Bidders attend auction at old hospital

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - An auction got underway Tuesday, at the old Millard Fillmore Gates Hospital. With around 2,300 items up for sale, it’s not just medical equipment people are after.

It’s a well known hospital, with items being auctioned off by one of the most well known auctioneers. Cash Cunningham, of Cash Realty and Auctions, has been putting on auctions for decades.

“I'm here for the auction,” Bidder Frank Serio said. “I come to all of Cash's auctions.”

Cash said, “It's fun to get up every morning to do something different. Today it's a hospital, tomorrow it might be a factory, the next day it might be cars or trucks.“

There are items for sale on all ten floors of the Millard Fillmore Gates Hospital. All the money raised from the auction will go toward the Kaleida Health Foundation.

White there are plenty of businesses after medical equipment and office furniture, there are bidders looking for their home, like Kittinger tables, or any steals and deals.

Frank said, “I’m known as $5 Frank.”

Bidder Mario Cultrara said he didn’t come to the auction for a specific item, but to see if something catches his eye.  For the Babcock Hill family, times are a little more desperate.

Delorean Babcock Hill said, “Well our back room was on fire and it burnt down to ashes. It's pretty sad and everything was covered in soot.”

The lost many of their belongings in a fire on November 25th. They came to the auction, looking to fill their now empty home.

Troy Babcock-Hill said, “We're just going to take a look and see what they've got, maybe some furniture, maybe see what kind of beds they've got the hospital beds are great. I don’t know if they're going to have what we want, but we're maybe going to buy some things to replace what we've lost.”

Auctioneers expect the auction to go until at least 7 p.m. Tuesday, but will stay as long as it takes to get through all the items.

A new veterinary medical school will go in the empty building.