Absolute Auction At A Tobacco Warehouse

Ever been to an auction at a tobacco warehouse? It was my first time, too.

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Out in Bloomfield, KY, a local legend decided to sell some of his antiques. A small part of Mr. Terry B.’s lifetime collection was auctioned at the Old Nelson County Tobacco Warehouse. Mr. Terry bought pretty much anything that resembled an antique, including the tobacco warehouse itself.

The warehouse, a vast, cavernous building, was filled with old-timey stuff from front to back. Mr. Terry had a penchant for collecting big heavy pieces, like an entire soda fountain and a whole wall of post office boxes.

There was so much stuff to sell that two auctioneers ran simultaneously – one inside and one outside. I was torn where to stand.

The bidding was fierce. Prices ran high. Mr. Terry had a good eye for collecting valuables.

I bid on a few things, but got priced out of most. Managed to buy a couple of firkins. (That’s a good Scrabble word – firkin.)  It’s a wooden basket with a lid and handles. Made to store kitchen supplies, like sugar, flour, etc. Bug proof and moisture resistant. Pioneer technology.

The auctioneers moved fast. After a couple of hours everything that had been hauled outside was sold.

It looked like it would take all day to sell what remained inside the the tobacco warehouse.

I gave up around noon and headed over to Ernie’s Tavern in downtown Bloomfield for lunch. A fun place with a little 4-lane bowling alley and ice cream shoppe.

After lunch I firkined on home with my treasures. Let me know when you sell more stuff, Mr. Terry!