The talented volunteers of the Brighton Digital Archives have produced several videos that add significantly to the heritage landscape of Brighton and area. Below are links to the videos on YouTube as well as the BDA web site along with some basic info about the topics and narrators.
The following videos feature Dan Buchanan, The History Guy, with production by Ralph De Jonge of the Brighton Digital Archives. The setting for both Rural Roots and Dance Hall Daze was Proctor House Museum in Brighton. The concept behind these videos is to present material from the shows that have been presented during Brighton History Week which has been held in late February since 2012. We want to stay true to the content of the presentations but make the material easy to accessed. Videos are popular these days, and are a medium for presenting all sorts of topics, including local history. Let's hope that Ralph and I have some time in the future and more of these may be forthcoming.
Rural Roots
The theme of Brighton History Week 2018 was "Rural Roots", meaning the history of farming. The show "Rural Roots" was presented on Saturday evening, February 24th and then again on Sunday afternoon, the 25th. History Open House was held on Saturday, March 3rd, with good crowds and lots of talk of farming in the community. In the fall of 2018, Ralph De Jong and Dan Buchanan, set out to produce a video rendition of "Rural Roots" and the results are four videos covering early settlement and the development of farming and agriculture up to The Great War, the Depression and lots of change. Part 3 is about the apple business which was huge in Brighton and Part 4 brings farming into the modern age of computers and internet. Ralph and Fletch did the production work and the proof of their skill is in the pudding, so to speak. Thanks BDA!!! "Rural Roots" is available on the BDA web site at these links: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4.
Dance Hall Daze
"Dance Hall Daze "was a fun and entertaining evening of music, dance and history, presented on February 19, 2015. Dan Buchanan presented the history of Presqu'ile Pavilion and the Opera House in the Brighton Town Hall as well as other lesser-known dance halls where fun was on the ticket. A swing band, the Melodeers, provided music for the dancers to perform the Charleston, and other popular dances through the years. Popup speakers helped to tell the personal stories of people in the area who remember the fun they had at their favorite venues. In these videos, the music is recorded and there are no dancers, but the fascinating story of the period in history when public dance halls were all the rage comes through. Thanks to Ralph and Fletch for putting this together; it looks great! Check out all five parts! "Dance Hall Daze" is available on the BDA web site at with these links: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4.
Brighton I Remember
Brighton I Remember as a section under Videos on the Brighton Digital Archives web site which features recordings of senior members of the Brighton community, recounting their experiences growing up and living in Brighton. Here are a few of them, with links to the videos.
Florence Chatten
Florence Chatten is a longtime resident of Hilton, having moved there from Seymour Township in the late 1940s after marrying Roy Chatten. Florence was 95 when she recorded this video (she willingly brags about her longevity in the video, as she should) and is still going strong. We value her knowledge of the community and its past as well as her encouragement of those with similar interests. She is truly an inspiration and, as a good friend, I thank the BDA folks for capturing a bit of Florence for us all to see. See Florence's video with this link.
Marjorie Morgan
Marjorie Morgan was a lifelong resident of this area, well known for her energy and enterprise in many community organizations. She revered her father, Frank Goodrich, who was reeve for a time, and worked with him to make sure their land west of Orland became the Goodrich-Loomis Conservation Area. Her story of attending the Queen at Trenton Forces Base is a classic. Marjorie was best friends with my mother when they were at school and through adult life, and I always delighted in a warm hug and a joke from a good friend. Sadly, Marjorie passed away soon after this video was recorded. See Marjorie's video at this link.
John Stephens
John Stephens has spent most of his life in Brighton. His family were Presqu'ile cottagers and he married Eleanor Roblin, providing lots of connections to the community. John has done great work on World War I history, writing the story "They Went Together" featuring his wife's father, Keith Roblin and Bill Nesbitt as they struggled through the trenches. The BDA has done two videos with John Stephens - Part 1 and Part 2.
Art Heeney
There are two videos on YouTube featuring Art Heeney, Part 1 and Part 2. Art grew up on the Smithfield Experimental Farm after his father, Blair Heeney, became manager. His experiences at the farm are fascinating and informative.
Memory Junction Museum
Ralph and Eugenia Bangay created Memory Junction Museum in the 1990s and many people have enjoyed the displays on the site as well as the stories from he owners. BDA spent time with them to record their experiences and show us the many parts of this important heritage site. There are four videos on YouTube, Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4 and on the BDA site.
Presqu'ile 1927
The definition of FUN! Presqu'ile Point in 1927 - filmed LIVE!! We are so lucky to have these videos which provide a direct window into the many activities and events that filled up those warm summer days and evenings at the Presqu'ile Hotel, the Pleasure Palace across the street, the grounds around the Government Dock and out on the Bay itself. Step back in time and enjoy! Check out these videos on the BDA web site or on YouTube, Part 1 and Part 2.