Haddon Estate Sale

Wednesday | June 10, 2026 | 3:00 – 6:00 PM
Thursday – Sunday | June 11-14 | 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
1580 Ohio Street | Helena, MT 59601 | Map

Important Estate Sale

U.S. District Judge Sam E. and Betty Haddon

The estate sale of former U.S. District Judge Sam E. Haddon and his wife, Betty, is one of the most interesting sales Helena has seen for quite some time.

The collections, along with the beautiful furniture and furnishings in their home on Helena’s South side at 1580 Ohio Street, reflect lives full and rich in experiences.

Sam Haddon was born in Louisiana and moved with the family to Blanket, Texas, early in life. In Blanket, he was a football star, earning his 1950s high school letter jackets in the sale. From Blanket to Rice University, then a job as a Border Patrol agent in South Texas, where Sam and Betty were married in 1959.

His roots to Texas and the Border Patrol are apparent in sale items, including his 1950s Border Patrol jacket, art, many patches, hats and badges for agents as well as marshals.

In 1962, the Haddons were drawn to Montana where he attended law school at the University of Montana. Once in Montana, Judge Haddon’s passion for fly fishing was born. The estate sale’s unparalleled collection of his flies, fly tying devices, fishing equipment, fishing books, fishing shirts, clothing and hats reflect his many worldwide fly fishing adventures. There’s also a large collection of hunting and fishing knives and an ammunition reloading set with dies, accessories, literature and a lead smelting pot, as well as outdoor equipment.

Their beautiful Ohio Street home showcases the best traditional and mid-century furniture and furnishings you would hope to find in Helena.

From the five bedroom sets which include a poster bed, a canopy bed, a boy’s bed and a beautiful master bedroom suite, to the dining sets, recliners, desks, chairs, oriental rugs – large and small – the Haddon estate sale offers great deals on high quality items. Fredrick Cooper and other brass and ceramic floor and table lamps are offered. Dressers, dressing tables, armoire and bookcases are offered individually or in sets.

Mrs. Haddon was an accomplished home chef and party host who collected many sets of beautiful dishes, cookware, cookbooks and small appliances, including a Kitchen Aid mixer, le Creuset, Cordon Bleu, Corning and more, as well as many kitchen utility items to help with your meal preparation. She also loved collector dolls and her large lighted display case is the home of dozens of collector dolls, including Shirley Temples, Gone with the Wind characters, Prince Charles and Princess Diana. The sale also features two sewing machines and a serger, including a classic Bernina, along with accessories and lots of thread.

Christmas was enthusiastically celebrated in the Haddon home, and even in June it’s not too early to shop the impressive selection of ornaments, wreaths, center pieces, candles, garlands, trees and tree holders.

Woodworking was also a hobby for Judge Haddon, so his precision wood working tools will be for sale. They include a Jet Wood Lathe with many chucks and attachments,  a small professional drill press and jig saw, workshop vacuum system, multiple Dremel tools and attachments, stone tumbler/polisher, and hundreds of quality hand and garden tools, including a professional grade lawn mower, a half dozen ladders, plus outdoor furniture and a nice Weber grill.

Antiques in the sale include 19^th Century law books, a 1910 second edition Black’s law dictionary, one on 19^th Century Indian Rights and Treaties, and Blackstone’s Laws of England.

For someone with a large office, the addition of Judge Haddon’s magnificent black walnut desk would be the crown jewel.

The full-room custom library is home to 1,000+ books, including many old law books, best sellers, political writings left and right, Bibles, religious books, political novels and an unmatchable collection of fishing and outdoors books.

The Haddon’s clothing is beautiful, including sweaters, shirts, tuxedoes and even judge’s robes. Both outdoor and office clothing, including a closet full of beautiful suits, even vintage Hong Kong tailored jackets. There’s a mink coat and a black leather coat.

The Judge had a keen love of Bald Eagles, so special eagle pictures, lamps, sculptures and art have landed throughout the home.

Specialty items include a demi-lune “See no evil, Speak no evil” cabinet, a small Native American bronze, fish carvings, whimsical fishing art and tasteful art prints throughout the home.

After law school the Haddons moved to Billings where he entered private practice, and then to Missoula. In 2001 President George W. Bush nominated Mr. Haddon to the federal bench upon the recommendations of Montana senators Conrad Burns and Max Baucus. He was confirmed on a 95-0 vote in the U.S. Senate. Over his 22 years on the federal bench his chambers in Great Falls and Helena became a training ground for 36 law clerks.

The Haddon home graces a wooded hillside with a short, narrow drive, so vehicle traffic from Ohio Street to the home will be regulated for convenience and safety.

Please park with consideration for others and enjoy a short walk through the pines to the house.

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Questions? Please call (406) 202-1814

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