WRENTHAM - The town's first auction in memory of property taken for back taxes yielded $340,000 in much-needed revenue.

All 12 residential properties that were up for auction sold, several with multiple bidders, said Finance Director Karen Jelloe, who coordinated Thursday's auction on behalf of the town.

More than 60 people turned out to the auction held at the Fiske Public Library's meeting room, with about 40 to 50 registered bidders, Jelloe said.

Many lots are narrow and interested only abutters and neighbors, but there was more appeal as expected for a house lot on Green Street.

Aggregate Industries, which abuts the property, was the winning of two bidders at $170,000, Jelloe said. The business had previously expressed interest in acquiring the land for a buffer for its asphalt business. Town officials had hoped to get up to about $200,000 for the parcel. Town Administrator Jack McFeeley said he was conservatively hoping to garner about $250,000 from the auction, but tossed a figure of $350,000 out there if the Green Street land went for the town estimate.

Other properties are located on Taunton, Hancock, and Madison streets, and Sumner Perry Drive. Also, three are off Forest Grove Avenue, and two each are on Beach and Kayshaw streets.

The town foreclosed on some of the properties in the 1960s, Jelloe noted. The auction was conducted by Daniel J. Flynn and Co. auctioneers of Quincy.

STEPHEN PETERSON covers Wrentham for The Sun Chronicle. He can be reached at 508-236-0377 or at speterson@thesunchronicle.com.