MALLAIG – The main item at the upcoming Haying in the 30's auction will be a collection of Canadian bills dating back to the 1930s.
Yolande Theroux, organizer of auction, said the bills were kept preserved inside a shoe box that has been passed down through four generations of a local family -the same family that donated an old house to the society in 2009 to be used as a general store at the Haying in the 30's site, which is located near Mallaig, in the County of St. Paul.
According to Theroux, the old house originally belonged to a First World War veteran, Thomas Phipps Sr., who built the house in the Therien area in 1922. Thomas and his wife, Grace Myers, were currency collectors.
When Theroux inspected the bills, she said she was surprised at their perfect condition.
“They were such in an immaculate shape,” she said, showing the actual bills to Lakeland This Week. “They are well taken care of.”
The collection consists of two $20 bills, one $10 bill, and a $5 bill. There were also three $1 bills, two of which are bills dating back to the 1950s.
The bills indeed looked new, almost as if they were freshly issued from the bank. Theroux said the bills have been authenticated and graded, and the organization hopes the collection will generate interest among collectors at the auction.
It is an opportunity to own a piece of the community’s history, she said, adding that for her, looking at the collection of bills feels like looking back in time.
Theroux said the auction will take place on Saturday night and will include various items donated by local businesses and community members.
Haying in the 30's is a non-profit organization that raises funds to support people battling cancer. While the entire August long weekend event is free to attend and offers a chance at viewing and experiencing how life was in the 1930s, people who attend are encouraged to donate whatever they can to support the cause.
All funds raised go directly back to cancer patients.
