Ken Wadginski estate to be sold Mar. 28 in Mississippi The lifetime collection of the late Ken Wadginski, who retired to the forgotten rural town of Hollow Rock, Tenn., and ended up buying many of the stores and buildings there, will be sold March 28th.
revolver from the same period; rare Winchester rifles; and other weapons, some of them carrying Civil War connections and significance. The vintage cars include two Model A’s (a truck and roadster); a Model T (perfect for street rod conversion); and a 1971 Oldsmobile 98, with 45,000 miles.
The vampire killing kit was made around the early 1900s, Mr. Stevens estimates. It contains four stakes, crosses, mirrors, guns with silver bullets, potions, vials, herbs, medicines, holy water and garlic. In October, Stevens Auction sold another, earlier vampire kit (circa 1800) for $14,850. The gambler’s kit-box, hinged and made of oak, contains playing cards, poker chips, daggers and a silver boot-pistol.
Many of the 500-600 lots will be items drawn from the many buildings in Hollow Rock that Mr. Wadginski frequented and eventually bought. Included will be about 20 rare showcases from Buckley’s Drug Store; vintage advertising signs from a bygone time; old lamps; artwork; antique furniture; a full tester bed; and more. “This is quite simply an auction that should not be missed,” Mr. Stevens remarked.
Today, Hollow Rock is a ghost town, with almost no residents and no industry or commerce to support it. But on Mar. 28, the town will come to life again in Stevens Auction Company’s showroom. Reserved seating will be available, with advance arrangements (recommended, as a packed house is anticipated). There will be no online bidding component, but phone and absentee bids will be accepted.
A preview will be held the day before the sale, Friday, Mar. 27, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. For lodging accommodations in Aberdeen, the Best Western Aberdeen Inn is recommended (662-369-4343). For accommodations and restaurants in Columbus (23 miles away), call the Columbus Convention & Visitors Bureau, at (662) 329-1191. The auction is located five blocks north of downtown Aberdeen.
Terms of the sale are cash, all major credit cards and pre-approved checks. All sales are final, with no warranty expressed or implied. Announcements made on auction day precede all other previous written material. A 12 percent buyer’s premium will be charged on the total purchase price, with a 2 percent discount for cash, business and personal checks (with proper ID), and wire transfers.
Stevens Auction Company’s next big sale will be held sometime in May (date and time still to be determined). Already consigned are Belter furniture pieces and a large Victorian rococo bedroom suite. Stevens Auction Company is always accepting quality consignments for future auctions. To consign an item, estate or collection, call them at (662) 369-2200; or, e-mail them at stevensauction@bellsouth.net.
To learn more about Stevens Auction Company, and the upcoming estate sale of Ken Wadginski (to include photos of many of the items to be sold), you may log on to www.stevensauction.com.
