Strong History Makes for a Strong Future--The Sioux tribe of Native Americans has a saying: "A people without history is like the wind on the buffalo grass." At Garrison Realty & Associates, we don't worry about being "gone like the wind" because we know that auctioning has a long and distinguished history.

In ancient Rome we find the first mention of the word "auction." The Latin word for auction is "auctus" which means "to increase". This meaning has survived until the present day - auctioneers all over the world call together bidders who offer increasingly higher bids for an object. Much like the auctions at Garrison Realty & Associates, the Romans auctioned many different types of merchandise, including furniture and homes. From the Romans we proceed through history to China where auctions where used to raise money to build churches.

The English also held auctions and the English king Henry VII began the practice of licensing auctioneers. As a matter of fact, the greatest explorer, Christopher Columbus, purchased some of his supplies at an English auction. Also in England in 1674, we find the first listing of a newspaper advertisement for an auction (something we do quite regularly here at Garrison Realty & Associates!).

Our pilgrim ancestors brought the system of auction sales with them to America. The auctioneers in the early American villages sold a variety of goods at auction including furs, tobacco, and livestock. We can proudly say that the auctioneer's call has echoed in American meeting halls from our nation's birth to the present day.