Inn at Richmond sells at auction $1.87 million

RICHMOND, MASS. – It took only 15 minutes to sell the 229-year-old Inn at Richmond and its equestrian center at auction Saturday, as bidders from New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts gathered under a white tent overlooking the paddocks.

“People knew what they were willing to bid, so things went pretty quickly,” said auctioneer Craig King, president of J.P. King Auction Company, Gadsden, Ala., which managed the sale for owners Dan and Jerri Buehler, who have owned the property for 12 years.

“It was a great auction all around. The Buehlers indicated they were pleased with the outcome, and now they can go ahead with their plans to move to West Stockbridge. The buyer has a gorgeous inn and first-class equestrian center,” said King.

The crowd of about 100 – including nine registered bidders – began gathering a couple of hours early for catered refreshments and live music. But once the 2 p.m. auction hour approached, the bidders gathered at the podium for the main event.

Purchasing the property was Carl Dunham Jr., businessman and real estate investor from New Milford, Ct., according to King.

“Mr. Dunham’s representative told us he plans to continue to operate the inn as a business and to lease out the equestrian center,” said King.

The majestic estate on Richmond’s State Road was a private home until the Buehlers purchased it 12 years ago and turned it into an inn.

Buehler, who spent most of his life as owner of a steel fabricating business in New York City, said he decided to sell at auction to bring it to the attention of more prospective buyers.
“We almost missed out on this property 12 years ago, because we were living in Stamford (Ct.) and didn’t even know it existed,” said Buehler.

The six-bedroom home has four fireplaces, a garden room and adjoining greenhouse, and wide-plank heart-of-pine flooring. Behind the home are three guest cottages. A private road lined with Sugar Maples leads to the equestrian center, built around a Shaker barn originally located in Hancock Shaker Village and moved to its current site around 1920.