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Chinqua Penn items to be sold at auction

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Wednesday, December 14, 2011

(Updated 2:05 pm)

By Jonnelle Davis
Staff Writer

GREENSBORO — A U.S. bankruptcy judge has signed an order authorizing the sale of items at Chinqua Penn Plantation during a public auction.

Among the items to be sold are musical instrument and gun collections, furniture, fixtures and other household goods, according to the order filed Monday.

Chinqua Penn is part of Renegade Holdings Inc., which was owned by Calvin Phelps. It was seized during bankruptcy proceedings last September amid allegations that Phelps misappropriated $8.1 million from the company.

Chinqua Penn is a Rockingham County tourist attraction. Phelps bought the property from the state in 2006.

The items will be auctioned on April 23. The main sale will be held at a hotel, conference or convention center in the Triad during, according to the order.

Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales and Iron Horse Auction Co. are handling the sales.

Read more in Thursday's News & Record.

Accompanying Photos

File photo (News & Record)

Photo Caption: Chinqua Penn Plantation

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rooster8786

December 14, 2011 - 3:01 pm EST

It seems, to me at least, that just as Mr. Phelps allegedly misappropriated funds from Renegade Holdings Inc, the bankruptcy court is now misappropriating items from the people of NC by allowing these treasures to be sold at auction to private collectors...

countryboy

December 14, 2011 - 3:19 pm EST

Seems to me that the purpose of this information is too announce the auction to everyone...not just private collectors. And how did these items become property of the people and not the creditors? Just asking.

billhpt200909

December 14, 2011 - 9:14 pm EST

Sadly, the "people" sold out their interest when they allowed the property to be sold rather than maintained as state property. Such shortsighted foolishness now allows these priceless treasures housed in our state for decades to be auctioned off to the highest bidders.

The "people" should think carefully when they hear their "elected leaders" talking of the value of spinning off museums, zoos, etc. because they "cost too much to run" and can be better managed "privately."

I wish the honorable court could find a better option here that would allow these artifacts and estate to be returned to the people of NC.

gitup

December 15, 2011 - 12:16 am EST

This is a shame & disgrace! Bill is right, though. The trend toward privatization is growing, with no thought to the consequences. I'm sure we could save billions by privatizing our national parks, museums and forests, but at what cost? The things that make up our collective history, that our ancestors labored over, cried for and sometimes died for are becoming mere commodities worth no more than what the highest bidder is willing to pay. If those who forget history are condemned to repeat it, then what fate awaits those who sell history?

1234

December 15, 2011 - 8:43 am EST

BOTH UNCG and NCSU did not want this house...it was just a PRIVATE HOME, that the Estate donated the farm and the home to the State of NC thru UNCG...it is not the State's Statutes to maintain everything given to us when it will not only make any money, but bleed lots of red ink! What if the Biltmore house was "given to the State" in the future, and the numbers do not work out to keep it.... would we pour millions in it to prop it up? There is not a printing press in Raleigh as some people think!

The Penn plantation was NEVER kept up to the level it should have been maintained at...also, it was only built in the 1920's...a PRIVATE home built on tobacco money!