The Story Behind the Fence of Skis

A house with a fence constructed of halved and upright skis, a fourteen-foot marlin hanging next to the front door, and hundreds of other shiny knick-knacks adorning every vertical plane. If you’re familiar with Fairfax, you probably recognize the description of this building at once – a home with every available wall space (inside as well as outside) garnished with American memorabilia.

The owner of the vibrant dwelling, Rudy Contratti, has lived there for 24 years and  gathered thousands of objects from America’s past (from the 1930s to the 1970s to be exact), ranging from inch-high dolls and small metal tins to the gargantuan fish outside and a sign saying “Fairfax” over the front doorway.

“I have a passion for preserving the past,” he explained, sitting in a dining room laden with roughly 130 vintage lunchboxes depicting TV shows and popular movies from times past. “I can’t stand to look at white walls.”

Contratti has been decorating his home for the 24 years he’s owned it, but he's been collecting his entire life. Though he owns American collectables gathered from all over the world, he acquires most of his items from antique fairs and stores around California, such as the Alameda Antique Fair. The Alameda Antique Fair is a monthly gathering of historians and vendors that boasts over 800 booths -- the largest antique fair in Northern California. There are also various swap meets, smaller gatherings and the occasional gigantic fair that Contratti visits.

Six years ago, Contratti and his wife, Shara, attened one such gigantic fiar: the world’s longest yard sale. Spanning from Chattanooga, Tennessee to Frankfurt, Kentucky, the sale covers hundreds of miles, following the course of Highway 127 (and often referred to as the 127 Sale). The 127 Sale is a biannual happening, attracting hundreds and hundreds of booths for vendors and families to sell wares and prospective collectors to snatch them up.

While many amateur collectors are satisfied with items reproduced in modern times and altered to look old (referred to as “repop” items), every single item in Contratti’s collection is authentic vintage. When asked how he knows the difference, Contratti explains he “just has a really good eye,” reasonable for someone with a life dedicated in part to collecting such items. Every room in his house is decorated with a theme: rock and roll and music occupy a side room; a truckstop theme, containing signs, models, and what looked like a cow’s skull, is in the bedroom; the “food” theme logically fills the kitchen full of crate labels and, among other things, vintage eggbeaters.

In addition to decorating his house, Contratti also collects and refurbishes old vintage bicycles. Currently, he has a fleet of fifteen cruisers with high handlebars and wide seats, all in what appears to be near perfect condition. Near the bicycles are three vintage trucks. One of the trucks is a 1953 pickup, one of the first cars Contratti ever purchased and has kept since.

While it certainly attracts looks from the public, Contratti’s house also attracts some positive feedback and fans. Every year, the house opens to the public on Halloween with a tour given by the two owners. Last year, however, Shara had the idea for a donation jar with all funds going to charity. At the count of a turnstyle – yes, authentic – over 745 people showed up, resulting in over 1,000 dollars raised.  

In another town, the fence of skis might be an oddity, but in Fairfax the house is filled with love and a collector's pride.

What's your favorite part of the Contratti house?