The Galen Historical Society
The Galen Historical Society was founded in 1976 as one of several initiatives by
the local community to observe the bicentennial birthday of the United States
of America. Communities that did not have a historical society were encouraged
to form one, and Clyde and Galen responded.
The provisional charter of the new Society, granted in January of 1976, showed that
the first board of trustees included George Ketchum, George Maloy, Lucy Brisky,
James Boyce, Frank B. Lee Jr., Joseph Bramer, Douglas Estes, and Paul
Pettingill. On December 20, 1977 the society obtained the former A. R. Ketchum
& Son mill and developed it as the Mill Museum. On January 24, 1979 an
Absolute Charter was granted to the Galen Historical Society by the New York
State Department of Education. In 2000, inspired by a vision of Wayne and Pat
Morrison, the society purchased the former Baptist Church and the then Galen
Free Library building. Under the leadership of Board President Sharon Rice and
project manager Robert Mead, the building was extensively renovated and
developed as the Brick Church Museum.
In November 2006, the Galen Historical Society commemorated its 30th Anniversary with a
Founders' Day Celebration.
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