Brownhelm Historical Association seeking sponsors for 2025 calendar
Brownhelm Historical Association is seeking new, or returning, sponsors for the organization’s 2025 calendar and fundraiser, “Brownhelm’s Greatest Generation.”
Originating 30 years ago, the calendars have supported the Brownhelm Historical Association as a fundraiser, while simultaneously spreading the word about the history of prominent people, places and events relating to the Brownhelm community, said Sue Giancaterino, secretary and calendar committee member for the Brownhelm Historical Association.
This year’s calendar follows the principle of the group’s vision statement as well, which refers to the Historical Association as an organization that will inspire generations and help form an appreciation for Brownhelm through stories and artifacts, Giancaterino said.
“We kind of incorporated that into why we are doing this calendar,” she said.
An article telling the story of a young girl whose gravestone was restored is featured in the Brownhelm Historical Association 2020 calendar. (Larissa Beriswill – The Morning Journal)
Since 2025 marks 80 years since World War II ended, the Brownhelm Historical Association’s calendar will tell the stories of 12 different WW II veterans who are associated with the Brownhelm community.
The Brownhelm Historical Association chose from the nearly 30 veterans the group has information on, Giancaterino said.
“We are focusing on individuals who lived, went to school or are buried in Brownhelm, any connection to Brownhelm, that served in World War II,” she said.
In years past, the calendar committee was extremely creative in the selection of themes which has allowed many stories spanning different topics to be told, she said.
According to Giancaterino, different themes for past editions include featuring the Brownhelm Cemetery’s restoration, eras of wedding traditions and dresses, the barns of Brownhelm and the township’s bi-centennial.
“It goes back, we have 30 very, very different topics,” she said. “We’ve done everything from featuring our cemetery, to featuring the new Firelands school and comparing it to the Brownhelm school.”
The Brownhelm Historical Association Calendar Committee is composed of members who have taken a particular interest in researching different topics and writing short articles for their page, which offer a more in-depth background, Giancaterino said.
Committee members work diligently in gathering all necessary information and photographs, which sometimes includes contacting relatives of people who are mentioned, she said.
“It’s a very creative group,” Giancaterino said. “This committee is just wonderful to work with.”
The calendars have become a popular programming element of the historical association, according to Giancaterino, with copies being mailed across states each year to places like Massachusetts and Colorado.
For $25, sponsors will earn not only a free copy of a 2025 calendar, but their names or businesses featured for recognition.
Otherwise, calendars are $5.
The 2009 calendar features a story on the origin of Lorain County’s first 4-H club, Brownhelm Potato Club, established in Brownhelm. (Larissa Beriswill – The Morning Journal)
Sponsors even can choose to dedicate their donation in memory of a loved one.
“We have different people who have been very, very generous and are very willing to do it year after year after year,” Giancaterino said. “A lot of our members will donate the $25, and then put it in memory of someone from their family or a friend.”
For those interested in sponsoring the 2025 Brownhelm Historical Association calendar, email [email protected].
