Digging up forgotten treasure sounds like a tale too good to be true. But for some people, that dream has become a reality.

Inspired by the popular PBS television series Antiques Roadshow, the Gateway to Seniors Resources organized public antique appraisals at All American Assisted Living. On Saturday morning, Marion Antique Shop owner and a certified antique and fine art appraiser, Francis McNamee worked with his partner Paula Deane to assess the monetary value of the presented items. 

The appraisers assessed values for possessions such as carnival glass vases, valued between $25 and $50, while more valuable items such as rare baseball cards could be sold for as much as $3,000. 

Although items from the previous generation are known for their high prices, antique stores are not as profitable as they used to be twenty years ago, said Deane. While in the Victorian-era “there was something for everything,” today, a growing number of people appreciate a “clean surface” and adopt a more minimalist lifestyle. 

“Years ago, a lot of people were buying and not that many were selling, unless somebody died. Now that’s different. The media promotes downsizing,” explained McNamee. “There are many people who have written books on downsizing, getting rid of clutter. That has really caught on and now the market is flooded with certain types of clocks and furniture and that makes the prices go down.”

Having years of work experience and appropriate education, McNamee and Deane thoroughly evaluated each presented object and told a production history behind every single one of them. 

McNamee first started selling antiques and collectibles when, as a student, he and his mother opened  the Marion Antique Shop, formerly known as Wicker Porch Antiques.

“It was only open in the summer because there was no heat,” said McNamee.  "We ran it for about 10 years.”

After McNamee received a history degree from Providence College, he enrolled in a masters of history program at Boston College. Then, he attended Bridgewater State University to receive a degree in marketing. Later, McNamee graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design and the Winterthur Museum institute program. 

“This type of career is really interesting. Every day I go out in the field and go to all kinds of places and you never know what you are going to find,” said McNamee. “It’s like being on a treasure hunt every day.”