JAY — Over 100 original sports team banners from the former Jay and Livermore high schools will be auctioned online next month, according to Spruce Mountain High School Principal Thomas “TJ” Plourde in a post on the high school Facebook page Friday.

The banners are from the schools before the Jay School District and Maine School Administrative District 36 formed Regional School Unit 73, which includes Jay, Livermore and Livermore Falls.

Plourde wrote that the first auction of fall sports banners is set for Monday and Tuesday, Feb. 5 and 6. The second on Wednesday and Thursday, Feb. 7 and 8, will include winter sports banners. The third is set for Friday and Saturday, Feb. 9 and 10, for the spring sports banners.

According to the post, all auctions will run from 8 a.m. on the first day to 8 p.m. the second day, and people can bid as many times as they would like but must have some direct connection to the individual or team that the banner represents, including a parent, grandparent, sibling or child of a player/runner or coach.

“The responsibility of proving the connection will fall upon the bidder,” Plourde wrote.

At 8 p.m. on the second day, all bidding will cease and the highest bidder will be the unofficial winner until the direct connection is proven, Plourde said. If a direct connection cannot be provided, the second highest bidder will be given the opportunity to prove a connection. The process will continue until a connection is verified.

A photo of the banner will be placed on Facebook with a brief description of what it is, including the school, team, year, and award on the first morning at 7 a.m.

The Spruce Mountain High School “Home of the Phoenix” Facebook page had earlier indicated the banners would be auctioned off this week. Comments on that post noted the banners were part of the region’s history and suggested they be donated to appropriate historical societies. Many thought the banners should be available to all and not the property of individuals. One parent suggested they be displayed in the Area Youth Sports building gymnasium in the former Livermore Falls High School.

Responding to an email sent Jan. 17 asking about the auction, Albert wrote, “It has been put on hold for the time being.”

At the Jan. 23, 2020, Regional School Unit 73 directors meeting, Keller said he planned to make all banners in the high school gym uniform.

“There are over 100 banners on the walls representing regional and state championships from both Jay and Livermore Falls high schools,” he said then. He thought 16 to 18 banners, which are roughly 3½ by 7 feet, would be needed to represent the two schools. He estimated it would cost $130 for each.

Since then, Keller had uniform banners made that include the information on the originals, and they now hang in the high school gym in Jay.

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