It was indeed a bit like the set of an episode of PBS's “Antiques Roadshow” at the First Presbyterian Church of Batavia on Saturday, with local residents walking in carrying their treasures and experts sharing what they observed about the item while the owner awaited the verdict: Priceless or worthless.

Among those items, an old Victrola, some old blues 78s, a quality mantle clock, a guitar, some paintings, a colorized print of the famous duel between Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton, and one item Todd Jantzi said he couldn't put a value on.

"The only way you're gonna find out is to put it up for auction," he said.

The Holland Land Office Museum is proud to announce "Appraisals on Main: HLOM Appraisal Day" on Saturday, May 20, from 10 a.m. 3 p.m. at the Batavia First Presbyterian Church, located at 300 E. Main St., Batavia.

The community is invited to bring any of their treasures and heirlooms that may be collecting dust to see what they may be worth.

Appraisers from Bontrager Real Estate & Auction, Cottone Auctions, and Schultz Auctioneers will be available to give their expert opinions.

There is a $5 charge for each item appraised, with a limit of 5 items per person.

All attendees are required to register for an allotted time slot. The online registration form can be found at the museum’s website.

Information can also be found on our website, www.hollandlandoffice.com or by contacting the museum at either (585) 343-4727 or hollandlandoffice@gmail.com

The Batavia Antique Show & Sale began in 2006 with only twelve local dealers at a small church. The show has since been established as one of the major events in Genesee County featuring dealers from all of Western New York, the Southern Tier, Central New York, and even out-of-state dealers! All proceeds from the Batavia Antique Show & Sale benefit the educational and historical programs at the Holland Land Office Museum.

This year, the Batavia Antique Show & Sale will again be held at the Call Arena located on the campus of Genesee Community College, at One College Rd. Batavia, NY 14020.

Picture of Holland Land Office and image of Joseph Ellicott provided by Anne Marie Starowitz.

Anne Marie Starowitz, who serves on the board of the Holland Purchase Historical Society, reminded us today that "every antique has a story to tell."

The reminder comes in time to mention again that the Holland Land Office Museum is currently preparing for its 12^th Annual Batavia Antique Show & Sale April 6-7 at Batavia Downs.

Before retiring from a 45-year teaching career in Le Roy and Batavia, the lifelong Batavia resident says she delighted in taking her fourth-grade students on tours of the museum.

She would explain to the children what an antique was -- a collectable object such as a piece of furniture or work of art that has a high value because of its age and quality, and that has a personal value because of its story.

A large gold mirror on display at the museum happens to be the subject of one of her favorite stories -- and pictures.

Archived as number "90.699   Mirror, Wall" -- it is described as a "Pier mirror; plate glass with rococo gold gilded frame. 51x108. Gesso design of roses, vines and leaves; stands on a wooden base with similar gesso design; 4 legs, 10 inches high; topped with marble slab."

"What I tell the children when I show them the beautiful mirror is that it stood in Dean Richmond’s home on Main Street. ... That brings me to the parking lot next to St. Joseph’s Church and the black wrought-iron fence. I ask them to imagine a very big white house with big pillars standing proudly in the space where you park your car when you visit the library or go to church.

"That will then take me to the story of the library, the beautiful original room dedicated to Dean Richmond Junior by his mother Mary Richmond. Dean Junior died at a young age and a plaque over the fireplace explains how the library got its name.

"I have a favorite picture of mine with one of my classes sitting in front of the mirror. This beautiful mirror stood in grandeur in a living room in the Dean Richmond Mansion."

Another beloved olden object at the museum is a desk.

​"93.148    Desk, drop-front" -- "Drop front desk, constructed of mahogany wood; Sheraton style butler's type. Birdseye maple desk interior; parallel sides; 4 drawers, top one of which drops to form a writing surface; interior has bottom section of three open cubby holes with drawers at sides; three graduated height drawers at front; 4 turned legs at bottom. Purchased from the great granddaughter of Robert Morris with the desk originally coming from the Morris home in Philadelphia."

"Since my students at the time went to Robert Morris School, seeing a desk that belonged to Robert Morris was quite exciting," Starowitz recalled. "A signer of the Declaration of Independence and the United State Constitution sat at this desk. It makes the history come alive."

