Historic Weathervane for New York Auction
Published January 8th, 2009
On January 24, 2009 Sotheby’s will offer in its sale of Important Americana the most important, and perhaps the earliest, weathervane to appear on the auction market in recent history, A Rare and Important Molded Copper Fireman “Old Jake” Weathervane Made for the Union Fire Hall, now Charley Rouss Fire Company, Winchester, Virginia, dating to circa 1850, which is estimated at $3/5 million. “Old Jake,” as the weathervane has long been called, is unprecedented in its quality, form, and scale – measuring over six feet high and six feet wide – and has topped the Charley Rouss Fire Company since just after the Civil War. After almost 140 years above the skyline of Winchester, Virginia, the weathervane is being sold to raise funds for new fire equipment and the potential construction of a new firehouse.
The weathervane has remained atop the current home of the Charley Rouss Fire Company, a registered 501(c)3 organization, since its 1895 installation and is being sold in January to raise funds for the purchase of new fire equipment as well as the potential construction of a new firehouse. Two exact copper replicas of “Old Jake” are being made thanks to generous support from Rouss’s great granddaughter, one of which will continue to crown the Charley Rouss Fire Company and the other of which will likely be on public display until plans for a new firehouse are finalized.
