Dr. Charles Tomberlin and Mayor Earl Johnson reached an agreement for the City of Andalusia to purchase Springdale, the historic East Three Notch estate, just before the property was to be auctioned Thursday.

Tomberlin and his wife, Mary Margaret Tomberlin, offered 21 pieces of property for sale Thursday as Dr. Tomberlin prepares to retire from  his 46-year medical career.

Tomberlin, who reserved the right to refuse offers, wasn’t sure Thursday afternoon how many of the properties he would sell.