Map desk that was found in Railroad depots.
This July 11th, the Virgelle Mercantile will be holding its annual Flea Market. The weather will cooperate; in fact, it will probably be hot. Don Sorenson, the owner of the Virgelle Merch, said, "we'll have ice cream, soda's, pop to help keep people cool." Besides the refreshment, there will be up to 20 vendors scattered around.
There is one food vendor. "She has a great menu; Indian tacos, wraps that are pre-wrapped, so you can grab it and go. She always has great food," Don exclaimed.
It's just a great way to spend a fun day, slowly walking around enjoying the day.
"The vendors have a potluck that night, so it's a fun time for everyone. We have a lot of food. People do enjoy it. "
Don isn't ready to retire. He still loves it.
I'm always fascinated by the history of the Virgelle Mercantile and all the items. Would it not be great to listen to the stories the items could tell you?
Don showed me a Map Desk which was in all the railroad depots in the late 1800s. It's a beautiful piece that stands the height of a counter with the top titled slightly. Don told me a woman once saw one like it and said, "It's a great counter. I'll just get a few stools." Don said, "you can eat off of it." Which she responded, "it's tilted." Don said, "That's perfect. The gravy won't get into your peas at the top of the plate." And she said, "I'll take it."
"Jimmy took a long time to restore. It was black, warped, with a crack." Jimmy does a great job of picking up unique pieces.
This one is made in the late 1800s, and it would make a beautiful stand-up desk.
"It is probably one of the nicest ones we have had," Don said they had had maybe three or four of them in the past.
Don told me, "That's a quarter sawed piece. The log is turned on the quartered. That's how you get that marbling effect. You waste a lot of lumber." But that is a beautiful piece of furniture!
When I got to Virgelle, I waited to talk to Don because he had customers. As a woman walked past me holding a small item, she said, "I left my purse in my car so that I wouldn't buy anything, but it didn't work."
Don told me their rooms were booked back to back to back. "We are very blessed. We are just so thankful."
