The Carl A Spaatz family estate home on Sixth and Chestnut streets may have been dormant for many years, but it definitely came to life on October 28^th with auctioneer Ron Rhoads and many onlookers.

The two-and-a-half story, four bedroom mansion was certainly the biggest item up for sale but not the only item.  Many keepsakes, books, jewelry, furniture, and much more were brought up from a home in Virginia and auctioned off throughout the morning.  Some of the artifacts were from Carl Spaatz’s military career.  Also present were two paintings of “The Knoll,” as the house was known, painted by painter and designer Miles B. Dechant of Berks County.  One painting was of the proposed home before it was built and the other was painted after the home was built.

Ron Rhoads was the auctioneer that expertly rattled off numbers as onlookers placed their bids on antiques and little bits of history. It was amazing to watch and listen as the artifacts were brought to the front of the tent and the bidding began on each item.

At noon the Spatz home was auctioned off for $390,000 to Jeffrey Pail from New Jersey.  Pail said he “bought it as an investment.”  He and his wife are not sure if they will live at the home but had stated he would try to preserve it.  They want to see what it will cost to refurbish the 2,222 sq. ft. home.  The land itself, including the home, was stated to be 47,000 sq. ft. which Pail would like to develop, to place homes on the rest of the property.

Lorraine Serratore, a great granddaughter on the Spatz side of the family, had driven from Laurel Springs, NJ in hopes of keeping the estate in the family.  Serratore had hoped that her bid of $300,000 would buy her a new home, with old history, to live in with her husband.  Speaking with a tear in her eye and obviously disappointed, she said “I never stayed here.  My heart was set on it to a point.  My husband is a retired builder and would’ve restored the house.”  Serratore said that the descendants of the Spatz and Leaver families were offered a chance to bid on the house but it became too complicated with the estate and having 17 members on Spatz’ side and 1 on the Leaver side.  Don Parks, a great grandson of General Spaatz, came from as far as Florida to attend the auction and to bid on a ring for his wife.          

Later in the day, after the house was sold, larger pieces of furniture from inside the home were auctioned off including a baby grand piano, a large china cabinet, dining table and chairs, and a corner hutch.

The Spatz home had been built in 1920 on 1.5 acres for General Spaatz’s parents.  The home became well known due to the notoriety of Carl A. Spaatz who shot down enemy planes in WWI, became a General in WWII, and set an aviation record of keeping his plane the “Question Mark” in the air over Los Angeles for 150 hours.  The historical home had also been well known for its impeccable rose gardens.

Many Boyertown residents were hoping to keep the history alive by preserving the home or turning it into a museum.  The fate of the Spatz home will now rest in the hands of its new owner.

Posted by Bethanne Reinert on 11/08/06.