The Auction & Barb's Anniversary Card

The Estate Sale

There are events that almost every family member recalls. One of those is the evening we went downtown to an estate sale, and mom bought furniture for the new family room addition that the folks added in the early 1960s. I don't recall exactly when the auction took place, but remember that we were old enough to haul the furniture by foot four blocks to our home. The estate sale was in the lot across from the city hall building. We had to make several trips back and forth from what I recall.

Wendy's Comments

Here's another momento we found in the silver chest.  It was when mom went to that sale in Eureka and spent $112 on used furniture.  It was a sale At Herbert Wanner's place.  That davenport set she bought for $55 is that the One she bought for the backroom? If so, I took it to Huron with me after college.  It was the most uncomfortable furniture ever!!!!

Tim's Comments

Mom never liked the original furniture we had in the old house.  Not knowing the date of the receipts, I can only guess.  I recall going with mom to an auction ( downtown?).  She bought a bunch of stuff to replace the furniture in our living room.  Terry, were you with us?  We lugged it all back home because we had no truck.  The old stuff went in the back room.  Boy was Dad surprised.  Mom was determined to update the furniture.

Barb's Comments

I remember that weekend. I - I can't remember which other sibling-was gone for the weekend with dad. The furniture was there by the time we got home. Dad came home a few days later and complained about being embarrassed because guys were giving him such a hard time because he wasn't there to get the furniture home. Apparently, mom and the boys carried it home from the auction. 

Steve's Comments

I remember the auction extremely well.  It was held beside the Ben Franklin store.  Dad left mom in charge and left her money as we was going to some racetrack in Colorado.  The back room was completed so it needed stuff and mom shopped very well.  The we all got to help carry every thing home afterwards.  No pickups, no trucks, just good old fashioned elbows and asses like that one old German said about picking rocks.  It was an evening auction too as it was dark when we carried stuff through the alley. Maybe it was the uncomfortable furniture that made 5 o’clock Charlie quit stopping by the house?  

Barb's Anniversary Letter

Barb must have been just 8 years old at the time when she wrote the card. It was nice that dad saved this card and placed it in the silverware chest.