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2 - Antique Shoppe - www.antiqueshoppefl.com
Skyway Marina Mall Reopens July 1!
OBITUARIES— St. Petersburg— Good news for antiques and collectibles shoppers in

William G. Counts, Sr. West Central Florida! The Skyway Marina Mall, the Gulf Coast’s largest
William (BILL) Gilbert Counts, Sr., age 82, of Monticello Florida, died antique venue is re-opening on July 1, 2020!
Monday, June 8th, 2020 at Big Bend Hospice House. Temporarily closed due to the virus outbreak, the Skyway Marina Mall
Bill was born March 29th, 1938 in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, the son of the will now have new hours, open from 11:00 am til 4:00 pm, Wednesday
late John Monroe Counts, Sr. and Blanche Powell Counts. through Sunday.
He graduated from Jefferson High School in 1957 and joined the United The majority of dealers will be open on July 1st. Customers will need to
States Army. He married his high school sweetheart, Dee. She accompanied wear a facial mask to browse the vast collections of collectibles, antiques
him as he served overseas in Germany and together, they camped throughout and all kinds of cool stuff. Forgot your mask? The mall will have a limited
Europe during his enlistment. They later enjoyed touring all 48 contiguous supply for shoppers.
states and numerous Canadian provinces. There are food concessions, and clean restrooms. The Skyway Marina
Bill began his editorial career as managing editor of the Colbert County Mall is handicapped accessible, and has plenty of accessible parking!
Reporter in Tuscumbia, AL. Later, he was the former owner and award-winning
publisher of the Monticello News. He then served as the managing editor of Entrance to the mall is now through the front of the building. The
the Slidell (LA) Daily Times. He later combined his love of antiques and skills Skyway Marina Mall is located at 4301 34th St. So. (US Hwy 19) in
in advertising and published the Cotton & Quail Antique Trail, a monthly St. Petersburg, FL.
newspaper about antiques and collectibles distributed throughout the
southeast. Brimfield Cancels July Markets
He was a member of the Central Baptist Church of Aucilla where he served COVID-19 continues to impact our industry as Brimfield (Massachusetts)
as a Deacon. He served his God, fervently loved and treasured his family, and Markets cancels its annual July shows. Brimfield Live will be an online event for
enjoyed a lifelong passion for vintage autos. those interested in keeping up with their favorite vendors.
Survivors include his wife of 62 years, Derylene Delp Counts; son, William Earlier this year Brimfield cancelled it May event because of the pandemic.
G. Counts, Jr. (Patricia) of St. Marys, GA; daughter, Sharon Counts Morris (Dan) The fall show dates of September 8-13, remains up in the air.
of Monticello, FL; five grandsons, Daniel L. Morris, Jr. (Crystal) of Monticello, With 5,000 dealers stretched over 21 fields along one mile of Route 20 in
FL, Jonathan L Counts (Brittany) of St. Marys, GA, William E. Morris (Shannon) Brimfield, the annual markets are believed to be the largest outdoor antiques
of Monticello, FL, Jacob E. Morris (Vanessa) of Tallahassee, FL and Robert A. shows in the country.
Counts of St. Marys, GA; eight great-grandchildren, Connor and Colton Counts, An offshoot of the cancellations has been the emergence of Brimfield Live
Peyton and Austin Morris, Wyatt and Allie Morris, Lakota and Cloie Morris; (on Facebook, @BrimfieldLive), which was introduced when the May event
his brother, John M. Counts of Florence, AL. Bill was preceded in death by his was canceled and is returning in July.
parents; his sister, Marianne Counts Murtagh; and his brother, Richard Alan Brimfield Live is partnering with Ruby Lane to offer dealers a “virtual booth”
Counts. at RubyLane.com. Dealers do not have to belong to Ruby Lane to participate.
Memorial services were held Saturday, June 13th, 2020 at Central Baptist The cost is $54 with a 6.7 percent commission on sales.
Church.

FIRE TRUCKS production at the Sheboygan factory could not keep

Continued from Page 1 up with demand. Also offered in the 1953 catalog
were Police Chief and Fire Chief versions of Garton’s

just in time, for Christmas. Garton’s toy line, over the famed Kidillac pedal car. The Fire Chief Kidillac was
years, included its coast wagons, tricycles, scooters, offered for $20.36 in 1953, which was an unheard
sleds, and, of course, its famous line of pedal cars of amount for a toy back then. Today, collectors pay
and trucks, which included its much sought after line hundreds of dollars for a Kidillac Fire Chief pedal
of pedal fire engines and pedal fire chief cars. car.
Much of the knowledge collectors have about Other toys that Garton first introduced to America
Garton fire engine pedal cars comes from Garton’s children included an iron velocipede (a forerunner of
highly desired catalogs. Garton first issued a catalog the tricycle) and, in 1915, a snow sled that epitomized
in 1887, which featured the new Pony Express Garton’s solid wood and iron construction. Also in
wagon with iron wheels (all Garton toys had wood the 1915 catalog was Garton’s first ironclad wagon,
wheels up to this point). As the years passed, each which replaced its original wooden one.
new catalog introduced new Garton toys; such as Continued >
fancy carriages, hooded toy cradles, stick horses, LEFT: Garton Toy Company 1938 catalog, showing Garton pedal
child parlor swings, and a striped wagon that could Dump Truck and Garton pedal Hook and Ladder fire truck.
be pulled by a dog or goat.
Garton Toy Company worked tirelessly to
introduce new toys every year, and the company’s
yearly catalog, coming out in time for Christmas,
had young boys clamoring for Garton toys. Today,
collectors clamor to find each of Garton’s catalogs
since the early years of American toy production are graphically told in
Garton’s catalogs. Garton’s 1938 catalog, for instance, advertised two
new pedal trucks—Garton’s “Dump Truck” and its pedal “Hook and
Ladder” fire truck.
The 1953 Garton Toy Company catalog offered kids the Garton Original Garton “Kidillac”
Space Cruiser (which boasted a “flying saucer gun that really shoots”), fire department pedal car, which is
years ahead of NASA. The Garton Space Cruiser was so popular that valued at $750.