Auction nearly doubles fundraiser goalEvent held to benefit Ypsilanti Freighthouse restoration projectBy Dan DuChene
Apr. 12, 2010 · 10:25 a.m.

It was a fun Friday night for those who attended the auction held to benefit the restoration of the Ypsilanti Freighthouse, but also successful for organizers.

With approximately 225 well-dressed people in the audience eating and drinking food and drink from local providers, all bidding on items from a private lunch at Beezy's Cafe to an African safari in Zululand, the event raised more than $45,000. The goal for the event, held at the Michigan Firehouse Museum on Cross Street, was $25,000.

Phase one of the construction began last month and is expected to be completed by the end of May. The work includes repairs to the structure's foundation, stabilizing the walls and constructing a new roof. Work in phase two, expected to run from June through August, will include masonry work, soffit and eave repairs as well as work on the decking, including the construction of a new west decking that was present in the original 1878 structure.

Both phase one and two of construction utilize funding from a $500,000 federal stimulus grant the building received last year and a challenge grant from the Ann Arbor Area Community Fund, which would match $25,000 raised by the Friends of the Ypsilanti Freighthouse. The event Friday night was held to raise this $25,000.

Candace Pinaud, who chaired the auction, said any money raised above the $25,000 goal would be used as seed funding for phase three of construction, which would install bathrooms, heating, ventilation, air conditioning and fire suppressing to bring the building up to code to be allow it to be used for large events, as it had before the building's doors were shuttered for safety concerns five years ago.

The first two phases of construction will stabilize the building and open the cafe on the south end of the structure, but not allow the rest of the building to be used by the community, according to FOYF volunteer Greg Marker.

Many community members from the area were in attendance Friday night, but the region's U.S. congressperson, Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., may have been one of the more distinguished guests. Dingell said he was part of the reason the Freighthouse received federal stimulus money last year, which is why he was there with other local and regional politicians to deliver the check. “I support the Freightouse,” Dingell said Friday. “I do my best,” he said. “It feels good.” Dingell, 83, had to leave the event early, but said his wife, Debbie, would be in charge making bids on items during the silent auction.

After refreshments and the silent auction upstairs, people congregated to the main floor to watch and participate in the live auction, ran by auctioneer Steve Gross, of Premier Auction Services. Gross peppered auctioning off 21 different prizes with occasional jokes and stories between rapidly calling out bids and a little badgering to fuel bid wars among members of the audience.

Peggy and Danny Carroll, of Ann Arbor, were the winning bidders on a trip to Florida's Anastasia Island for $1,300 Friday night. This, however, didn't keep the couple from getting into bidding contests over a South African safari trip or a 1975 vintage collectible Ford Ranchero. While encouraging a bidding contest between Danny Carroll and another member of the audience for the vehicle, Gross was able to coax Peggy into a trip to the restroom.

Then prompting a higher bid from Danny Carroll, Gross quickly labeled the experience as “the greatest moment in an auctioneer's life." The Carrolls not only didn't mind Gross' auctioneer methods, but enjoyed the entertainment and were impressed by his abilities. “He's very good,” Peggy Carroll said. “He was the best auctioneer I've ever seen,” she said. “Outstanding.”

Gross proved his auctioneer skills at the end of the night by selling a $50 bill to an audience member for $150. Kieth Bragg, who owns Aachen Auto, was the person who purchased the $50. He said he had donated some items to both the live and silent auction and had won a leather jacket in the silent auction. He had the $50 bill he purchased signed by those who volunteered at the event, as he was a fan of their work. “It's great,” Bragg said of the auction. “One more thing to help Ypsi.”

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April 15th, 2010

For the Freighthouse: Auction event raises nearly $45,000 for longtime Ypsilanti renovation project

Jeremy Allen
Heritage Newspapers

It didn't take long for those in attendance at "The Train Stops Here" benefit auction for the Freighthouse to raise more than the $25,000 amount which the organizers set as a goal for the entire evening. In fact, not only did the 220-plus in attendance get to the reach the goal, but nearly doubled it by raising almost $45,000 through a silent auction, a live auction, sales from a cash bar, ticket sales from the event and other donations from sponsors and such.

"We are so grateful for all the generosity of everyone," said Candace Pinaud, chair of the event. "People bid very generously and helped us realize our goals." The benefit was held to raise money for phase two of a two-part renovation of the historic Depot Town Freighthouse. Last year, Gov. Jennifer Granholm was on hand to present a $500,000 check for the restoration of the historic landmark, but more money was needed for the complete upgrade of the site, including foundation and parking lots concerns.

The benefit featured auction items such as a Bruce Springsteen-signed guitar, four luxury vacations (including two to South Africa, one to Higgins Lake and one to Florida), private wine tastings, tickets to the Dancing With the Stars semi-final in Hollywood, and many other top shelf experiences. State Rep. John Dingell, an honorary co-chair of the event, was also in attendance.

Despite having to leave early because of an early-morning meeting the following day, Dingell said that he's a huge supporter of the Freighthouse. "It's good for the area," Dingell said of the renovation project currently underway at the Freighthouse. "I'm glad to be able to help with everything." Pinaud credited auctioneer Steve Gross, of Premier Auction Services, for the "great job he did in helping raise so much." "Mr. Gross was fantastic," she said.

"The crowd loved him and he was so great with everyone in the room." Gross continuously worked bids up by telling jokes and sharing personal stories with the audience. He even pulled a $50 bill out of his pocket after the entire portion of live auction items had been bid upon, and was able to get a get a $150 bid for it.

"Again, the people of this town are so gracious," said Pinaud. "It's our hope that we'll be able to get the Freighthouse back to what everyone remembers it as: a great place to have great times with great people. With everyone's efforts tonight it brought us closer to that goal."

Jeremy Allen is a staff writer for Heritage Newspapers. He can be reached at jallen@heritage.com. We're blogging, too! Follow us at courierviewnews.blogspot.com.