Historical society update

The Bay View Historical Society (BVHS) and its ownership of the Beulah Brinton House are on the upswing, although monthly mortgage payments of almost $2,200 continue to tax financial and human resources in the society.

January is membership-renewal month, and as of this writing, 466 members have joined or renewed. An annual fund appeal is nearing completion, and so far more than 100 individuals have donated $7,360, a significant increase from the previous year.

Thanks to the hard work of many BVHS members and friends, events raised nearly $20,000 in 2008. Despite rainy weather, sponsorship of the Bay View Bash brought in nearly $11,000. The August Wine and Beer Tasting cleared about $5,000. A May rummage sale raised nearly $3,500. The Annual Historic Walk, sale of gift-shop items, and silent auctions accounted for the rest of the events revenues. 

In July 2009, BVHS will launch a three-year capital campaign to seek funding from corporations, foundations, and individuals for repairs and historic preservation of the Brinton House, to pay off the mortgage and to enhance programming. The society wants to use the refurbished house in much the way that Beulah Brinton used it in the late 1800s-as a cultural and educational center for Bay View.

The Beulah Brinton House, 2590 S. Superior St., was completed in 1873 by Warren and Beulah Brinton. Warren worked at the steel mill, and Beulah opened her home to the immigrant workers at the mill. She taught them English and homemaking skills, helped the various nationalities represented among workers to appreciate each other with ethnic dinners and sharing of customs, planned activities for children and adults, and opened the first lending library in Bay View.

The historic Beulah Brinton House is open for free tours and information the third Saturday of each month, 1-4pm.

Mulvey is president of the Bay View Historical Society.