In the front lobby of the recently closed St. Bernard School building on West Washington Street are two large trophy cases.

The trophies plaques inside — won through the hard work of local Catholic students — are more than just dusty knickknacks. They represent more than 50 years of memories for alumni of Bradford Central Christian High School and St. Bernard School.

And a search to find a new home for these trophy cases has grown into a project to create a museum of sorts to display memorabilia from the two schools.

With Bradford Central Christian ceasing to exist in 2000, and St. Bernard closing to students this past spring, the trophy cases will not be able to stay at 450 W. Washington St.

Central Christian graduates Dave Feely and Kris Tate Luther are heading efforts for the project. Others, such as fellow Central Christian grad Rocco Camas, are also offering a helping hand.

Luther said that when the high school closed in 2000, it was difficult for people in her generation to “feel the impact,” as many were just out of college, out of the service and out of the local area. At that time, since the building was still open as a school, alumni could still walk through the halls of their alma mater.

“We never really saw the doors close,” she explained.

Now, “the building holds special sentimental value, and we’re trying to make the best out of a painful situation” by moving forward and finding another way to remember the school.

The first problem they need a solution for is finding a space. As to what form that space might take, they are open to suggestions.

They originally thought the memorabilia would go to the rectory, but when that didn’t work out, the pair decided to look for another solution.

“We’re looking for an independent home for all of this stuff,” Feely said.

For Luther, it’s not just a matter of losing a school: it’s a matter of losing educational choices.

“This is the first time that there isn’t a choice in our community for Catholic education. David and I are both alumni and have really had a passion for bringing the alumni together” — and keeping the spirit of Catholic education alive.

She described the efforts community members put into opening the school and keeping it open for decades.

“People went out of their way to have a choice, to have Catholic education in our community,” Luther said.

She wants to keep their legacy alive through a museum.

“It’s a necessary project,” said Feely. There’s many decades of many alumni — people “who put heart and soul” into the school. “We’re going to see it through to the end.”

Luther and Feely have taken to Facebook, posting videos about the project to the Bradford Central Christian High School page.

Now that excitement has developed for the project, they are in the next phase: searching for a location.

More memorabilia, like banners and yearbooks have since been added to the collection. As Feely and Luther both explained, when people realize their children don’t want their high school souvenirs, the alumni don’t know what to do with them.

“We’ll take everything they have,” said Feely.

At this point, he figures the more the better.

Luther said they “can’t let memorabilia fall to the wayside and not be collected, archived and enjoyed.”

She noted that, in addition to the memorabilia, people have offered stories to them, sharing their memories that took place inside the school’s walls.

Depending on “where we land,” the museum organizers may be reaching out to alumni for donations for costs such as rent.

Feely noted they plan to look at the old post office on East Corydon Street with Jim and Carolyn Newhouse, who own the building. Jim Newhouse is a Central Christian grad, too, Feely noted.

“There is nothing set in stone,” he said. “If there isn’t room, we’ll have to look somewhere else.”

Luther said they propose a location that is, first, “convenient enough people can enjoy it. Secondly, something that everyone can contribute to.”

They are trying to keep their options open and listen to the suggestions of alumni and the community. They don’t know who might propose a business suggestion that will make the project work.

Perhaps they will be able to find a spot where someone can walk in at regular hours and look around, said Luther, who noted it didn’t have to be a space dedicated just to a museum. They are hoping for year-round accessibility so alumni visiting from out of town to be able to stop and look at it.

She suggested a business — perhaps an alumni business venture — might have a spot where they can incorporate the archive. The “novice archivists” are hopeful someone with archivist experience will help teach alumni to display and preserve the collection, too.

Also due to the school closing, a walkway from the side door to the playground is being taken apart.

Feely explained the memorial bricks for the walkway were sold several years ago to raise money for playground equipment. The bricks are being returned to their rightful owners, and if the owners can’t be found, they will store them, or the bricks will be taken to the rectory.

People can reach the group to share their ideas and memorabilia by visiting the Bradford Central Christian High School Facebook page, emailing gomaroon@gmail.com or calling Feely’s cell at 558-7308.