It’s Not E-Bay; It’s a Government Auction
By Sue Clark on Aug 27, 2007 in Opinion 
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Last minute bids keep extending the General Surplus Administration (GSA) auction of Fourteen Foot Bank Lighthouse, located three miles offshore of Bowers Beach in Delaware. Bidding for this cast iron lighthouse in Delaware Bay is now at $165,000, with the latest bid placed at 13:59:06 EDT, just 54 seconds before the announced close of the auction.
Unfortunately for the bidder calling him or herself “latea,” this isn’t Ebay, where last minute auction sniping will often win you an item. In fact, there are online services and software for just this underhanded way of bidding. But this sale is being watched closely by government officials, and if the bids come in before or near to the listed time, the auction will continue for another day. It’s probable that if a bid came in a minute or two after the auction ends, the government would extend it yet another day.
From the GSA site on an auction’s “soft close:”
Once bidding slows down, a date will be set for the receipt of final bids. That date will be announced on the web page. On that date, if no increased bid is received by the stated time (in the IFB), Eastern Time, then bidding will close at the stated time and consideration will be given to selling the property to the high bidder. If an increased bid is received within the stated time period, then bidding will be held over until the next business day on the same terms. Eventually, no one will outbid the high bidder and bidding will close in accordance with the stated terms.
Lighthouse News is not the only one wondering just what the eventual buyer of this lighthouse intends to do with it. Debbie at New England Lighthouse Blog lists (ala Dave Letterman) the top ten reasons why this lighthouse would make a poor residence. And at the amount of the current bid, this is already the median price range for a home in the midwest. But at least there you would be able to use your privy. 
Would you want this as a unique summer residence? What would you do with a lighthouse you couldn’t really live in? I am truly glad someone wants this beacon, and am hoping the person will announce his or her plans. In the meantime, it’s fun to speculate on what they’re going to be doing with it.
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