WHAT WE ARE DOING

The Brownhelm Historical Association is currently renovating the former Brownhelm School (1889-1988) located at 1950 North Ridge Road.  In 2017 the building was renamed the Historic Brownhelm School & Museum. The goal of the Brownhelm Historical Association is to create a place for their meetings, to host the annual Brownhelm Community Christmas, and to provide a space to host community events, fundraisers, and historical programs.

The BHA will also use additional upstairs classrooms to create space to store historical artifacts from the school’s past and from notable historical locations such as Swifts Mansion and the Light of Hope Orphanage. When many old schools are being demolished, the Brownhelm School still stands through their dedication and efforts!

WHAT WE HAVE DONE

The Brownhelm Historical Association also maintains the Brownhelm Heritage Museum at 1355 Claus Road, Vermilion. Built in 1870, it was formerly the German Evangelical and Reformed Church and was given to the association by its last 3 remaining members. The church was restored and it now houses many artifacts of Brownhelm history.

The 'lost forgotten cemetery' located at 1863 Liberty Ave, Vermilion, is no longer forgotten. Through much time and legal effort, the BHA managed to gain ownership to protect, renew, maintain and honor the cemetery site.  Now known as Brown’s Lake Road Cemetery, it was named after Col. Henry Brown, founder of Brownhelm and who established the first ‘burying ground’ in the new township. His daughter Charlotte Brown, young wife of Ezekiel Goodrich, was one of the first to be buried there and where many of Brownhelm’s early settlers were laid to rest, including a Revolutionary War veteran, Bildad Belden.

For more information, see the history and photos under Historic Sites - Brownhelm School, 1870 German Reformed Church, and Brown's Lake Road Cemetery.