Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe CORAL GABLES, Fla., Dec. 11 (UPI) -- A Florida man left $1 million and his historic Coral Gables home to the U.S. government to help alleviate the nation's $15 trillion public debt. The 1929, Spanish-style home, which belonged to James H. Davidson, who died in December 2010, was put on auction by the federal government Saturday and went for a whopping $1.175 million, The Miami Herald reported. Advertisement The house was officially designated at a historical landmark in November by the Historic Preservation Board of Coral Gables. "It's incredible, the house really has remained untouched," said Kelley Schild, a Coral Gables resident who checked out the house Saturday. About 100 people showed up for the auction, put on by National Auction Co. Fifteen of them registered to participate in the sale. "The auction fit the house; it was an antique way of bidding," said Frank Chamoun, who placed the opening bid at $100,000. The winner, Barbara Perez, said she, her husband and another couple plan to restore the home, estimating they will have to put at least another $1 million into it. "We want to bring it back to its 1920s form, yet give it modern amenities," said Perez's husband, Greg Lopez. Advertisement All of Davidson's possessions, including many antiques, went to the government as well, and will be up for auction in January.
