10 – Honey Brook Quilt Sale & Consignment Auction
Honey Brook Fire Company
Romano 4H Center, 1841 Horseshoe Pike, Honey Brook, PA 19344
610-273-2688
www.honeybrookfire.org
May 17 – Weaverland Valley Mud Sale
Weaverland Valley Fire Company
Terre Hill Community Park, 210 Lancaster Avenue, Terre Hill, PA 17528
717-445-7066
lcfa.org/zones/zone3/index.html
June 27 – Lancaster County Carriage & Antique Auction
Bird-in-Hand Volunteer Fire Company
313 Enterprise Drive, Bird In Hand, PA 17505
717-392-0112
www.facebook.com/Bird-in-Hand-Fire-Company
June 28 – Refton Fire Company Mud Sale
Refton Volunteer Fire Company
99 Church Street, Refton, PA 17568
717-786-9462
www.refton59fire.com
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Mud Sales
Went to a mud sale last year in Pennsylvania while on vacation – loved it (& love my quilt that we bid on!). Do you know how we can find out about mud sales (or quilt auctions) in Wisconsin & Indiana? Thanks
I forgot about these things. They are a neat concept and helpful.
Has anyone here on AA bought anything really different or unique at one of these? (sorry, I hadn’t reviewed last years postings on the subject)
We’ve attended a few Mud Sales (Bart, Gordonville, Strasburg) over the years, but haven’t bought anything at the auctions — YET. Of the three, Gordonville seems to be the largest. I believe all three of the abocve Fire Companies run convenient shuttle buses from various outlying off-site parking areas.
Depending on weather, Mud Sales are a lot of fun (oddly enough, more clement weather = more fun); examining the wares is educational,the food is outstanding, and the mingling with the “locals” is tremendously enjoyable. When your boots are clogged with mud, everyone is equal.
Bart is the most authentic
I’ve lived in this area most of my life and I consider Bart to be the best of the mud sales. First of all, Georgetown (where Bart Fire Company is located) is in the heart of some of the most beautiful country in the world and the drive there alone will take one’s breath away (and Georgetown isn’t surrounded by motels and outlets the way Gordonville and Strasburg are) I went to Bart a few years ago, just because I wasn’t able to make it to the Gap sale (grew up going to that one) but I always attend Bart now. A lot of Delaware Amish come to Bart too – and unlike Gordonville, Bart is not touristy. (Yes, there may be out-of-staters there, but it is not touristy – there is a difference.) I go every year and buy a quilt every year. I look forward to it.
Bart Mud Sale
100% on target with the comments about the Bart/Georgetown area, but you omitted the friendliness of the folks there!
Their monthly breakfasts and other events are great, too. We often plan our trips to Lancaster around the Bart FC Fundraisers schedule.
Another Mud Sale - just across the river............
Just wanted to let you know about another Mud Sale in this area. Just cross the Susquehanna River on the Norman Wood Bridge from Lancaster County into southern York County and go north on Rt 74 just a few miles. There will be a Mud Sale at the Airville Fire Company, always held the 3rd Saturday in March, so this year it’ll be March 15th. It’s a fun time! Hope to see some of you there!
If anyone's curious....
A little tidbit on the vehicle, from someone who knows:
The apparatus shown is a 1948 Mack “B type” antique/Parade piece, and it isn’t in active service.
Beautiful old fire truck—familiar from my youth!
Sure wish I could make it to a mud sale, as they sound very interesting! I’d enjoy rubbing elbows with the “locals” at least as much as finding something unique to purchase.
Say, do they sell “muck” boots at mud sales? Seems like someone could make a small fortune from those of us who don’t own any true “muckers”! (First stop should be muck boot tent/table/whatever they use!)
Alice Mary
Mud sales are the best. I’ve learned to avoid the larger Lancater County ones and favor those a little farther west. Most of the ones I attend support Amish schools. Beaver Run and Gratz are twice a year. Port Treverton benefits a fire company and features great parking. Also the married Amish men with no beards is unusual. The Amish boys play football here while everywhere else it’s co-ed volleyball. The mud sale in Perry County in July is a real favorite. I enjoy playing horseshoes here with the Amish. And Jack’s Mountain is the smallest and most conserative order and is actually held on a farm. They always have ugly quilts but the best braided rugs ever. It was a little odd that the Amish boys would flirt with my English neice. They even had “game” and she put them in their place.
