CONCIERGE AUCTIONS PLACES HISTORIC ROCKLAND ESTATE IN FAIRPLAY, MD UNDER CONTRACT PRIOR TO AUCTION

Widespread exposure generates the sale of a 25-Acre equestrian estate with an 8,600-square-foot manse four days before the auction date

Fairplay, MD - June 10, 2010 – The historic Rockland estate at 9030 Sharpsburg Pike, originally scheduled for auction on June 11th with a published reserve of $1.325 million, went to contract above the reserve amount four days before the scheduled auction date, marking Concierge Auctions’ second huge success with historic homes in Maryland in recent months, announced George Graham, CEO of the NYC-based luxury real estate auction firm. The pending sale is being conducted in cooperation with listing broker Gary Gestson of Long & Foster Real Estate, who’s also serving as the buyer’s representative.

“After selling the historic Tulip Hill estate in Harwood, Maryland at auction two months ago above the listing price with Concierge Auctions, we’re ecstatic to work together again on the sale of the Rockland estate. The auction exposure had such an enormous impact on the buyer pool, it went under contract before auction,” Gestson stated. “With heightened inventory levels and buyer trepidation in today’s tested real estate market, it is difficult to predict how quickly a property may sell via traditional brokerage methods, evidenced by the fact that Rockland had been listed since May 2009. For sellers who want to part with a real estate asset by a certain date and have the ability to allow the market to name a fair price, Concierge Auctions is a choice platform. We look forward to many more successful sales together in the days ahead.”

Originally listed for $2.75 million, Concierge Auctions’ advertising, PR and sales efforts for the 25-plus acre equestrian estate with an 8,600-square-foot manse generated 32 interested auction prospects and 2,347 visitors to the custom auction web site from every US state and 22 countries around the world. The ultimate buyer reigns from Texas.

“With the Rockland estate selling prior to auction and Tulip Hill selling above its previous list price, we’re thrilled to have achieved such success for our sellers of these significant historical properties in Maryland,” stated Graham. “The Concierge Auctions method is the way in today’s market to generate competition, as we present the most motivated sellers and set a deadline for buyers to act. The fact that we produced a buyer for Rockland who stepped up with such a compelling contract before the auction date is a testament to the power of our platform.”

The Rockland estate is located in scenic Washington County less than a 90-minute drive from both Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, and approximately three hours from Philadelphia. Built circa 1803 by Colonel Frisby Tilghman, son of Maryland’s first attorney general, the three-story, seven bay stone and brick manse is listed on the Maryland Inventory of Historic Sites and is eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places.

At one time, Rockland was the largest slave holding estate in Washington County. James W.C. Pennington, the famed abolitionist and author, escaped from slavery at Rockland in 1827. Given its important association to Pennington, Rockland has also been designated as an official site of the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom by the U.S. Department of the Interior.

Today the 25-plus acres surrounding Rockland include a turnkey horse farm with lush fenced pastures. The sellers purchased the property in 2004 and completed many modern infrastructure improvements to the manse, including installing central air conditioning, extensively remodeling the kitchen and constructing a 3,000-bottle wine cellar in one of the basement rooms. Significant renovations were also made to the property’s smaller bank barn as well as installing fencing and establishing paddocks. Formal gardens and walkway surrounding the house were installed and more than 300 trees and shrubbery were planted.

Concierge Auctions is currently accepting applications from luxury sellers nationwide with premier, storied properties. The company’s innovative auction platform offers a 60-day disposition solution from engagement to closing. For more information about Concierge Auctions and its services please call 888-966-4759 or visit www.ConciergeAuctions.com.

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Historic Blueberry Manor c. 1903- $349,000

Named for its hillside blueberry fields, this beautifully restored home is perfectly placed on 5+ wooded acres and manicured grounds. Mountain views from the two story porch are breathtaking and interior is grand and glorious. Flawless natural woodwork, includes pocket doors, exposed ceiling beams, columns, trim and newly finished floors. New kitchen & bathrooms.

