NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. — Memories are almost all that's left of Niagara Catholic Junior-Senior High School.  

"My whole family went to school here," said Niagara Catholic board chair Judith Nolan Powell. "My mother worked bingo to make sure my brothers were able to continue to pay their tuition. So we've got a lot of personal memories here."

Niagara Catholic closed down after the school year with 90 years of tradition behind it.  The Buffalo Diocese is no longer finacinally supporting this and several other schools in the area, and with declining enrollment, the only Catholic secondary program in Niagara County simply can't afford to stay open.

"There were a lot of tears. There was a lot of discussion. It was a difficult decision," Powell said.

It was a move that blindsided many, including the school's principal and president, Robert Cluckey.

"The hardest hit are the students who would've been a senior this year," he said. "Many of them have been with us since 7th grade and then at the end to be a senior and not to graduate is very difficult."

The students are headed to other schools. Some will attend other Catholic schools, others will move into public districts. While the school itself will cease to exist, its history will carry on.  Students, alumni, faculty and staff will have a chance to own a part of it through a private memorabilia sale on Thursday. Mememtos like sports trophies, jerseys, even class photos will be up for sale.

"The important thing with the alumni memorabilia sale was to ensure that people had a chance if they wanted to, to come in and pick up a memory of the school for a pretty low price," Powell said. 

On Saturday, there will be a public auction for items throughout the inside and outside of the school including classroom desks, computers, sports equipment, musical instruments and maintenance and cleaning machines. Even the school bus will be up for bid.

"We understand the conditions and what has gone on," said Eric Monahan with CASH Realty and Auctions. "We try to be sympathetic toward that and try to do it in a way that we can get them the most money in the end."

The alumni memoriabilia sale runs Thursday from 4-7 p.m. on a first-come, first-serve basis. The public auction begins Saturday at 9 a.m. The money earned from the sale and auction will go toward paying off the school's debts as the book closes on Niagara Catholic. 

"There's probably going to be some tears shed. We're probably going to see people we haven't seen in years," Powell said.