Historic Bremen, Inc.

05/29/2026

Save the date 🎉

05/26/2026

We now have 12 hydrants painted with more planned. Please consider joining the effort!

05/26/2026

Today at 4:30 at the Bremen Town Hall.

There’s some talk about smoke shops in Bremen these days. These often carry CBD products as well as energy drinks, unregulated diet supplements and “mood lifters”. Here is some in…

05/17/2026

Paint a Hydrant!

As part of the nationwide America 250 celebration, Bremen residents are invited to help brighten up our town by painting a fire hydrant! This community art project is a chance to show your creativity, hometown pride, and patriotic spirit while helping beautify Bremen.

We hope to paint the hydrants on Plymouth Street east of Pizza Hut in time for the Fireman’s Festival parade June 9th, 2026. This work is already started!

This is not a deadline! Other hydrants anywhere in town can be painted. And you can paint hydrants all summer and fall!

Historic Bremen has the original Revolutionary soldier designs from the Bicentennial, but any red, white, and blue design is welcome (blue with white stars; red & white stripes, etc.). The Water Department may repaint any hydrants with inappropriate (personal or overtly political) designs.

Process: Clean the hydrant with soap & water and a wire brush. Paint with exterior paint or spray paint. Use cardboard to avoid spills on the curb and street. Posca paint markers work great for details!

Note: The Water Department would like the top of the caps to remain their pressure-specific color if the cap has already been painted, but touch them up if needed.

Questions? Call Derek Jensen at 574-315-8327

05/14/2026

We will not be open this Saturday, May 16

05/05/2026

Remembering RT Henke 🙏

Historic Bremen says goodbye to RT Henke, a long-time supporter, volunteer, and board member. RT was born in Shelbyville, Indiana, in Shelby county. He and his late wife Virginia came to Bremen mor…

05/03/2026

Open 2-4 today!

The Bremen Historic Train Depot on Douglas Road will be open from 2-4 p.m. on Sunday, May 4, the first Sunday of the month. The History Center will not be open at the same time. It is open Tuesdays…

04/14/2026

Mugs available for $5!

We have a small collection of Bremen High School mugs for sale. $5 each. Blank back and no name: 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 2000 2001 2002 2005 (So graduate names on back, but it says “Sam…

03/31/2026

🎨 Hydrant Painting is Back! 🚒

If you are interested in painting a fire hydrant, please contact Derek Jensen at the Bremen History Center (111 N. Center St.). The museum is open to visitors, free of charge, every Tuesday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. year-round. Stop in during open hours or call Derek at 574-315-8327.

A little history about the painted fire hydrants in Bremen:

This tradition was first pursued by Paul Hirstein, with a focus on saving the standpipe. Jim Trice, Babette Seinicki, and Davey Dunkin’s mom, Nelly, later formed a committee co-chaired by Trice and Hirstein. Hirstein went on to paint many hydrants around town, leaving his creative mark throughout Bremen.

His artwork extended beyond hydrants to streets, bridges, and more. Meanwhile, Jim Johnston and members of the Lions Club contributed their own piece of history by painting the Spirit of ’76 on Odiorne’s.

Be part of this colorful Bremen tradition and help keep the town’s history alive, one hydrant at a time!

Check out these albums of photos and articles for more images:

https://www.flickr.com/gp/historicbremen/5C84sbZ463

https://www.flickr.com/gp/historicbremen/62tf1fAw12

03/31/2026

Hydrant Painting is Back! If you are interested in painting a fire hydrant, please contact Derek Jensen at the Bremen History Center (111 N. Center St.) The museum is open to visitors, free of charge, every Tuesday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. year-round. Stop in during open hours or call Derek at 574-315-8327.

Historic Bremen has had the kind confirmation of the Bremen Fire Department that painting your fire hydrant to celebrate America 250 is perfectly fine. We have the original paint schemes for numero…