The State of Franklin Antique Bottles and Collectibles Association was founded September 4, 1998, with 18 charter members. The name was derived from the Lost State of Franklin that encompassed East Tennessee from Knoxville upwards, part of NC, KY and VA in the 1700s. Because this was the general area our club served, the name seemed appropriate.
Our meetings are held in the ticket office of the Appalachian Fairgrounds in Gray, TN. The meetings are held at 7 PM with the business portion first, followed by a guest speaker, a show-n-tell session, an auction and a door prize drawing. When we do not have a guest speaker we have "theme" nights such as "Civil War" night when our members brought collectibles from that time period. We also have refreshments.
Membership dues are $15.00 per family or individual. With membership you receive a monthly newsletter, The Groundhog Gazette. The newsletter contains club news, an informative article, want ads and upcoming events. If you are interested in joining the club, you can print out the membership form from our site and send it in.
We have an annual picnic in September at Steeles Creek Park in Bristol, TN. We grill hamburgers and hot dogs and members bring delicious side dishes and desserts. The children play in the creek and the members have a chance to get to know each other better. We end the picnic with an auction.
Our first bottle show was held at the Farmhouse Gallary in Unicoi, Tennessee, in 1999. The bottle shows are held now at the Appalachian Fairgrounds in Gray, Tennessee, with 85 tables and growing. The Appalachian Fairgrounds was chosen for its central location and the availability of space for our show to increase in size. We have educational displays and members who can help with information on collectibles.
Club Purpose: Preservation, study, and salvage of historical artifacts, sharing
knowledge, promoting interest and to have a place collectors can meet and have a great time talking about their collectibles.