Her favorite person from local history is Joseph Ellicott, the founder of Buffalo and Batavia. His surveying equipment is displayed in the museum. The room where he sold land to the first settlers to this area creates an image of the great man in the minds of the children, according to Starowitz.

"Either you like antiques or you don’t," Starowitz said. "It is just a preference. I for one love antiques, every piece of furniture we own or piece of art has a story that we like to share with family and friends."

She encourages those who would like to see antiques, artifacts, learn their stories, view the displays, to visit the Holland Land Office Museum. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

"A side note, if you have an antique, write your story about it, tape it to the underside or someplace on your antique where its story can continue."

And, of course, she encourages the antique aficionados to stop by the 12^th Annual Batavia Antique Show & Sale next month.

The Holland Land Office Museum will be hosting the 12^th Annual Batavia Antique Show and Sale on Friday and Saturday, April 6^th & 7^th. The antique show will take place at the Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel located at 8315 Park Road, Batavia.

The show opens at 5 p.m. on Friday, April 6^th and continues until 8 p.m. It reopens Saturday, April 7^th at 9 a.m. and ends at 3 p.m. The admission is $5 per person, which helps support the museum to continue to hosts events and programming for the community.

The Batavia Antique Show and Sale is an annual event that brings together antique dealers, collectors and vendors from across Western New York, the Southern Tier, Central New York, and even out-of-state.

It contains a wide variety of vendors displaying many different and unique items, including: jewelry, glassware, books, and much more.

Each attendee will receive with their purchase of a ticket a $5 Free Play to be used at Batavia Downs. In addition, Saturday admission is free with the proof of Friday attendance.

For more information about the 12^th Annual Batavia Antique Show and Sale, please contact the Holland Land Office Museum at 585-343-4727 or hollandlandoffice@gmail.com

This year the show and sale will be at the Batavia Downs Gaming and Hotel, located at 8315 Park Rd. Batavia, NY 14020. Admission into this event is only $5 and is running from 5pm until 8pm.

We hope to see eveyone there!

The Holland Land Office Museum still has openings for antique dealers or vendors for its 12th Annual Batavia Antique Show and Sale on Friday and Saturday, April 6th and 7th. The antique show will take place at the Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel, located at 8315 Park Road, Batavia.

The event runs 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday; and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday.

If a vendor is interested in participating the details for the show are as follows. Each show space is 10' x 10' with a chair provided with the rental, for a price of $80, and subsequent spaces will be discounted $10 per purchase. Tables can also be rented for an additional charge of $12 per table.

Setup time for the show will be 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Friday.

Displays can be taken down after 3 p.m. Saturday.

Advertising will also be provided for all participants to be distributed as needed.

For more information about the 12th Annual Batavia Antique Show and Sale, please contact the Holland Land Office Museum at 585-343-4727 or hollandlandoffice@gmail.com.

Modeled after Antiques Roadshow, GO ART! hosted its second annual appraisal fair today at Seymour Place. Area residents were able to bring in the rare, the antique and the unique to have experts give their best estimate of the piece's value and quality.

Lori Doeringer is the chairperson of the GO ART! Appraisal Fair, which is this Saturday, with her own interest in getting a couple of items appraised by one of the eight experts who will be on hand to provide those who bring antiques and items of value that need appraised to the fair.

The fair will be held at Seymour Place, 201 E. Main St., Batavia, from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Appointments are encouraged. Call (585) 343-9313.

The event is a fundraiser for GO ART! The first item is $20 and a second item is $10. GO ART! members can get a third item appraised for free.

Antique/Collectible Show/Sale with Appraisals ($3.00 each) on May 8, Elba Fireman’s Recreation Hall, Route 98, 6 miles north of Batavia Exit 48, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Donation $3.00, 12 and under FREE.   Refreshments available, FREE parking.  Many tables of vintage clothing, linens, glass, pottery, postcards, jewelry, ephmera (paper), advertising, Shaker, Victorian, Mother’s Day dried arrangements in vintage containers.  Fundraiser for Historical Society of Elba.  For more information call June at 585-757-2791 or Ann at 757-9356