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Appeared in

THE CHESAPEAKE BULLETIN

Volume 46 Nr. 6 June 2006

Flowermart Antique Auto Show – Different in Every Sense

By Ruth Synodinos & Tom Kenney

Indeed Flowermart, which is an annual tradition on historic Mt. Vernon’s streets and plazas surrounding the Washington Monument, was different in 2006. The usual Wednesday festival of flowers, lemon stick treats, spring flowered hats, and live entertainment was changed to an end-of-week event on May 5^th and 6^th. With an expanded number of vendors, two entertainment stages, and substantially more shopping and spectator traffic, this year’s 89^th Flowermart had a feel to it that rivals the Inner Harbor festivals.

On Friday, May 5^th the Club provided an antique car display. Lining the curb on both streets of the Washington Monument east plaza, members’ cars drew huge crowds of curious spectators. Compared to last year, the cars were more visible and the display was listed on the event map in the official program. Placing cars on the edge of the square and locating vendor booths across from the cars put us right in the foot traffic flow and showed off our cars to everyone.

Most members’ cars were surrounded by spectators who asked questions about the features of each car or reminisced about their memories and experiences with antique cars. The pictures of Larry Butcher’s Lincoln, below and Doc Zimmerman’s Ford Model T (on page 2) are good examples of this spectator interest.

The theme for 2006 – "Flowermart is Baltimore’s BEE . . . UTIFUL Bouquet" - was carried out in some of the vendor booths and displays about apiary pursuits. There were lots of yellow and black color schemes. You might say that the whole event had a level of activity that almost reminded us of a beehive.

Besides the 135 vendor booths that did a brisk business, Flowermart’s event schedule featured an Ugly Tie Contest, a Glamour Hair Contest, the Grand Hat Contest (with eight categories), the Hilda Mae Snoops Art Contest (if you need to ask who Hilda Mae was you don’t know Baltimore), and a pie-eating contest among the many contests held both days. In addition, there were 21 music and dancing performances that appeared on the two stages.

Three member’s cars that haven’t been seen in awhile were Neal Haynie’s baby blue 1965 Ford Thunderbird convertible, Bob Quante’s tan 1939 Plymouth convertible, and Frank Ruehl’s 1950 Hudson sedan. Also, Flowermart Board Member Julius Zulver showed his 1978 Rolls Royce Silver Shadow. Mr. Zulver lives in Mt. Vernon nearby and graciously gave some members a tour of his garage.

The Honorary chairman of the 89^th Flowermart was Maryland Comptroller William Donald Schaefer. A special thanks to Board Member Jay Perry who arranged for the Club’s participation in the Flowermart. And, of course, thanks to Ruth and Jim Synodinos, who hosted for the second year.

Julius Zulver provided award ribbons for our cars as follows: blue First Place - Larry Butcher’s Lincoln and Paul Habicht’s Cadillac; red Second Place – Jim Synodinos’ Buick and Bob Johannessen’s Studebaker Avanti; and white Third Place – Joe Sordillo’s Ford and Bob Quante’s Plymouth. All the Club’s members received an official Flowermart keychain.

Club members and guests who participated in the 89^th Flowermart car show: Larry Butcher, 1938 Lincoln; Ed Butler, 1932 Buick Roadster; Neal Haynie, 1965 Ford Thunderbird; Bob Johannessen, 1963 Studebaker Avanti; Anne & Tom Kenney, 1955 DeSoto; Mildred & Al Lawson, 1963 Ford Thunderbird; Boots & Art Petrucci, 1964 Corvair; Robert Quante, 1939 Plymouth; Elsie & Norman Reese, 1963 Chevrolet; Frank Ruehl, 1950 Hudson; Floranne & Joe Sordillo, 1950 Ford; Ruth & Jim Synodinos, 1932 Buick; Henry VerValen, 1960 Jaguar; Pat Wenderoth, 1969 Corvette; Dr. Loy Zimmerman, 1914 Ford Model T; and Julius Zulver, 1978 Rolls Royce.