FORKS — Among the usual treats that are donated to the Quillayute Valley Scholarship Auction are many treasures, organizer Marcia Bingham says.
The annual two-day event — raising scholarship funds for worthy West End students — will be held from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. today and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday at the Bank of America building, 481 S. Forks Ave.
An oil painting done by Missy Barlow, the granddaughter of John Hulesdank — the man known as the “Iron Man of the Hoh” — was donated by Murial Huggins, a longtime donor to the auction.
Barlow painted the moss-draped maple tree in 1969, and the painting was submitted to the Clallam County Fair the same year in the pro category, Forks Visitor Center office manager Mike Gurling said.
It’s not known how the painting did in the competition.
“This painting is really special,” Bingham said.
“I’m thrilled with this. It should go for a whole lot of money.”
Corrections donations
Olympic Corrections Center donated a couple dozen intricately carved wooden toys.
The prison has donated toys for many years to the auction.
“They are always so well-made,” Bingham said.
Murial Huggins has donated another Native American woven basket from her collection, this one woven around a glass bottle.
“It is in fantastic shape,” Bingham said.
Another large basket was donated by Ella Paul and features a lightening design in multiple colors.
Last year, $72,000 was raised and 865 items were auction, and this year the group hopes to top that, Bingham said.
“We’re hoping to exceed $100,000,” she said.
“We don’t know if it will be done but that challenge has been issued.”
Begun in 1963
The auction began in 1963 when Robert Rosmond, Russ Thomas, Millie Thompson, Jane Waters and several other Forks citizens formed a committee called the Quillayute Valley Scholarship Fund.
Volunteers receive incoming donated auction items, and others serve as cashiers as successful bidders pay for the items they have won.
Any graduate of Forks High School is eligible for a scholarship for any kind of higher education or technical education.
For more information on the scholarship, visit www.forks.wednet.edu.
Bids can be phoned into 360-374-2531 on the days of the auction.
High school seniors Marin Gaydeski, Denise Gibbs and Alexa Justus are the students in charge.
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Reporter Paige Dickerson can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at paige.dickerson@peninsuladailynews.com.
