Pioneer Valley Academy

Pioneer Valley Academy
Motto “
Type Private Academy, Grades 9–12
Active 1965–1983
Affiliation Seventh-day Adventist Church
Location New Braintree, Massachusetts, USA
Campus Rural

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.[1]

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.[2]

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).[3] Provisions were also made to expand the facilities for up to 350 students. [4] 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".[5] Unfortunately this fundraiser was done during a period when the U.S. Mint was experiencing a nationwide coin shortage.[6] [7]

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.[8]

Closure and Sale

Opening enrollment for the school during its first year of operation totaled 233 students.[9] However, by 1982, a strong recruitment program was planned with hopes of attracting only 100 students for 1983 school year.[10]

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)[11] in unpaid bills.[12]

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.[13]

The Massachusetts State Police now occupies the grounds and buildings as their training academy.

References

  1. ↑ "PVA: Our Story". Pioneer Valley Alumni Association. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
  2. ↑ Mills, Merle L. (19 October 1959). "Pioneer Valley Site Dedicated" (PDF). Gleaner. LVIII (41): 1. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
  3. ↑ "CPI Inflation Calculator". US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
  4. ↑ Yakush, S.A. (23 December 1963). "Target Opening Date Voted" (PDF). Gleaner LXII (50): 10. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
  5. ↑ Yakush, S.A. (15 March 1965). "Pennies for P.V.A" (PDF). Atlantic Union Gleaner LXIV (11): 7. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
  6. ↑ "The great coin shortage of the '60s". Retrieved 8 December 2013.
  7. ↑ Yakush, S.A. (1 February 1965). "1,000,000 Pennies" (PDF). Atlantic Union Gleaner LXIV (5): 10–11. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
  8. ↑ "Atlantic Union College Expands To Meet Demand" (PDF). Atlantic Union Gleaner LXIV (37): 5. 27 September 1965. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
  9. ↑ Lawson, H.D. (27 September 1965). "Pioneer Valley Academy Opening Report" (PDF). The Atlantic Union Gleaner LXIV (37): 5. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
  10. ↑ "PVA TODAY" (PDF). The Atlantic Union Gleaner: 11. 12 April 1983. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
  11. ↑ "CPI Inflation Calculator". US Bureau of Labor and Statistics. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
  12. ↑ "PVA TODAY" (PDF). The Atlantic Union Gleaner: 13. 12 April 1983. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
  13. ↑ Collins, Victor W. (8 November 1983). "PVA Update" (PDF). The Atlantic Union Gleaner: 14. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
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