There were several auctions in this area, years ago, that were a weekly event. Every Thursday many people, including myself, went to the auction that was held in a huge old factory building. Due to the size of the building, the auctioneer was able to rent space for a flea market, a snack bar, and also have a huge display area for items that would be offered in future auctions.

Some estates take time to settle. Such was the case of an estate of an elderly lady that moved to Florida, leaving her entire estate's contents to the family to disperse at this auction house for her. The family were in a dispute, so most of the items from this ladies estate were stored at the auctioneer's huge old factory building. The most beautiful items, such as antique cabinets, paintings, porcelain and clocks, were on display as an auction preview, waiting to be sold at an unknown date, due to the family dispute.

Every Thursday I would stand in front of one of those beautiful antique cabinets from the estate viewing an antique doll that had won my heart. It was as though I was visiting this doll until I could claim it as my own. Needless to say, it was an antique baby or young toddler type doll - cute as could be.

I was fortunate to be good friends with the auctioneer and his family. Every week, I would go into the clerk's office to sit with his wife and joke about my plans to kidnap the doll, due to the long length of time, waiting for it to be sold. It was over a year of waiting. In fact it was almost 2 years of waiting. Finally, the big day arrived. The estate was amazing. The jewelry was the finest Victorian jewelry that is seldom seen, even today. The paintings so beautiful, the porcelain, the lamps, all of it. Honest to goodness every single item in this estate was a treasure to behold. I was there an hour before the auction began, which began at 8 in the morning, and I was there till the last item sold, which was late into the night.

Everyone there bid as though warriors out to win the coveted items that were held up for bid, one by one. The doll was no exception, I paid dearly and never regretted it. I will always remember the day that little doll was finally mine. In those days, I was thought of as the doll lady, because I loved anything related to antique dolls. So, when the doll was handed to me, I felt everyone's smile, because they knew it was a doll I had been wanting for so long. That little doll sat in my lap, for the rest of the auction. After all, it was the little doll that had the eyes that said, "please wait for me"...and I did. Once in a while, something that has been handed down in a family for generations, until it has to be sold, is handed over to another, to enjoy as the cherished treasure it was, is, and will always be, along with a story to be told.

Thank you for enjoying my auction stories as much as I enjoy sharing them with you.

Best wishes, Linda Caricofe

RC Antiques on Ruby Lane