Brownville Junction High School Alumni Association is officially dissolved

BROWNVILLE JUNCTION — After 42 years, the Brownville Junction High School Alumni Association has officially dissolved. This organization has been very active in the community over those years but given that the school closed in 1968 there are fewer and fewer members who are able to take an active role to keep it going.

Several years ago the building which was built by the BJHS Alumni was sold for a minimal fee to American Legion Post #92 with the caveat that it could be used by the alumni as needed at no charge or by individual classes wishing to have a place to gather for a reunion without charge. The decision to begin the dissolution process was made at the annual reunion last summer.

According to the regulations for non-profits after the final bills were paid, the remaining funds could be distributed to other non-profit groups. Those attending the meeting made the following disbursements for the nearly $7,500 that remained after paying this year’s scholarships: 

$3,000 to the American Legion 

$3,000  to the Brownville-Brownville Junction Historical Society which now will be the caretaker of the many items of the school’s history that have been housed in the Trophy Room since the BJHS Alumni Building was constructed. 

$350 to the Brownville Free Public Library as Librarian Teresa Covel is doing great work at bringing in people of all ages to participate in a variety of programs held there.

$400 will be donated to the Brownville-Brownville Junction Fire Department.

$350 will go to the Brownville Days Committee to assist in their efforts to celebrate Brownville’s Bicentennial this year.

$200 will be sent to Dyer’s Hope House, the Milo area food cupboard.

$100 will be spent to purchase hydrangeas to be planted in front of the former BJHS Alumni Building, now the home of the American Legion.

Prior to the close of the meeting member Stephen Dean commented that all attending appreciate the hard work to make all this happen – the 42 years of the BJHS Alumni Association, the work needed in funds and time and work given by so many to keep the building operating all these years, the time given to maintain the group’s scholarship program which over the years have provided nearly $200,000 in scholarships to descendants of members of the Association, and finally the difficult decisions and hours needed to attend to the dissolution of the organization.