CLIFTON FORGE — The Clifton Forge High School Alumni Association is displaying the Little Brown Jug at the Clifton Forge Public Library.
The display commemorates the 50th annual Fall Foliage Festival being held in Clifton Forge this weekend, as well as the alumni association’s 25th anniversary
The display highlights the history of Clifton Forge High School, which closed in 1983. The Little Brown Jug was awarded to the winner of the annual football game between Clifton Forge and its archrival, Covington High School. The tradition started in 1937.
Even though Clifton Forge won the last Brown Jug game 12-0 in November 1982, the coveted piece of pottery has been in the possession of Covington High School for several years.
Tuesday, Covington School Superintendent Melinda Snead-Johnson drove the Brown Jug to Clifton Forge and loaned it to the alumni association for display at the library. Alleghany County School Superintendent Kimberly Halterman was on hand for delivery of the jug, as well as Charity Hale, who is Alleghany High School’s athletic director.
Clifton Forge High School closed in 1983 when Clifton Forge schools merged with Alleghany County schools to form the Alleghany Highlands School Division. Clifton Forge students began attending Alleghany High School. The school mascot became the Mountaineer to maintain historical ties to Clifton Forge.
When the Clifton Forge Alumni Association was formed in 1996 and the Clifton Forge High School trophies were given to the association by Alleghany High School, the Little Brown Jug was not included. It had found its way back to Covington.
Clifton Middle School Principal Marty Wood is a member of the alumni association. He said how the Brown Jug ended up in Covington’s possession remains a mystery.
Wood, Tammy Conner, Linda Rice, Suzy Jenkins Mullikin, Bonnie Tillery Nicely, and Karen Deaton Buzzard represented the alumni association when the Brown Jug was brought to the library.
Alleghany High School and Covington High School now play for the Brackman Cup, which is named after late Emory Brackman, who was a longtime sports editor for newspapers in the Highlands.
The Clifton Forge Public Library is located at 535 Church St. For information on library programs and activities, call 863-2519.
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