Weekly auctions offer variety, tradition
Mark Hensch
Issue date: 9/17/09 Section: Down the Hill
Beginning in 1915, the Hillsdale County fairgrounds has hosted an auction 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., on 50 of the 52 Saturdays each year. Now, 94 years later, the auctions continue fostering sales amidst the economic recession.
"The economy has probably made the auctions better as people aren't driving far to buy things," said Ken Frecker, who has set up the auctions through his Ken Frecker Auctioneers Inc. company since 1993. "You can buy anything or sell anything and get paid the same day. That has to impact the community."
Frecker said the auctions are so long-running they have emerged as a Hillsdale tradition.
He has attended the auctions since childhood and has witnessed some Saturdays draw 3,000 visitors. With the auctions offering everything from livestock to tires to food, he said the variety is what keeps it so popular.
"Anything you need you can get here," he said. "No Saturday is the same. There is something new every weekend."
Gary Spangler, owner of Jonesville's Hilltop Diner, said he has leased the Racetrack Restaurant on the fairgrounds from the Hillsdale Agricultural Society for 22 years. Working every single auction, Spangler and his staff serve breakfast and lunch to hungry patrons.
"I'm helping out the auction by having the restaurant and treating people decently," Spangler said. "The fairgrounds have been there forever. It is just a friendly little place."
Scott Dow, the Hillsdale Fair Board's fair manager, said the board rents the grounds to Frecker's Auctioneers, with the exception of the Saturdays before and after the Hillsdale County fair. Other than those days, he said the auctions run all year round.
Their popularity, he said, bolsters the local economy.
"This is one of the largest ongoing auctions around," he said. "There is a tremendous amount of things being bought and sold."
Frecker said his work at the fairgrounds remains compelling so far. As he sees it, it is only natural he now sets up the auctions after having attended them for so long.
"I grew into this," he said. "Hillsdale is a great town with some great people. I enjoy doing this."
Dow said the auctions' longevity has made it popular amongst Hillsdale residents.
"The auctions are one of those longstanding events you might not go to every week but you know it is there," he said. "The auctions are a treasure of Hillsdale County."
"The economy has probably made the auctions better as people aren't driving far to buy things," said Ken Frecker, who has set up the auctions through his Ken Frecker Auctioneers Inc. company since 1993. "You can buy anything or sell anything and get paid the same day. That has to impact the community."
Frecker said the auctions are so long-running they have emerged as a Hillsdale tradition.
He has attended the auctions since childhood and has witnessed some Saturdays draw 3,000 visitors. With the auctions offering everything from livestock to tires to food, he said the variety is what keeps it so popular.
"Anything you need you can get here," he said. "No Saturday is the same. There is something new every weekend."
Gary Spangler, owner of Jonesville's Hilltop Diner, said he has leased the Racetrack Restaurant on the fairgrounds from the Hillsdale Agricultural Society for 22 years. Working every single auction, Spangler and his staff serve breakfast and lunch to hungry patrons.
"I'm helping out the auction by having the restaurant and treating people decently," Spangler said. "The fairgrounds have been there forever. It is just a friendly little place."
Scott Dow, the Hillsdale Fair Board's fair manager, said the board rents the grounds to Frecker's Auctioneers, with the exception of the Saturdays before and after the Hillsdale County fair. Other than those days, he said the auctions run all year round.
Their popularity, he said, bolsters the local economy.
"This is one of the largest ongoing auctions around," he said. "There is a tremendous amount of things being bought and sold."
Frecker said his work at the fairgrounds remains compelling so far. As he sees it, it is only natural he now sets up the auctions after having attended them for so long.
"I grew into this," he said. "Hillsdale is a great town with some great people. I enjoy doing this."
Dow said the auctions' longevity has made it popular amongst Hillsdale residents.
"The auctions are one of those longstanding events you might not go to every week but you know it is there," he said. "The auctions are a treasure of Hillsdale County."
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