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It's been said one man's junk is another man's treasure. In the case of longtime Gainesville resident Bob Davis' estate sale, he's not giving away junk and the items for sale are considered a treasure for two of Cooke County's major charities. An estate sale benefiting the Cooke County United Way and the Gainesville Unit of the Salvation Army is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday at 417 S. Denton St. Items are being set up on the west side of the historic house, which faces Dodson Street, and inside a nearby game room. Davis, the owner of the house, said he doesn't plan to move from his home of more than 40 years. “I'm not anxious to leave anytime soon," Davis said. He stressed the estate sale is “not a garage sale" but a way for him both to clear out some items from his home as well as raise money for charity. He said 75 percent of the proceeds are earmarked for the local United Way and 25 percent or the Salvation Army. “He wants us to make some money off it," according to Angie Hare, executive director of the Cooke County United Way. She said the sale is all profit, and that Davis refused to hire a professional consultant. “His (Davis') wife passed away and he is going through many items that he would like to contribute to charity. It is not a huge estate sale for he only has a few pieces of furniture (some antique) many Christmas decorations (beautiful items), glassware and some collectibles," Hare said. Catherine Bartush-Otto of Muenster, an antique and collectible item appraiser by profession, appraised the items in Davis' sale for no charge. “They just asked me, so I came," Bartush-Otto said with a smile. “It's a good cause, and I'm glad to be a part of this." A large blue marlin and sword fish adorn the walls of the game room, which are for sale. Several examples of decorative items fill display tables, including silver trays and many statuettes - one of which is of Miguel Cervantes reading “Don Quixote." Davis said he carried the Cervantes statue with him for miles after purchasing it while traveling through Spain on a vacation. While Davis said no tours will be given of his southeast Gainesville home, his house has been the site of several notable receptions. His late wife, Yvonne LeFevre Davis, who died in March of last year, was a native Gainesville resident and a member of several civic organizations. Active in the League of Women Voters, she hosted a reception for Laura Bush in 1994, when George W. Bush was running for Texas governor. In 1976, according to her obituary, she and her husband opened their home for the Bicentennial Celebration sponsored by the Cooke County Heritage Society. The home was again opened in 1983 for the Chamber of Commerce Heritage Days, in addition to several fund-raisers and youth activities for their two children - Brian and Page Davis. Hare said profiting from a family estate sale is a relatively new concept for the United Way. “I'm overwhelmed by his generosity - that Mr. Davis considered doing an estate sale benefiting a charity. That's a fantastic concept." The Cooke County United Way has reached about 61 percent of its county-wide fund-raising goal. A celebration campaign luncheon is scheduled for Nov. 4 at the Gainesville Civic Center. Hare said the United Way is behind and could use any donations it can receive. She said hurricanes Katrina and Rita have affected charitable giving to the United Way, as it was instrumental in establishing bank funds to help victims. “It's going to be a slower campaign year, but there's no doubt in my mind we're going to make it," Hare said. Also, she said, a strike at Weber Aircraft (one of Cooke County United Way's major donors) in September set back fund-raising. “The strike simply delayed their campaign," Hare said. The United Way may be contacted at 665-1793 or e-mail cookeuw@ntin.net . The Salvation Army may be contacted at 665-2006. This is cache, read story here
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