Sun, 08/23/2026 - 9:26am

KEVIN BURNHAM

This set of storage cabinets was one of the early auction items up for bid. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

A house found at the flea market gets some early use. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Dean Domeyer with a barrel. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Auctioneer Gerry Gamage points to a bidder. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

A boat admirer. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

So long, surfboard. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

A nice set of chairs. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Sporting some flea market flowers. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Adam Climo moving a chair. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Waiting for the auction to begin. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

The school lot packed with bidders. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Selling food at the school. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Howard and Dee Wright -- longtime auction bidders. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

This set of storage cabinets was one of the early auction items up for bid. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

A house found at the flea market gets some early use. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Dean Domeyer with a barrel. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Auctioneer Gerry Gamage points to a bidder. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

A boat admirer. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

So long, surfboard. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

A nice set of chairs. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Sporting some flea market flowers. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Adam Climo moving a chair. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Waiting for the auction to begin. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

The school lot packed with bidders. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Selling food at the school. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Howard and Dee Wright -- longtime auction bidders. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Clouds hovered over Southport Island and dozens upon dozens of people hovered in and around the Southport Fire Department for the annual SFD Fireman's Auction Saturday morning, Aug. 22.

Featuring a flea market and miscellaneous items sale before the bidding, firefighters said interested buyers started arriving in droves at 6 a.m. If people weren't at the fire station, the school staff, parents and other volunteers across the street were kept busy preparing and selling breakfast sandwiches, baked goods, fruit cups and more.

Parking was at a premium by 8 a.m. and firefighters, junior firefighters and other young volunteers were busy carrying items for buyers, moving furniture, taking cash, recording and handing out numbered bid cards, making sure the road was safe, and answering questions about items.

The school parking lot was lined with boats of various sizes to be bid on and the lawn featured kayaks and other nautical equipment for sale. Kids were seen happily playing with toys purchased in the flea market on the school lawn and adult neighbors, families and friends -- as well as dozens of dogs on leashes -- were greeting each other while waiting for the auction to begin.

Auctioneer and Fire Chief Gerry Gamage, after moving the concrete dividers with a front loader to make room for chairs, climbed the station stairs and got into position on his auction perch built on the roof of the station.

He said the first auction 55 years ago brought in $389 and last year, "thanks to you people," the event brought in about $35,000 which helps the department with purchasing needed firefighting equipment. All told, Gamage said, the auction has brought in about $750,000.

One early story told to the Register by attendee Mike Brewer was that a lady, hearing that a man offered $400 for an old wooden wheelbarrow in the pre-auction sale, upped the offer and paid $1,000 -- giving the event a great jumpstart toward perhaps raising more than $35,000 this year.

The auction got underway shortly after 9 a.m. and piles of furniture was brought to the front of the crowd by firefighters as Gamage started asking for bids on the various items. At around 11 a.m., Gamage began calling for bids on the various boats.