ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Sunday, September 22, 1996             TAG: 9609230148
SECTION: VIRGINIA                 PAGE: B-4  EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JOE KENNEDY 

CATAWBA ESTATE SOLD AT AUCTION

A Roanoke County couple bought Blackacre, a secluded house on 77 acres in the Catawba Valley, for $331,000 at auction Saturday.

"We had no idea we would get it for what we got it for," said Carmon Woodby, who teaches math at William Byrd Middle School. His wife, Karen, is chief financial officer for Maid Bess Corp.

Many of the 50 or so observers, including three other registered bidders, were surprised by the price, as well. The auction lasted only 20 minutes.

The contemporary house was completed in 1982. It and the land cost more than $1 million. This year, the Roanoke County real estate assessor valued the property at $477,300.

Several bystanders said they expected the bids to reach at least $400,000.

The auction was held to settle the estate of the late Beatrice F. Kurtin, who came to Catawba from New Jersey in the mid-1980s. She died Nov. 1 at age 88.

"As far as I'm concerned, it brought what the market would bear today," said Carl Roth of New Jersey, the accountant who is financial adviser to the estate.

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