BATH

Where would you go to find a robot kit, funky bracelets and a Navaho blanket once used by Mel Gibson?

Bath’s Mayfair festival, of course.

The wet, damp spring weather didn’t stop local residents from pouring into town on Saturday and perusing through a variety of donated items in Mayfair’s city-wide yard sale or checking out the deals in shops on Front Street. Folks also popped into spring’s first farmers market and strolled along the waterfront.

But Saturday was all about adapting to the dreary weather. Merchants faced the challenge of having to move their exhibits and tents inside while making sure patrons could find what they were looking for.

“We were going to have our yard sale on the Patten Free Library lawn, but since it’s raining we figured it was more conventional to put it inside,” said Kenny Hicks of the Bath-Tsugaru Stu- dent Exchange Program. “A bit of a last minute adjustment, but it works fine.”

Hicks and fellow Morse High School student Alicia Creamer stood outside Bath City Hall — where the majority of merchants moved their wares to escape the rain — playing the ukulele and singing while holding a sign proclaiming that the yard sale was still on.

“We don’t mind the weather but we want people to know where the yard sale is,” said Hicks.

Hicks and Creamer both agreed that the key item in Tsugaru’s stock was a robot kit that a lucky buyer made off with for $150.

“We have a few nice antiques that we are going to auction off later, too,” said Hicks.

Storied blanket

Inside City Hall, vendors from various organizations and nonprofits set up shop in close proximity, but spirits were high despite the last minute change of plans.

“We do this every year, and the weather is part of the fun,” said Robin Desmond, acting president of the Beta Sigma Phi Civic and Social Society’s Bath Chapter.

Desmond and her group had a variety of items for sale, such as lamps, a printer and other household wares, but Beta Sigma member Pat Johnson said a certain item was one-of-a-kind.

“We just sold a 100-yearold Navaho horse blanket that was used by Mel Gibson in the movie ‘The Man Without a Face,’” said Johnson.

Johnson was a horse trainer at Sable Oaks Equestrian Center in Brunswick for years, and trained Gibson’s horse Go Boy Thunder in the 1993 film. Sections of the film were shot at Bowdoin College, while the majority was filmed in Camden and Deer Isle.

“Mel would come over to our house for dinner, and I spent many days with him training him to ride,” said Johnson. “One time he fell right off his horse, did a barrel roll, and asked ‘how did I do?’ The blanket was right there for all of it.”

Johnson said she’s had the blanket in her possession since filming ended in 1993, and decided to donate it to the yard sale because “it comes with a story.”

The blanket sold for $25, and Johnson said she was sure to tell the buyer about Gibson’s exploits.

For a cause

Cristal Homan of the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention in Bath said that Mayfair holds a special place in her heart. Homan lost her daughter to suicide, and said that one of her fondest memories was when the two of them would go yard saling together.

“We decided to do everything this year for all those who are struggling,” said Homan, whose table was located at city hall. “We work hard for our cause, and have been working six months leading up to this yard sale.”

Featured items included paintings from AFSC paint nights, earrings, bracelets, books, movies and an array of common household items.

“It’s just what yard sales are supposed to be,” said Homan. “A random collection of stuff.”

bgoodridge@timesrecord.com