Thank you for the Niles Antique Faire article, which was both interesting and informative. In the interest of historical accuracy, I offer the following clarification to misinformation provided regarding the beginning of the Niles Flea Market, to wit:
Jay King, a resident of Niles living in a beautiful flowered cottage on Niles Boulevard, walked into Niles Rexall Drugs in the morning of an early summer day in 1965. Jay chatted with the pharmacy’s chief clerk, Isabel Duarte, on how she had spent the previous weekend at a Flea Market in the 49er town of Jackson in Northern California. King’s story fascinated Isabel, a longtime resident of Niles, for Isabel knew the town of Niles needed an annual social event as much as the Niles’ Essanay Days had been canceled for the last two years.
Isabel asked the Pharmacist owner of Niles Rexall, Harry Avila, to join them in the conversation and the idea of a Niles Flea Market was quickly formulated.
A Flea Market Committee was formed with many able volunteers including: Darrell Pennington, Janet Pessagno Avila, Ginger Pennington, Vern Ellsworth, Harold Larry Fernandez Al King, Don Hegen, Reed Hansen, Al Lopez, Garrett Burt, John Cattaneo, Marian Wolfe and a whole raft of Boy Scouts, Niles Merchants and residents of the “Niles Village.” The General Chairman was Harry Avila.
On October 31, 1965, the first Niles Flea Market was held with booths on Niles Boulevard, “I” and “H” Streets. The California 216th Air National Guard Band opened the festivities. Mayor Don Dillon presided with initial comments. Estimates of the crowd were 15,000 to 20,000.
All net proceeds of the event were used in the Niles Merchant’s efforts, labeled as “Niles Ahead,” to restore the town and stave off destruction of Niles’ historic buildings. It’s important to note the efforts of “Niles Ahead” were greatly aided by the City of Fremont’s department heads Len McVicor and Ted Harpainter under the direction of Mayor Dillon as well as the town’s merchants.
Keith Elrod has done a masterful job in chairing and improving the Niles Flea Market to the successes it now enjoys. To assist in the construction of historical information and in light of your article: Dana Jones is the granddaughter of the above mentioned Jay and Al King. Dana is a truly Niles-ite with not only the King family, but also the DiGiulio family in her heritage. Dana is the President-Elect of Niles Rotary. Dana’s husband, Rick Jones, is a soon to be termed out Fremont City Councilman with great performance and standing in our community. Both Rick and Dana are retired Fremont Police Officers.
Regards,
Harry Avila
Fremont
My Name is Mary Garcia Smith. I am the granddaughter of Isabelle Duarte. I was 10 years old when the Niles Flea Market was started. Over the years it made me sad that I couldn’t remember all the details of the story behind the starting of the Niles Flea Market. I did know that with the help of Harry Avila, an idea of Jay King and my grandmother became the Niles Flea Market. I was so excited when I came across this information by Harry Avila. I also want to thank Dana Jones for the information she has shared. I do remember the true and beautiful friendship of my grandmother Isabelle and Jay King. Instead of calling each other by their first names, I remember that they fondly used to call each other “kid”. The two friends spent many hours together doing what they called “antiquing”. They would also spend time together refinishing the wooden antique treasures they would find on their adventures. Both of their homes could have been antique stores with all the collectibles they owned. I even remember that my grandmother told me that Jay wanted to open an antique store in her house. Jay even had a name picked out for the store. She wanted to call it the “King and I”. My grandmother designed her house on 2nd St. in Niles. Jay and Al King used that same floor plan in reverse when they built their house. A King family member came across the floor plans of the houses in the King’s attic quite a few years ago. The plans were returned to the second owners of my grandparents home. Thank you again, I can’t wait to share this information with other family members.