Harrison Auctions

After having been raised in an orphanage in Toledo, Ohio, I went to live with my dad’s brother in 1954, who raised horses and pony’s. We would often go to horse auctions and many antique and farm sales. At the age of 14 and 15, on one particular sale, the Auctioneer was on a wagon filled with many different items, from paint to tools, my uncle said "do you think you can do that as the auctioneer chanted," I said "no" but he put me up on the wagon and the auctioneer handed me a gallon of paint to try and sell. Of course I was frightened, I believe that was when I first got the bug. We continued to go to Auctions, it wasn’t until I married and settled down, that I decided to enter the Auction business. In 1973 I sent for a Auctioneer's course from the Knotts School of Auctioneering in Gallipolis, Ohio which offered reel to reel tapes. I sent for the tapes and taught myself. It took me about six months to pick up enough auction chanting and studying the laws. In Ohio you were required to take a test to become an apprentice. I served under another fully Licensed Auctioneer for one year in 1974. I then went before a commissioned board to take a written and verbal test. At the age of 37, I finally received my full Auctioneers License. In 1975, having already been raised and schooled in farm, antiques, and personal property, I continued to specialize in those areas. Then by opportunity only, did I expanded into businesses that were liquidating or down sizing.