Brownstown auctioning off pieces of gymnasium floor

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BROWNSTOWN

Maybe you hit the game-winning 3-pointer from the top of the key.

Maybe you delivered an ace from the serving line to win a volleyball match.

Maybe you were on the sidelines cheering on the home team or on the court performing with the drill team.

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Maybe you stood in a certain spot near the bench coaching your team to victory.

Maybe you walked across the floor to receive your high school diploma.

Whatever the case, the Brownstown Central High School gymnasium holds a special place in your heart and mind.

The school corporation is giving people a chance to hang onto those memories for years to come by conducting a gym floor auction at 6 p.m. March 5.

Assistant Superintendent Jade Peters said more than 360 pieces will be up for bid. There will be 4-foot-by-4-foot squares and larger sections, including the Braves lettering at each end, each letter of Brownstown Central on the court, each free throw lane, each free throw line and each top of the key.

The center circle will not be for sale because the school plans to hang that in the gymnasium, he said.

"We want a community event where people get excited about coming in and getting a piece of history that themselves or their kids were a part of and have some fun with it," Peters said.

"I’ve had guys joke around that they sat on the end of the bench and they want that side," he said, smiling. "I’ve had all kinds of angles of people talking to me about this."

Registration starts at 5 p.m. March 5 in the main gymnasium at the school. Concession will be sold.

Peters said he expects the event to last around three hours.

"That’s a lot of items to sell, so I would say it’s a good three hours if you’re looking at that many items," he said.

All proceeds will go to the high school athletic department.

"Since the new floor came in under budget, we felt like, ‘Let’s just give it back to the athletic department,’" Peters said.

Dan Blann, president and owner of Foresight Land Surveying Inc. in Brownstown, donated his time to survey the floor and provide a map of it to the school, and he’s also going to be the auctioneer. 

"Jade Peters called me with the idea but needed help with the logistics of the project," Blann said. "I’m a licensed land surveyor and auctioneer, so the ability to use both of my professional skills on one project sounded fun. We came up with a cut plan of the floor based on what pieces we felt were the most marketable and developed an auction plan."

Blann will start by selling the Braves portions of the court.

"We’re going to sell the Braves ends as a whole to start off. If that goes well, we’ll do two Braves and sell that," Peters said. "We’re going to put a minimum what we think we ought to get out of that. If not, we’ll break them up and sell them individually."

Next, the Brownstown Central letters will be sold individually, followed by the lanes, free throw lines and tops of the key separately.

"Then after that point, we’re going to sell by choice, so we’re going to take half of the court," Peters said. "The highest bidder gets to choose which square they want and how many they want. While that person is choosing that one, then (Blann) is going to bid (the other) half of the court. They can bid as high as they want for as many pieces as they want. We’re just going to keep going until it’s out."

Winning bidders will pick up their sections the following week in the evenings as their sections become available. Cincinnati Flooring Co. will begin removing the floor March 9.

Blann said he is looking forward to the community involvement at the event.

"Brownstown is a special place," he said. "I’m not sure how well this would work in most other towns, but here, it’s different. There has been a whole lot of success on that floor going back to 1964, and our community has always been strong supporters of the athletics programs. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to buy a piece of school history. I think it will be a fun and exciting event."

Blann didn’t go to school in Brownstown, but he lives in the community, and his family has been involved in activities in the gymnasium.

"My wife and I have three sons that are all involved in Brownstown athletics, and my wife coaches the drill team," he said. "I donate as much of my time and resources that I can back to the community that has been so good to us. We have such a great school system and such amazing community spirit here. I’m just honored to be a part of it."

Peters said they are going to keep 1,000 square feet of the court to make 1½-by-4-inch memorabilia pieces. Those will be available for purchase at a later date online.

"We can get little 1½-by-4 inches and have it engraved on there with the history of the floor," he said. "We have a company that makes a bottle opener out of them or maybe a Christmas ornament."

Peter said he has a personal goal in mind for the fundraiser.

"Whatever the crowd brings. If we know two people want the same thing, then that’s what’s best for our school and the fundraising part of it," he said. "Bring your checkbooks."

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What: Gymnasium floor auction

When: 6 p.m. March 5 (registration starts at 5 p.m.)

Where: Gymnasium at Brownstown Central High School, 500 N. Elm St., Brownstown

Who: The public is invited to bid on more than 360 pieces of the gym floor

Information: 812-358-4271

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