AURORA

Aurora resident Mary Ann Moore bids on silent auction items at the Aurora Colony Historical Society Annual Benefit Dinner and Auction. The auction, held May 10, in Wilsonville, raised $23,500.

Submitted photo

Going once, going twice ... sold! This was heard many times at the 23rd annual benefit and auction dinner held May 10 for the Aurora Colony Historical Society.

More than 100 items including antiques, outings, quilts and gift baskets were auctioned off, in silent and oral auction, grossing $23,500.

With 161 people in attendance, a record number of funds were raised and tickets sold.

Old Aurora Colony Museum director Joan Jacobs said organizers are very excited about the amount of funds raised - $5,500 more than 2002's event.

All profits generated will help to cover operating costs of the colony museum, and run such educational programs as the nearby Stauffer-Will Farm.

This year, organizers added two new things as silent auction items: party boards and table centerpieces.

The party boards were five different outings with set prices allowing bidders to buy one or more seats. Once all seats were full it was sold.

The five outings included a sausage diner at the Stauffer-Will Farm, a tea and tour preview of the Aurora quilt show, a coastal cape and quilt getaway, Willamette Gables champagne brunch, and seats in a sky box at a PGE Park sports event.

The eight seats for the coastal cape and quilt getaway, hosted by a member of the historical society, sold for $75.00.

The experience includes touring quilt shops, enjoying the beach and an overnight stay.

The centerpiece baskets were colored in red, white and blue and had many themes, including a children's basket and a bird basket.

The highest selling centerpiece, an apple pie in an apple shaped pie pan, sold for $40.00. When the night was over, the highest bidders took the baskets home.

"It went very well; the food was excellent and the items went very well," Jacobs said. "There are always a few surprises. Some (auction items) go for a little more and some a little less."

One of the surprises of the night was a quilt, donated by the Aurora Colony Quilters, which sold for $800.00. The quilt was made from blocks entered in last year's quilt contest. (These blocks were not the winning 20, but others entered that didn't win first place.) The quilt was machine sewn and had the theme "Americana."

Another surprise, which organizers said they were happy with, was the $2,200 raised for the "Many Hands Program," which funds the Stauffer-Will Farm educational program.

Along with the auction a buffet dinner of salmon, skirt steak, steamed vegetables, red potatoes and assorted desserts was served by Katering by Kurt of West Linn/Portland.

JillMarie Wiles was the auctioneer for the night and James Moore, a member of the Aurora Colony Historical Society was the master of ceremonies.

There were six volunteers who helped with set-up the Friday before, and 15 volunteers who participated in various capacities on Saturday night.

All auction items were donated by local businesses and individuals from the city and surrounding communities.