Cannon Mills Textile Heiress Estate Antiques to Be Sold at Auction

ROCKINGHAM, N.C., Jan. 18 /PRNewswire/ — It was announced today that the personal property assets of Mariam Cannon Hayes daughter of Cannon Mills founder Charles Cannon will be sold at an Estate Auction. The auction will take place on March 1st at the Embassy Suites Hotel and Convention Center in Concord.

The firms of Iron Horse Auction Co., Inc. of Rockingham, N.C. and Leland Little Estate Sales of Hillsborough, N.C. are handling the auction as a joint venture.

Mrs. Hayes passed away in August of 2007 at the age of 91. She devoted her life to philanthropy and to the betterment of the citizens of our state. Because of her great love of music, her donations to Appalachian State University created the Mariam Cannon Hayes School of Music which currently has more than 475 students enrolled. She is the largest single donor to Appalachian State University in its history. She served as Board Chair of the prestigious Cannon Foundation for 22 years in addition to being a trustee of the Charles A. Cannon Charitable Trust. She supported the Charles A. Cannon, Jr. Memorial Hospital in Linville, N.C. along with the Blowing Rock Hospital.

She was a driving force behind the creation of the Mariam and Robert Hayes Performing Arts Center in Blowing Rock. Other colleges and universities that she supported were UNC Charlotte, Wingate University, Lees McRae College, Catawba College, Barber-Scotia College, Campbell University and Pfeiffer University. She had a life long involvement with the Grandfather Home for Children at Banner Elk, giving not only financial support but her time and talents to the children there.

During her life, she collected wonderful original art, period antiques, elegant sterling silver and many other types of collectibles. Being offered in the auction are original pieces of art including one of her personal favorites by Elliot Daingerfield (1859-1932) who was a personal friend of the family, and an autographed document signed by George Washington along with many other unique and outstanding pieces of antiquity.

Leland Little states: “This auction will be a unique opportunity for the public to view and purchase fine objects from a major North Carolina family nationally renowned for their philanthropic contributions, and as forerunners in industry and current public governmental office.”

Tom McInnis states: “We are honored to have been chosen by the family to conduct this important auction.”

Mrs. Hayes was preceded in death by her husband Robert in 1998. She is survived by her son and daughter in law, her two grandchildren and five great- grandchildren.

Information can be found at http://www.llauctions.com/ or http://www.ironhorseauction.com/. For Interviews: Tom McInnis 910-997-2248

Iron Horse Auction Company Inc.

CONTACT: Tom McInnis of Iron Horse Auction Company Inc.,+1-910-997-2248

Web site: http://www.ironhorseauction.com/http://www.llauctions.com/