Bluefield Daily Telegraph, Bluefield, WV

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July 23, 2010

Auction offers opportunity to own pieces of Iaeger history

By KATE COIL Bluefield Daily Telegraph

IAEGER — Local residents will have a chance to own a piece of history when items from the former Iaeger High School hit the auction block Saturday at 10 a.m. at the old school building.

Items to be auctioned include the gymnasium floor, bleachers, laboratory tables, lockers, desks, chairs, microscopes, office equipment and many other items.

McDowell County Schools Superintendent Jim Brown said the proceeds from the auction would go to benefit the new River View High School.

“The proceeds will go to River View High School’s general fund to offset costs of the initial needs when the school opens,” Brown said.

The principal and faculty of the new school will determine what the fund will be used for, though Brown said it could be spent on anything from sports uniforms to assemblies to school events.

Brown said there have already been inquiries into the items being auctioned and that some present at the auction may be looking for a piece of the old school to take home.

“Some people may be looking for memorabilia or something to signify the old school,” Brown said. “Others may be looking for furnishings. It’s a service, in a way, to the community.”

According to Brown, there is no set amount of money the school board hopes to raise with the auction.

“There’s no set target,” Brown said. “We would like to recoup the cost of the materials as best we can and then move on from there.”

However, some Iaeger residents, like Mayor Joe Ford, are reluctant to let the school go.

“I’m glad in one way, but in another way I’m not, because I could see how the building could benefit the community,” Ford said. “I would have liked to kept the whole building for recreational purposes. It could have boosted the city economy to have concerts and events there.”

Ford was also hoping the Iaeger football field could be utilized since the one at River View is yet to be completed.

“I was hoping they could still use the football field,” he said. “It was better to use this football field until they finish the one at River View. Now they’ll have to use one at Mount View or Big Creek.”

Ford does see how the auction will give local residents a chance to keep a piece of Iaeger history.

“It’ll be a good thing to sell it to people who care and will take care of it,” Ford said.

According to Ford, some of the school’s memorabilia has already been taken out and stored.

“A lot of stuff has already been taken out of the school such as pictures and trophies,” Ford said.

He also said items such as coolers, cafeteria materials and other equipment will most likely hit the auction block on Saturday.

Eddie Pauley of the Regency Real Estate and Auction Company will be leading the auction. He said there have already been inquiries on several items to be auctioned off from the school.

“The gym floor is highly desirable for some people that want it,” Pauley said. “If I can get them loose, we might be auctioning some bricks. They’ll be a token, something to remember. I’ve had several people call in on the bleachers.”

Pauley said many of those who have inquired about items went to the school and want to turn a piece of it into a keepsake.

“Many people went to the school and say they want something from it before they tear the school down,” Pauley said.

According to Pauley, the McDowell County School Board has already sent many items from the former school to other schools in the area to be used. The items being auctioned off on Saturday are among some the school board could not find a use for. Pauley does not know how many people will show up for the auction, but he said they will sell as much as they can.

“You never know how many will show up,” he said. “It would depend on who’s interested. We’ll sell it for whatever it brings. We’re going to absolutely sell it, whatever it brings.”

Pauley said he has been conducting auctions for local school boards for four years.

— Contact Kate Coil at kcoil@bdtonline.com

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