Shortly after the American Woolen Company bankruptcy filing, much of the vast real estate holdings it had purchased in Hartland from the former Linn Manufacturing Company & Archibald Linn Estate were sold off at the Great Auction held on December 2, 1932.
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Great Auction of 1932 – Flyer Cover
(Original Flyer owned by Fred Libby – Photos courtesy of Wayne Libby)
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The auction did not include the 2 main mill buildings or several of the smaller buildings on the mill’s island property which were surrendered to the town. They were eventually taken over by the citizen’s group Hartland Mills, Incorporated to bring a new industry to town.
A few of the original Linn properties had already been sold off or claimed by the Linn Heirs before their 1915 bankruptcy, such as the Fuller Mansion on Elm Street, however some 22 houses and properties remained; notably the former Archibald Linn residence on Commercial Street, the former Greenville J. Shaw residence (aka Century House) on Commercial Street and the former Thomas A. Linn residence on Blake Street. Other notable real estate not sold at the auction included the former Linn Woolen Mill Office on Commercial Street and the Carding Mill on Hubbard Avenue.
The Linn Manufacturing Company had also purchased the former Moor Mills at the Upper Dam in the early 1900s which also became part of the auctioned properties offered. One of these former Moor Mill buildings, James W. Moor’s Casket & Coffin Manufacturing building, had already been bought by Frank Griffith in 1905 and moved to Mill Street to become his woodworking mill.
Great Auction of 1932 Flyer – Page 2
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Great Auction of 1932 Flyer – Page 3
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Great Auction of 1932 Flyer – Page 4 with Fred Libby’s Original Buyer Notes
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Detailed Description & Lot Numbers of Properties to be Sold transcribed as Written Above
Buyer Notes by Fred Libby in 1932 | Location & Other Notes by Bruce A. Fowler
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Lots 1-8
1. NO. 44 COMMERCIAL STREET: Approximately 79,800 square feet of land with two-story frame cottage. Having seven rooms, bath, toilet, hard pine floors, heater. (Purchased by Mrs. Corliss for $800)
2. NOS. 40-43 COMMERCIAL STREET: Approximately 15,200 square feet of land with two story frame four-family dwelling, having five rooms to each family, toilets, electricity. (Purchased by Mr. Bean from Dover for $300. He sold immediately after to Carl Randlett) Former Greenville Jefferson Shaw residence, aka Maple Lane Farm and later known as Century House
3. NOS. 45-46 COMMERCIAL STREET: Approximately 15,400 square feet of land with two story frame two-family dwelling having seven rooms to each family, bath, heater. (Purchased by Elmer Burton for $800) He sold immediately after to Lloyd Cookson, Sr
4. NO. 47 COMMERCIAL STREET: Approximately 14,100 square feet of land with two-story frame cottage, having seven rooms, bath, toilet, heater. (Purchased by George E. Merrow for $975)
5. NO. 20 COMMERCIAL STREET: Approximately 19,000 square feet of land with one and one-half story frame cottage having seven rooms, shed and barn. (Purchased by J. Howard Haley for $500)
6. TRACT OF LAND: (Commercial Street) Approximately 3.7 acres of land. With framed 4 car garage. (Purchased by Frank Withee for $100) Purchased by Carl Randlett in 1933
7. NO. 19 COMMERCIAL STREET: Approximately 3,100 square feet of land with two-story frame cottage having five rooms with shed attached. (Purchased by William Brawn for $200)
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Lots 8-12
8. NO. 18 COMMERCIAL STREET: Approximately 9,700 square feet of land with two-story frame cottage having six rooms, also barn in rear.
