Yard Sale Supports Horsemen’s Association
By Leslie Rott

Ayard sale to be held at Pine Cottage on the West Bluff Saturday, July 30, will benefit the Mackinac Horsemen’s Association. A wide variety of cast-offs and maybe a few antiques will be available to the public from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the cottage, which is the fourth home up from Grand Hotel and is owned by Jane and Richard Manoogian.

When the Manoogians bought the home several years ago, Mrs. Manoogian said, they wanted to get rid of a lot of the furnishings. So, armed with the mantra, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure,” Mrs. Manoogian set out to put what she didn’t want to good use and, along with neighbors, decided that the best way to do that would be to have a yard sale.

She describes the yard sale as a “practical form of recycling” and said that the thrifty consumer will be able to find everything from bread and ice cream machines, lettuce cutters, and popcorn poppers to bicycles and beds.

Some stuff is useful, other items are pure novelty, she said, surveying a kitchen full of sale items waiting to be sold on Saturday.

Now in its third year, Mrs. Manoogian describes the yard sale as a huge success.

“It’s an outing, it’s fun, and it’s good for the Island,” she said. “People attend from all walks of life.”

Unlike the first year, though, most of the items are donated, rather than coming from the Manoogian’s own home, although Mrs. Manoogian keeps a “yard sale box” in her home, placing items in it that she no longer needs, which will hopefully find a new home at Saturday’s sale.

With no personal connection to horses, Mrs. Manoogian said that the Mackinac Horsemen’s Association was chosen as the beneficiary of the sale because, “We love the fact that the horse culture on the Island is being promoted.”

Mackinac Horsemen's Association President Candice Dunnigan is thrilled with Mrs. Manoogian’s donation. “It’s wonderful, it’s generous, and it took us totally by surprise.”

Mrs. Dunnigan said the Mackinac Horsemen’s Association hopes some day to use the funds from the yard sale to establish a permanent barn.

“I think that the Manoogian’s, both of them, really care about the Island and are working very hard to preserve it and protect it for generations to come,” Mrs. Dunnigan said. “Having this yard sale and helping our program is one part of their mission.”

Items are priced to sell and mainly range from 50¢ to $5, with a few bigger items, as well.

Some sort of sustenance, most likely donuts and coffee, will be provided to wayfarers who stop by to grab a bargain, Mrs. Manoogian said.

The yard sale is a lot of fun, she added, but also a lot of work, and she is happy that there is always an over abundance of volunteers, willing to lend their time to help out.

“Everybody was for it because they want the Island’s horse culture to thrive,” she said of those who have volunteered.