Sean Hibbs and Kelly Terbasket found themselves in the hot seat as they tried to outbid each other in the silent auction at the Cawston Hall Cabin Fever Ball Saturday.
The two Cawston residents both had their eye on the octopus inspired refurbished chair design of Yako deArburn.
“He outbid me in the last second,” a defeated but still smiling Terbasket said moments after the silent auction closed.
The final bid on the unique chair was $100, the highest any of the 19 chairs that were revamped by local artists to raise money for the hall.
“It’s for charity,” Hibbs said. “It’s for a good cause. I waste a lot of money on myself doing things and I thought why not spend a few bucks and support something in the community that means so much.”
Hibbs bought three chairs at the silent auction. One for each of his children. He plans to keep them in the house and then use them outside in the warm months.
“It’s something different for the kids. I think they will really like them,” he said.
The annual Cabin Fever Ball brought in a crowd of about 150 people. The night included three bands.
“Tonight’s been above our expectations,” Bob McAtamney, hall president said.
Money raised from the annual event goes towards maintenance and hall repairs.
Most recently new ceiling tiles were put up in a section of the hall. On the horizon is the need for a new roof that will cost anywhere between $5,000 to $10,000.
“There’s always something. The roof is definitely a priority,” he said.
McAtamney said the hall is facing some financial uncertainty as the Lower Similkameen Indian Band prepares to open its new facility.
“The LSIB is our biggest renters,” he said. “We also have weddings, funerals, private functions. We’re not sure what the impact will be yet but there will be one.”
The Cawston Hall as it stands today was originally made up of several buildings. The main large hall was built in 1922. A second portion of the building was added in the mid 1950s when the community’s two-room school house was closed across the street from the hall. The school house was moved in two sections and attached to the main hall.
“It’s the focus point for the community,” McAtamney said. “I would say it’s the heart of the community.”