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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; The former home of the American Legion Post 132 on North River Street, which has been for sale for years, has reportedly caught the interest of King&#8217;s College administrators.</p><p>Located at 45 N. River St., the building once was home of one of the largest American Legion memberships in Pennsylvania.</p><p>In recent years, the building has been the home of Friday night bingo games.</p><p>John McAndrew, spokesman for King&#8217;s College, would not comment on the report the college is interested in purchasing the building.</p><p>&#8220;As a policy, the college does not comment publicly on development plans,&#8221; said McAndrew.</p><p>Century 21 has the building listed for sale at $204,000. A person in the real estate office was not aware of an offer made to purchase the building.</p><p>Mo Rodzinak, commander at the Wilkes-Barre Township American Legion Post 815, said the two posts cannot merge. He said the remaining members of Post 132 &#8212; about 80 &#8212; will be offered lifetime memberships in the American Legion once the building is sold. Those memberships would be accepted at any American Legion post in the U.S. Rodzinak also said the township post will care for the flags from Post 132.</p><p>Rodzinak said he is not certain of the building&#8217;s future, but admitted he had heard King&#8217;s is interested in purchasing it.</p><p>&#8220;From what I understand, the proceeds of the sale will be used to pay off any outstanding bills of Post 132,&#8221; Rodzinak said.</p><p>King&#8217;s College and Wilkes University have increased their footprint on center city in recent years &#8212; Wilkes has purchased several buildings on South Main Street, including the former Bartikowsky building, and King&#8217;s recently purchased and renovated the former Ramada Hotel on Public Square.</p><p>Rodzinak said the Wilkes-Barre Post 132 at one time had more than 3,400 members and the building hosted major dinners and weddings over the years.</p><p>Rodzinak said he was told the building has to be emptied by February.</p><p>Pat Murphy, who now resides in Florida, was commander of Post 132 in 1988-89. He said the building had two big banquet halls and a large bar/restaurant area.</p><p>Murphy said he has not been notified of any offer of a lifetime American Legion membership.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">The American Legion Post 132 building at 45 N. River St., Wilkes-Barre, is for sale. King&#8217;s College is reportedly interested in purchasing it. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_TTL111115ForSale1.jpg</photo0><caption0>The American Legion Post 132 building at 45 N. River St., Wilkes-Barre, is for sale. King&#8217;s College is reportedly interested in purchasing it. </caption0><photoCredit0>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Bill O&#8217;Boyle</p><p>boboyle@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Bill O&#8217;Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

King’s College may be looking at purchasing former American Legion Post 132 building on River Street