The Brighton Area Historical Society is your connection to local history. Our goal is to discover and learn about our history because we believe our past is worth preserving. If you share our passion for history, then you are in the right place. The BAHS is focused on the history of the greater Brighton Area and the surrounding townships of Livingston County, Michigan. We also operate the historic Lyon School house which has been fully restored and features an elementary school curriculum. Please take a moment and look around. Your history is here waiting to be discovered.
Up Coming Events and Latest News:
Current CoBACH Holiday Exhibit:
“Memories of Island Lake”
CoBACH Exhibit:
CoBACH Winter Hours, January thru March
Thursday—Friday 5—8pm
Saturday 11am—5pm
Sunday 2—5pm
Closed Monday thru Wednesday
Deals and Steals of Bling! Vintage Used Jewelry Sale
Everybody loves a great deal! In fact these incredible prices for classic used jewelry might be called a steal.
You will not want to miss this major 2025 fundraiser for the Brighton Area Historical Society this spring. The City of Brighton Arts, Culture and History (CoBACH) Center will have the entire first floor exhibit area transformed into a huge used jewelry sale. All jewelry is donated and 100% of sales will be used for programming, operations and for preservation of our Brighton area history.
The Vintage Used Jewelry Sale will transform the CoBACH Center from April 25 through May 3. You will find great deals on all types of jewelry. Rings, necklaces, watches, earrings, pins, and bracelets for all types of upcoming special events like graduations, proms, and birthdays.
Please save the dates and bring your friends to downtown Brighton. The CoBACH Center is located adjacent to the Millpond at 202 W Main Street.
Follow the Facebook page for the Brighton Area Historical Society for hours of operation and updates.
If you have used, broken or new jewelry to donate please contact Jim below. The society is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt nonprofit and a 509(a)(2) public charity. All jewelry donations may be tax deductible. Thank you!
Jim Vichich
BAHS President, 810-250-7276
info@BrightonAreaHistorical.com
Exciting News!
President Jim Vichich Featured on Preservation Oaks World-wide Podcast.
You have an opportunity to listen to a great Brighton history podcast that is followed by a world-wide audience that is available starting this month on January 27.
Sit back in the comfort of your home and listen to a great session on the history of Brighton. You will learn about the how and why Brighton was settled and why advances in technology always propelled the success of our community forward.
Preservation Oaks Podcast by Sean Radcliff is a leading podcast that focuses on local history across the country. Learn how the Brighton Area Historical Society was formed to fight government plans to remove the Old Town Hall and how it continues to enrich the community through cultural exhibits at our three historical sites.
My appearance on the show promises to be an engaging and insightful conversation shedding light on the important work our historical society does and the passion that drives us.
Visit the Preservation Oaks website at: PreservationOaks.podbean.com and select the episode: EP088 S04E010, Brighton Area Historical Society, (direct link to the podcast: https://preservationoaks.podbean.com/?s=EP088 S04E010).
Jim Vichich
BAHS President
info@BrightonAreaHistorical.com
810-250-7276
Membership Matters!
What do I get for my BAHS membership?
There are clubs and there are causes. Many join clubs… to use the golf course to socialize with a select group of folks or to get special deals on merchandise. We at the BAHS would rather think of investing in a cause. Our members come together from a wide range of interests and experiences. Together we make a huge difference for our community, families and ourselves.
This world is better when we can observe around the bend and down the street, people working to maintain and preserve the history of the community we love.
Your continued BAHS membership is significant because it provides BAHS with a base of reoccurring funds to do the tasks and projects we do. Your membership dues, donations and sponsorships assist this effort and provides a revenue stream for our future.
Memberships, Donations and Sponsorships Matter! Strengthening our community, one member at a time.
BRIGHTON AREA HISTORICAL SOCIETY NEEDS YOU!
Steve Black, Jerry Damon, Tony Ferreyra — BAHS Membership Committee
We are please to announce that you may now purchase or renew a membership and make a donation online, or go shopping at our Gift Shop! Just click on the button below.
or BAHS ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL-2025 / Sponsorship form download
Happy Thanksgiving!
