Date: Fri 09-Oct-1998

Publication: Ant

Author: SHIRLE

Quick Words:

Steenburgh

Full Text:

Labor Day Fun At Steenburgh Auction

By Bob Jackman

EAST HAVERHILL, N.H. -- On September 6, Archie Steenburgh conducted his 26th

annual Labor Day auction beneath a tent pitched on a plain surrounded by the

White Mountains and within five miles of the Appalachian Trail.

Bidders were compelled to attend, since neither phone or absentee bids were

accepted. Some 268 bidding numbers were issued to the crowd of 500. Selling

proceeded at about 100 lots an hour. There were no reserves, and all 650 lots

sold.

Archie Steenburgh left New York City in 1967 to teach history in a Woodsville,

N.H. In 1973, he was appointed to the faculty at Plymouth State College. He

took early retirement from the college in 1996, but as professor emeritus he

advises a few student teachers and teaches an occasional course. He serves as

Haverhill's town moderator and as a board member at the Woodsville Savings

Bank.

In 1971, to furnish their home, Archie and Martha Steenburgh began attending

auctions in Landaff conducted by George Clements. Archie reports, "After about

a year, George said, `You've been coming here every week. Now it's time to go

to work.'" The two were partners until George passed away ten years later. The

banking and legal contacts developed by George Clements are Steenburgh's

clients today.

Steenburgh will conduct between 30 and 35 auctions this year. Traditionally,

the largest sales have been holiday auctions held at his field in East

Haverhill. His Columbus Day sales are becoming as important as his Memorial

Day, Independence Day and Labor Day auctions. Most of the firm's other sales

are estate auctions conducted on site under a tent.

Steenburgh auctions continue to be family affairs. The management and selling

is now shared by Archie and his son, Josh. Josh got his auctioneer's license

in 1990, and graduated from Bates College with a degree in art. After painting

in Texas for two years, he returned to the auction business in 1996. Martha

Steenburgh, Archie's wife, manages the office. Daughter Carrie graduated from

Vassar College and now teaches in Boston. She works as a runner at half a

dozen major auctions each year.

Archie had checks available for consignors the day after the auction.

Theoretically, the deadline for consigning merchandise was the day before the

auction, but several postcards albums were accepted that morning. Steenburgh

auctions typically have had some good merchandise arrive after the last

advertisement is printed. The firm doesn't publish catalogues or lists, so

buyers always plan to spend the day.

Merchandise reflects the culture of Connecticut River Valley between

Littleton, N.H., and Woodstock, Vt. Haverhill was the first center of commerce

in central or northern New Hampshire, but the few Colonial lots offered at

this sale had extensive restoration.

Settlement of the region increased from 1850 to 1930. Most merchandise came

from that period. Steenburgh offered a good selection of Empire, Victorian and

Arts and Crafts furniture. Wicker was in excellent condition.

Many of the marketable smalls were items that were inexpensive in their day,

but which have become scarce and desirable. These included toys by Marx and

Schoenhut, and a half dozen cast-iron doorstops. A deep selection of local

photographs included views of horseless carriages, logging and disasters.

Textiles, which used to be a bargain until local dealers discovered urban

audiences, included a set of a dozen appliqued story panels with Egyptian

scenes, $1,540.

The few Oriental rugs offered were competitively bid, the highest to $990. The

rugs appeared to be of 1880-1930 vintage.

Some of Steenburgh's buyers are collectors with second homes in Vermont and

New Hampshire. Some were local folks with winter addresses in the South. Among

those bidding on Nineteenth Century polished furniture were Massachusetts

dealer Royal Feltner, and New Hampshire dealers Barbara and Stu Smith, Ken

Ryan, Jack Cryan Barton, and Thomas May. Cryan dominated sales of photographic

hardware.

George Paige, a retired postal service administrator and auction runner, said

of the Steenburgh crew: "This is an excellent staff. We work together, we

party together. We have fun." That sense of fun was imparted to the audience,

which comfortably joined in the laughter, kidding and pranks. A good time was

had by all.