The Five Mile Yard Sale is an Edgecomb tradition which dates back to the mid-1990s. The community event began as a fundraiser for Edgecomb Eddy School. When the school moved to Route 27, the yard sale went dormant for a couple years, until it was revived by a couple of Cross Point Road residents.

The yard sale has been an annual event except for last year. The coronavirus resulted in a one-year hiatus. The event returned Aug. 14 with large crowds who arrived early and in large numbers. Edgecomb Community Church was the first stop which spans nearly the length of Cross Point Road. The church took over as the yard sale’s chief organizer six years ago. Volunteer Dick O’Connor organized a crew of seven who prepared for the church’s yard sale. O’Connor reported the crew began setting up on Thursday afternoon in preparation for the 8 a.m. Saturday start. 

But for some 8 a.m. wasn’t early enough. Eager bargain hunters arrived as early as 7 a.m. and another large contingent followed at 7:30 a.m. to shop. Edgecomb Community Church volunteers reported a steady stream of customers visited their yard sale, bake sale and thrift shop throughout the day. Volunteer Joan O’Connor reported every item was priced to sell.

“Everything is by donation. We asked them what they want to pay and usually it’s a good price,” she said. “One guy wanted to pay $10 for a fishing pole, but I thought that was too much, but he insisted he wanted pay $10,” she said.

This is the church’s largest fundraiser each year. Items are donated and proceeds support the following community projects: Eddy School, Eldercare, community lunches, Boothbay Region Community Resource Center, and Set for Success. Each year, the yard sale attracts both returning customers and new ones. “I like talking to the people. It’s a lot of work, but it’s a lot of fun, too,” she said.

Michael Chadsay of Attleboro, Massachusetts was one of the first time Five Mile Yard Sale goers. He is refitting a short bus into a camper and needed some inexpensive parts. “I’m visiting my girlfriend in New Harbor and saw the sign. I love going to yard sales because you never know what you will find. I found some parts for draw slides for a cabinet so I’m very happy with my purchase,” he said. 

Down the road, Pauline and Tatiana Tompkins were nearly sold out by 11 a.m. The two are relatively new to the sale. The Tompkins heard about the event from neighbors a couple years ago and decided it was a great way to clean out the summer home. “This was my great aunt’s home who had a lot things from India and Taiwan,” said Tatiana Tompkins, who lives in Washington, D.C. “We had a lot of items laid out, but by 7 a.m. people started showing up and now we are nearly out.”

As yard salers continued down Cross Point Road, they approach the true beginning of how the community yard sale began. Ruth Bryant and Carol Colby picked up the reins after Eddy School moved in 2001. “Someone asked me one day what happened to the yard sale. So I contacted the neighbors and we decided to bring it back. I placed an advertisement in the newspapers and we’ve held it every year except last year,” Colby said.

Chris Sieracki and Margot Stiassni don’t participate every year, but this year they saw it as a good chance to clean out their garage. They sold hardware items and youth baseball equipment. By 11 a.m., they sold nearly all their items. So they decided to give the few remaining items away for free.