Du Quoin man highest bidder for Pierce & Sons property on N. Hickory

Before it fell into Perry County's hands for back taxes, the Pierce & Sons Motor Sales property on North Hickory Street in Du Quoin had an asking price of $79,500.

On Friday, Du Quoin resident Charles Cross' bid of $9,958 was enough to purchase the property from a Perry County trustee in charge of selling it for the county.

The bid was for the showroom, offices and back shop along with four lots. Three lots to the south sold to Mike Hobbs of Sesser for $1,213. A single lot to the south of that was sold to Faith Liberty Mission Church for $958.

Several bids were submitted. Some were for all the properties offered.

Years ago, the parcels supported the old Dairy Queen to the immediate south of Pierce & Sons, a small office building that housed an insurance company and Sunset Memorial Park cemetery offices and nearby a house. All have been torn down.

In total, 15 properties on the auction block across the county sold for $26,017. The sale included the mineral rights to 55 acres in west Perry County which were purchased by Arch Minerals, Inc. for $5,157.