Hidden gems at first west Wallace flea market
The West Wallace Flea Market that took place over the Fourth of July weekend.
Photo by MOLLY ROBERTS
WALLACE — A simple white sign adorned with American flags labeled “Flea Market” appeared off the freeway over this most recent Fourth of July weekend. Located amongst the flourishing trees a quarter-mile west of Wallace, the West Wallace Flea Market was filled with an assortment of second-hand or handmade items to peruse and buy.
The market was organized by Rich Asher, Jim Taylor and Mary Kay Phelps, who decided that the location was the perfect spot off the freeway. Asher, born and raised in Wallace, was happy about the market’s success, saying, “reception was good among locals, and we had people stop by as they saw it driving on the freeway. Some of the vendors were scared away because of the weather forecast, but we had about 15 consistent vendors.”
Among the sellers were local artist and chocolatier Eureka Sally, the owner of The EurekaSally Gallery of Art & Chocolate located in Wallace.
“The crowd was consistently inconsistent. Just like the weather,” said Sally Utley jokingly. She was selling many items, including handmade, dairy, sugar-free dark chocolate, carved soapstone, and artwork from different artists. Utley owns the EurekaSally Gallery of Art & Chocolate, located at 416 Fifth St. in Wallace, where she also provides chocolate and art workshops.
Other vendors included a “Cristmas in July” booth (see photo) filled with a variety of snowmen and enough holiday items to make even the grinches heart grow three sizes. There were also booths with old road signs and an assortment of miscellaneous items, from a painting of a volcano erupting to a small child’s vest from the early 1900s.
The term Flea Market has a bit of a murky history but most likely comes from the French word "marché aux puces," which translates into "market of fleas." The term could have also originated from the time when second-hand goods dealers were displaced or had to "flee" as new buildings were constructed where they previously sold their wares. No matter the term’s origin, it remains a market for second-hand or handmade items that vendors can sell.
Plans for a flea market next year have not yet been established, but with the positive reception, Asher tentatively said that the organizers would meet and see if they want to try it out next year.