ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME AUCTION TO ATTRACT HUNDREDS TO AREA

Amid rows of early music boxes and phonographs, the rare Kelly's Bitter bottles, the primitive kitchen utensils and the boxes of precious tiny marbles laid out on tables at the Bavarian Halle also lies Mildred and Orville Holcomb's lifetime love of collecting.

It is in the Indian relics, the Christmas tree candle holders, the china receptacle for saving human hair, the muzzle-loading rifles, the quilts, and the hot-coal foot warmer for buggy rides.

Mildred, who died nine years ago, was a well-known antique dealer who owned Red Barn Antiques in Fruitland for 25 years. Former bookkeeper Orville, now 91, is moving in with his son, Dr. John Holcomb of Cape Girardeau. Thus their abundant assortment of collectibles -- minus many furniture items claimed by the family -- is being put at auction this weekend.

In terms of quantity and quality of the items, "It's one of the larger auctions ever in the area, said Cape Girardeau antique dealer Harlan Smothers, who's handling the auction.

"You'd have to travel a long way to find one of this magnitude."

Smothers, who oversaw the sizable auction of Burton Gerhardt's Black Forest farm implements and machinery years ago, characterized this auction as a once-in-a-lifetime look at one of the area's biggest and best local collections.

"She was one of the biggest collectors in the Midwest," he said.

Hundreds of antique collectors and dealers from numerous states are expected here for the three-day auction. Chairs have been set up in the hall for a crowd of 600, but Smothers expects many more people to attend.

Thursday afternoon, the hall was crisscrossed by 15 helpers busily arranging the contents of three large U-Haul trucks, three vans and another truck with a 15-foot trailer. All the items previously were stored in the Holcombs' nine-room house and storage sheds. Many had remained packed for the past 25 years.

The auction begins at 3 p.m. today at the hall, located at the intersection of I-55 and Highway 61. Orville's collection of St. Louis 1904 World's Fair souvenirs -- some of it rare -- are expected to draw the most attention. "Because it was the St. Louis World's Fair, lots of local people collect it," Smothers said.

A variety of Cape Girardeau memorabilia dating to the early 20th century also will be up for bid. Also for sale will be toys, dolls, marbles and mechanical banks highly prized by collectors.

Saturday's session, which begins at 9 a.m., will feature colored and art glass, glassware and china among other items. Included is an extensive set of colorful Flo Blue dinnerware.

Sunday's 9 a.m. final session primarily will offer furniture, including a huge Dutch cupboard expected to bring bids of many thousands of dollars.

Items may be previewed today from 1 p.m. on.

The auction has the trappings of a big-time production. Auctioneer Mike Clum of Rushville, Ohio, has his own following among antique collectors and dealers.

Besides 14 regional newspapers, the auction has been advertised in four national collectors magazines. "I've had calls from 21 different states," said Smothers.

Smothers was going to antique auctions with Mildred when he was only 13. She didn't ignite his interest in antiques, but did nurture it at a time when the information available in today's collector publications didn't exist, he said.

"You had to learn it from an older person who'd been around and knew about antiques.... She was the kind of person you could learn from just by watching her."