Lee and Arlene (King) Brown (2019)
Nestled on the corner of Carter Bridge Road and Old Plank Road sits the Stanton Brown Farm, an old farm house (was used as a boarding house), a large red barn, sheds, and even an outhouse! Lee and Arlene Brown moved there in 1976 but Lee’s family had resided there since 1900 and kept boarders for over fifty years.
Lee was born in 1931 at home to Cora and Frank Brown. He had three older step-brothers. (Stanton, Warren, and Ralph Winnie). He attended and graduated with the GCS Class of 1949 and worked on the farm raising chickens and selling eggs.
Arlene was born in 1937 to Zelma and Woodbridge King and lived in Athens (The Rex Croft Farm). She and her older sister (Janice) always walked a mile to the Athens School! When she was ten, they moved to the village and then to a “truck farm” in Catskill. She graduated from Catskill Central School and SUNY Oneonta.
Lee and Arlene met on a blind date and married two years later (1958) and lived in the village of Norton Hill. Arlene taught six grade for two years and then subbed for twenty-two more years, wanting to be home for their children: David (Jennifer), Lyle (Theresa), Lawrence (Laura), Diane (Nope), and Stephen (Kate). For the Browns, family always came first, and are proud of their children, six grandchildren and four great grandsons.
They were both 4-H leaders (40+years) and all five children were active in the Poultry Club, exhibiting and working at the Youth Fair, Altamont and State Fair and became 4-H youth leaders. All were involved in the Greene Sweep Recycling Project. Lee and Arlene have camped throughout the Adirondacks and Catskills, were charter members of the Circle Eight Square Dance group, and loved to travel with a Farm Group throughout the US and other counties. In addition:
Lee:
Worked at GCS for thirty six years (7 as Head Custodian)
Has raised chickens and sold eggs for 60+ years
Was Sexton and head usher at UMC for 30+ years
Was chairman of the Trustees when the two Methodist churches merged
Coached Pee Wee Baseball for Norton Hill
Ran the town Recreational Basketball for boys & girls for 15+ years
Was president of the Men’s Garden Club of Greene County
Arlene:
Attained her Master’s Degree and became a School Librarian ,.(Cairo/Durham fourteen years) when three of their children were in college
Was a storyteller for children and adults
Has served her church as a Sunday School teacher, leader for the DVBS, bells player, President of the UMW, Chair of the Church Mouse Nursery
Currently is her church’s Chair of the Mission Committee and works at the Thrift Shop
Was “Queen” of the Red Hatters for several years
Was a pool mother for the Red Cross Swim project
Served on the board of Cooperative Extension of Greene County for 20+ years
Loves to read, garden, and being with family and friends
The Greenville Local History Group is proud to recognize two “quiet” people who have served their community, family, and friends so generously. Thank you, Arlene and Lee.
- by Don Teator, Greenville Town Historian