Canton Barn: Antiques & Auctions in the Heart of Connecticut

On almost every Saturday night, the muddy parking lot of the Canton Barn fills with cars and vans of hopeful auction attendees. Throughout the year local residents, serious collectors and antique dealers find entertainment hunting for bargains with auctioneer Richard Wacht.

The 200 year old weathered exterior may not look like much from the outside, but the Canton Barn is a small-town treasure chest of country charm that draws people from all around. The doors open at 5PM and all are welcome to peruse the week's items up for bid before the auction starts at 7:30.

Inside, wooden folding chairs line the auction floor surrounded by Victorian and Colonial era antiques and collectibles through the mid 20th century. The front of the barn is a raised stage complete with a podium, cashier station and a hanging antique "antiques" sign. Before the auction starts, Wacht and his team are abuzz with activity organizing furniture, running lists and answering questions.

At the back of the auction house, near the 1845 Glenwood wood stove, is where co-owner Susan Wacht offers a sampling of her "out-of-this-world" homemade pies including Boston Crème, cherry, apple and pumpkin. There is an inherently keen sense of salesmanship in the air. The pitch: that people will buy more if they feel at home. And it works.

The Canton Barn is a low-key, personal environment. At times the auction seems more like a way for Wacht to get to know his neighbors than a way to fetch highest bids. The wiry, white-haired showman grew up in the auction business and is considered an expert in his field. Unlike others in his trade, Wacht runs the evenings without high speed jargon. Instead he approaches the nights with his own unique, down-home, Yankee sensibility and dry sense of humor.

Even with a laid back style, Wacht still moves an average 200 items per night giving each about 30 seconds of bid time. The merchandise is acquired and bought outright by the Wachts before it is put up for auction. Wacht buys estates and will appraise individual pieces at the Canton Barn on Sunday afternoons. A fee applies to appraisals on numerous items or for official insurance or probate appraisals.

There are no consignments and no minimum bids at the Canton Barn. This creates an environment that welcomes beginners and often leads to incredible bargains. Wacht wares can start bidding wars and serious collectors are paying attention. Even pieces that climb in price are often still deals. The auctions go on regardless of the weather and Wacht is always determined to clear the floor to make room for the next week's lot.

While the antiques and collectibles at the auction are temptation enough to slate a Saturday night at the Canton Barn, there are so many reasons to visit. Wacht's showmanship, the buzz of his staff and runners, the homemade pies, warmth of the wood stove and the genuine country charm offer an evening of pure entertainment. It is a sanctuary from the creep of faceless urban sprawl, a genuine slice of Americana and truly a piece of the town's heritage. The armoires might get expensive on the auction block but the auctioneer is priceless.

The Canton Barn is located at 75 Old Canton Road, Canton, CT 06019. For information contact (860) 693-0601 or visit them online www.cantonbarn.com.