The Brighton Area Historical Society has won a Preservation Award for their outstanding work in Brighton’s Old Village Cemetery. This specific award, through the Michigan Historic Preservation Network, is the “Community Award” for completion of a restoration project that enlists the help of other community groups. The initial restoration work started in 2009 with resurrecting the perimeter boundaries that were badly overgrown with trees and vegetation. A new entrance gate with a new sidewalk provided access into the cemetery. In 2012, headstone repairs started after volunteer workers were trained in the best practices of headstone restoration by a professional conservator. Headstone restorations by the historical society are expected to be completed in 2023.

Groups that participated in the project were:
Brighton Area Historical Society and its members, Sons of Union Veterans Post 120, Michigan Chapter 5 of Rolling Thunder, City of Brighton and the DPW, State of Michigan Organization of The Questers, St. Paul Episcopal Church, Cheryl Stockwell Academy HS Honor Society, Brighton community members, and local Cub and Boy Scout packs.