How Much is that Old _____ Worth?

Have an antique item or two sitting around the house you think could be worth something? You might be able to find out at the Moorestown Historical Society this week. 

The Historical Society will host its first-ever Appraisal Day Thursday, and is bringing in Antiques Roadshow regular Gordon Converse to evaluate roughly 100 antique items owned by locals. 

The event is a nice little fundraiser for the Society—at a cost of $10 per item, they're hoping to raise about $1,000—but organizer Susan Acker said it's more of a "friendraiser."

"For me, it's bringing in people who have never been to the Historical Society," she said. "A lot of people in Moorestown don't even know we have a Historical Society, much less where it is."

Acker said Converse is widely regarded as an expert appraiser, and is an antiques dealer/restorer with a business based in Wayne, PA.

"He's doing this as a service to us," she said. "People are going to have an opportunity to experience what they see on TV, right in their own backyard."

So far nearly 100 items have been scheduled for appraisal, including a variety of artwork, Wedgwood China and antique clocks (Converse's area of expertise). 

The event—scheduled for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday—is intended to coincide with the annual antique show being held at the Upper Elementary School this coming weekend. Proceeds from that event benefit the YMCA of Burlington and Camden counties. 

Appraisal Day will be held at the Smith-Cadbury Mansion at 12 High St. It begins at 10 a.m. Thursday, with a break at 12:30 for lunch. From 1-1:45, Converse will hold a roundtable discussion (which is free), in which he'll talk about some of the more impressive finds he's come across in his career. He'll resume appraisals at 1:45 and go until 5. 

There are still a few spots open—including absentee appraisals for those who can't make it but want to submit an item—so contact Acker at 856-986-7536 or ohtobesusan@aol.com to reserve a slot. The cost is $10 per item, up to two items per person. 

Admission is free for those who just want to spectate, Acker said.