Brower School reunion planned

Former students and staff of the old Brower Elementary School in the Erect community are invited to a school reunion on Saturday, Nov. 9, from 4-7 p.m. at the Coleridge-Erect Volunteer Fire Department.  

Former student Starla Cox Hughes stressed, “Reconnect with old friends and families you grew up with. Share memories that made us who we are! Have some fun reminiscing of days gone by!”

There will be door prizes. Food will be available for purchase on site from D&K Cooking.

Brower School opened in 1939 and closed in 1987. The building was demolished in 2001. 

For 48 years, the school formed the heart of Erect adjacent to Teague’s store. Ernest Teague, owner of the store, donated the land for the school. His wife, Nellie, taught school there. Another community member, Yvonne Craven, made lunches in the cafeteria for 27 years. All have passed.

When Brower closed after the 1987 school year, its 123 students transferred to either Coleridge or Seagrove Elementary Schools. Randolph County Schools used the vacant building for warehousing and textbook storage. In 1993, filmmakers shot a portion of “Children of the Corn II”’ — a sequel horror movie — inside Brower School.

Randolph County Schools turned the building and land over to the Coleridge-Erect Volunteer Fire Department in 1996. After years of debate about maintaining the deteriorating property, the school was torn down in 2001. Now a new volunteer fire department stands on the property and will serve as the site for the reunion.

“Help spread the word and invite anyone associated with Brower through the years,” Hughes said.

The Coleridge-Erect Volunteer Fire Department is located at 7718 Erect Road in Seagrove.