Muddy Pond, TN.—May 15^th,-What is it that drives so many of us towards wanting to spend a day, or night looking at, and bidding on someone else’s old stuff? Bargains I guess, but I believe it’s a lot more than that. From dishes to tractors, rusting tools, old water pumps, to an automobile, lamp or roll top desk, or even a house and land, auctions are a great way for many folks to quickly dispose of their earthly goods, and get some cash.

An auction is a special happening. Watching other people bid on items, is interesting, entertaining and fun, you can also learn values of your own items at home, too! Getting something at a perceived “good” price just plain feels good.  

We know of the big guys like Christie’s and Sotheby’s that sell items sometimes in the millions of dollars, the top end of the auction sales dollars scale. However, for every one of their auctions, there are thousands of auctions all around the country selling beds, old clothes, books, gold jewelry, silver, copper and brass sundries, furniture–you name it, they sell it!  Hands go up, a tip of the hat, a flip of the finger, and buyers number cards are flashed for a bid, many bidders wait for the very last minute to when the auctioneer counts down “going once, going twice, going three times” slams the hammer down and says “sold.” In our area there’s Pages Auction on RT. 127, and there’s an auction just across the street from the Chronicle at Little Angels each Friday night. But in just about every burg in Tennessee, there will be an auction to go to, as well.

There’s usually a food vendor selling chili dogs, burgers and soda pop, and sometimes, as I found at a recent fund raising auction for the Muddy Pond volunteer fire department, The Mennonite community ladies had pie selections that even now are making my mouth water just thinking about them. I passed on the burgers and dogs, and settled on the pies.  I can still savor the shoofly, blueberry and coconut cream pieces I sampled for lunch that day, on my palate, and in my mind.

Hundreds of folks showed up for this yearly “happening” that featured horse tack, new hand made playhouses and sheds, electric tool and knife sharpeners (I bought one too) wagon wheels, wagons, furniture, lamps, vehicles, farm animals and equipment-even a mule, some ducks, chicks and rabbits. I was happy to buy some tomato and pepper plants-I passed on the mule! Everybody loves the moveable feast of an auction.

Auctions that have variety in their diversity and a colorful auctioneer, draw big crowds. The Muddy Pond, a farming community that prides itself in fine home and shop crafted items; the whole feeling was old country communal and charming. The event made for a very enjoyable occasion. I know people that have completely outfitted their home or apartment from auctions at 10-percent what would have cost them list price new.