Welcome to Brighton Township

This is a summary of the ordinance and should not be considered a complete or conclusive listing of prohibited activities or conduct in Township owned or leased park and recreation areas. A complete copy of the ordinance is available for public inspection at the Municipal Building.

Township Parks and Recreation Areas
The Township owns four active park and recreation areas, and leases one other. Township owned parks include Dawson Ridge Park, Ellis Fields, Two Mile Run Park and Hardy Field. The Township also leases and maintains a ball field at The Medical Center, Beaver PA.

Two Mile Run Park

Located on Gypsy Glen Road, Two Mile Run Park is the largest Township park. Shultz Lodge is available for rental year round. The lodge has 90 chairs and 12 tables available for use inside. In the warmer months, the attached pavilion at the rear of the lodge is also available. The kitchen is equipped with a counter, sink, two (2) refrigerators, electric stove and a microwave oven. There are no cookware, dishes or utensils available.

Shelter #1 (located beside the lodge) will accommodate approximately 75 and shelter #2 approximately 50. There are barbecue pits available at all three shelters. Shelters are available for rental during the months of May through September at a cost of $25 for Brighton Township residents and $30 for Beaver Area School District residents other than Brighton Township.

Reservations can be made by calling the Township office at (724) 774-4800 Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Rental forms are available on the Applications and Forms Page.

Dawson Ridge Park
Located on Birch Street in the Dawson Ridge Plan, Dawson Ridge Park is a 9.8 acre neighborhood park. A second entrance to the back parking lot is available at the end of Chestnut Street. Facilities located at this park include two (2) little league size ball fields, a T-Ball size field, paved basketball court, playground and a building that houses a concession stand and restroom facilities.

Ellis Fields
Located at the end of Orchard Drive, off of Tuscarawas Road, Ellis Fields is approximately 13.7 acres in size. Two (2) ball fields are located at Ellis Fields, one (1) pony league size and one (1) little league size. There is one (1) picnic shelter located at the fields and a building that houses a concession stand and restroom facilities.
The remaining property is steep slopes, and remains in a passive state.

Hardy Field
Located on Tuscarawas Road the property is 22 acres in size, and included the former Brighton Township Elementary School.. Facilities located at this park include a soccer complex, combination football and baseball field, playground, a concession stand and restroom facilities.

BRIGHTON TOWNSHIP HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Officers for 2008
President	Jane W. Smyda	(724) 774-2330
Vice President	Joe Churm	(724) 774-6537
Secretary	Janet Churm	(724) 774-6537
Treasurer	John McGreal	(724) 728-1059
Past President	Christ Liebegott	(724) 495-6293

Directors 2006-07-09	Directors 2007-08-09	Directors 2008-09-10
Arlene Young	Nancy Eakin	Charles Brewer
Patrick Haffey	Jim Teapole	John Szatkiewicz
	Harry Wolf

        Founded in September, 1999, the purpose of the Historical Society is to promote
        awareness and appreciation of the history and historical sites of Brighton Township. The
        Society is also attempting to document the contributions of past and present residents of
        Brighton Township through research, documentation, education and preservation
        activities. The establishment of a permanent archives or a museum-historical center is
        one of the goals of the Society.

        Membership is open to any person, corporation, business organization or club
        interested in the history of Brighton Township. Membership dues is $5.00 yearly for
        individuals and families. The Society is interested in the donation of any
        photographs, artifacts, pictures or items of historical interest which relate to Brighton
        Township to be placed in an archives room which is being planned for a room in the
        municipal building. The Society has available for distribution videos of interviews of
        residents who have participated in the oral history project in which they share their
        memory about a variety of Township events and historical sites.

2008 General Meetings - At Shultz Lodge, Two Mile Run Park

March 11 7:00 P.M.

May 13 (Covered Dish Dinner) 6:00 P.M.

September 9 7:00 P.M.

November 11 (Annual Meeting) 6:00 P.M.

Richmond Little Red School House

Brighton Township Schools, known as District #2, or Richmond School, was part of an original Federal Land Grant to John Strawbridge in July 1786. In 1818, Strawbridge deeded the land to John Nible and his wife Rebecca. In 1844, John and Rebecca Nible deeded the land to Brighton Township School Directors for the sum of $850.00. John Sutherland, John Shane Washington, Phillis William Hunter, Peter Reisinger, and Robert Beacom were the School directors.

Richmond School, located on Park Road in Brighton Township, was used as a school for 106 consecutive years from 1844 to 1950. Eight grades were taught in this one-room building, except for the last couple of years when only fifth and sixth graders were taught there by Mrs. Elizabeth Erath. In 1969, the Brighton Township Supervisors purchased this property for the purpose

of having a group restore the school as an historical site. A group of township citizens headed
by Ben Wilson formed a committee to renovate and restore the Richmond School. Zella Berron, Matthew Banks and Ulston Morgan were the oldest alumni of the school still living at the time. Their memories were of great value to the restoration group. The restoration project was extensive, with many of the materials being donated by members of the Richmond Little Red School House Group and others.

As word of the restoration spread, furnishings came back from far and near. Some of the original desks came back from as far away as New York State. The large school bell had been taken as a childish prank and had been missing for more than 90 years then a lady passed away in Ohio and in her will she had requested that the bell be returned to the Richmond School where it rightfully belonged, and no questions were to be asked. The bell is now mounted up high over the door.

On September 13, 1970, Richmond School was dedicated as a free museum. Since that day, more than 8,000 visitors have signed the guest book; probably one-third or more of the visitors neglect to sign the book. The school is open for visitors from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m. on Sunday afternoons during June, July, and August. Group tours by appointment, during moderate weather (when a fire is not needed), may be made by calling Pat Haffey at 724-495-7489 or Jane Smyda at 724-774-2330.

Richmond School has been evaluated by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission and deemed eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. Application for listing in the National Register is underway.

The Richmond School House meetings are held four times a year at the school in April, May, September and December. The December meeting is a luncheon meeting. A lifetime membership in the organization is available for $10. If you are interested in joining the group, get in touch with JoAnn Wolf at 724-728-4685.

Note cards with a print of the Richmond Little Red School House are available at the Municipal Building for a donation of $4.00. The print is from a pen-and-ink drawing done by John T. Regney. Post cards with an actual picture of the Richmond School are also available at a cost of 50 cents each. All proceeds go to the upkeep of the building and grounds.

Mail for Richmond School should be sent to:
Richmond Little Red School House
C/o Jane Smyda
2145 Gypsy Glen Road
Beaver, PA 15009