The opening bid for the entire courthouse started at $2,000. Finally, bidders raised in increments of $1,000 to $5,000.
After reaching $40,000, many bidders became spectators and others left the building, WISC-TV reported.
“It went slow, and I didn’t expect that. I figured it’d be a 10-minute auction, and that’s what it usually is,” said auctioneer Dean George.
After more than an hour, two bidders were left — Roger Bryden, a Beloit businessman whose property is adjacent to the courthouse, and three developers who met at the auction and decided to pool together their funds.
In the end, Bryden won with a bid of $65,000, which is more than $200,000 lower than the list price.
“It just makes sense to have that driveway out to the road, and there’s a lot of reasons to own it. What I’m going to do with, I have no idea,” said Bryden.
Bryden said he has thought about tearing down the 40-year-old building.
One developer said he hopes the building will remain standing.
“It’s a beautiful building. Look around — there’s all the marble, that in itself is … beautiful. It’s a beautiful building. It’s unfortunate to have something like this torn down,” said Patrick Kelly, a developer and former Rock County deputy.
The county said renovating the building would cost millions. But now that decision is up to Bryden and not the taxpayers.
Dean George Auction Services conducted the auction and estimates the courthouse had to sell at a minimum of $150,000 for the auctioneers and realtors to break even.

Posted: 05|25|06 at 9:22 am. Filed under: US News.