Date: Fri 19-Jun-1998

Publication: Ant

Author: JUDIR

Quick Words:

Ruggles

Full Text:

Carrie S Ruggles

w/1cut

WORCESTER, MASS. -- Ruggles Farm Antiques dealer and New England Auctions

owner Carrie Sibley Ruggles of Brookfield, Mass., 98, died on March 5 at

Memorial Hospital here after an illness.

Born in Hardwick, Mass., in 1900, the daughter of New England farmers, Ruggles

knew the value of family and hard work. Losing her mother at an early age, she

was raised by her older sister, Hattie, and her father and brothers. She

attended Normal School (teacher's college) and taught in Raymond, Me.

She returned to Hardwick to marry her childhood sweetheart, Robert K. Ruggles,

Sr, in 1921. In 1926, the couple bought a farm in Brookfield, Mass., and

started building a life and a family together by pursuing their mutual

vocation of farming and the trading of furs.

Having inherited antiques from their families, the Ruggles took an active

interest in learning everything they could about the subject. They soon

befriended an honest picker by the name of Horace Burgess, who knocked on the

door one day and offered a fair price for a flask that the couple kept to

gauge the honesty of any picker that happened to pass by.

In the course of the fur trading business, Bob had access to many attics and

barns and would take Burgess along on some of his expeditions. In this manner,

the couple, with many research volumes and instances of trial and error,

obtained a very valuable education. Through the years from 1930-1941, they

worked the farm, bought and sold antiques and furs, hosted overnight guests,

and raised a family. Their four children, Phyllis M. Ruggles Ayers, Almon O.

"Bud" Ruggles, Robert K. Ruggles, Jr, and Raymond S. Ruggles eventually grew

to include 12 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren, three

great-great-grandchildren, six nephews and five nieces.

Bob died from an illness in 1956 after 35 years of marriage. Soon after, the

family's youngest son, Ray, became partner in Ruggles Farm Antiques. Carrie

and Ray soon phased out farming and fur trading and devoted all their time to

the antiques business, scouring New England for fine antiques and offering

them for sale at the farm and at antiques shows all over New England. Many

customers were privileged to be invited into Carrie's home to view her

magnificent collection and to be served a hearty New England lunch.

In 1978, Carrie and Ray were joined by grandson, David R. Ayers, and soon

after expanded into another business known as New England Auctions of

Brookfield. Carrie took an active role here also as chief of economic

operations and as always the head of public relations. She remained very much

a part of family, friends, and business until the last few months of her life.

Her smiling face, gentle manner, knowledge of the antiques business, and love

for her family and friends will be missed by all.