Ledyard — When real estate agent and Town Council Chairwoman Linda Davis first decided to organize a townwide yard sale, she thought maybe 50 houses would participate. 

But days before the first-ever such event, which begins Saturday at 8 a.m., almost 140 sales were registered, several of which were multifamily.

"People do yard sales all the time, but nobody ever organized a townwide sale," Davis said. "I thought I'd put the opportunity out there."

Davis said many people initially thought she was organizing a massive sale at a single location, where those hoping to participate would have to bring their goods and rent a table.

"In those kinds of sales, you have to schlep all your stuff" to the location, she said. "People like to do yard sales at their own houses."

Still, she said, she's "amazed" by the response, which is almost three times what she had been expecting.

"I was told this idea probably wouldn't work," Davis said with a laugh at the May 27 Ledyard Town Council meeting.

Because the sales are spread throughout the town, those interested in attending can access an interactive map online by visiting simplyledyard.com, where they'll find not only each house that's participating, but also a brief description of the things that will be sold there.

The map also includes details about specials that seven restaurants and stores, such as Fireside Brick Oven Pizza and Holdridge Home & Garden Showplace, are offering on the day of the townwide sale.

Davis said she notified police of the event and provided them with the same map, but added that she doesn't think the sale combined with traffic from activities relating to the 150th rowing of the Harvard-Yale Regatta will cause any major issues.

"I think it'll be just fine ... but there are certainly a lot of events going on," she said. "People will need to drive carefully and be watching out for people making stops at yard sales."

Based on the initial reaction, Davis said she plans to make the event an annual one.

"I think it's going to be a fun day," she said, encouraging residents from all local areas to swing by. "I already have ideas for next year."

l.boyle@theday.com

Twitter: @LindsayABoyle