(Purchased by Miss Cora Davis for $750) She sold immediately after to Carl Randlett
9. NO. 33 COMMERCIAL STREET: Approximately 7,290 square feet of land with two-story frame cottage, having nine rooms with electricity, bath, toilet, furnace heat. (Purchased by Elmer Burton for $675)
10. BUILDING LOT: (Commercial Street) Approximately 2,600 square feet of land. See auction plot. (Reserved)
11. NOS. 5-6-7-8 COMMERCIAL STREET: Approximately 2,060 square feet of land with two-story frame building having two stories and two offices. (Purchased by Mr. Shandling from out of town for $1,450) He sold immediately after to J. Howard Haley & Dr. Charles E. Norcross
12. NOS. 16-17 COMMERCIAL STREET AND REAR NOS. 10-11-12-13: Approximately 2.2 acres of land with one and one-half-story frame two-family dwelling having five rooms each and two-story four-family dwelling having five rooms each, also framed sheds. (Purchased by Clair Currie for $100 & $675)
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Lots 13-19
13. NO. 24 MILL STREET: (Hubbard Avenue) Approximately 5,100 square feet of land with one and one-half-story frame cottage. Having six rooms, electricity, bath, toilet. (Buyer not noted) Purchased by William Steeves for undisclosed amount as reported in 1923
14. MILL STREET: (Hubbard Avenue) Building Lot. Approximately 5,360 square feet of land. Buyer Unknown
15. NO. 25 MILL STREET: (Hubbard Avenue) Approximately 5,800 square feet of land with one and on-half-story frame cottage, having six rooms, electricity, bath, toilet. (Purchased by Mary Holmes for $675)
16. NO. 26 MILL STREET: (Hubbard Avenue) Approximately 5,100 square feet of land with one and one-half-story frame cottage, having six rooms, electricity, bath, toilet. (Purchased by Ernest Seekins for $600)
17. NO. 27 MILL STREET: (Hubbard Avenue) Approximately 16,600 square feet of land with one and one-half-story frame cottage, having six rooms, electricity, bath, toilet, also frame garage. (Purchased by Myrtle Blake for $725 plus $100 extra for garage at 17A)
18. NO. 37 MAIN STREET: Approximately 14,700 square feet of land with two-and one-half-story frame two family dwelling. having six rooms to each family, electricity, toilets. (Purchased by Alton Leadbetter for $725)
19. NO. 32 MAIN STREET: Approximately 21,000 square feet of land with one and one-half story frame cottage having five rooms, also large barn. (Purchased by Asa Ladd for $450)
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Lots 20 & 21
20. NO. 48 PITTSFIELD AVENUE: Approximately 22,800 square feet of land with one and one-half-story frame cottage, having seven rooms, electricity, bath, toilet, furnace heat with barn attached. (Reserved)
21. NO. 39 ELM STREET: Approximately 82,800 square feet of land with one and one-half-story frame cottage. having eight rooms, electricity, bath, toilet, hot water heat with barn attached. (Purchased by John Scott for Ellard Hebb for $1,050)
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Lot 22
22. NO. 36 ACADEMY STREET: Approximately 14,600 square feet of land with two and one-half-story frame dwelling, having twelve rooms, electricity, bath, toilet, hardwood floors, hot water heat with barn attached. (Reserved) Former Thomas A. Linn house at the corner of Blake Street not Seekins Street
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Lots 23-27
23. BILLINGS STREET: (North Street) Approximately 34,000 square feet of land with one and one-half-story frame two-family dwelling having seven rooms to each family, electricity, baths, also frame barn. (Purchased by Thomas Randlett for $350)
24. BUILDING LOT: (North Street) Approximately 6,900 square feet of land. See auction plot. (Purchased by Frank Withee)
25. NOS. 21-22 BILLINGS STREET: (North Street) Approximately 19,400 square feet of land with one and one-half-story frame cottage having seven rooms with barn attached. (Purchased by Mrs. Earl Stanhope for $375)
26. NO. 49 WEBB STREET: (Moore Street) Approximately 8,600 square feet of land with two story frame cottage having seven rooms, bath, electricity with barn attached. (Purchased by by C. Wilford Mills for $325)
27. LAND & BUILDING: (Moore Street) Approximately 1.6 acres of land with Factory Building thereon. Detailed description will be available at time of sale. (Reserved) Purchased soon after by Ivar Pearson; former Amasa J. Moor & Son Woodworking Mill