Kirkland’s Bowels A Treasure Trove

“This is really, really nice, people. I know I’ve said that before, but come on, this actually is nice,” auctioneer Sloan J. Eddleston ’04 assured the crowd, keeping spirits up and wallets open during Kirkland House’s annual storage auction yesterday.

Leading a pack of bargain hunters and curious passersby on a tour through the bowels of Kirkland, Eddleston peddled oak coat racks, metal tables and muck-marked rugs students had donated for the auction.

“The money goes to house events like s’mores nights, house outings, stein clubs, movie nights, and more of the same,” said House Committee Treasurer Julia H. Farago ’03. “It all gets pumped back into the house to improve the general quality of Kirkland life.”

The auction raised $750 and the crowd peaked at 90 people.

Coffee tables were hot sellers between $20 and $40, in styles ranging from quaint wicker to functional polyurethane. Bidding was frantic, jumping in five dollar increments.

“It’s perfect for Christmas!” Eddleston shouted, holding up a beat-up red rug.

Futon and couch bargains abounded—five dollars for a preppy plaid couch in need of patches and $23 for a shiny black futon without a cover.

Eddleston had a tough time pawning off a few rugs. An old Persian rug and an American Southwest number drew giggles from the crowd, and one small rug had the distinction of being the lowest-selling item, going for 50 cents.

The most expensive item was a faded black velveteen couch for $150.

“I go crazy at auctions,” said Alejandro R. Rodriguez ’03, the lucky bidder. “We have a really big common room and we need to fill it up.”

When a set of fireplace tools went on the block for $15, Nicole M. Jones ’03 rolled her eyes. “The box clearly says $9.99,” she said.

Most residents were happy with their purchases.

Ziggy Whitman ’04 bought a garment rack for one dollar that went for $40 retail. “It is exactly what I came looking for,” Whitman said.

Whitman is also the proud owner of a pale blue hallway rug with a rose pattern, bought for $2.

—Staff writer Maria S. Pedroza can be reached at mpedroza@fas.harvard.edu.