The Pomfret Proprietors sponsored the second annual “ What’s it Worth ? ” event on Saturday , Aug . 23 , bringing local businesses and hopeful antique owners to the Pomfret School Strong Field House .

For just $ 5 per item , visitors from all over Connecticut and Massachusetts filled the building with relics from the past and the general atmosphere of a hometown “ Antiques Road Show . ”

Pomfret businesses paid a $ 25 fee to set up vendor booths around the Field House , selling and promoting everything from imported Italian tile , Quiet Corner t-shirts and lemongrass mints , while the Pomfret Lions’ Club provided an assortment of foods that did not disappoint .

The event – which hosted more than 200 visitors last year, many of them hoping that their family heirlooms or garage sale items might be worth thousands – wasn’t quite as busy this year, said Louisa Jones , manager of the Olmsted Student Union at the Pomfret School .

She added , however , that those who did attend this year’sevent brought better quality items , which allowed members of Grogan and Company : Fine Art Auctioneers and Appraisers to spend more valuable time with each individual and to share with them the history of what they brought to “ What’s it Worth ?”

Few were disappointed with what Michael Grogan had to tell them , as some items headed for auction and some headed for next week’s garage sale .

Richard Hibbler of Manchester brought in an old spinning wheel that had been his mother’s . He told the story of a blacksmith in West Paris , Maine , who would bring his mother , now 94 , wool from sheep that he owned . Hibbler said his mother doesn’t make mittens anymore and that the spinning wheel had been in a barn for more than 30 years. Grogan valued it at approximately $ 3 , 500 and gave him the contact information for Willis Henry , a Shaker furniture expert .

Julia Duffney bought two small paintings 40 yearsago , one for $ 3 and one for $ 7 . She’s had them hanging on her wall for years, she said . Grogan’s company was unable to discern who the artist of the paintings was , but together , Duffney’s inexpensive yardsale purchase is now valued at approximately $ 150 .

Martha Emilio of Majilly , a Pomfretbased hand-painted ceramics business , created Pomfret Proprietors in 2006 after being appointed the Pomfret representative for the East Regional Tourism Board . At a meeting of Pomfret business owners , she only knew half of the people sitting at the table and felt a local organization needed to be formed , she said on Saturday . “ There’s a plethora of Pomfret proprietors … the state of Connecticut is promoting ‘ Staycation . ’ Get lost in Pomfret . ”

Cathy Duprey and her husband Gary , both of Duprey Real Estate , had a booth at the event . The business has been associated with Pomfret Proprietors since its creation , and this was their second yearat “ What’s it Worth ?” Cathy said she is a member of the proprietors group “ because it’s a wonderful group of business owners in Pomfret who are very supportive of each other in the Quiet Corner . ” Following the event , Gary said that nearly 40 people visited their booth .

All proceeds raised at “ What’s it Worth ? ” benefited a Pomfret Proprietors Scholarship Fund .