PROPERTY/SITE FEATURES:

• Subdivision Potential
• Historic detailing
• Third floor w/3 bedrooms, kitchen and bathroom
• Wood floors
• Beautiful woodwork throughout
• Whirlpool bathtub
• Stone fireplace
• High ceilings
• 0riginal carriage porch
• Decorative garden pool
• Large 2 story front porch
• 2 car garage
• Estimated property taxes: $2,642

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CONCIERGE AUCTIONS TO PRESENT THE HISTORIC ROCKLAND ESTATE
IN FAIRPLAY, MD AT AUCTION ON JUNE 11
25-Acre Equestrian Estate with 8,600-Square-Foot Manse
Originally Listed for $2.75 Million – Reserve $1.325 Million
Fairplay, MD—May 11, 2010 – Concierge Auctions will host a luxury home auction of the
historic Rockland estate at 9030 Sharpsburg Pike in Fairplay, Maryland on June 11,
announced Laura Brady, Co-Founder and Vice President of Marketing for Concierge
Auctions.
Originally listed for $2.75 million, the 25-plus acre equestrian estate, with an 8,600-squarefoot
manse, is selling with a reserve of $1.325 million and a pre-sale estimate of $1.325
million to $1.8 million. The sale is being conducted in cooperation with Gary Gestson, a
certified Historic Property Specialist with Long & Foster Real Estate.
Located in scenic Washington County, the estate is less than a 90-minute drive from both
Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, and approximately three hours from Philadelphia.
“The Rockland estate is one of the County’s most notable historic properties,” Gestson
stated. “The manse’s major area of significance is its architecture, particularly its Victorian
period alterations.”
Built circa 1803 by Colonel Frisby Tilghman, son of Maryland’s first attorney general, the
three-story, seven bay stone and brick manse is listed on the Maryland Inventory of
Historic Sites and is eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places.
At one time, Rockland was the largest slave holding estate in Washington County. James
W.C. Pennington, the famed abolitionist and author, escaped from slavery at Rockland in
1827. Given its important association to Pennington, Rockland has also been designated
as an official site of the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom by the U.S.
Department of the Interior.
The Victorian enhancements to the mansion were likely made in the last part of the 19th
century, when the house was purchased by General Thomas T. McKaig. The most
dominant feature is the Federal-style suspended staircase in the south wing, which spirals
from the ground floor to the third floor attic. An oval skylight with curved munitions
illuminates the stairs.
Today the 25-plus acres surrounding Rockland include a turnkey horse farm with lush
fenced pastures. Current owners Michael Moreland and Jason Daisey purchased the
property in 2004 and have completed many modern infrastructure improvements to the
manse, including installing central air conditioning, extensively remodeling the kitchen, and
constructing a 3,000-bottle wine cellar in one of the basement rooms.
Avid equestrians and foxhunters, Moreland and Daisey have also made significant
renovations to the property’s smaller bank barn as well as installing fencing and
establishing paddocks. They recently embarked on an extensive landscaping plan,
installing the formal gardens and walkway surrounding the house and planting over 300
trees and shrubbery.
“Our April 10 auction of historic Tulip Hill in Harwood, Maryland, proved that truly rare,
historically-significant properties are of great interest in today’s market,” Brady stated.
“The challenge is identifying value, which our process accomplishes in a transparent, open
bidding atmosphere. The upcoming auction of Rockland not only represents the
opportunity to purchase a remarkable, storied property, but also the ability for the high
bidder to name the price.”
The auction of the historic Rockland estate at 9030 Sharpsburg Pike in Fairplay, Maryland
will be held on Friday, June 11 at 11am EDT. Attendance will be limited to registered
bidders and their representatives. The estate is available for preview daily from 11am to
