Historic Poole Forge will host a Thanksgiving Day online auction, featuring gift items and experiences donated by local residents and businesses. The bidding will open on Thursday, Nov. 23, and close on Sunday, Nov. 26.

"The auction will go live on Thanksgiving night at midnight and run through the weekend," explained Dawn Ekdahl, Poole Forge executive director. "On Sunday evening is when the last bid has to be in."

She said that bidders will be asked to register on the auction site and bid on the items they are interested in. "It's like eBay," said Ekdahl. "You can check back on the item to see if there are other bids." Winners will be able to pick up their items at Poole Forge or arrange for shipping if necessary.

The featured auction item will be the "Spirit of the Woodlands" community quilt featuring different patches made by local women, along with two quilted woodlands pillows. The queen-size quilt depicts local wildlife, including foxes, bears, skunks and deer.

"I pick a theme and copy the patterns and send them out to the community, and that is how the quilt comes together," said Ekdahl, noting that the quilt is assembled during a day of quilting. "Next year's theme will be songbirds, so it will be bright and colorful."

Also up for bids will be a framed print of the Poole Forge covered bridge and two tickets to the Mother's Day Tea at Poole Forge.

Bob Lauffer, president of the PA Scholastic 3D Archery Board, will offer a two-hour archery lesson, and a nature program has been donated by Phil Whitman, Poole Forge board member and former science teacher, who presents nature programs in the community.

Other items and the businesses that donated them include the following: a massage, Churchtown Therapeutic Massage; a hot air balloon flight, Air Ventures; a one-night stay and wine basket, the Inn at Twin Linden; a photo session at Poole Forge, Mark Usciak; a holiday gift basket, Morgantown Market; a one-night stay, the Inn & Spa at Intercourse Village; a limited edition trout print, Greg Yoder; a spinning and weaving lesson, PJ Johnson; pony rides, Chateau Ponies; a songbird print, Dale Ebersole; a gift certificate, Painted Table; golf gift certificate, Honey Brook Golf Club; and a landscape print from the Eastern Waterfowl Festival, Phil McGrew and Peggy Deare.

All proceeds from the auction will benefit Poole Forge, a national historic site known for its restored 1770s ironmaster's mansion, gardens and a covered bridge that spans the Conestoga River. The site currently hosts a wide range of free public events throughout the year.

Historic Poole Forge is located at 1940 Main St., Narvon. For more information about the historic site or the auction, call 484-797-5302. To access the online bidding, visit http://www.biddingowl.com and search for "Historic Poole Forge." A link to the online auction will also be available at http://www.historicpooleforge.org and on the "Historic Poole Forge" Facebook page.