“We won’t bid against a neighbor.”

With these words, a scheduled auction in Southport came to an end Wednesday, Oct. 21.

The auction for a tax-acquired, three-acre property was scheduled to be the first agenda item at the selectmen’s meeting. For weeks prior to the auction, the selectmen had referred to the upcoming event as something they did not want. “This is a position we’ve been put in and we don’t want any part of it,” selectman Gerry Gamage said.

The auction marked the end of a long path that began five years before with an unpaid tax bill from the town of Southport for $160.92.  After five years and 30 to 40 attempts to make some arrangement for payment of the mounting bill, the town acquired the property and set the auction for Oct. 21.

By 4:30 p.m., trucks started arriving in the parking lot. Ten minutes before the auction was to begin, it was standing room only in the crowded town office. Those hoping to bid brought their $1,500 minimum bid in the form of bank checks or cash. The current residents, Herbert and Shelly Burnham, were also there. In addition to $1,500 in cash, they brought their young daughter, who brought her teddy bear.

At 5 p.m., Gamage and fellow selectman Smith Climo opened the meeting. Selectman Mary Lou Koskela was out of town. Gamage welcomed everyone and indicated that the auction was to about to begin.

The selectmen asked the Burnhams if they had any new information to provide before the auction started. With that, Herbert Burnham addressed the crowded room, saying that he also had the $1,500 and asked that the town and the other bidders allow him to buy back his residence.  

Gamage and Climo turned to the other prospective bidders and asked how they would like to proceed. The response was unanimous:  “We won’t bid against a neighbor.”

Within minutes, the prospective bidders were gone from the town office, the trucks were gone from the parking lot and Climo and Gamage were signing a quitclaim deed to the Burnhams for their current residence. They gave the Burnhams $40 from the $1,500 cash payment to cover the filing fee with the registry of deeds.

“This speaks about Southport and the people who live here,” Climo said. Gamage agreed. “It’s the best outcome possible,” he added. “I’m glad Southporters are the way they are,” Shelly Burnham responded. With that, the deed was notarized and everyone shook hands, including the teddy bear.