The Galen Historical Society was founded in 1976 as one of several initiatives by the local community to observe the bicentennial birthday of the United States of America. Communities that did not have a historical society were encouraged to form one, and Clyde and Galen responded.
The provisional charter of the new Society, granted in January of 1976, showed that the first board of trustees included George Ketchum, George Maloy, Lucy Brisky, James Boyce, Frank B. Lee Jr., Joseph Bramer, Douglas Estes, and Paul Pettingill. On December 20, 1977 the society obtained the former A. R. Ketchum & Son mill and developed it as the Mill Museum. On January 24, 1979 an Absolute Charter was granted to the Galen Historical Society by the New York State Department of Education. In 2000, inspired by a vision of Wayne and Pat Morrison, the society purchased the former Baptist Church and the then Galen Free Library building. Under the leadership of Board President Sharon Rice and project manager Robert Mead, the building was extensively renovated and developed as the Brick Church Museum.
In November 2006, the Galen Historical Society commemorated its 30th Anniversary with a Founders' Day Celebration.
