August 1, 2016
The biggest and most popular island event of the summer returns on August 13 and 14 when the Orr’s and Bailey Islands Fire Department hosts its 23rd annual fundraising auction and yard sale.
As always, the summer celebration of community spirit will feature a giant yard sale, silent auction, cooked-to-order food and a live auction of antiques, art, collectibles and other items.
The biggest and most popular island event of the summer returns on August 13 and 14 when the Orr’s and Bailey Islands Fire Department hosts its 23rd annual fundraising auction and yard sale.
As always, the summer celebration of community spirit will feature a giant yard sale, silent auction, cooked-to-order food and a live auction of antiques, art, collectibles and other items.
The
yard sale will run from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The live
auction will begin at 10 a.m. Sunday, with preview and registration starting at
9 a.m. The silent auction of donated goods and services will be open from 8
a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday and 8 a.m. to noon on Sunday.
Breakfast and lunch will be served both days and there will be live music on Saturday.
The event features items donated by area residents and visitors throughout the year. Many of the most unique and valuable pieces are typically sold at the Sunday auction, though many surprises and treasures can be found in the yard sale, which is held on the grounds around the fire station and inside the adjacent historic Orr's Island Schoolhouse on Harpswell Islands Road, Route 24.
Michael Helfgott, president of the OBIFD Board of Directors, said donors have been even more generous than usual this year, with sale items already filling fire department facilities and overflowing to private garage space loaned by volunteers.
Breakfast and lunch will be served both days and there will be live music on Saturday.
The event features items donated by area residents and visitors throughout the year. Many of the most unique and valuable pieces are typically sold at the Sunday auction, though many surprises and treasures can be found in the yard sale, which is held on the grounds around the fire station and inside the adjacent historic Orr's Island Schoolhouse on Harpswell Islands Road, Route 24.
Michael Helfgott, president of the OBIFD Board of Directors, said donors have been even more generous than usual this year, with sale items already filling fire department facilities and overflowing to private garage space loaned by volunteers.
“The
support for this event and the fire department in general is amazing,” Helfgott
said. “We are all so fortunate to live in such a generous and united
community.”
One
of the most unique and noteworthy donations this year is a piece of granite
used in the original construction of the historic Cribstone Bridge connecting
Orr’s and Bailey Islands. The stone block, originally installed in 1927-1928,
was removed during reconstruction of the bridge in 2009-2010.
Donated
to OBIFD by Lance and Donna Linkel, owners of Linkel Construction, Inc., and
Cosmic Stone and Garden Supply of Topsham, the block weighs about a ton and is
about 5 feet long and 18 inches wide and high. Drill marks are visible from the
original splitting at the quarry.
The block is expected to be used as a bench sitting on the ground or potentially on short legs. Linkel Construction will deliver to the stone to the winning bidder and set it in a spot accessible from the road or driveway. More in-depth installation or customization can be negotiated directly with Linkel.
“We are really excited to be able to offer this piece of island history and hope to help it find a new home in the community,” Helfgott said.
Historic local items, including old business signs, pictures and other artifacts, have been sold at the OBIFD auction over the years and have proven to be quite popular with bidders.
The block is expected to be used as a bench sitting on the ground or potentially on short legs. Linkel Construction will deliver to the stone to the winning bidder and set it in a spot accessible from the road or driveway. More in-depth installation or customization can be negotiated directly with Linkel.
“We are really excited to be able to offer this piece of island history and hope to help it find a new home in the community,” Helfgott said.
Historic local items, including old business signs, pictures and other artifacts, have been sold at the OBIFD auction over the years and have proven to be quite popular with bidders.
This
year’s sale with also feature several small boats, including a 12-foot O’Day
Widgeon O’Day sailboat; a 10-foot wooden Susan Skiff built at the Apprenticeshop
in Rockland; a Grand Mere canoe custom built in Quebec; an aluminum canoe; and
other small skiffs.
The auction will also feature a number of fine furniture pieces, including an antique china cabinet; a Smith America pump organ; several antique tables; bureaus; and lots of art, including a poster hand-signed by noted Maine artist Jamie Wyeth.
The auction will also feature a number of fine furniture pieces, including an antique china cabinet; a Smith America pump organ; several antique tables; bureaus; and lots of art, including a poster hand-signed by noted Maine artist Jamie Wyeth.
Other
items include desks, bureaus, rocking chairs, dining room sets, lamps, bicycles
and more.
The
yard sale, held in the adjacent schoolhouse, on the lawn and in two big tents
out back, will offer a wide range of household goods, bric-a-brac, holiday
decorations, small antiques, tools and toys.
The
silent auction will feature gift certificates donated by area businesses,
offering meals, services, recreation opportunities and more.
Breakfast,
lunch and snacks will be offered for sale on both days. The breakfast menu
includes made-to-order sandwiches and bakery items, while lunch features
grilled hot and sweet sausages, hamburgers, veggie burgers, hot dogs, grilled
cheese sandwiches, soft pretzels, other snacks, beverages and deserts.
For the first time, there will also be live music to entertain shoppers on Saturday. Lively and lovely instrumental music from the English Country Dance repertoire of the 17th and 18th centuries will be performed on flute, fiddle, and mandolins by musicians from the 317 Main Community Music Center of Yarmouth.
Proceeds from the event benefit the Orr's & Bailey Islands Fire Department, which provides fire and rescue services on Orr's and Bailey Islands and portions of Great Island east of the Mountain Road bridge and south of Stevens Corner Road on Route 24. All money raised goes to support the fire and rescue operations and for training to better serve the community.
For the first time, there will also be live music to entertain shoppers on Saturday. Lively and lovely instrumental music from the English Country Dance repertoire of the 17th and 18th centuries will be performed on flute, fiddle, and mandolins by musicians from the 317 Main Community Music Center of Yarmouth.
Proceeds from the event benefit the Orr's & Bailey Islands Fire Department, which provides fire and rescue services on Orr's and Bailey Islands and portions of Great Island east of the Mountain Road bridge and south of Stevens Corner Road on Route 24. All money raised goes to support the fire and rescue operations and for training to better serve the community.
Donations
are still needed for the auction and yard sale.
Items may be dropped off at the Orr's Island fire station from 9 a.m. to
1 p.m. on Saturdays through August 8, or leave a message at 833-5405 to arrange
for another time or schedule a pickup of donations by fire department volunteers. The fire department asks that items not be
left at the station unattended. Potential donors should also visit www.obifd.org
for donation guidelines, including a list of items which cannot be accepted.
There
is also a need for volunteers to work at the auction and yard sale. Volunteers
receive a t-shirt, free food and the appreciation of the community. Please call
207-833-5405 or email auction@obifd.org for information.
For
more information about the fire department or volunteering, visit www.obifd.org
or call 207-833-5405.