The annual Southport Firemen’s Auction is a “great community gathering,” said Southport Fire Chief Gerry Gamage as he and 200 to 300 people took their places for the live auction portion of the sunny morning Saturday, Aug. 24.

After the 6 a.m. flea market and the 7 a.m. yard sale – where participants meandered inside and outside the station looking and buying the donated items “they just had to have,” including household items, bicycles, lamps, Christmas decorations and much more – Gamage asked his firefighters to gather near the station for a special presentation before the 9 a.m. live auction.

Hanging outside was the Francis H. Gaudette Honor Roll plaque, with the names of six honored Southport firefighters covered with a red ribbon. Standing beside Gamage was Diane Spofford Randlett, whose late husband, Guy Randlett, was the newest of the six names on the plaque. Gamage asked for a moment of silence for Guy, “a dedicated member of the department,” after which Diane untied the ribbon to reveal his name. She thanked the firefighters gathered and Gamage and others greeted her after the unveiling. Other names on the plaque include Richard B. Dill, Ralph L. Spinney, Earl W. Pratt, Ted Lingard and Frank H. Blake. Guy died in July 2023.

As “auctioneer” Gerry Gamage took his place in the special platform on the roof of the station – and he later announced that he is not a professional auctioneer, that he just “plays one on TV” – the bidding began as firefighters and children of firefighters brought forth the items for all to see. After a slew of tables and cabinets were sold – “Must be the year of the table,” said Gamage, the real fun began with the call for and presentation of “Rhonda.”

“Rhonda” is one of the mannequins donated to the auction before owner Mike Beane died in January of this year. Beane, a beloved Southport General Store employee, displayed the mannequins and other items on the lawn of his Southport home.

The laughs and bidding continued before Gamage declared the winner to be Southporter and auction helper Clayton Pottle who bid $160! This reporter wasn’t around for the bidding on the other mannequins.

Boothbay Region Fire Auxiliary was busy during the event cooking and selling breakfast sandwiches and donated baked goods.

As the bays of the station were emptied from the sale of the auction items, Gamage called for bids on the numerous boats on display across the street from the station in the school parking lot. That bidding began around 10:30.

Besides the “all ages” crowd, there were several dogs on leashes and firefighters managed to keep the vehicle traffic flowing and people safe in a makeshift lane around the crowded site.

On Sunday, Aug. 25, Gamage reported the 60th annual auction raised about $28,000.