'Famous' potbelly piece of Stratford history to go to auction

This piece of Stratford history is going under the hammer on Friday.

Through the years, the pot belly stove in Magnum Sports has kept many a person warm while they shared a hunting or fishing story with the other regulars gathered around it.

This Friday, the "famous in Stratford" stove is to be auctioned to help raise money for a cause close to the hearts of the store's owners.

David Hartley and Raylee Blair, the couple who took over the store last year, wanted to support the fundraising efforts of Raylee's cousin, Kylee Boyes-Price, who is hoping to get treatment for her multiple sclerosis in Russia.

Raylee says auctioning the stove was something she and her partner David thought would be a great idea.

"The stove could no longer be used in the store and we have already had a new one installed, so this one was probably going to be sold anyway. Auctioning it so the money goes towards Kylee and helps get her to Russia seemed a much better idea than just selling it."

Raylee says the stove was always a talking point in the store, having been there as long as anyone can remember.

"The owners before us had the store for over 30 years and I am sure I remember them saying to us it had been there when they got the store. Certainly everyone we talk to tells us they remember the stove being a feature of the store."

In winter, the stove would be blasting out heat as people stood around it swapping hunting and fishing stories, says Raylee.

"People come in and tell us they remember the stove, and there has been a lot of interest in it since we took it out, so hopefully there will be a bit of a fight for it on Friday night at the auction."

The successful bidder won't just win the stove, but a whole pile of items, including children's Tumbleweed shirts, a solar lantern, a whistling kettle, solar shower, slingshot and a pistol crossbow.

"We've put the pot belly stove in the window of the shop along with a list of all the other items coming up in the same lot with it on Friday, so people can have a look in advance and get an idea of how much stuff they can get if they have the winning bid."

Raffle tickets are also available in the store this week for other raffle prizes, also donated by Raylee and David, with the money also going to Kylee.

Raylee says the auction will start at 6pm.

"We are also keeping the shop open, and from 5pm we will be offering customers a 20 per cent discount on their clothing purchases other than already reduced items or school uniforms."

Magnum Sports Auction for Kylee: 6pm start, (shop open prior) on Friday, May 25 at Magnum Sports on Broadway.