Get ready to rummage! Hundreds of residents fill the Saint Athanasius School gym looking for bargains. “We had a massive turnout,” said Sabrina Townsend, a coordinator. It was the first sale at St. A’s since 2019, and most items sold for a few dollars. Proceeds go to the Catholic school at 2510 Ashland Ave. Unsold items were re-donated to Cradles to Crayons, the Chicago Furniture Bank and St. Vincent De Paul Society. Saturday marks the start of the rummage season; Willard Elementary also had a sale. The Unitarian Church of Evanston rummage sale is May 12 and 13. Below, see some of the treasures purchased. (Photos by Richard Cahan)

  • “I bought a whole pool set,” said B.J. Johnson, who was walking over to pick up his $23 table. “I’ll do a little practice and then show off my real skills,” he said. Credit: Richard Cahan
  • Two tennis rackets, a mitt and a toy were purchased for Augie Bertsche, 7, and Clark, 4. The total: $10. Credit: Richard Cahan
  • “I don’t know anything about the paintings, but they are beautiful,” said Cliff Howard. The bottom one will hang over his headboard. The top will give him a taste of the Italian Renaissance. Credit: Richard Cahan
  • Jason Ericksen and wife Devansi bought this piano for $10 for their 5-month-old son Detrych. Said Dad: “It will get him ready for the regular size piano when he gets old enough.” Credit: Richard Cahan
  • A single-serve Pyrex baking dish for Max Dinerstein for $1. She has a Pyrex collection and buys online or in thrift stores. But she prefers rummage sales. “I like to buy it in the wild,” she said.
  • “This shirt was a buck and it’s absolutely phenomenal,” said Karen Hill. It was her first sale since the pandemic. “I’ve been rummage-sale starved,” she said. Credit: Richard Cahan
  • “I like purses and I think this was a great deal,” said Shirley Mitchell, modeling her new Longchamp bag. It retails for about $150; she snared it for $25. Credit: Richard Cahan

Richard Cahan

Richard Cahan takes photos for the Evanston RoundTable. He also is publisher of CityFiles Press, a small but mighty media company that believes in the power of words and pictures. You can reach him at...

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  1. Come continue your search for bargains and “save a bit of the planet” by reusing items by attending:
    The Unitarian Church of Evanston’s annual Rummage Sale, Friday, May 12, 9am-6pm and Saturday, May 13, 9am -1pm, 1330 Ridge Ave., Evanston.
    Y’all come!

    Reply