The photographic holdings of the Brookfield Historical Society are now available for viewing online on Catalogit.
The about 500 photos reach back to the 1850s, and there are many photos showing the history of the Obermiyer building at the southwest corner of Route 7 and Warren Sharon Road; school activities; portraits of citizens; the early days of the Brookfield Fire Department; and interiors and exteriors of the former Knival’s Store (now Ichabod’s Smoke Shop).
More recent photos include the initial construction of the Brookfield school complex on Bedford Road, the construction of sanitary sewers in Brookfield Center, and improvements to the township green.
There are photos relating to township residents’ military service, the fire that destroyed Isaly’s in Masury, the demolition of Valley View Department Store and the construction of Brookfield United Methodist Church.
“This is a great resource,” said society Treasurer Daniel Briceland.
Whatever information the society has about individual photos is attached to them, said society President Barbara Stevens, but there are many unknown people and places. Now that the photos are available from any computer, the society hopes community members will be able to fill in gaps and provide identifying information.
“Right now, at least you can see the pictures and get whatever information we have,” Stevens said.
Trumbull County Historical Society received a grant from the Institute of Library and Museum Services to scan original photos and post them on Catalogit. The local society held scanning sessions with help from the county society and an AmeriCorps worker assigned to the project.
To access the data base, go to www.catalogit.app, click on “HUB” in the top right corner, and type “Brookfield” into the search bar.
The society next meets at 7 p.m. Oct. 13 at the Brookfield Township office, 6844 Strimbu Drive. Members of the Howland Historical Society will talk about the historic Yellow House and its moving to a new location to make way for a road improvement project.
