John V. Davis rings the bell and begins the April dedication ceremony by shouting,“ Hear ye! Hear ye! Today is a day in history!”
The New Brown County History Center
~ by Jeff Tryon
The new Brown County History Center is a generational accomplishment for the venerable Brown County Historical Society helping to secure and protect their valuable collections, attract and give focus to the thousands of visitors who pass through town each year, and provide facilities for a wide variety of organizations and events.
The culmination of years of planning and devoted labor, including thousands of volunteer hours, the new center will be“ the single most important development in the area to give visitors an understanding and appreciation of our rich history of survival, industry, culture, arts, nature, and place in an increasingly complicated world,” according to the Society.
The striking and attractive building, by Kirkwood Design, fits
40 Our Brown County • May / June 2015
well with its municipal neighbors, the county office building and the Brown County Public Library, an arrangement which should please genealogical researchers. It also adjoins, across Gould Street, the Society’ s“ Pioneer Village” a collection of old buildings which house artifacts from pioneer days.
“ The Historical Society wanted to move closer to Nashville for visibility, and this location became available. It’ s ideal because it is just north of the Pioneer Village,” said board member Alice Lorenz.“ So the whole complex links together that way.”
Lorenz has been zealously committed to getting the new History Center project complete and up and running.
“ I’ ve been pretty involved,” she said.“ I’ ve been in there with every builder and construction company.
photo by Cindy Steele
We’ ve been working on this for seven years, with fundraising, planning, and working with architects.”
Construction by general contractor Dunlap & Company, Inc. began in January 2014. No tax dollars were spent on the 18,000 square foot building, and there is no mortgage. It was partially funded by Brown County Community Foundation contributions( some from the late Howard Hughes) and through private donors including Lorenz.
“ Well, I wanted to get it done,” said Lorenz.“ People would say,‘ Well, you have to wait until you get all the money.’ I said,‘ If you don’ t get started, you’ ll never get done.’“ I’ m very pleased.” And well she should be. The beautifully-appointed facility has everything the society might have wished for during its long sojourn