TOWNHOUSE ANTIQUES OF ABBOTSFORD, WI GOING OUT OF BUSINESS AFTER 40 YEARS!
August 2009
Dorothy Mazza, propietor of Townhouse Antiques in Abbotsford, Wisconsin for over 40 years, has decided to close her shop. Two live auctions are scheduled for September 12th and 13th in the Wausau, WI area.
It's hard to believe that Dorothy is 88 years old, as she has a very quick mind and gets along like someone much younger. Her knowledge of antiques is amazing - she has a true passion!
Dorothy is well-known in Wisconsin and Minnesota as a quality dealer, and has appreciated fine things her entire life. Years ago she became friends with the late Mrs. Fisher, who was a well-known antique dealer in Wisconsin Rapids. That friendship, and her friendship with Mrs. Fisher's daughter, was part of the reason that Dorothy decided to start her own business some 40 years ago.
Originally, she operated two antique stores in the Abbotsford area- the Farmhouse Antique Store in rural Abbotsford, and the Townhouse Antique Store in the city.
Most of Dorothy's ourchases were made from a loyal group of "pickers," who knew that quality and condition were required. She was adamant about keeping regular hours at her shop, and would even postpone her attendance at family events until the shop closed at its scheduled time.
Dorothy's days off were spent buying, often taking famliy members along. Nephew Bill (who sells windows LOL) has fond memories of experiencing Aunt Dorothy's excitement when she made a great discovery. He said she would "shake with excitement like she had discovered the 'Gems of Egypt!'
Niece Joni recalled how it was always so fun to visit her aunt, as she always lived with her antiques. The antique store was also her home and Joni used to dream of taking over the business someday.....
Aunt Dorothy influenced another niece, Debbie, who has also developed a passion for antiques, and according to Aunt Dorothy, has become quite knowledgable as well.
When talking with Dorothy, it is easy to see why she has so many caring nieces and nephews around her. She feels so blessed to have them in her life, and I am sure they feel the same.
After decades of exciting times in the antique world, I'm sure it is hard for Dorothy to quit the business. Until very recently, she would still open Townhouse Antique Store on the weekend, enjoying the many friends who would stop in to buy or just to visit.
As the saying goes though, all good things must come to an end, and Dorothy Mazza feels that the time is now. Everything in the two-story building, which is brimming with quality merchandise, must be sold in order to sell the real estate. She has two live auctions scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, September 12th &13th, at the Schmidt Ballroom in the Wausau, WI. area. Auctioneer Carol Miller of Bailey's Honor Auction in the Milwaukee area, will join Auctioneer Nellie Beland of Superior Auction & Appraisal of Menominee, MI. in conducting the auctions.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Colonel Ed Walk
“ALL IN ALL DONE”…COLONEL ED WALK
The only “Colonel” in our town was Ed Walk. Colonel Walk died this last year at the age of 85, and his legacy as an auctioneer will always be remembered.
He was one of the “old-timers” who never used a speaker system, and very reluctantly started using the paper clerking system which is now long outdated.
I remember when Colonel Ed and his cashier Roy Chmela, conducted their auctions with Roy wearing an apron and collecting the dollars bid by going out into the crowd to the successful bidder. Eventually Ed used the CT-12 paper clerking system, realizing that it “might” be a little easier that way……..
Colonel Walk was of the “old-school,” usually not hiring any ring-people prior to the auction. He always had Roy by his side, but sometimes didn’t even have a clerk scheduled and would just request someone he knew from the crowd. Cliff Boessen was a constant with Ed for many years, often performing a lot of the grunt work necessary prior to the auction, and then assisting Colonel Walk at the sale. Danny Bayee was another dedicated auction worker for Ed, typically clerking many of the auctions in the Marinette-Menominee area.
Ed was a good mentor to me when I was just starting out. He stood behind some shrubs during my first “solo” auction and kept on saying “faster Nellie- faster!” Heck, I was so scared that I was just happy that ANY words or numbers were coming out of my mouth – regardless of the speed, (or lack) of them!!
Ed and I used to drive around together just for the camaraderie, but I soon realized that it was a good thing that I was a habitual seatbelt-wearer. We’d be driving down Highway 64 and all of a sudden he would slam on the brakes and exclaim “I had an auction at that farm in (19….) and we sold (……..) for ($…..)! It didn’t matter which rural highway we were on, the same thing happened time after time. What a memory! (I can only guess that his lack of exposure to computers, cell-phones, etc made for a much “roomier” mind). That’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it…………..
Colonel Walk was a very patriotic guy, especially after serving in World War 2 and receiving many awards and citations. Many times he would start his auctions with the Pledge of Allegiance and sometimes would even get the crowd to sing the National Anthem! A frustrating side issue of his patriotism to the competitive bidders was that he would sometimes get “sidetracked” when selling an item that reminded him of Americanism and proceed to tell “war stories” until he felt like stopping……………
He was always fastidious in his appearance, wearing his usual “uniform” of green work pants and shirt, as well as his signature cowboy hat. He spoke his mind, and I fondly use some of his sayings while conducting my own auctions. When the crowd would get a little too loud in their socializing, and the actual bidders would have a hard time hearing where the bid was at, he’d holler out “HOLD LADY’S AID TOMMOROW……TODAY WE’RE HAVING AN AUCTION!!” And the saying, “you can’t please all of the people all of the time” would once in a while relate to an unhappy client who had unrealistic expectations. His advice to me for those situations was “pay them and get the hell out of there!” Fortunately, the majority of Ed’s clients were very happy with his services though.
