Murry Associates Build New Building To House Auction Center
LITITZ (Lancaster Co.) A
new 6,400 square foot building has
taken shape along the Lititz
Springs Creek off North Lane that
promises to be another boost for
the auction industry in Lancaster
County and the surrounding reg
ion. This new auction center that is
to open next Saturday, Sept 24. is
the dream of Elmer and Richard
Murry, the father and son team of
E.M. Murry Associates, head
quarted at 10 S. Broad St
“We have been looking for a
place to accommodate our auc
tions better than on a one-day set
up at a fire hall,” Richard said.
“Over three years we have investi
gated different places, running into
many bureaucratic obstacles.
Finally, at the end of July of this
year, we received final building
permits for the warehouse slab that
was used by Wilbur Chocolate
before a fire destroyed the building
four or five years ago.
“We feel we are beautifying
Lititz, and not only the town, but
we ate also providing a service to
Lancaster County and the sur
rounding area with another auction'
facility. The auction business is a
growing industry, and in many
areas this business is only in its
infancy.
“An auction is an answer to eco
nomics regardless if the economy
is good or bad,” Richard said.
“People sell in good times to make
a profit and in bad times they sell to
get out of debt or escape their
problems.”
The Murrys already have 13
auctions lined up for the new
QSBBB. bins and augers
ymak
Take ’em Down!
We Will Assemble & Deliver
Bins To Your Farm
building. At the opening sale they
have a full line of antiques, includ
ing Jaguar automobiles, Lionel
trains, machinist tools and fire
arms. They plan to hold auctions
every Monday and as they have
merchandise to sell.
The new building on leased land
is 40’x 160’ with an auction room,
offices and a large storage area.
Truck docks are in place to accom
modate easy unloading and load
ing access to the building.
Elmer Murry has been an auc
tioneer for 41 years, longer than
almost everyone else in Lancaster
County, that is still active. He likes
the business and hopes to “stick at
it a while longer.”
Of course, he has seen a lot of
change over the years. When he
started in 1953. he sold dry sinks
for $1.50. Now they bring up to
$1,500. A Dutch cupboard went
for $3OO or a Windsor chair for
$6O. but now you can get $1,200 or
$1,500 for either.
Carnival glass sold by the
basketful for 25 cents. Gaudy
Dutch went for $2O or $3O. Now
they bring in the $ 100’s.
Elmer said business runs in
cycles but not as much as when he
started. In the ’so’s you only had
sales in the spring and fall. There
was no such thing as a summer
auction. Then auctioneers began to
promote sales, develop logos and
advertise. This developed a
following.
“I hope I have done right by the
people,” Elmer said. “I have tried.
Everybody ‘flubs’ sometimes, but
We Stock Truckloads
Of Chore-Time Bins &
Miles Of Chore-Time
FLEX-AUGER
Bins...
Large Or Small
terns, Inc.
Store hours Mon -Fri 7 30t0430
Sot 8 00 to Noon
24 Hr 7 Day Repair Service
1-800-673-2580 ®
if you can square things away right
away, it doesn’t become serious.”
If you are into collecting, Elmer
suggests good solid plastics not
glued together. “Many of the items
today will never last long enough
to be called antiques,” Elmer said.
We live in a throw-away era. I
looked at a cherry table with
Queen Anne’s feet and six chairs
bought in the early 1930’5. I don’t
care what these items bring; they
will be worth more than anything
you can buy now. No reflection on
the furniture industry; they are just
meeting the market. But in 1930
you could still get something that
will last to become antique. Since
then, if you are going to use it, it
will not last.”
If Elmer were to summarize his
view of business, he would say it in
three words: “Observe,” “Com
pare,” and “Remember.” Observe
what you are selling, compare it
with something you sold before
like it, and remember that when
you go on to the next one like it.
“And always try to do your best
Always!” Elmer said. “You can
never reach the top, but you can
better your best as you progress.”
Custom Applications
asllMj
m
IPBPI
The new auction center building is set to open for the first auction on Sept. 24,1994.
> v *
M:
NOW OPEN
FEDERALBBURQ, MD.
308 UMVEROTTY AVE.
(Formerly Lao* Lumbar)
410-754-8434
STORE HOURS;
7:30 A.M. -4P.M.
Monday • Friday
Lane—ter Fanning, Saturday, Saptembar 17,1H4-A3l
Elmer Murry, left, and son Richard Murry with the cata
logue of the first auction to be held In their new 6,400 square
foot building to serve as an auction center In Litltz. Elmer
started auctioneering In 1953, 41 years ago.
AGRI-INC.
Custom Built Farm Buildings
Designed To Your Needs
HEIFER AND CALF RAISING FACILITY
„„ “T *1
n { |i4ii4i«ii9ni<i4flw^l
_ j
HORSE STALL BARN
Let Our Experience Work For You
• Dairy Complexes And * Workshop And Machinery
Replacement Stock Facilities Storage Buildings
• Horse Stall Bams And Riding • Timber Column Buildings For
Arenas Light Commercial
A
AGRI-INC. TlmConstruction Professionals
1 151 E. Farmersvllla Rd., Ephrata, PA 17522 Jvj/'li.l
• (717) 354-4271
Serving The Agricultural Industry For Over 25 Years *****
MEMBER