Prospective buyers view former West Virginia Governor Arch Moore’s belongings at an auction Tuesday in Moundsville.
MOUNDSVILLE, W.Va. — Locals and travelers alike ventured to the Marshall County Fairgrounds on Tuesday for a chance to buy a piece of West Virginia history to place in their homes.
Behm’s Auction and Real Estate Services, a team of area auctioneers, sold items belonging to former West Virginia governor Arch Moore’s estate in Moundsville, the first of several similar auctions.
The company offered items from Moore’s Glen Dale home and additional items from Charleston, where he served as governor for three terms.
Tuesday’s event was the first of a series of auctions that will be conducted for the estate through October.
Collectibles ranged from Fostoria glassware and home Christmas decorations to collections of the former governor’s suits and ties.
Available items also included gifted glassware from Moore’s meeting with Ronald Regan, an original blueprint of the Grave Creek Mound and Archaeological Complex and several paintings from local artists.
Jim Behm, owner of Behm’s Auction and Real Estate Services, said proceeds from the auctions are in the possession of Moore’s daughter and U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito, but much of the funding will be donated to West Virginia University.
“There’s only one Governor Arch,” Behm said. “He was one of the backbones of Marshall County and the Northern Panhandle for years not only in West Virgnia but in D.C. He is very well recognized even to this day.”
Dean Pettit, a Moundsville resident, said he came to the auction to bid on a Fostoria glass ash tray owned by the governor, which he won.
“I worked at Fostria as a young boy cutting glass,” Pettit said. “Not only is this an important piece in my history, but in the state’s as well.”
Joseph Swisher of Friendly purchased a pair of Viking Glass elephant bookends at the auction.
“My wife and several family members worked for Viking so I had my eye on these,” Swisher said. “It will be a great addition to our home with a lot of history.”
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