Bonnie Brae Farm for Boys was founded by Harry V. Osborne, a Judge from Essex County Court. He continually saw young men from destitute circumstances, in need of both care and love, passing through his courtroom and he wanted to create a place for them so they didn’t fall through the cracks of society and […]

Judge Osborne purchased a larger 209 acre farm in Millington, NJ at a cost of $29,000; Boys attended school locally in Liberty Corner and the farm provided boys with employable skills as well as a safe and therapeutic environment; The Women’s Auxiliary/Dining Room Committee chaired by Mrs. Walton Graft, Mrs. Arthur Herrmann and Mrs. Frank […]

Cabins were built with funding from Mrs. William B. Reilly, followed by a recreation hall and craft shop; The Camp Infirmary and swimming pool were donated by the Dining Room Committee; The Mabel Brewster outdoor chapel was built; The school was built and named the Fredrik Fisher Meyer Memorial School Building with funds from the […]

Many staff members and older boys were lost to the war; Gas was rationed so the Bridge Club hosted their parties in homes instead of on-campus; The first Boy Scout Troop was formed on-campus (Troop 55); Walt Park drove “The Blue Bus,” transporting young men to and from school and local activities; The “Sea Scouts” […]

Judge Osborne passed away and his son, Harry Jr. stepped in as President; 156 acres of adjoining land were purchased bringing total acreage to 377; The Dining Room Committee was reorganized as the Bonnie Brae Auxiliary with the annual Bridge Party and Fashion Show as their major activities. The Matinee Theatre Group was formed in […]

A sixth residence for boys was added and enrollment rose to 100 boys; The recreation pavilion was built, Brewster outdoor chapel restored, camp lavatory facilities improved. All funds were donated by Mr. William G. Wright; Improvements were made to the Meyer Memorial School and Reeve Schley Rink. The Green Hay Barn burned down; The Auxiliary […]

Funding shifted from largely private to largely public and “the farm” was now a “residential treatment center” and equipped with a fully accredited school. Boys could not work on the farm or attend local public schools; An Outpatient Treatment Center helped youth from surrounding communities who needed psychological testing, psychotherapy, vocational rehabilitation and career guidance; […]

First Outward Bound Trip, first Scottish Games, first Tartan Ball, first computer and business courses offered; first ropes course built on campus; Osborne Cottage opened when Gould Cottage closed; McNally Building opened, named for generous benefactor Bud McNally; The Thrift Shoppe opened; “Experiential Learning” took hold with cottages travelling to Canada, Virginia Beach and Acadia […]

The agency received its first accreditation from the Joint Commission; The first Tartan Golf Classic raised $20,000; “Mileiu Therapy” began, helping to bridge the gap between residential and therapeutic care; The first MICA (Mentally Ill, Chemical Abuse, today’s term is “co-occurring”) program was housed in Farrow Cottage and was the first of its kind to […]

Capital Campaign, “Building a Future…One Boy at a Time” raised $3.5 million, providing for a new Vocational training facility, Health Office and Primary/Middle School; First Polo Classic hosted at Fieldview Farm in Pittstown, NJ; Bill Powers was hired as CEO; capacity expanded from 53 to 80 residents and then to 97 young men; 2005: the […]