Records Set at Annual Auction and Sale

August 19, 2013

The 20th annual summer auction and yard sale turned out to be the biggest and best ever for the Orr's and Bailey Islands Fire Department and the entire community.

More than $58,000 was raised at the two-day event, shattering previous fund-raising records.

"This just keeps getting better and better," said Wes Haynes, the fire department's safety officer and long-time auction chairman. "This community is amazing."

Hundreds of people attended the Sunday auction and the two-day yard sale held at the main fire station and adjacent old Orr's Island Schoolhouse on Route 24 on Orr's Island.

Top-selling items at the auction included a sailboat which sold for $8,000 after spirited bidding. Other big-ticket items included a Pace Arrow motor home $3,000, another sailboat for $2,500 and an antique china cabinet for about $1,000.

Several pieces of island history also attracted numerous bids, including old signs and other items from a former business on Mackerel Cove on Bailey Island and a recently closed motel on Orr's Island.

Some special auction items – including fresh-baked pies and a pair of roller skates purchased and donated back each year with the addition of the buyer’s signature – also raised hundreds of dollars.

Records also were set at the two-day yard sale held August 10 and 11 in and around the adjacent Old Orr’s Island Schoolhouse and from a silent auction of services, gift certificates and merchandise donated by area businesses. Sales of fresh-cooked breakfast and lunch also set new fund-raising records.

The auction began 20 years ago as an effort to raise money to help pay for training and equipment for the all-volunteer fire and rescue department. About $350 was raised the first year. A decade later, proceeds totaled about $22,000.

The weekend sale is widely considered a community tradition and one of the most anticipated events of the year. Many attendees noted they plan their summer visits around the event to take part in the community spirit and camaraderie on display each year.

Fire Chief Ed Blain, who served as one of the auctioneers, noted that spirit was on display not only in the size and enthusiasm of the crowds, but also in the number of people who donated items for sale or volunteered their time and energy to help make the weekend a success.

"This is not our event any more. It is the community's event. We're just the shepherds," Blain said.

All money raised at the sale helps fund the operation of the all-volunteer department, which provides fire and rescue services for Orr's and Bailey Islands and portions of Great Island east of the Mountain Road bridge and south of the Nazarene Church on Route 24.

For more information about OBIFD or volunteering, visit the department's web site at www.obifd.org.

Art Auction Raises Record Amount for Old Orr's Island Schoolhouse

August 1, 2013

A record-breaking amount was raised once again at the third annual art auction to benefit the the old Orr's Island Schoolhouse.

More than 50 items, including paintings, sculpture, photographs, jewelry and other artwork, were sold at the event, held July 6 at the old schoolhouse next to the Orr's and Bailey Islands Fire Department on Route 24 on Orr's Island. More than $7,000 was raised to help support the historic building.

“I'm happy to report that this year's auction was our best ever,” said Venise Minkowsky, who chairs the schoolhouse committee for the fire department, which manages the historic building. “We had something for everyone, from small ticket items like some pen & inks that sold for $20 to an oil painting that sold for over $1,000.”

The biggest sale of the night was for a painting by noted Orr's Island artist Brad McFadden of the late Bim Doughty, a long-time well-known island resident and artist himself. After spirited bidding, the painting sold for $1,040 to an Orr's Island resident.

One of Doughty's own pieces, a prized half boat carving donated by his family, later sold for $375.

Other popular items included a $500 bird sculpture by Tim Carberry of Orr's Island; two paintings by the late Dick Herdegen of Bailey Island, which sold for over $400 each; two paintings by Lauren Andreach of Bailey Island, which sold for $350 a piece; and a commissioned work by Emily Leonard Trenholm, which went for more than $300.

This year's auction also featured several mini lunchboxes decorated especially for the event by several local artists. The biggest bids went for a box painted by Brad McFadden, followed by works by Dawn Prindall and VA Brown, Tom Budzinski, Lisa Burke and Tim McCreight.

“We owe a deep appreciation of thanks to all the artists who contributed, along with the people who came to participate in the auction,” Venise Miknowsky said. “It is wonderful to see so much support for preserving the schoolhouse, which is a real community treasure.”

Participating artists in the event included Lauren Andreach, Doug Bane, Steve Black, Lisa Burke, Tom Brudzinski, Tim Carberry, Donna Coffin, May Cote, Norman Curtis, Dan Dostie, Gloria Doughty, Ruth Hartman, Dick Herdegen, Jed Hickson, Nancy Hill, Tom Jones, Sharon Jones, Heinz Lehman, Margaret Leonard, Lucy's Funky Fish, Tim McCreight, Brad McFadden, Scott Minkowsky, Kimball Page, Dawn Prindall and VA Brown, Jan Roberson, Zamy Steynovit and Emily Leonard Trenholm.

Ed Blain, chief of the Orr's and Bailey Islands Fire Department, once again served as auctioneer at the event.

An important part of Harpswell history, the building was originally a two-room school for island children. Now used for a variety of community, public and private events, the schoolhouse is self-supporting, depending on income from event rentals, fund raisers and donations to maintain the building and grounds.

Proceeds from this year's event will be used to fund ongoing projects at the schoolhouse, including painting, new flooring and other improvements. 

For more information about the schoolhouse, or to inquire about rentals, please contact Venise Minkowsky at 833-7386 or visit orrsislandschoolhouse.com.