Chattanooga Antique Militaria & Americana Show News
Originally published September 2020 · p. 17
On July 25 & 26 one of the first shows during Covid-19 was held. In a year when so many things have gone wrong, something finally went right: the American Digger Chattanooga Antique Military & Americana Show & Sale. With the cancellation of a key Civil War show a few weeks before, and cancellation of another major artifact show a few weeks afterward, American Digger was able to meet all required mandates needed to be allowed to have a show.
As he is noted for, Wallace Markert of CSA Acquisitions had a good selection of rare weaponry.
A little of everything pre-1945 could be found in the show hall. Even so, the majority seemed to be 19th century and beyond.
How does one have a show in the midst of a pandemic? Very carefully. By using common sense and following Hamilton County, Tenn., health mandates, the planned show went forward. Among the requirements were mandatory masks, social distancing, and one-way aisles. American Digger Events also announced a name change for the show to more completely incorporate the wide variety of eras displayed by vendors and exhibitors. While the Civil War era is still a big focus, more and more pre-1945 collectibles are appearing at all shows. If anything, American Digger has lagged behind in a name change best reflecting what these events have become. With the Covid-19 pandemic still gripping the world, there were concerns that a last minute cancellation could be caused by local government or even Federal actions. The town of East Ridge, where the show is held annually, offered their full support to help bring the event back this year. Although the crowd was limited to 900 people inside at any given time, social distancing was easy in the 34,000 square foot Camp Jordan Arena. Shows have been extremely scarce this year, allowing many dealers and collectors to unveil items they had accumulated in the down time. Some items have not been on the open market in many years, if ever, and the show created a great opportunity to add rarely seen items to individual collections. Most attendees praised the mandatory use of masks as a way to not only meet the local requirements, but to help assure that everyone remained safe. In a great example of making lemonade from lemons, a mask contest was held, spearheaded by American Digger magazine’s own Anita Holcombe. Vendors and dealers voted on each other’s masks, with winner Jerry Raisor receiving a prize package of American Digger products as well as perhaps the rarest of items in this unusual year: a four-roll pack of toilet tissue. The awards were as follows:
Best of Show-Chattanooga Dug Collection: Jeremiah Simmons; Most Educational: Chattanooga History, Matt Miller; Best Dug Artifact: A Risque Pipe, Bryan Davis; and Best Non-Dug Artifact: 1st Virginia flag, John
In this photo are all things necessary to have a show in 2020Social distancing, mandatory masks, marked one-way aisles, and quality artifacts. All photos by American Digger.
American Digger Senior Editor Bob Roach and publisher-show promoter Butch Holcombe in front of the American Digger tables.
Young. As to where the shows go from here is anyone’s guess, but one thing is for sure: the American Digger Chattanooga Show made its mark in a big way. For more info visit americandigger.com.