What's it worth? Antique Appraisals

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Plenty of people brought heirlooms and other items to Fort Conde Thursday as part of FOX10's big "What's It Worth?" event.

Pete Byrd brought in one what may have been one of the oldest items.
 
"I have a newspaper from January 4, 1800," he said.

It was the Ulster County Gazette, and featured a famous name.

"The thing that caught my eye, it has right here, 'George Washington was entombed on this date,'" Byrd said.

The newspaper was appraised at about $500 but, like so many things brought to Fort Conde Thursday, it had great sentimental value.

Take the stuffed doll Yolanda Lynch and her mother brought in.

"She's [appraised at] about $100, but its more important for us to keep her in the family. But we wanted to know more about her, and we're so glad we came down and found out about her," Lynch said. "It was awesome."

Brenda Wilkerson brought in a carousel horse.

"They said it was decorative piece, and it's going to stay my decorative piece," she said.

But, some items did have monetary value - like arrowheads, which one appraiser said would be worth between $200 and $400.

One person brought in gold coins and a bracelet for appraisal. The appraiser said the bracelet was worth between $8,000 and $10,000.

However, you don't just define value by money.

Pat Edington with Heirloom Appraisers said, "A lot of things are not real valuable that people bring in, but they're valuable to them."

"What's It Worth"" continues Friday, November 9 from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. at Fort Conde.

The charge is $3 item appraised. All proceeds benefit Penelope House and the History Museum of Mobile.