1pm and by appointment. View Terms and Conditions of Sale for full details. For more
information, visit www.RocklandAuction.com or call 866-605-7286.
About James W.C. Pennington (Cited from hallowedground.org): Born Jim Pembroke,
James W. C. Pennington escaped from slavery at Rockland, the home of Frisby Tilghman,
in 1827. From this modest beginning he eventually won world renown. After staying six
months with Quakers William and Phebe Wright in Adams County, Pennsylvania,
Pennington settled in New York. Working first as a coachman, he found spiritual guidance
from Presbyterian minister Dr. S. H. Cox and experienced a religious awakening in 1829.
At the same time he became involved in abolitionist activities and found them compatible
with his study of religion. In 1834 he moved to Connecticut where he audited classes in
Theology at Yale University and pastored Temple Street Congregational Church, a black
congregation. Under his leadership, his church championed abolition and civil rights, and
Pennington spoke widely on those issues. In 1841 he wrote and published one of the first
histories of Africans in America. The same year he became founding president of the
Union Missionary Society and raised money for the kidnapped Africans on the slave ship
Amistad to return home. As the Connecticut delegate to the World Anti-Slavery Convention
in London in 1843, Pennington developed an international reputation as a human rights
advocate. Pennington publicly told the story of his early life in The Fugitive Blacksmith, first
published in 1849. It sold briskly and remains one of the most acclaimed of all slave
narratives. That same year the University of Heidelburg recognized his international
achievements by awarding him an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree. He attended world
peace and abolition conferences in Great Britain and spoke publicly to raise
consciousness and funds for the cause. His involvement in the Underground Railroad
included his own escape, his book, and his assistance to freedom seekers including
several family members.
About Colonel Frisby Tilghman (cited from hollowedground.org): Frisby Tilghman was the
eldest son of James Tilghman of Queen Anne’s County, Maryland, on the Eastern Shore
of the Chesapeake Bay. Like many sons of planters from eastern Maryland, Frisby
migrated to the western part of the state in the late eighteenth century, where land was
plentiful and comparatively low-priced. Trained as a doctor, he married the wealthy Anna
Maria Ringgold and turned his hand to farming instead. He helped found a local
agricultural society and an academy and earned a reputation as a progressive farmer.
Active in civic life, he served four terms in the Maryland House of Delegates, promoted the
C&O Canal project, served on bank boards of directors, and formed and commanded a
militia unit (he was known as Colonel Tilghman).
About Concierge Auctions: Concierge Auctions is the preeminent luxury real estate auction
firm serving high-end sellers nationwide. A leading provider of services for individual and
institutional owners of luxury residential real estate, Concierge Auctions is revolutionizing
the industry by offering an accelerated marketing process that obtains fair market value for
high-end properties in a determined time frame. Building on a centuries-old method for
selling the finest art and antiquities, the company combines the latest technologies and
marketing programs with experienced personnel to generate the maximum value for the
most premier properties in an open, competitive forum. As a preferred auction provider to
Sotheby’s International Realty® and other luxury brokerage firms, the company has
executed auctions throughout the country, from New York to Hawaii. The company’s
database includes more than 30,000 luxury real estate buyers and agents from all 50
states and 38 countries and territories. The principals of Concierge Auctions have been
involved in the transfer of more than $2 billion in luxury real estate sales over the past 10
years. For more information, call 888-966-4759 or visit www.ConciergeAuctions.com.