Last year I added a new one somewhere between Lewisburg and Mifflinburg that was also held on a farm. There it seemed that all the teenage boys were chain smokers.
JT, I am guessing those are younger married Amish men? Or beards which are there, but just barely? It looks like the Port Treverton you mention is Snyder County.
Trying to load a photo. I can’t get it but I will send some to anyone who e-mail requests them.
tocool4uvk@aol.com
West Earl Fire Co. 26 Annual Quilt & Consignment Auction
There has been a date change for this years Auction.
This years Auction will be held on March 22,2014.
For further information you may want to check our website: www.westearlfire.org or our Facebook page: West Earl Fire Station 29.
Thanks for your interest and we look forward to seeing all on the 22nd of March!!
Thanks for the info, just updated the above. Hope your turnout is hefty!
Amish Rite of Spring
A travel writer attended a mud sale and wrote an article about it. Accompanying the “Amish Rite of Spring” article are 17 photos. Snapshot #15 shows pieces of pie for $1.50!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/laura-lippstone/getting-down-and-dirty-wi_b_4844076.html
This is basically the same article and photos from writer Laura Lippstone’s blog, but it’s put together differently.
http://planetlippstone.com/2014/02/24/getting-down-and-dirty-with-the-amish/
Gordonville Mud Sale and Auction
May I add one more link about March mudness? Penn Live has an article “Lancaster County’s Amish mud sales: Not far by car,” with a 1:30-minute video from 2013 of the Gordonville Mud Sale & Auction, featuring a lively bid-taker.
http://www.pennlive.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2014/02/keep_your_boots_on_for_lancast.html
Port Treverton and Beaver Springs
Does anyone know when and where the sales at Port Treverton and Beaver Springs are? I live near Williamsport, PA so I’m looking for sales closer than Lancaster County. I’ve been to the Beaver Run school sale near Danville, PA and it really is a big semi-annual event.
Beaver Run School Auction
Colleen, it looks like the Snyder County Spring Consignment Sale at Port Trevorton, Pennsylvania, was already held on March 29, 2014.
http://www.auctionzip.com/Listings/2066871.html
Saturday, April 19, 2014, is the Beaver Run Amish School Benefit Auction, Washingtonville/Turbotville, Pennsylvania. The address is 290 PPL Road, Danville, PA. This year, the third Saturday of April falls between Good Friday and Easter. Sometimes they have a dozen auctioneers at one time! The fall Beaver Run School Consignment Auction is on the first Saturday in September, 9-6-2014.
http://www.itourcolumbiamontour.com/event-calendar/event/beaver-run-school-consignment-auction/
The Port Treverton sale held earlier was not their big one. This year it happens the Saturday after Beaver Run. I think it’s on auctionzip right now. Certainly not a big as Beaver Run but it’s a good time. If you go notice the Amish men without beards. There is a very unique order there between Routes 11-15 and Route 104. They also have meeting houses (churches)in the community. They’re also the nicest order I’ve encountered. You might even find the young ladies wearing nail polish and flip flops with traditional dress. Also the prettiest children ever. The quilts—–not the best.
Port Trevorton Consignment Auction
Thanks for your help, JT. You’re right. The 6th Annual Freport Fire Co. Sale is Saturday, April 26, 2014, in Port Trevorton, PA. This 6th Annual consignment auction benefits the fire companies and Christian Aid Ministries (C.A.M.). There are some Stauffer Mennonites in Snyder County, so you may see a variety of plain people, including Amish.
http://www.auctionzip.com/cgi-bin/showimage.cgi?lid=2055670&type=at&in=1
Weaverland Valley Mud Sale
Has anyone ever attended the Weaverland Valley Mud Sale?
I am from out of town and can’t make it to the Mud Sale that I usually go to due to my work schedule (which I am totally bummed about).
I am just wondering how large it is? What kind of things do they action out? The atmosphere and if it is worth a 6 hour drive?
Thanks in advance for your help!