Evening star., 1936-05-08
RELICS
NET ONLY $1,000
Northampton Crowd of 800
Reluctant Bidders in
Criticized Sale.

NORTHAMPTON, Mass, May 8
(N.A.NA).-In the atmosphere OF
country fair, 800 souvenir hunters
yesterday bought odds and ends OF
!, things that once belonged to CALVIN
Coolidge.
These possessions of a President
were knocked down by George H.
Bean, local auctioneer, in the gym
nasium of the Smith Vocational
School, where Northampton sees its
basket ball games. Admission was 81,
which could be applied on the price
of any successful bid.
Historic background went cheap.
Nearly 400 items, from the bed room
suite in which the Coolidges began
their married life to mantel piece
bric-a -brac, sold for less than $4,000
The larger pieces barely brought the
prices of second hand furniture. but
dishes, vases and memorabilia at Sz
TO $40 proved popular.
Auctioneer Bean had provided Tor
five times the crowd. But he pro-
fessed himself satisfied with the re-
suits of the much-advertised sale OF
these miscellaneous household enectS
discarded by Mrs. Coolidge.
Others were less satisfied. AS the
successful bidders departed clutchlng
cherished bits of Coolidgiana, the
criticism that has been brewing in
Northampton since this curious sale
was first announced, broke about the
puzzled head of George Bean.
Sale Called Disgrace"
Z The Northampton Gazette greeteo
the auction with statement by Judge
Henry P. Field, in whose Office Calvin
Coolidge learned the law, that the
sale was "a disgrace to the CITY," ana
Ralph w. Hemenway, former law
partner of Mr.. Coolidge and stiii
counsel for Mrs. Coolidge, called the
collection "a bunch of junk" He at
tended the auction opening, evidently
representing Mrs Coolidge, who is
still in Europe, but when asked If he
meant to bid, he said, mot unless
was going to furnish Summer camp.
Northampton neighbors of the late
President and his widow expressed
their attitude by staying away. Juoge
Field, who is president of the Forbes
Library trustees, where President and
Mrs. Coolidge have placed possessions
that they considered of memorial
value. gave it as his opinion that
"the only people who will attend are
old women who never miss auctions
and funerals"
The crowd was largely composed ol
women. most of them coming IRON
a distance. They brought their knit
ting and some their lunches. The
sale ran from 1890 to $50 without
n break until the last item was sold
Mrs Coolidge is trying to sell the
Coolidge home, the Beeches. She
asked Bean, who is a secondhand
dealer as well as an auctioneer, tc
make her an offer for household ef-
fects she did not want to keep, from
the old Massasoit street house and
from the Beeches, besides goods
brought back from the White House
days. Bean persuaded her to let hin
auction it.
The envelope bearing Mrs. COOLIDGE
personal franking signature which In
closed the list of items for sale, wa
the first thing sold today. 1t brought
$3.50.
Old Cradle Withdrawn.
The most publicized item in the list
an old cradle, reputed to have beer
made by the father of Calvin Coolidge
was withdrawn from sale. Bean never
claimed that it Graded the President
but the story that it did became wide
spread and caused much talk.
A number of authentic publications
of the late President brought very
little. A large official-looking desk
that he used in Northampton city hall
as mayor brought only SIT. A small
mission desk and chair that stood in
the hall at Massasoit street sold fol-
$17.50.
A set of oak bookshelves that Cool
idge used as student at Amherst
sold for $32 to a professor at the
Massachusetts, State College, Guy
Glatfelter, who deals in antiques
This is not an antique but it is sure
to become one" Auctioneer Bean
promised. A hickory rocking chair
in which Coolidge is supposed to have
done his early porch sitting sold for 81
The oak double bed that Coolidge
bought from a local dealer at the
time of his marriage, went for S22
to the local hotel. Highest bid in the
sale was SCI for a large mahogany
desk and chair used by Mr.. Coolidge
after his return from the White House
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