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'Buckets of Fun' returns to Rehoboth Museum July 18

Reservations are a must
July 9, 2013

The Rehoboth Beach Museum welcomes the return of the sand pail collector, Robert Smith, at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 18. In the lecture "Buckets of Fun" Smith will share the history of his collection of more than 400 sand pails and sand toys, some dating to the early 1900s.

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Reservations are required for this event. Call 302-227-7310. Admission is by donation. The museum is handicap accessible and parking is available.

Originally, wooden pails were used as a teaching tool. These pails were “toys to teach work ethics.” Today when children play with sand pails it is more about fun and the creation of memories.

When talking about his collection, Smith speaks of growing up in New York State in the Adirondack Mountains. “We had a lake that we went to and the beach was on the lake. There was no salt air and as a collector this makes a huge difference in the value of vintage items. The salt air rusts the toys. Lake pails usually are in better condition,” he said.

Smith’s collection comes from all over the world. In his presentation he will share the experiences of finding items and how to go about starting your own vintage collection. On the weekends Smith is out by 4:30 a.m. on the hunt for “anything old, but the sand pails always get my attention,” Smith said. During the lecture he will explain the importance of knowing the market and the many options these days with the new world of internet in finding the means to begin a collection of historical treasures of any kind.

The museum will also host Ed Kee, Delaware Secretary of Agriculture at 7 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 15. Kee will present a lecture on the history of vegetable farming and canning relating to the Sussex County area. Finally, at 7 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 19, Captain William Manthorpe will deliver a presentation at the museum on Naval Heroes of Delaware.

 

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