If you wondered about the flurry of activity around Hanover's old municipal building Aug. 30, Hanover Township was holding a public auction billed as "selling to the walls." The sale was held following a move by municipal employees into the new township building, now nearly completed.

The township selected Houser Auctions to conduct the sell-off.

Houser is a family operation run by brothers Doug and Tim, who took over from their father. Their wives handle the administrative tasks and collect the money.

"Now we are into the third generation, since Jason and Nathan got their license," said Marie Houser as she checked in one of the 62 bidders.

Everything went out the door, including the doors. Office desks went for $5 to $25 and a couple of window trimmings went for $2.

Filing cabinets were another big seller, most going for less than $30. Even the fireproof cabinets at over $100 were a bargain.

Only one item did not sell, a massive corner desk. It will go, free of charge, to anyone willing to haul it away.

Although the auction house refused the offer to allow a contractor to take the copper plumbing out of the walls, the exterior storm windows, the ceiling tile, and even the shrubbery outside, which sold for $10 and the caveat that the buyer remove it, was loaded into waiting vans.

Township public works employees were available to help make the loading easier.

"We want to be sure everyone can get their purchases out quickly," said Joseph Fragnito, one of the employees assigned to the building.

"The sale was a success," said township Councilman Frank Dreisbach who coordinated the effort.

Municipal employees completed the move to the new building, located on the same lot as the old one, Aug. 29.

Township Manager Sandra Pudliner was working to get the new kitchen organized on auction day while others were unloading boxes of files that took up most of the available space.

The old building is scheduled for demolition on Sept. 10. A new parking lot will be paved in its place after the demolition. "Residents or people doing business with the township can enter the building at the sally port," said Dreisbach. "The offices are on the right."

The situation is temporary until construction of the parking lot is completed. Currently, parking is in a temporary lot across Grove Road from the front of the new building.

Once construction of the new parking lot is completed, visitors will enter into the main lobby and be greeted by a receptionist.

The Public Works department is now working out of their new quarters as well.

Dreisbach did cancel township council's regular meeting scheduled for Sept. 5.

"The [new] meeting room is not ready, he said. "The contractor had the wrong color flooring and it needs to be replaced." No word yet on the scheduling of an open house, but the council meeting on Sept. 19 will introduce residents to the dramatic meeting room.