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When the start of the 73rd annual Back Mountain Memorial Library Auction began at 5 p.m. on Thursday, the brother-and-sister team of Bill and Pat Peiffer were roaming about the grounds making sure everything was ready to go.
At 6:30 p.m. bells tolled and the crowd headed toward the auction stand eagerly awaiting for the first item up for bid.
Auctioneer Carol Sweeney, with the help of state Rep. Karen Boback, , called out the first item.
Within minutes, all seats available were full when bidding took place.
Bill and Pat Peiffer, lifelong residents of the Back Mountain, are in their second year as co-chairs of the event.
The Peiffers learned a lot in their first year and much of their knowledge carried over to year two.
“We were asked to do this again this year when a friend of ours asked,” Pat said. “A lot of stuff last year just followed through to this year.”
“The biggest thing we learned from last year is to expect the unexpected,” Bill said. “Just be alert for what’s going on around and try to head off any possible problems and let everybody enjoy the auction.”
In their first year as co-chairs, the Peiffers said the weather cooperated with hopes of a repeat this year.
Pat has been attending the auction since she was 2 years old.
“I enjoy sitting and watching what people are bidding on and what things will go for, it’s amazing,” she said. “It will really shock you what some people will bid on. Something you think wouldn’t bring in anything will bring in a couple hundred dollars and something that is really nice and they will be lucky if they get $20 for it.”
Throughout the grounds are plenty of vendors selling anything from antiques to sports items. There are food tents and food vendors and a flea market tent.
Bruce Lefkowitz and Deana Manzoni, of Kingston, were two of the many sifting through flea market items. Both have been attending the auction for many years not only picking up items, but also each year Manzoni donates items for the auction.
“I like to hit the first night with the junk tent and see what beautiful treasures you can find and you never know what you’re looking for,” Manzoni said. “It might just be popping up ’cause everybody gets rid of everything and it might be something I needed.”
“Not only does Deana like to come here for tonight, but she likes to contribute all year long,” Lefkowitz said.
Manzoni admits to attending the auction for close to 30 years donated CDs and other items for this year.
One man’s junk is another man’s treasure, but according to Lefkowitz he calls flea market items “hidden gems.”
Lefkowitz was holding in his hand a silver-pewter mug.
“As I was walking through (the tables of items) I came across this mug with my brother’s name on it,” he said.
Manzoni’s biggest find came a few years back after she purchased a Nikon camera.
“I bought myself a beautiful Nikon camera and I didn’t buy a case and honest to God, I walked through the flea market and I came across a brand-new Nikon camera bag,” Manzoni boasted.
Locally known artist Sue Hand has been painting auction ground scenery for 29 years. The paintings are then donated and auctioned off on the last night of the auction.
“It was a challenge to paint something moving and the auction is moving, so I started it 29 years ago and I’ve just kept going,” Hand said.
Over the last few years, she’s been bringing a few of her art students to help contribute with the paintings.
Maya Gross, 11, of Shavertown is one of the student artists this year along with Lindsay Matinas and Keerstyn Tabor, both 12, from Dallas.
“I feel really honored that she asked me to paint this year,” Gross said. “In the past she has taken high school students.”
Gross admitted she’s nervous but is confident she and her partners will complete the project for Sunday night.
The Back Mountain Memorial Library Auction continues through Sunday evening.
