Bargain hunters line up early for the Medical Center’s rummage sale.
By: Jillian Kalonick
LaVerne Hebert of Kendall Park knows how to handle the sometimes over-eager crowd of first-day shoppers at the annual White Elephant rummage sale, sponsored by the Auxiliary of The Medical Center at Princeton.
"If you knock me over," she says, "you’re not getting in."
Mrs. Hebert, co-chairwoman of the 83rd annual sale, has more than 40 years of experience with excited customers hunting for bargains. She has been a member of the Auxiliary since 1958, and has been helping with the sale since the 1960s.
The White Elephant sale has a history even longer than Mrs. Hebert’s commitment. The first sale was held in May 1919 in the wake of the horrific global influenza epidemic of 1918-1919. About $1,500 was raised to help open Princeton Hospital. The success led to another rummage sale the next year, which took place at the Conover House on Bayard Lane.
Mrs. Hebert remembers when the sale took place over four days at the firehouse on Harrison Street. In the 1960s it moved to two small garages on Stanworth, and later to the Italian-American Sportsman Club. Finally, it relocated to its present location, the Princeton House Storage Facility on Herrontown Road.
With bigger venues, the sale expanded. The need for police officers to keep back the crowd on opening morning proves the event’s popularity. Last year more than 100 volunteers helped to raise about $30,000 for cancer programs at The Medical Center. This year the proceeds will benefit the same cause.
A longtime commitment to the White Elephant sale is not unique. Ida and Albert Toto of Princeton have been volunteering at the sale for more than 15 years.
"As we grow older, we need this," explains Mrs. Toto as she sorts through the morning’s donations of women’s clothing. She and her husband, both in their 80s, owned Toto’s Market on Witherspoon Street. Mrs. Toto found herself lost when they closed down the market, after three generations and 75 years. "I cried for three months, until I came here," she says.
The sale is a good post-retirement project for many seniors. Lucille and Jim Dawson of Montgomery have volunteered for more than 10 years. Mrs. Dawson enjoys the camaraderie and challenge of each year’s rummage sale, and the opportunity to interact with the community.
Ruth McCusker of Princeton has also volunteered for more than 10 years, not as long as some, but long enough to see the changes in donations. "We get fewer miniskirts than we used to," she notes.
By no means has the merchandise decreased in quality, however, and there are great buys to be had. "We have better prices than any organization that does this real bargains," says Princeton volunteer Jean Hoover. "We’ve been told that." The volunteers sort through the items, keeping only those they believe people will want to purchase, and give the rest to the Rescue Mission.
Before items are put on sale, workers clean and repair them. "My own silver needs polishing!," says Princeton volunteer Jean Woodward, as she polishes a silver bowl. Donations range from clothing, shoes and linens to antiques, artwork and electronics.
For as much work as goes into the sale, the volunteers seem to have just as much fun. A volunteer since the 1980s, Ralph Higgins of Princeton has been sorting books for the rummage sale since the collection days began in July. He enjoys the companionship of his fellow volunteers. "It’s not the work," he says. "I can work any place."
Many volunteers do work other places, balancing a full week with their rummage sale work on the weekends. Ms. Hebert continues to run her 30-year-old business, LDH Printing Unlimited, while she co-chairs the rummage sale and serves as treasurer for Rocky Hill Hook and Ladder Company. She has no plans to discontinue her volunteerism any time soon, however. "As long as we can put one foot in front of the other, we’ll keep doing it," she declares.
The 2001 White Elephant Sale will take place Saturday, Oct. 20, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday, Oct. 21, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Princeton House Storage Facility at 905 Herrontown Road, Princeton. The last day for receiving items is Saturday, Oct. 13, 9 a.m. to noon. Volunteers are needed to help clean up after the sale. For more information, call (609) 924-4664.

