Among the 14 automobiles available this Saturday during the estate auction of Richard Duke Earle are, from left, an 1982 Chevrolet Citation, a 1991 Corvette and a 1966 Cadillac Convertible El Dorado. The event is slated to begin at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Conrad Auction house on 11th Street and Cole Avenue in Elkins.
ELKINS, W.Va. — A local businessman’s vast collection of vehicles, memorabilia and other items is set to be auctioned off this weekend.
An auction for the estate of the late Richard Duke Earle is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday at 11th Street and Cole Avenue in Elkins.
Earle, who is the former president of Tygarts Valley National Bank, opened his first used car lot behind Earle’s Meat Market before moving the business to its current location on Randolph Avenue, which had previously been a hotel. He was an avid NASCAR fan and a collector of automobiles, among many other things.
Elkins resident Jane Smith is serving as executrix of the estate.
Auctioneer Doug Conrad from Conrad Auctions, who is conducting the event, said there is a bit of everything available for purchase Saturday, including 14 automobiles, three motorcycles, 19 guns, die-cast toys, gold coins, silver dollars, multiple trailors, a snowmobile, mobility scooters, tools, vintage signs and license plates, collectible trains, civil war memorabilia, sterling silver tableware, fine china, furniture and many more.
“This is Elkins history,” Conrad said. “This is an era that we have all admired all our lifetime it’s a time capsule is what it is.”
Automobiles collected by Earle through the years that will be available during the auction include a 1972 Chevrolet van with 61,972 miles, a 2005 H2 Hummer, a 1996 Impala SS, a 2007 Chevrolet Suburban, a 1991 Corvette with 3,871 miles, a 1966 Cadillac Convertible El Dorado, a 1994 Cadillac Seville, a 1992 Buick Roadmaster and a 1982 Chevrolet Citation.
Conrad noted he’s never had an auction with so many classic cars.
“(Earle) fell in love with cars and didn’t sell them,” he said. “He kept the ones that he liked.”
Conrad said he expects a good turnout for the event and noted the auction is the “most looked at auction” in West Virginia on auctionzip.com.
“I expect there to be anywhere from 500 to 600 people,” he said. “We have had people call from all over the United States.”
Beyond the automobiles, Conrad expects some of the more popular items to be 1949 and 1950 collectible trains that are still in the box, a 2000 Harley Davidson Motorcyle with only 11,700 miles, a 1994 Yamaha Vmax that Conrad said is a “killer motorcyle,” a Civil War era cannonball, an 1870 United States Navy revolver and vintage memorabilia.
“I’ve done this for over 20 years and this is probably the best auction I’ve ever done – in both quality and quantity,” Conrad said.
For more information or to view photos of auction items, visit auctionzip.com and search for the Conrad Auctions LLC listing on Sept. 19.
