Dean Jacobs grew up selling popcorn at the South Park Speedway, which is what sparked his love for racing and automobiles.
Later in life, he would manage B&R Speed Supply in Verona.
On Sunday, he set up shop at Washington Township Volunteer Fire Department’s auto part swap meet.
“I’ve been coming since it started,” said Jacobs, of Murrysville. “It’s close to home, and I like the camaraderie with all the people.”
The auto parts swap meet is held twice a year and is located at the volunteer fire department’s grounds off Route 66. It’s been held for about 30 years, said Clayton Murphy, chief of the Washington Township Volunteer Fire Department.
“It’s evolved into, anything you want to sell, you’ll find here,” Murphy said. “You have to walk around because you’ll never know what you might find.”
There is no cost to attend the swap meets. Vendors are charged either $25 or $45 depending on the size of their set-up. More than 100 spaces were rented for Sunday’s event, Murphy said, and hundreds of people rifled through different automobile parts and accessories.
“It’s a nice turnout,” Murphy said.
While most who attend are local, a few came to the event from Somerset, or Maryland or Ohio, Murphy said.
The auto swap also demonstrated how popular working on vehicles remains. Jacobs, who sold mostly carburetors, had steady interests from shoppers all day. Vehicles nowadays have fuel injection systems instead of carburetors.
“My stuff is sold for older cars,” Jacobs said. “We’re all old hot-rodders.”
Barb Fisher of Swissvale was selling things she cleaned out from her garage. She and her late husband, John, participated in auto swaps until he passed away in 2020. She’s sold items at the past four years on her own.
“I’ve done this with my husband for 14 years,” she said. “I got used to the car stuff, and the people.”
“It’s been all right. The less I have to take home, the better,” she said with a laugh.
Fisher grew up in Avonmore and said she enjoyed the surroundings and seeing old friends at the auto swap. She also enjoyed meeting new people.
Walter Gasper of Irwin had similar sentiments. He’s been selling items at Washington Township for the past ten years and was joined Sunday with his grandsons, William Denney, 16, and Matthew Denney, 13; and their dog, Rodney.
“It’s fun. You meet a lot of your old friends and you might sell some stuff,” Gasper said.
The Denney brothers have been coming to the auto swap meets with their grandfather for the past three years.
“I like getting to meet new people,” William said. “You never know what you’ll find. It’s an overall fun thing to do.”
Said Gasper: “A lot of times, we spend more money than what we make.”
The next auto part swap meet is scheduled for Nov. 3 at the fire company’s grounds, 4078 State Route 66, Washington Township.
Kellen Stepler is a TribLive reporter covering the Allegheny Valley and Burrell school districts and surrounding areas. He joined the Trib in April 2023. He can be reached at kstepler@triblive.com.
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April 08, 2024 at 06:01AM
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