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American Morning

Across America: Trash or Treasure?

Aired August 16, 2001 - 09:25   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
STEPHEN FRAZIER, CNN ANCHOR: We begin this morning's "Across America" segment in Alabama, where one man's trash is another man's treasure.

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: The locals there call it the big one. It spans four states, an estimated 450 miles. With more on what's being dubbed the world's longest yard sale, we're joined by CNN's Alexa Lee, who finds herself in Gadsden, Alabama this morning -- Alexa, good morning.

FRAZIER: Good morning, Alexa.

ALEXA LEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn and Stephen.

All you need here is a wad of cash and some good walking shoes. Gadsden, Alabama is the southernmost point of this yard sale extravaganza. Bargain hunters come here to pick through items as far as the eye can see. This one right next to me an old-fashioned refrigerator. Some of these items actually work, like this one, and some of them don't. They are the stars of the show and it is a huge one at that. Here's a live picture of some of the shoppers here in this one spot where we are. They've been out here since about 5:00 this morning and they are some serious antique seekers as well as some who are just here for the kicks.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED SHOPPER: This is the yard sale of all yard sales. This is the kind of yard sales, yes, 450 miles, I guess.

LEE (voice-over): And this is the starting point.

GLORIA WRIGHT, VENDOR: This is the big one. I heard that it was going all the way to, what, Cincinnati, Ohio this year.

LEE: Or finish line. Whatever you like to call it, these people from everywhere...

UNIDENTIFIED SHOPPER: Mississippi, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio.

LEE: Just call it fun.

PAUL REMINGTON, SHOPPER: Oh, it's totally entertainment. It is. You don't have to buy a thing and you're going to have a blast. LEE: Paul Remington, here from upstate New York. He and his junk buddies are working the sale R.V. style. The world's longest yard sale, as it's billed, winds through four states -- Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama. And unlike strip mall shopping or the mega stores, here you get some character, a real life bus stop store next to a whitewashed chapel. Last year about 400,000 bargain hunters made their way through. The event, 14 years and going.

VICKIE GORDON, SHOPPER: People who do this sort of thing are rummaging, you know? It's sort of in their blood to look for things and collect things.

LEE: Some things so commonplace it makes you wonder who'd want it and things so unique, like this jail cell padlock, good for show and tell.

CALVIN CLARK, VENDOR: Well, this is a good bragging thing to walk around and show people look what I found. San Quentin, death row.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEE: And here is another bragging item here. This is one of the more popular items, the Alabama rest stop, obviously an old-fashioned potty there, going for about $65. this whole sale started as a way to get people to shop along the 127 corridor and many people think it has accomplished that.

Reporting live, Alexa Lee, CNN, Gadsden, Alabama.

KAGAN: All right, Alexa, good shopping to you. FRAZIER: And good hunting.

KAGAN: Absolutely.

FRAZIER: And that's our look "Across America" for today.

KAGAN: If you have a story from your hometown you'd like to see in this segment, e-mail us. Our address is morning@cnn.com.

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