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Staff photo / Bob Coupland
Pam Haney-Slusarsyk, left, and her mother, Margie Haney, both of Braceville, look at LaBrae and Braceville school yearbooks and other memorabilia Sunday at the Braceville Family Fun Day.
The Braceville 250th committee and the Braceville Historical Society co-hosted a community fun day at the park.
The event included historical displays, raffles, children's games and giveaways, and food.
Carol Kuchta, a Braceville 250 committee member, said the fun day was the official kickoff to many other events and programs planned for the year. She said America 250 starts for many communities in January, but Braceville wanted to start in July and have a full year of events.
"The public can learn more about Braceville's history by attending the different events," Kuchta said.
Terry Shavers of Aurora, a Braceville committee member, said the family fun day was the first of many events planned in the township through July 2026.
He said a speakers series is planned with a different topic each month.
"In September, we have a program on farms with local farmers to share the history of their farms. We have one month on schools and a ghost walk planned in October. We will discuss the Underground Railroad because Braceville has a big part in that. Each month will have a different theme," Kuchta said.
Patty Nolan of Braceville said she helped with 29 prize baskets for children.
"This is a fun event," she said.
Shavers said the committee received a grant from the Ohio 250 Commission to help offset costs for different events and programs.
Janice Kistler, president of the Braceville Historical Society, said Braceville was fortunate to be one of the communities to apply and be selected as an America 250 community.
"I believe we are the first community in Trumbull County to kick off the 250th celebration,'' she said.
The local Mary Chesney Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution will present a program in June 2026 on Flag Day. Kistler said on that day, a bench will be presented at the cemetery to remember 18 veterans from the Revolutionary War period.
She said her fifth great-grandfather, Col. Elijah Sheldon, was in the American Revolution with reports stating he was a right hand man to George Washington,
Juanita Toles of Braceville said her cousins came to town for a recent funeral and she told them about the community fun day for families so they stayed for that.
Visiting Toles were Janice Andrews of Indiana and Dorothy Love of Savannah, Georgia.
"I'm glad I came to this. I love seeing the people from Braceville and seeing the community,'' Andrews said.
Love said it is a great idea for Braceville to celebrate America's 250th with different events.
Looking at a display of yearbooks and school items were Margie Haney of Braceville and her daughter Pam Haney-Slusarsyk of Braceville.
"I graduated from LaBrae High School in 1971 and wanted to look at the class pictures. It's nice to see all the pictures of all the graduating classes,'' Haney-Slusarsyk said,
Les and Toni Angel of Braceville said they grew up in the community. Les said his family all graduated from the local schools and some worked for the local U.S. Post Office.
Members of Scout Troop 8 helped at the event by assisting with children's games.
Among the events planned for Braceville to mark America's 250th are: Aug. 10, Pioneer Family History; Sept. 13, farm history at Kuchta Corn Maze; Oct. 18, ghost walk at cemetery; Nov. 9, veterans program; Dec. 14, holiday celebration; Jan. 11, history of Braceville; Feb. 8, Underground Railroad; March 8, Braceville schools; April 5, Braceville churches; May 25, Memorial Day celebration; June 14, Flag Day celebration; and July, grand finale.
Most events will be at the township hall.