James H. Davidson Jr. wills his $1 million home to the U.S. government to help cut national debt

CORAL GABLES, Fla. - A South Florida man willed his historic house worth $1 million to the U.S. government to help eliminate the country's growing debt.

The Miami Herald reports that Uncle Sam put the Coral Gables house up for auction Saturday. The winning bid was $1.175 million.

The house belonged to James H. Davidson Jr. who lived there from his teenage years until he died last December at 87. He also left $1 million to the government.

The Herald reports Davidson had nieces and nephews who live in the area.

Barbara Perez was high bidder on the 1929 Spanish style home. Officials say 700 people toured the home last week and 15 registered to participate in the auction.

The government will auction off the contents on the home in January.