American Digger 2022 Lowcountry Show Better Than Ever

Originally published March 2022 · pp. 24–25

American Digger 2022 Lowcountry Show Better Than Ever MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C.— The annual Lowcountry Antique Militaria & Americana Show has been an annual tradition for many years, and 2022 lived up to expectations. The show, usually held the first weekend in January, was temporarily moved this year to January 14th & 15th to avoid a conflict with New Year’s Eve. While the vendors and dealers were almost equally split on whether the change better fit their schedules, all agreed the show was well-attended both by those manning the tables and the public coming through the gate. In fact, both were the highest ever at the South Carolina show under American Digger Events, subsection of American

Digger magazine and Greybird Publishers), with a virtual sellout of 8-foot tables. According to Mark Schuessler, one of three partners who make up American Digger Events staff, 200 tables were delivered for the show, and despite extras on hand when the smoke cleared only one table remained folded on standby. The organizers plan to increase the number next year to accommodate last-minute dealer table rentals and add-ons. However, as the show hall will hold only about 230 tables as they are now set up, there is a good chance that next year the show will be sold out by opening time. The regular venue, the Omar Shrine Temple in Mt. Pleasant, Quality door prizes were given to lucky Lowcountry Show attendees thanks to the generosity of the sponsors. In exchange for prizes, the promoters have promotional materials like this poster printed and posted in the hall and on social media to show their appreciation.

was again used. At one time the event was held in downtown Charleston, subjecting attendees to traffic and parking issues. By moving to Mt. Pleasant about 15 years ago, the show has become much more accessible to both dealers and the general public. The host hotel, Comfort Inn & Suites of Mt. Pleasant, offers the best in show convenience, with the venue only a few hundred feet away. In fact, many dealers choose to walk over to the show hall from the hotel each morning, thus avoiding the risk of losing their parking places at the hotel while getting in a little morning exercise. The show promoters arranged for a block of rooms at the hotel to be discounted for the table holders. The hotel also offers arguably the best complimentary breakfast found at any relic show host lodging. It’s hard to beat Lowcountry cooking, and breakfast is no exception. The show featured items representing all eras and areas of history up to WWII in the form of both dug and non-dug relics and weapons, fossils, Native American artifacts, stoneware and bottles, books, art, photographs, letters, Americana, jewelry, metal detectors, and more. Although at one time the focus of the show was on the Civil War, there is a broader mix nowadays to cater to collectors interested in other periods. This is a natural evolution of collectors and is becoming a popular show genre for many shows that were once exclusively Civil War oriented. If the economy and morale of the nation can be judged from this show, it is encouraging. Numerous big-ticket items exchanged hands among happy sellers and buyers; smaller sales were brisk both days. Radio and newspaper advertisements, plus a radio interview with show chairman Butch Holcombe encouraged the public to bring their items for appraisal. In that vein, appraiser John Sexton offered his services to the public and brokered several sales between the public and dealers. Awards are a big part of American Digger shows, and this year was better than ever, with a total of five plaques being awarded. Even so, judging was very difficult, and no awards were determined without serious discussion among the judges. In the case of the Best Dug Artifact award, competition boiled down to several deserving relics, and a special judge had to called in to break the deadlock among the panel. In the end, a slave tag,

CivilWarNews.com won, partially due to its rarity and condition, and partially because it had been dug just the day before the show officially began by winner Nick Amelio, whose understandable excitement was contagious. In fact, those who hope to win an award at any show should be aware that it is not always the artifact’s rarity that wins the votes, but also the excitement it creates among those who view it. The Best Non-Dug award went to Dr. Ed West for an unpublished

CDV of General Longstreet taken in Charleston shortly before the city was evacuated in 1865. West’s table partner Bryan Davis took the Most Educational award for his display showing fake relics and his explanation of why they were “bad.” The newest award, Best Display, given for the first time, was won by Chris Trimble for his outstanding presentation of Imperial German helmets. Despite the outstanding artifacts seen at the event, Best of Show was an easy decision this year, as a museum quality privy digging display caught the eye of everyone walking by. The interest and time taken by diggers Robert Bohrn and Connie Legare Brailsford to explain to the public what a privy dig in Charleston consisted of, and to do it in a way that the common visitor could easily understand, complimented the artifacts. Next year’s show, to be held at the same location, will return to the first weekend, Jan. 7 & 8, 2023. For info and table reservations, call American Digger magazine at 770-362-8671 or email anita@ americandigger.com.

Left: Mike Wheless presented this informative display of Confederaterelated items he dug in Savannah, Ga., including relics of local militia groups.