This time of the season always brings me personal reflections of gratitude and good tidings for 2025.
The strength of the Brighton Area Historical Society is the result of the hard work of many. Board members, volunteers and the many people that support preserving these memories through annual, life and sponsorship donations are the lifeline of our organization. A strong and active historical society is a vital cultural asset for any community.
Accomplishments of 2024 are numerous and shared below. Thank you to all as these reflect your support and generosity. The 2025 season will encompass most of the following historical projects from 2024. The exception is most of the Old Village Cemetery restoration work will shift to Pleasant Valley Cemetery.
– Larry Lawrence Memorial Scholarship Fund $2000 Award to a student pursuing a career in the trades.
– CoBACH Center had wonderful attendance for the historical exhibits. The recently concluded exhibit celebrating the Centennial of the GM Proving Ground was heavily visited continuously all through the summer.
– A monitored security system that senses for fire, broken water lines, and intrusion was installed this past summer at Lyon Schoolhouse.
– Lyon School mechanical room was gutted and revitalized. Water pressure tank was replaced and old water heater was removed. Old inefficient wooden storage shelves were replaced with numerous wall mounted metal shelving. Extensive dry wall repairs, new paint job, new ceramic floor and base tile helped to hide the 60 years of prior service.
– The (15) Year Old Village Cemetery Restoration of grounds and broken headstones project is 99.9% complete. Headstones restored numbered (170) with the last (4) awaiting completion in 2025. Volunteer hours is 5800.
– Past Perfect Inventory Software was purchased and weekly input of extensive documentation data is expected to exceed a decade or two.
– Started the restoration program of the headstones in the Pleasant Valley Cemetery in Brighton Twp.
Continue to exhibit the popular (15) free standing historic Brighton Victorian Silhouettes during the summer period.
Your life time membership is a significant demonstration of your desire to preserve and share Brighton’s history. I am hoping that some lifetime members may be able to contribute towards the BAHS Capital Improvements listed below.
- The wooden fence that surrounds the Lyon School grounds was donated about 30 years ago and is in tough shape. Replacement with wood or vinyl are the choices. ($16-20k)
- The classroom and its windows are in need of repainting. Ceiling is about 15 feet high. Last painting was about 24 years ago when the Brighton Rotary Blitz Build Team did their magic on the schoolhouse. ($6k)
- The stringers on the lower section of the handicap ramp into the schoolhouse appear in poor condition. Ramp was installed 24 years ago. Assessment needed.
- The concrete sidewalk from the dirt/grass parking lot needs several sections replaced. ($2k)
- An improvement plan needs to be in place for upgrading a portion of existing dirt/grass parking lot.
The Brighton Area Historical Society is proud to share that in almost all cases, restoration or repair work is done by the society’s talented volunteers.
If you have questions or suggestions, please feel free to contact me.
Thank you!
Jim Vichich
President BAHS
810.250.7276
BAHS is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt non-profit and 509(a)(2) public charity
2024 Larry Lawrence Scholarship Awardee!
The Brighton Area Historical Society would like to congratulate Katie Nelson, this year’s awardee of the Larry Lawrence Memorial Scholarship. Katie is a 2024 graduate of Brighton High School and will attend ATP Flight School. For the past nine months she has been working on her Private Pilot’s license. She stated that her role model is her older brother who is a pilot for Spirit Airlines.
Thank you to all those who have donated to the Larry Lawrence Scholarship Fund. Your donations make this scholarship possible and to the Lawrence Family for their continued support.
Again, congratulations Katie!
Scholarship awardees can be viewed here:
*** BRIGHTON AREA HISTORICAL SOCIETY ***
LARRY LAWRENCE MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
The Larry Lawrence Memorial scholarship will be given yearly to a graduating senior from the Brighton Area that is going to a Vocational School. The scholarship will be for $2500.00 to support the awardee in his or her education.
For more information, please refer to the Larry Lawrence Memorial Scholarship Program by clicking here:
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