Brighton Area Historical Society

It’s July 4, 1871, and lots of celebration is on the schedule.  Not only are Brightonites celebrating the 95th anniversary of the United States, but also the completion of the railroad to Brighton from Detroit.  Farm folks from miles around join the townspeople in their merrymaking for this long awaited occasion.

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The next time we drive down Main Street or Grand River try to imagine it’s 1920.  Yes, there are concrete sidewalks but the road surface is of earth with a little clay, sand and gravel on it.  Can one image the mud of rainy weather or the dust of dry?

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The Michigan State Fair, Fowlerville Fair, Brighton Folk Art Fair and, Sponsored by the Livingston County Agricultural Society, the Agricultural Fair in Brighton. All but the latter are familiar to us.

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If one can correctly tap in the many numbers required, it is possible to talk to someone on the other side of the world within a few seconds.  From many locations or from one’s vehicle a conversation can be held in which the message comes through loudly and clearly.  It is also possible for several […]

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In 1843 The Livingston County Agricultural Society was formed for the purpose of encouragement and advancement of agriculture. This is barely ten years since the first settlers came to this wilderness area. In that short time land was cleared of trees, swamps were drained by digging ditches and the prairie was furrowed by the plow. […]

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Struggling through the wet area in the southeast corner of Genoa Township (at that time the north half of Hamburg Township) around the lake (Lime Lake), it was with relief Henry Earl arrived on higher ground. But what a steep hill to climb! Henry Earl examined the 160 acres he had purchased from the U.S. […]

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The Indians were the first to feel the effects of the migration of people into the Brighton area, the first to be displaced by an influx of newcomers.  Most who have lived here for the past 50 years are very aware of the changes which have taken place more recently.  The flood of people moving […]

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Brighton’s first electric lighting plant was built in 1897 by Carl Conrad.  He installed wiring in local homes virtually free of charge to encourage the use of electricity for lighting and operating small appliances.  On all but moonlit nights, the streets of downtown Brighton were soon illuminated by arched strings of light bulbs.  The Brighton […]

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