Meeting Information and Programs

The Brownhelm Historical Association holds meetings the first Wednesday of each month beginning in February, March, April, May and June; off July and August; resume September, October, November, and December.
Meetings are held at the Historic Brownhelm School and Museum at 1950 North Ridge Road, Vermilion.
Note: the December Christmas Meeting is held at the Brownhelm Heritage Museum (formerly the German Evangelical and Reformed Church) at  1355 Claus Road, Vermilion.
Doors open at 6:15pm for those who wish to attend the business meeting from 6:30-7pm. Those wishing to only attend the program should arrive between 7:00-7:15pm for refreshments and socializing. Programs start at 7:15pm.

2025 Calendar

BHA April Membership Meeting & Program

Program: Landscape Design with Nature in Mind
Date: Wednesday, April 2, 2025 
Times: Doors open 6:00 p.m. Business meeting 6:30-7:00 p.m. Refreshments & Program 7:15 p.m. 
Location: Brownhelm School, 1950 North Ridge Road
Program Description: Landscape Design with Nature in Mind
This program will describe over a century of transformative cultural changes in America regarding how we manage our personal landscapes. Typical homes and businesses are surrounded by sterile monocultures of turfgrass that are useless to wildlife. The decline in populations of birds, butterflies and bees are closely linked to how we use the land. This points to the opportunity. Plant native, avoid pesticides and remove invasive species.
Raymond Stewart is the Founder of Webbedfoot Designs, Inc, a carbon-neutral, landscape design, and consulting non-profit. He is a landscape horticulturist specializing in Ohio’s native plants. Based in Northern Ohio, Ray is a Botanist, a Certified Master Rain Gardener, Certified Interpretive Guide, retired Science Teacher, and Founder of Ohio Wetlands Association. As lead designer at Webbedfoot Designs, Inc., Ray provides a sense of style and utility with a focus on plant ecology. Ray’s suburban 1/4-acre lot is 30% vegetable and flower garden where the transition he proposes is on-going as his garden space continues to expand into a shrinking lawn.

Past Programs  

Program: A Tale of Two Torpedoes: The Sinking of the German Battleship Bismarck (click here to watch presentation)
The German battleship Bismarck was one of the deadliest ships afloat at the beginning of World War II. The story of the nine-day chase and destruction of the Bismarck was full of so many twists and turns that it could have been written by Hollywood. Watch the presentation to hear the saga of the Bismarck and learn how the epic story hinged on two torpedoes, one British and one German.
About the Speaker: Eric Rivet is the Chief Curator at the Western Reserve Historical Society.

Program: 11th Hour, 11th Day, 11th Month: The Last Day of World War I (click here to watch presentation)
After four long years of bloodshed, World War I ground to a halt on the morning of November 11, 1918. Although both sides knew an armistice had been signed, the Allies continued their attacks right up to the last minute, wasting thousands of lives in the process. Join Eric Rivet for a discussion of the last day of “the War to End War” and learn about some of the men who gave their lives on the war’s last day.
About the Speaker: Eric Rivet is the Chief Curator at the Western Reserve Historical Society.

Program: Rutherford B. Hayes: Soldier-Statesman (click here to watch presentation)
Rutherford B. Hayes first rose to national prominence as the Colonel of the 23rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment, which included Brownhelm natives Frederick Bacon, Thomas Wells, and Cyrus Whittlesey. He transitioned to politics after the war and rose quickly from Congressman to Ohio Governor to the 19th President of the United States after one of the most contentious elections in the country's history. Join Eric Rivet for a discussion about Hayes's life and accomplishments.
About the Speaker: Eric Rivet is the Chief Curator at the Western Reserve Historical Society.

Program: Shipwrecks of Lake Erie (click here to watch presentation)
Although Lake Erie’s shores are havens for beach goers and fishermen, Lake Erie has one of the highest concentrations of shipwrecks in the world. It is estimated that more than 2,000 vessels rest on the bottom of the lake. Join us for a program about the shipwrecks of Lake Erie, including some just off Vermilion’s shore!
About the Speaker: John May is the Executive Director of the Maritime Museum of Sandusky.

Program: Historical Program: The Curious Case of Dr. Sam Sheppard (click here to watch presentation)
In the summer of 1954, Dr. Sam Sheppard was arrested for the murder of his wife, but as the world would soon find out, there was much more to this case than met the eye. Did Dr. Sheppard murder his wife? If he didn’t, who did? Join Cleveland History Center Public Programs Manager Whitney Stalnaker for an overview of this perplexing unsolved mystery that has haunted Cleveland for 67 years.
About the Speaker: Whitney Stalnaker is the Public Programs Manager at the Cleveland History Center.

Program: Elijah Hayden and Ohio’s 8th Volunteer Infantry Regiment (click here to watch presentation)
On July 3rd, 1863, the fate of the United States hung in the balance at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The Confederate Army of Northern Virginia threw more than 12,000 men at the center of the Union
Army of the Potomac in a desperate assault that might force the North to sue for peace. Standing in their way were the 160 men of the 8th Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment, and their actions that day were truly remarkable. Join Eric Rivet to learn about the 8th Ohio’s service at Gettysburg and the pivotal contributions of Elijah Hayden, a young lieutenant from Elyria.
About the Speaker: Eric Rivet is the Chief Curator at the Western Reserve Historical Society.