Developer Abe Atiyeh of Allentown won the final bid, $400,000, for the former Albany Elementary Township School following a head-to-head battle with entrepreneur and former township supervisor Larry Shrawder.

With auctioneer Dick Henry, of Wyomissing, asking for an opening bid of $1 million and no takers, the next bid sought was $500,000, then $400,000 and so on down the line.

Shrawder finally called out $50,000 and the battle of the businessmen was on.

With Atiyeh bidding $380,000 and the auctioneer asking $390,000 from Shrawder, all stopped when Shrawder would not go that high.

Henry and Kutztown Area School District Attorney John Stott asked Atiyeh, who was sitting barely visible in a corner of the gymnasium, to step outside.

Following a brief discussion, Henry returned, stated the reserve bid had been met, and yelled out, "Sold."

Atiyeh spoke with The Press July 15.

He said although his last bid was indeed $380,000, during the conference with Henry and Stott, he agreed to the $400,000.

"We are excited about being in the Kutztown Area School District," Atiyeh said. "We are in negotiations with a school for students with autism and possibly a boarding school."

Before the outside conversation with Stott and Henry, and before the "sold" gavel had even been banged, Dale Glenn, who lives across the street from the school asked Atiyeh, who owns nursing homes in Whitehall and Hellertown, his plans for the building.

"A nuclear power plant," Atiyeh replied, jokingly.

Atiyeh was then asked the same question by The Press.

"I'm still not the owner," he replied. "But, a private school. I have bought 10 to 12 schools as an owner-investor.

"I own Hamburg Elementary and Richland Elementary."