Ed worked for the Scott Paper Company for 39 years before achieving his dream of becoming an auctioneer. In 1964, Colonel Walk attended the Reich American School of Auctioneering in Mason City, Iowa and combined that knowledge with his basic principles of hard work and honesty to create a successful career in the auction industry.
I can still hear him saying “25…30….35………….all in all done???? SOLD!”
Auctioneer Nellie Beland
Superior Auction & Appraisal LLC
906-864-2942
www.superiorauction.net
The only “Colonel” in our town was Ed Walk. Colonel Walk died this last year at the age of 85, and his legacy as an auctioneer will always be remembered.
He was one of the “old-timers” who never used a speaker system, and very reluctantly started using the paper clerking system which is now long outdated.
I remember when Colonel Ed and his cashier Roy Chmela, conducted their auctions with Roy wearing an apron and collecting the dollars bid by going out into the crowd to the successful bidder. Eventually Ed used the CT-12 paper clerking system, realizing that it “might” be a little easier that way……..
Colonel Walk was of the “old-school,” usually not hiring any ring-people prior to the auction. He always had Roy by his side, but sometimes didn’t even have a clerk scheduled and would just request someone he knew from the crowd. Cliff Boessen was a constant with Ed for many years, often performing a lot of the grunt work necessary prior to the auction, and then assisting Colonel Walk at the sale. Danny Bayee was another dedicated auction worker for Ed, typically clerking many of the auctions in the Marinette-Menominee area.
Ed was a good mentor to me when I was just starting out. He stood behind some shrubs during my first “solo” auction and kept on saying “faster Nellie- faster!” Heck, I was so scared that I was just happy that ANY words or numbers were coming out of my mouth – regardless of the speed, (or lack) of them!!
Ed and I used to drive around together just for the camaraderie, but I soon realized that it was a good thing that I was a habitual seatbelt-wearer. We’d be driving down Highway 64 and all of a sudden he would slam on the brakes and exclaim “I had an auction at that farm in (19….) and we sold (……..) for ($…..)! It didn’t matter which rural highway we were on, the same thing happened time after time. What a memory! (I can only guess that his lack of exposure to computers, cell-phones, etc made for a much “roomier” mind). That’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it…………..
Colonel Walk was a very patriotic guy, especially after serving in World War 2 and receiving many awards and citations. Many times he would start his auctions with the Pledge of Allegiance and sometimes would even get the crowd to sing the National Anthem! A frustrating side issue of his patriotism to the competitive bidders was that he would sometimes get “sidetracked” when selling an item that reminded him of Americanism and proceed to tell “war stories” until he felt like stopping……………
He was always fastidious in his appearance, wearing his usual “uniform” of green work pants and shirt, as well as his signature cowboy hat. He spoke his mind, and I fondly use some of his sayings while conducting my own auctions. When the crowd would get a little too loud in their socializing, and the actual bidders would have a hard time hearing where the bid was at, he’d holler out “HOLD LADY’S AID TOMMOROW……TODAY WE’RE HAVING AN AUCTION!!” And the saying, “you can’t please all of the people all of the time” would once in a while relate to an unhappy client who had unrealistic expectations. His advice to me for those situations was “pay them and get the hell out of there!” Fortunately, the majority of Ed’s clients were very happy with his services though.
Ed worked for the Scott Paper Company for 39 years before achieving his dream of becoming an auctioneer. In 1964, Colonel Walk attended the Reich American School of Auctioneering in Mason City, Iowa and combined that knowledge with his basic principles of hard work and honesty to create a successful career in the auction industry.
I can still hear him saying “25…30….35………….all in all done???? SOLD!”
Auctioneer Nellie Beland
Superior Auction & Appraisal LLC
906-864-2942
www.superiorauction.net
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Beland will Continue Leadership with WAA in 2009
2008 WAA President Nellie Beland, CAI, CES, CAGA, of Menominee, Michigan and Marinette, Wisconsin, will continue her service in 2009 to the Wisconsin Auctioneer’s Association. Beland will serve as the 2009 “Past President” on the WAA Board of Directors and will be participating in her ninth year with WAA in promoting professionalism in the auction industry in Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Beland holds degrees and certificates from the Missouri Auction School in Kansas City, MO, Indiana State University in Bloomington, Indiana (CAI), Certified Appraisal’s Guild of America in Dallas, TX, an associate’s degree in management from Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, and a Certified Estate Specialist designation from the Auction Marketing Institute (AMI). As lead auctioneer, she owns and operates Superior Auction & Appraisal, LLC, especially successful in selling prime Real Estate at Auction, Commercial Equipment, Vintage and Estate Jewelry, and Quality Estates and Antiques in the State of Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
Superior Auction & Appraisal LLC is well known for incorporating the “Fun Element” of auctions, which is conducive to a successful event for both the sellers and the buyers.
The auction company is fully computerized, offers both “Live” and Internet auctions to maximize exposure for your merchandise, and employs over 20 part-time and full-time associates with a large variety of experience and expertise in several areas.
Superior Auction & Appraisal LLC is well known for incorporating the “Fun Element” of auctions, which is conducive to a successful event for both the sellers and the buyers.
The auction company is fully computerized, offers both “Live” and Internet auctions to maximize exposure for your merchandise, and employs over 20 part-time and full-time associates with a large variety of experience and expertise in several areas.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Superior Auction Wins First Place
At the recent Wisconsin Auctioneer’s Conference & Show, a panel of judges chose Superior Auction’s “Real Estate Advertising” on-site sign for a multi-parcel auction for a first place award. Other first place awards in recent years included the company’s “duck boat’ in the Unique Promotional Item category, three first place “Best Website” awards, and two “Best of Show” in the advertising categories.
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