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CONCIERGE AUCTIONS TO PRESENT A 150-ACRE EQUESTRIAN ESTATE
NEAR CAMP DAVID AT AUCTION ON JUNE 12
J. Martin Benchoff Estate Originally Listed for $7.9 Million – Reserve $3 Million
Waynesboro, PA—April 29, 2010 – Concierge Auctions will host a luxury real estate
auction of a 150-acre equestrian estate near Camp David on June 12, announced Laura
Brady, Co-Founder and Vice President of Marketing for Concierge Auctions.
Originally listed for $7.9 million, the estate is selling with a reserve of $3 million and a
pre-sale estimate of $4 million to $5.8 million. The sale is being conducted in
cooperation with Gary Gestson, a certified Historic Property Specialist with Long &
Foster Real Estate.
The J. Martin Benchoff Estate is a family compound located on Old Route 16 in
Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, only a 90-minute drive from both Washington, D.C. and
Baltimore, and 3 hours from Philadelphia. The grandest of the estate’s four residences,
a 15,000-square-foot custom home built of native stone, is surrounded by magnificent
grounds with spectacular views.
“This is a rare opportunity for the discerning buyer to own one of the last great estates
within easy reach of Washington, D.C, Baltimore and Philadelphia,” Gestson stated. “Its
storied history, unique beauty and recreational attributes render the J. Martin Benchoff
Estate a truly incomparable property.”
Known for its scenic vistas and lush rolling pastures, the renowned private hilltop estate
rests 1,000 feet above sea level with stunning 50-mile views of the historic
Pennsylvania/Maryland Cumberland Valley. The property offers a rare blend of mature
forest, impeccably maintained for over a century and stocked with indigenous wildlife
including whitetail deer, wild turkey and small game for the outdoorsman or hunter.
There is also an equestrian facility with stables and outbuildings and a working farm on
the property, and access to the Appalachian Trail is an estimated 100 yards away.
The main house features five bedrooms, seven baths, spacious grand rooms with
multiple fireplaces, two fully equipped kitchens, and a master suite with a Jacuzzi room
and separate redwood sauna. The great room on the lower level can accommodate
more than 100 people for entertaining and includes a wet bar, spacious kitchen with
wine cellar, and a library with built-in bookshelves. A flagstone patio wraps around the
house to an in-ground swimming pool with pool house and a fenced tennis court.
“Following our successful auction of historic Tulip Hill in Harwood, Maryland on April 10,
we are pleased to represent another one of the most premier properties in the Mid-
Atlantic Region,” Brady stated. “Any buyer seeking an active, sporting lifestyle with
complete privacy and the utmost in luxury should take notice of The J. Martin Benchoff
Estate.”
The auction of the J. Martin Benchoff Estate on Old Route 16 in Waynesboro,
Pennsylvania will be held on Saturday, June 12 at 11am EDT. Attendance will be
limited to registered bidders and their representatives. The estate is available for
preview daily from 3pm to 6pm and by appointment. View Terms and Conditions of
Sale for full details. For more information, visit www.BenchoffEstateAuction.com or call
877-217-2001.
About J. Martin Benchoff (1927-2007): J. Martin Benchoff was an industrialist and big
game hunter, and a life long resident of the Waynesboro area. He graduated from the
University of Pennsylvania and in 1954 began his career at Grove Manufacturing
Company in Shady Grove, PA as a farm wagon salesperson. He went on to become
President in 1969 when the company was purchased by Walter Kiddle and Co. He
became Chairman of the Board in 1980 and then Chairman Emeritus in 1988 after
Grove became part of Hanson Industries. Together with Grove’s founders, John Grove,
Dwight Grove and Wayne Nicarry, he took Grove Manufacturing from a small regional
producer of farm equipment to the leader of the international mobile hydraulic crane
market. Benchoff ’s contributions to the local community were significant. He was a
founder of the Waynesboro Day Care Center, a benefactor of the Waynesboro
Y.M.C.A., and most importantly a creator of jobs. He served on the Board of Directors of
the former First National Bank of Waynesboro, presently M&T Bank, and the
Waynesboro Hospital Board of Directors. He was a member of many clubs and
organizations ranging from Metropolitan Club of New York to the Blue Ridge Sportsman
Club. The greatest passion in Benchoff ’s personal life was big game hunting, which he
pursued throughout the world. Although he took many exceptional trophies in a lifetime
of hunting, his proudest achievement was a stone sheep taken in British Columbia and
two dall sheep from the Yukon Territory, which placed high in the Boone and Crocket
record book. Like all true hunters, he was first and foremost a conservationist who
always looked for the most mature animal to harvest.
About Concierge Auctions: Concierge Auctions is the preeminent luxury real estate
auction firm serving high-end sellers nationwide. A leading provider of services for
individual and institutional owners of luxury residential real estate, Concierge Auctions
is revolutionizing the industry by offering an accelerated marketing process that obtains
fair market value for high-end properties in a determined time frame. Building on a
centuries-old method for selling the finest art and antiquities, the company combines
the latest technologies and marketing programs with experienced personnel to generate
the maximum value for the most premier properties in an open, competitive forum. As a
preferred auction provider to Sotheby’s International Realty® and other luxury brokerage
firms, the company has executed auctions throughout the country, from New York to
Hawaii. The company’s database includes more than 30,000 luxury real estate buyers
and agents from all 50 states and 38 countries and territories. The principals of
Concierge Auctions have been involved in the transfer of more than $2 billion in luxury
real estate sales over the past 10 years. For more information, call 888-966-4759 or
visit www.ConciergeAuctions.com.

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George Graham, CEO of Concierge Auctions, appeared on CNBC to talk about the real estate market and the power of luxury real estate auctions. Concierge has teamed up with Historic Home Team to auction the beautiful Tulip Hill Mansion and will also be working with us to auction the Historic J. Martin Benchoff Estate.

See him here on Youtube.

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Pennsylvania: 150-acre Benchoff estate to be auctioned in June.

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