Photo by Sam Yu It was standing room only Wednesday night in the meeting room at New Market’s Town Hall during a New Market Town Council meeting. The council discussed a possible change to the town sign seen from I-70.

Asking his colleagues to advertise some of the town's newer features alongside the old, Councilman David Price came up short after more than two hours of sometimes heated discussion.

Only Councilwoman Rita Mueller sided with Price in the 2-3 vote.

Antiques owners or not, New Market residents and merchants like their decades-old sign that heralds the town as the "Antiques Capital of Maryland."

But all is not lost for Price yet.

The council unanimously authorized him to hold at least one workshop to discuss ways to refurbish the sign, which has become weathered with age.

Changes could include a fresh coat of paint to a new slogan -- or not. The council wants to discuss the landmark with the residents and businesses owners before any action is taken.

Wednesday's meeting became unruly at moments. Mayor Winslow F. Burhans III mentioned calling in the law to toss out one angry antiques dealer.

Jim Higgs equated Price to a pallbearer putting the last nail in the coffin of New Market 's antiques businesses.

"You're attacking my livelihood," Higgs said. "What do you think I'm going to do?"

More than two dozen people packed into the town's tiny meeting room. Many spilled into the lobby and popped their heads into the meeting room to speak during a drawn-out session for public comment.

Price pushed for the sign change to reflect the town has more to offer than shops teeming with antiques.

His opponents argued that antiques draw visitors to New Market . Once there, the other businesses benefit as a result.

Bud Rossig and others urged the council to preserve the sign, which dates back to the 1960s.

"Preservation is what it's all about in New Market ," he said.

Nancy Fleshman said the antiques logo is how the town is best known. "What do you hope to accomplish by taking away our niche market?" she asked.

Her husband, Rick Fleshman, said the sign is a lifeline to his antiques business and others.

It brings new business from I-70 travelers as well as transplanted Frederick County residents who return to visit.

One woman from Missouri recently returned to his store on a Thursday. She told him she remembered his sign from her younger years, came in and bought a $2,500 mahogany table.

She shipped the table home.

Her memory of the sign: "These are the kinds of things that are keeping me alive," Fleshman said.