Same Ole, Same Ole at the Country Auction

On Saturday people came out to find deals, eat pumpkin bread and bid on antiques (not necessarily in that order) during the to benefit the at the 171-year old . Once again, bidding was off while the food table sold out.

“We had a beautiful fall day,” said Historical Society member Beth Pranzo.

, she said the furniture sold low.

“Our volunteer professional auctioneer Lee Sachs said this has been the pattern in his antique business as well,” said Pranzo. “While furniture was low, the unusual items like art and jewelry sold well.”

Among the hundreds of items sold at the auction was a Blue Point oyster crate that fetched $150, a red ferry sign bought for $40, three antique 1850s schoolbooks won for $100 and a pair of leaded glass cabinet doors for $245.

“There was a good deal of interest in the bidding for the six plank blanket chest with whale motif, a folk art piece weather vane on a stand and garden furniture originally from a Great Neck estate,” she said.

The economy impacted the bidding this season and the types of items that people bid on were different than last year.

But like last year, the food was hit the spot both with guests stomachs in the society’s wallet. There was plenty of sunshine along with homemade clam chowder, chicken soup, pies, cakes, cookies, muffins and bread made by society members to go around for the guests, according to Pranzo.

“The food table always does well and sold out the soups just after noon and the pastries by the end of the auction,” she said.

Anyone interested in consigning items to next year's auction be sure to clean your barn, basement and cellar and bring unusual items to the Historical Society. They begin collecting the last week in August. Consignors get 65% of the sale and 35% goes to the Historical Society for the operating budget to maintain the Mather House Museum complex.