Page 14 • The ENUMCLAW Courier-Herald • Wednesday, October 23, 2013
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Wednesday, October 23, 2013 • The ENUMCLAW Courier-Herald • Page 15
75 years
on the Plateau!
1938-2013 The Enumclaw Sales Pavillion opened in 1938 by Frank and Jesse Wetzel. It is now one of only five left in Washington State! Shortly after opening in 1960, the newly erected barn and yard burned down and although the road was rough inw getting it back to its former glory the hard-working staff were able to get it up and running not long after. Since then, the ESP has been a landmark for the area. Pictured right, in 1958, is the small lunch area set up for customers and patrons of the auctionhouse. It has since grown and is now home to a larger eating area abtly named The Branding Iron Cafe. Here guests can enjoy a large meal at a decent price and explore the wide variety of rustic decor. There are live bands that play outside the cafe, adding to the overall ambience of the Saturday and Sunday event. Frank L. Wetzel is pictured left, the auctioneer and owner from 19381975. The current owners hold true to their predesessers and work hard to make the experience just as authentic as it had been 75 years ago. 903214
The auction has a wide variety of livestock, farming equipment, animal husbandry items, plants and more that go up for bid starting Saturday morning and horses on the first Sunday of each month. As the oldest auction house in Washington State, the Enumclaw Sales Pavilion has grown a lot through the years but still holds true to its past and makes a point to create a family-friendly but efficient means of buying and selling locally.
AUCTIONS
Equipment Auction Horses/Tack Auction Plants Poultry/Livestock
Spring (Yearly) 1st Sunday/Month Spring (Weekly) Every Saturday
Country Music EVERY Saturday morning (LIVE)
Join in the fun! “I stay in it because I love it...
...If I couldn’t be an auctioneer I wouldn’t be here.”
Owner now for 39 years, Ron Mariotti has passed Wetzel’s as longest tennant.“Everyone thought I was crazy when I signed that original lease,” said Mariotti. “Who knew within months I was selling more head of cattle than ever before.” Ron graduated from the Western College of Auctioneering in 1976, and the rest is history. We asked what makes auctioning so exciting, to which he responded, “Well, it’s competitive. Value is determined right there, and it’s up to the individual what they pay.”In its prime the sales pavilion was the largest replacement dairy cattle auction house in the 4 state region. Today it is one of only five auction houses left in the state. When asked what was one of the most unique auctions, he recalls a time when he sold 220 head of buffalo from Eastern Washington. That almost matches the 280 head of horses, which is his biggest horse sale. Mariotti remembered, “We had horses everywhere around here!” 903214