The Conley family in
Crozet was forced to say goodbye to their business Wednesday. Bruce Barnes
Lumberyard has rested on 19 acres of land in the heart of Crozet since 1985.
At an auction Wednesday morning,
a mystery investor purchased the land for $1.9 million. In up to 30 days, the deed will close on Bruce
Barnes Lumberyard and the investor's name will then be on public record.
"This land and this
business is part of me," Caroll Conley said.
After the foreclosure of his
family business, Conley could only look on and watch as every last piece of his
lumber company was auctioned off to satisfy a loan with Union First Market Bank
in Charlottesville.
People from all over the
East Coast came to support his family by bidding. Randy Stover with Mill Cabinet Shop in the
Shenandoah Valley said, "I've known Caroll for 40 years, so I'm doing this
to help out Caroll."
Conley's family hopes the
mystery investor considers developing downtown Crozet by creating a
"walking mall" that was endorsed by the Crozet Community Advisory
Council.
Conley said, "I think
it's a great opportunity for Crozet."
All the nameless investor
said was that he couldn't tell us anything.
There is also a chance the man at the auction could just be a bidder, so
he may not be the property's actual buyer.
