Motto Campus Rural | Active 1965–1983 | |
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Type Private Academy, Grades 9–12 Affiliation Seventh-day Adventist Church Location New Braintree, Massachusetts, USA | ||
Pioneer Valley Academy, located in New Braintree Massachusetts, opened its doors in September 1965 as a coed boarding school operated by the Southern New England Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. It educated hundreds of 9–12 students before its closing in June 1983.
Contents
History
The Conference endeavored to locate the academy in harmony with the counsel given by the Spirit of Prophecy of Ellen G. White. "It is a rural area away from the contaminating and deleterious influences of the city" stated Merle L. Mills, Southern New England Conference President.
The first phase of construction provided facilities for approximately 236 students at a cost of $3,000,000 in 1963 ($23,195,980 when adjusted for 2015 inflation). Provisions were also made to expand the facilities for up to 350 students. In the photo shown, one can see the school's former boys' and girls' dormitories with the cafeteria in between and the water tower to the right of the boys' dormitory.
In late 1964, after just completing a $50,000 booster offering, the Southern New England Conference announced a "Million Penny Drive". Due to heavy expenditures that were not included in the original school construction budget and the decision to open the academy a year earlier than planned, an emergency round of fundraising was required. With hopes of raising $10,000, churches were encouraged to build "ingenious devices in which to gather your pennies". Unfortunately this fundraiser was done during a period when the U.S. Mint was experiencing a nationwide coin shortage.
With the opening of Pioneer Valley Academy in 1965, South Lancaster Academy was no longer used as the boarding school for the Southern New England Conference.
Closure and Sale
Opening enrollment for the school during its first year of operation totaled 233 students. However, by 1982, a strong recruitment program was planned with hopes of attracting only 100 students for 1983 school year.
Because of a drop in enrollment during the last year of operation in the 1981-82 school year, PVA ended the year with $150,000 ($363,000 when adjusted for 2013 inflation) in unpaid bills.
On September 29, 1983 The Southern New England conference committee voted to authorize the signing of a contract with Preview, Inc., a division of Coldwell Banker.
The Massachusetts State Police now occupies the grounds and buildings as their training academy.