PENDLETON — Ashley Grounds of Pendleton stopped by the Winter Market at American Legion Post 117 on Saturday morning, and after a while she was loaded up with bread, dog treats, two pairs of earrings and elderberry syrup.
“I only came here for the elderberry,” Grounds said, shortly after purchasing the jewelry.
Grounds had a lot of company.
There was a constant flow of traffic into the market, which featured wall-to-wall booths upstairs and down, offering a wide range of goods. Many of the vendors also participate in Pendleton Farmers Market in the summer at Falls Park.
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“I really didn’t expect the turnout to be like this,” said Nancy McKechnie, bar manager and Legion member. “It’s really nice to see.”
McKechnie said the Legion hopes the market, which featured many handmade items and baked goods, will help strengthen connections with residents after COVID-19 limited gatherings and interactions. Future market dates are set for March 5 and April 16, with the possibility for more.
“(We’re) trying get the Legion back in the town and the town back in the Legion,” she said.
The American Legion Auxiliary helped with the event, during which biscuits and gravy and beverages were served, as did U.S. Navy recruiters from Anderson who volunteered their help with set up.
Judy Andzer of Fishers went to the market, which she learned about from her sister, who saw the notice on the message board outside the Legion as she drove by one day.
One of Andzer’s purchases were goodies from Charmed Cookies Bakery, a home-based Markleville business.
Jonathan Spinell of Anderson went to the market with his wife, son and others.
“It’s a nice family outing,” he said.
He spent some time at the Foster Branch Wood Turning booth, talking with business owner Jason Holman about their shared interest.
“When I meet other woodworkers, I like talking craft with them,” Spinell said.
Among Holman’s offerings are items, such as bowls and ornaments, made out of wood salvaged from trees downed by the 2019 Memorial Day tornado in town.
Like many vendors, working the market is not his main occupation; Holman is a crane operator at a scrapyard.
“Basically, I crush and destroy metal by day and create and make things with wood by night,” he said.
Another vendor, Aubrey Helpling, runs Abide Designs, a handmade jewelry business she started in May 2020, during her senior year at Pendleton Heights.
Now in college studying speech language pathology, the business operates online, on Etsy, Instagram and at markets.
After she gets established in her career, she said, “I could see myself still doing it on the side.”
Casey Flood of Fortville manned the Sassy’s Sourdough booth, selling bread made using a family recipe that goes back four generations to his great-great-aunt Anna.
Flood said the bread business and his construction business, both of which were launched in 2021, “have been wildly successful.”
On the construction side, “there’s just a massive amount of work out there.”
On the bread side, on Saturday in particular, sales were brisk.
“For a winter market, and for it actually snowing … it’s been pretty good.”
The next Winter Market is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 5.