Lynnfield history up for auction

LYNNFIELD – The contents of 200-year-old Centre Farm will be sold at an old-fashioned on site auction on Sept. 13 and 14 by John McInnis Auctioneers.The Town of Lynnfield recently purchased the historic home for preservation and the contents must be liquidated per order of the trustees.With over 5,000 square feet of living space this home amassed the personal collection of Dr. Alfred and Maureen Donovan. The auction will feature rare medical instruments and devices including items pertaining to Oliver Wendell Holmes, local history collection, Americana, primitives, rugs, porcelain collections, several antique cars, horse drawn vehicles, furniture, glass, china, jewelry, coins, Shaker rockers, American prints and paintings including an oil on canvas of Castle Island, Boston Harbor, by S.T. Hodgdon, signed and dated 1862, Ship Mercury of Boston, oriental carpets, crocks, signed Babe Ruth baseball, early child chairs and toys, Wedgewood, Jasperware, Belleek, prints, stereo views, postcards, ephemera, mission furniture, canes and walking sticks. There is also a wonderful selection of hundreds of pieces of estate jewelry removed from the safe deposit boxes.A highlight of the sale is a rare 18th century walnut secretary desk crafted by noted cabinetmaker William Seay of the North Carolina School. Recently discovered on an episode of the Antique Roadshow, the exquisite secretary was purchased by Dr. Donovan and his wife through the antiques wing of Jordan Marsh department store during the 1970s. It has a pre-auction estimate of $50,000 to $70,000.Centre Farm is located in the heart of Lynnfield?s historic old center at 567 Main St. The auction will be held in multiple sessions. Beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 13 the first session will feature the contents of the house.The jewelry collection will be sold beginning at approximately 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 14 will be a discovery auction featuring the contents of the carriage house, the barn and other items removed from the house beginning at 10 a.m.The carriage house and barn will only be open for preview on Sunday morning prior to the sale. The antique vehicles will be sold at 11 a.m. and medical collection at 2 p.m. Preview begins each day at 8 a.m.?This should be a fun sale,” said Dan Meader, gallery manager, McInnis Auctioneers. “It is an old-fashioned on site sale with no online bidding. There will be something in every price range and probably every category. Honestly, we are still uncovering the contents of the barn and carriage house.”John McInnis is a licensed auctioneer in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine and Florida. The staff travels all over the United States seeking estate collections for our auctions. In addition, they hold free appraisal days in the Amesbury Gallery, 76 Main St., every Thursday.For information about upcoming sales, consigning or appraisals visit the website at www.mcinnisauctions.com or call 978-388-0400.