Locals buy buildings and land of Balster's Implement

The complex of buildings in a farm implement business that made up almost the entire town of Scotch Grove in Jones County was bought by local residents in a huge weekend auction.

Bob Wilkes of Skogman Commercial said seven parcels that made up the 1.5-acre Balter's Implement & Parts Co. complex was bought "by mostly locals" with undisclosed plans for the land and buildings. A different buyer purchased each property, and two of them were adjacent landowners.

More than 1,000 bidders came to the auction. The big attraction was hard-to-find antique tractor parts, Wilkes said, with many coming from distant states.

The complex included 11 buildings - four of them small houses that once were inhabitated by company employees. Skogman Commercial of Cedar Rapids decided to auction the property after it became clear that it would bring more value for the heirs of the last operators of Balster's Implement & Parts that way. Grafe Auction of Minnesota conducted the three-day auction.

Wilkes and Skogman's Bob Kainz as listing agents arranged the sale, which Wilkes described as the most interesting in his long real estate career. Balster's Implement dated back to 1874 and was the heart of Scotch Grove. It retained much of its original appearance, giving the community a historic 1930's feel.