The Jefferson County Historical Society
The JCHS was established in 1967 and incorporated in 1971 as a non-profit organization that the Jefferson County Commissioners have certified as the official historical society for the county. In 2001, the Society began the preservation of the Nathan Greene Edelblute Building and adapted it as the Jefferson County History Center, opening the building on the 200th anniversary of the founding of the county, March 26th, 2004.
Location
Today, the JCHS owns and operates the Jefferson County History Center, Brady Craig House, and the Margaret Johnson Archives, all of which are located within Brookville’s Historic District. The latter two buildings are used primarily for storage and are not open to the public.
Located on Main Street, the History Center contains 9 galleries and 12 exhibit areas totaling 9,000 square feet of exhibit space, a research library, a gift shop, and staff offices.
In 2016, the Jefferson County Historical Society opened Scripture Rocks Heritage Park. A short 1.5-mile hiking trail through 67 boulders inscribed with religious messages in the early 1900s by Douglas Stahlman.
To help us continue our efforts, please consider making a small donation to the Jefferson County History Center.
The Jefferson County Historical Society is a registered 501 c3 non-profit and is certified as a charitable organization within Pennsylvania.
The JCHS develops an annual operating budget and maintains a lasting endowment as part of the annual strategic plan. Funding for the Scripture Rocks Heritage park is held separately.
General operating funds for the Society are primarily derived from from membership dues, donations, funding agreements with the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission, and the Jefferson County Commissioners and a variety of grants for project specific exhibits and other endeavors.
A copy of the most recent tax audit and current financial report is available at any time by contacting the JCHS President or Executive Director.
Mission Statement
Our purpose is to engage people of all ages in the history of Jefferson County. We collect and care for relevant objects, images, and documents, and we invite county residents and visitors to research our materials, interact with our exhibits, take part in our programs, and read our publications in order to encourage an understanding of our past and present and afford a vision for our future.