Treasures found

A ceramic catfish sits atop an ashtray in the shape of a state. If not from the shape alone, you would know which state it is, because "Mississippi" is written in script across the base of the ashtray.

"Where else can you find a piece of Americana like this?" asks Jim

Berryman.

It's just one of a hundreds of pieces of "treasure" that have found their way into a building in Town Plaza Shopping Center in Sheffield.

For several years, the building has been the location for the Ritz Benefit Sale, sponsored by the Tennessee Valley Art Association.

Berryman, assistant director for TVAA, sorts through donated items ranging from antiques to appliances and new and used furniture to clothing.

"Our sale has been going on for a generation," he said. "It's very green to reuse these days."

The annual sale supports the Tennessee Valley Art Association's historic Ritz Theater and educational outreach programs at the Ritz, Tennessee Valley Museum of Art in Tuscumbia and local schools.

"We started the sale in 1983 at the Ritz Theater," said Mary Settle Cooney, executive director of TVAA.

"There were no chairs in the theater at the time, and we had to string up lights just to see."

The theater in downtown Sheffield has come a long way since that first fundraising event in the early '80s.

The Ritz was built in 1927 in the days when silent movie actors Buster Keaton, Charlie Chaplin, Lillian Gish and Mary Pickford were stars of the big screen.

In the 1930s, when "talkies" were introduced, the Ritz was remodeled in the popular Art Deco style.

When the TVAA restored the theater, the Art Deco style was retained.

"The building has a lot of old charm," Cooney said. "But it takes a lot to maintain that old charm."

Maintenance on the building includes replacing the air conditioning system to a tune of more than $30,000.

"It's like anything else, things go out and must be replaced," Cooney said.

The facade of the building has been replaced thanks to a grant. But the fundraiser has helped TVAA to purchase adjacent buildings, put new roofs on the theater and buildings, upgrade equipment and provide day-to-day maintenance.

"There's so much more we'd like to do," Cooney said. "We need to replace flooring on the stage, we'll need new stage curtains in the foreseeable future, upgrade the sound system. ... It's an ongoing process."

In addition to maintaining the Ritz, proceeds from the sale are used for programs sponsored by TVAA including educational outreach and the museum.

The success of the sale depends on the quality of the items donated, Cooney said.

"We're so grateful for all that has been given, but we need more," she said.

Even with the highest quality of items donated, Cooney said the sale wouldn't be successful without the volunteers.

Norma Manush has been volunteering with the TVAA since she returned to the Shoals in the 1990s.

"This is my home, I grew up here," she said. "I enjoy creative work, and this is an opportunity to give back to the community."

Volunteers roll up their sleeves in the months before the sale to sort, clean and price items. They even give their time to work the days of the sale.

"It's fun," said Manush. "I really enjoy doing it. When I worked, I didn't have time to volunteer."

Local businesses also assist with the effort.

"Genesis Jewelers comes in and appraises jewelry and Keepers of the Past Antique Mall helps appraise antiques," Cooney said. "It's all a team effort."