photo by: Joselyn King

An estate sale for the late Wheeling philanthropists and art supporters Bill and Susan Hogan took place Saturday and Sunday at the Scottish Rite Cathedral in East Wheeling. Among those examining items are Tammy Marraway, left, and Carl Engman.

WHEELING — An estate sale featuring items belonging to the late Bill and Susan Hogan brought out the public this weekend, with most things expected to be sold out by the end of Sunday.

“They were very, very well-known people in Wheeling,” said Debbie Lund of Debbie Lund Estate Sales, organizer of the event.

The sale was set up at the Scottish Rite Cathedral in East Wheeling.

The Hogans were known as philanthropists and patrons of the arts who also spent time volunteering with the Peace Corps in Benin, West Africa from 1987 to 1991.

After returning from Africa, Susan served as executive director of YWCA Wheeling. She was also active with the Wheeling Symphony.

Bill was himself an artist, and examples of his art work were among the items available for sale this weekend. There was also art collected by the couple locally and during their world travels.

Lund wasn’t certain just how many items were in the sale.

“We moved an entire house into here, with the exception of the used pots and pans,” she added.

Susan’s fur coats and jewelry were on display, as was much of the couple’s home furnishings.

Lund reported that more than half of the items sold on Saturday.

“We would like some things to move on,” she said.

“It’s nice that they are going to homes where they will be appreciated. Most of the things that are artwork are from local artists, so that’s good for people, too.”

One of the paintings featured the four animals on the building in Centre Market — the boar, the pig, the lamb and a steer.

Lund also pointed out a lifesize oracle as one of the most unusual things in the collection. Her name is Zoga The Oracle.

“She is very human-like. She feels like flesh when you touch her,” she continued. “She looks absolutely real.”

People gravitated toward the art collection, according to Lund.

“It was a tremendous art collection — and it wasn’t just a collection of paintings and pictures.” she said. “It’s a collection of pottery, sculptures and wooden things that would be considered art.”

Susan bought one of the paintings at a student art show nearly 20 years ago. She kept it over the years, and it was on display with the student artist’s name still on it, Lund explained.

While money generated by the sale is going to the Hogan family, a few items were held back for a future sale to benefit the Wheeling Symphony and the YWCA Wheeling, she continued.

“That will be later this year, so everybody should watch for that,” Lund said.