09/05/2026
Five years ago I shared this on my personal page...I thought today I would share it with the many people that ask us where our items come from.
This is one of the ways...
Tuesdays at Bill's:
I fell into this business I am in by chance.
Our neighbor had passed away and one of his daughters stopped by and asked about us helping get through the items left in the house.
I had recently lost my son and this was a welcome distraction and an adventure I desperately needed.
I will be forever greatful for that gift.
I think anyone who clears estates looks at it differently.
For me...it is like meeting the people who have gone. You find out their likes and dislikes, their talents and sorrows. Each place lends itself to the story of the life once lived.
We eventually bought our neighbors house and were left with the last of the contents and we needed a way of rehoming them.
I did some research about perhaps renting a booth and setting up in Ellsworth, ME and there is where I met Tom and eventually his wife Karen. A large curmudgeon of a man that I instantly knew I would enjoy being around.
As the years passed and I sold my regular business, I decided maybe a shop closer to home would be doable...and we had the house...so we made it happen.
I have always loved auctions and estate sales...but then we entered into actually buying estate contents...Whole lives left behind with families often overwhelmed and no idea what to do with all that was left behind. I found it cathartic to help...and there was always something to learn at each place I found myself in.
There is grief as a family disperses the contents of a family home...there are moments of complete panic and feeling overwhelmed...and there is sometimes fighting between family members.
Some estate buyers just walk in and there is little regard to who was there...it is simply 'stuff'. That is one way...and possibly the better way...but not my way.
I received a phone call a few months ago from a local real estate agent who told me about a gentleman that needed to clear out his Mother's home. Could I help?
I told her to give him my number and I would take a look and see what we could do. Typically you go into an estate...assess what is for sale...talk about a price and then clear the estate within a week or two. This was not the case.
I arrived at the address given to me and met Bill. Bill has no siblings and thus the clearing out of his family home was left to him alone. After our meeting and conversation we assessed what needed to be done and began the journey of uncovering the mysteries and to help sort what would leave with Bill...and what would find a new home.
Tuesdays and Fridays were the days we were typically there...and thus began our Tuesday at Bill's.
Each time there were new stories. We found connections between Bill's late mother Kay and people I also knew.
Soon it seemed I knew this woman who was no longer here in life...but lived on in memories and stories.
We laughed about her doing chin ups on her clothesline at 90 and stories of Bill's life working for the railroad along with his family and the adventures they had.
All of us that were there, who listened, could see the people and the stories unfold in our minds. Kay was an artist, a book lover and did many amazing things that I will never know about...but I know a little bit more than I did before...and feel like somehow I know who she was.
Bill went back to his home state and his family today...and there will be no more Tuesdays at Bill's...but everytime someone picks up an item at the shop that was hers...I will tell a story and hope that person carries a bit of Kay with them.
That is the love of this business...to share the lives that were lived well. ❤
