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A Conway Collector's Dream Come True

Over the July 4th weekend I experienced a Conway collector's dream come true, and I still have to pinch myself to believe it really happened.

It all started on Saturday afternoon when I saw a post on Facebook from someone in Hendersonville, TN, selling one of the elusive replica "CT" necklaces that was sold at Twitty City. The price was rather high so I messaged the seller to ask if they were accepting offers. The lady politely declined, explaining the necklace was part of an estate sale in the coming week, but if anything was left over following the sale they might consider an offer. She also said they had many more souvenir items. 

I started browsing through her timeline and found a post all about the estate sale she was overseeing, and sure enough, there was a big table full of Conway collectibles! Everything already had price tags attached so I messaged her again and asked if it would be possible to have more pictures sent to me so I could pick some things out, and she said she would be happy to after the holiday.

Monday afternoon I started receiving pictures of items that really surprised me and I knew this had to be more than the estate sale of a fan, so I asked if I could call her. We spent nearly an hour on the phone as she sent dozens of photos and over the course of our conversation she said this was the estate of someone who had worked for Conway, explaining why there were so many rare and unusual items. Interesting! 

I ended up buying much of what she showed me, and later that evening I received more photos and bought yet some more! By this time I had become even more curious and decided to google the address of the estate sale. It all made sense when I immediately recognized the name...this was the estate of Conway's longtime business manager Hugh Carden!!!


Tuesday morning we spoke on the phone again to wrap things up - I bought even more - and on Thursday I received an 11 pound box of Conway treasures. It took me several days to sort through everything, and I still haven't inspected it all thoroughly. I'm taking it slowly because I know I'm likely to never hit such a jackpot ever again.

The pictures throughout this post show everything I added to my collection from the estate sale, running the gamut of Conway history. Believe it or not, I did leave plenty for other shoppers, either because it was something I already had or out of my budget. (Although admittedly "Conway" and "budget" are two words I seldom use in the same sentence.)

I can't even begin to explain what it means to me to now own so many things from someone who was so close to Conway. As a collector this was an experience I will never forget. I'm incredibly thankful I took the time to inquire about the "CT" necklace that day because if I hadn't I never would've found out about the estate sale and uncovered so many amazing treasures. 

Stay tuned for a closer look at some of these items in the coming weeks and months!

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