For one week twice each year, this tiny Texas town’s population (77) swells to tens of thousands as the Original Round Top Antiques Fair draws antiques shoppers, collectors, dealers and decorators from throughout the country and abroad to visit its four simultaneous events. The most recent gathering was March 31 through April 2, when the shows’ new owners, Susan and Bo Franks, welcomed more than 300 dealers to the venues scattered about this village halfway between Houston and Austin.

With a country style dominated by Americana of the Nineteenth Century, these shows have become an especially popular event. In fact, they have inspired a two-week-long “antiques happening” similar to the Brimfield, Mass., markets.

The four Round Top shows have developed over the years. First came the Carmine Dance Hall, about five miles away, which today is the smallest of all, with fewer than 30 exhibitors. The Meekins from Preston, Md., have been there for years, specializing in early primitive painted furniture.

The demand quickly outstripped this small facility, so the original promoter was able to add Rifle Hall, changing the geographic focus. That indoor facility was also quickly crowded, and so a large tent was added in its back yard, allowing about 120 dealers there. Finally, a few years ago, the Red Barn was built along Route 237, housing about 130 dealers and completing the set of four shows.

In the last few months, the former owner sold these shows, billed as The Original Round Top Antiques Fair, to the Frankses, including the real estate for the Red Barn. The Frankses have been running several other non-antiques shows in the area and believed that this facility would work well as the center for many of their shows. Mrs Franks, an avid antiques collector and dealer at shows when she could find the time, was especially enthusiastic about owning and operating these antiques shows and now is reenergizing them to become dominant in the national scene.

Munday & Munday, Benton, Ill.

Even before this most recent event, Mrs Franks was travelingto some of the other major antiques shows to connect withexhibitors. She was at Nashville, Tenn., during Heart Week andplans to visit Manchester, N.H., for Antiques Week and New York forits Americana week to help build the market for her shows.

Don Cruise, American Stars Antiques of Baltimore, exhibited for the second year in a row and believed his collection was well received. Although this was not his highest gross sales event, he did sell a wide variety of early American pieces, including an unusual rectangular braided rug from New England, which he estimated to be about 100 years old. Firkins are also a part of his collection and he sold several.

The Bennetts, Greenville, S.C., specialize in high-quality fly fishing gear and sold one rod for more than $1,000. John Orban collects and trades in Black Forest carvings. Here, he sold a clock that was tagged at $125,000. Van Talbert, who together with his wife, Candace, operates Aberdeen & Co. of Asheville, N.C., had a “reasonable show, worth the two-day trip. We sold some furniture and more,” he said. Furniture was also selling well with the Mabreys from Raleigh, N.C., as Rick Mabrey said they had “sold three tables, a half dozen game boards, a set of eight Windsors [chairs] and an empire chest.”

Another North Carolina dealer, Black Sheep Antiques, was selling so well on the second morning owners David and Susan Byerly were bringing more merchandise to their booth for display and sale. The Byerlys do much of their shopping in England, looking primarily for Georgian-era antique furnishings.

Just beyond the center of Round Top on a side road is Rifle Hall, site of one of the earliest shows. The building is an older structure and is used in the community for a wide variety of functions and meetings. Roy and Jean Doty, Beaumont, Texas, have been doing the show as dealers for more years than she could remember. She said they have built a customer base for the show and had many of them stopping by, along with some new visitors. Sales for the Dotys were predominantly “smalls.”

Roy Ladd, Paducah, Ky.

Antiques & Arts, Inc, Umatilla, Fla., reported having “areally good show, and we started to take credit cards and thatreally boosted our business,” according to Nancy Straub. She andWoody also produce shows in Michigan in the spring and summer.

The Frankses said they plan to diligently control the offerings. Mrs Franks said she will emphasize to all dealers that “this is an antiques show with an early American and country theme.” She added that all dealers are required to read and circle on their contracts that only antiques are allowed in the future. Dates for the fall will be Thursday, October 6- Saturday, October 8.

The Frankses are planning an additional event on the grounds of Red Barn, which will specialize in cowboy and Indian relics. This tented event, according to Mrs Franks, will be an added dimension to their week and she feels it will be compatible with country antiques. For information, 512-360-3513.