The Niemczyk Hoffman Group, which owns and occupies the Updike boyhood home in Shillington, has decided to test the market. They’ve put the house at 117 Philadelphia Avenue up for sale on Ebay. The price is $499,000, with the starting bid set at $249,000.00.

The description of the property is full of history, and they’ve also posted a list of Updike books and mentioned the Society archive at Alvernia.

Here’s the link.

And here’s how others see the sale:

“John Updike’s Boyhood Home Is a Real Fixer-Upper” (The Atlantic Wire)

“Do People Pay More for Houses Once Occupied by Famous Writers?” (Slate Magazine)

Thanks to member Larry C. Randen for the article links.