A lot has changed since 1972. The president of the United States was Richard Nixon. The first episode of "The Price Is Right" with Bob Barker aired on CBS. The Godfather was the top grossing film. The biggest hit single was Don McLean's "American Pie." And Harvard's very first Columbus Day Weekend Flea Market was sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Harvard (LWVH).

Market-goers stop to fuel up at the Lions Club booth at a flea market in the 1970s. (Photos courtesy of the League of Women Voters of Harvard)

A shopper stops to look over the baskets sold at the League of Women Voters booth iat a flea market n the early ’70s.

Since 1972, when there was a small group of booth holders and the town's population was at 3,145 residents, the flea market has blossomed into Harvard's largest annual community event. Today there are more than 170 booths, and Harvard's population has grown from a sleepy little town, to having 5,752 residents, almost double its size 39 years ago.

In the 1980s the Harvard Conservation Trust became a cosponsor of the flea market with the LWVH. In 2008 the Harvard Schools Trust became a third sponsor, and then replaced the Conservation Trust in 2009. All net proceeds from the flea market will be split between the LWVH and the Harvard Schools Trust. Last year, the event raised approximately $15,000 for these local, nonprofit organizations.

Chrissy Yoo is the LWVH Co-chair for the 2010 Harvard Flea Market. Yoo has been a member of LWVH for two years, and this is her first large-scale project for the organization. She began preparing for the giant flea market in June. She explained that the booth holders will begin their setup in the dark at 6:30 a.m. on the day of the event, to be prepared for the "early birds" and for the thousands who are anticipated to attend.

"The Harvard Flea Market is a terrific family event, and the best part of it is that it draws people from all over to visit Harvard for the day," said Yoo. "It's also a great event from the perspective that it benefits a lot of different groups—the Harvard Public Schools via the Harvard Schools Trust, and the LWVH. The event helps a broad range of people in town." Yoo has stepped up to the plate for Harvard's biggest event because it is part of her personal philosophy to be a part of the next generation of volunteers to help keep community events going.

The 39th annual Columbus Day Weekend Flea Market will be held on the picturesque grounds of the Bromfield School overlooking Bare Hill Pond Saturday, Oct. 9, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is a $3 donation per person; a $1 donation per child ages 6 to 12 and adults age 65 and older; and a $5 donation for early birds (before 9 a.m.). Parking and restrooms will be available. (A rain date has been set for Oct. 11.) The event also coincides with the Congregational Church of Harvard's 53rd Apple Festival, where they will be selling pies on the Common.

"The Harvard Schools Trust is pleased to co-sponsor the flea market with the League of Women Voters of Harvard. The HST is a charitable organization that awards educational grants to Harvard Public Schools, and sponsoring the flea market is a cornerstone of our fundraising program," said Steve Finnegan, HST co-chairman for the 2010 Harvard Flea Market. "As a former student at Bromfield, I remember the Harvard Flea Market getting its start over 30 years ago," he added. "Now the flea market has grown into a significant regional event, visited by thousands during the course of one day, with people coming from all over New England."

In fact, several thousand bargain hunters will attend the upcoming flea market to walk the 170 booths filled with antiques, vintage jewelry, collectibles, memorabilia, furniture, glass, pottery, household items, sports equipment, toys, clothing, farmers' market items, and more.

Sylvia Burke of Ashland has been a booth holder at the Harvard Flea Market since 1987. She normally does not participate in flea markets; however, she says, "This is a special one we like to do. The atmosphere is so lovely, with the schools and chestnuts and apples. It's a beautiful country fair."

For more info about the Harvard Flea Market, visit: www.harvardfleamarket.com.