Woody Auction marks 80 years in Kansas

Woody Auction is celebrating 80 years in business in Douglass, Kansas, after growing from a one-off church fundraiser in 1945 into a three-generation auction firm with buyers and consignors around the world. The company is leaning on its history, high-profile sales and a new online bidding platform as it looks to extend its run.

Why it matters: - Woody Auction’s 80-year run puts the Douglass, Kansas, firm in a rare group of long-lived small businesses. - The company’s move to online bidding gives a legacy auction house a broader reach without giving up its live-auction roots. - The anniversary highlights the staying power of a family-owned business that has sold antiques, collectibles and notable estates for decades.

What happened: - Woody Auction marked its 80th year in business, with roots dating to 1945 in Douglass. - Milton James Woody started the firm after being pressed into auctioneering at a church fundraiser when the scheduled auctioneer did not appear. - John Milton Woody later took over the business from his father. - Jason Lee Woody joined full-time in 1994 and took full ownership in 2001. - The business was officially renamed Woody Auction, LLC in 2007. - Jason Woody now serves as owner and principal auctioneer.

The details: - Woody Auction has always been based in Kansas and now serves collectors, consignors and communities across the nation and internationally. - The company has long specialized in cut glass, art glass, porcelain, pottery, silver and other fine antiques from the 1800s through the 1920s. - John Woody conducted one of the country’s first carnival glass-only auctions in the early 1960s in Douglass. - That sale drew national attention because of the prices realized. - During John Woody’s tenure, the company also handled real estate sales under the name Woody Auction and Real Estate. - Woody Auction now operates multiple climate-controlled facilities in Douglass. - The firm recently launched its proprietary online bidding platform at bid.woodyauction.com. - The company also directs customers to woodyauction.com for auction and event information. - A phone line for information and bidding support is listed as 316-747-2694. - Notable sales over the years include an English cameo vase for $260,000, a Birger Sandzen painting for $160,000, an American Cut Glass center bowl for $110,000 and an American Cut Glass tray for $105,000. - Four auctions for Dr. Ernest Rieger and his wife Karin in 2014 still rank as the four highest-grossing auctions Woody Auction has ever conducted.

Between the lines: - Woody Auction is pairing family heritage with new technology, a common path for niche auction businesses trying to keep longtime customers while reaching remote bidders. - The company’s emphasis on climate-controlled facilities and online bidding suggests an effort to protect inventory and expand access at the same time. - Jason Woody’s anniversary remarks frame the business as deeply tied to Douglass and to rural values such as work ethic, relationships and integrity. - The company’s stories about weather-delayed auctions and high-profile collectors point to a business model built on live-event drama, specialized inventory and repeat buyers.

What's next: - Woody Auction plans to keep growing through its online platform while continuing live sales from Douglass. - The company is maintaining its focus on personalized service as it expands access to bidders beyond Kansas. - Future auctions and events are expected to continue through the company’s existing calendar and online channels.

The bottom line: - Woody Auction is trying to prove that an 80-year-old family auction business can modernize without losing the local identity that built it.