If you want to better understand the talent and skills needed to support the vision and mission of Saratoga County History Center, look no farther than the foundation of the organization.
Board of Trustees:
President
ISOBEL CONNELL
Isobel Connell came to this country from the United Kingdom in 1986, and now lives in Clifton Park. Her professional background was in Applied Math and Engineering, but she has always had an interest in history. She has volunteered in the research library at Brookside Museum since 2019, and been on the Board since 2020
1st Vice President
ANDREW COLLIER
Andrew Collier is a native of Lancaster, PA and a graduate of Saint Francis University with a degree in U.S. History. Andrew has worked for a variety of organizations and campaigns in the advertising and consulting industry. He is currently employed remotely by the National Public Pension Coalition, located in Washington, DC. An avid runner, biker, and gardener, he settled in Ballston Spa with his wife Molly. They enjoy exploring Ballston Spa’s restaurants, parks, and everything their town has to offer.
2nd Vice President
WILLIAM ALLERDICE
William Allerdice has worked on and off for his family’s business, Allerdice Building Supply, Inc., and is currently at his father’s side. A graduate of Saratoga Springs High School, he has sat on the boards of both Friends of Lake George Opera and Universal Preservation Hall. He has a passion for history, the arts, and the Saratoga community.
Treasurer
MAUREEN WALSH
Maureen Walsh is a Milton resident and an Enrolled Agent and Registered Investment Advisor Representative at Canty Financial Management, Inc. She holds a bachelor’s degree in history/geography from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. She has 37 years of experience in the tax industry, including 18 years in financial services focusing on investment advisory.
Acting Director/Curator
FIELD HORNE
Field Horne was the first professionally-trained executive of the Saratoga County Historical Society (predecessor to the History Center). He has an MA in Museum Studies from SUNY Oneonta, and has taught “Museum Theory and Practice” as an adjunct professor at Russell Sage College and is an author of numerous historical works. He was curator at the National Museum of Racing, and trustee for other non-profits. Field is the immediate Past President of the Board.
SEAN KELLEHER
Sean Kelleher has been the Historian for the Town of Saratoga for 17 years. He is an ACE award winning television producer, and has spent over a decade working on national productions, including PBS’s American Experience. In addition, Sean has served as a commissioner of the New York State French and Indian War 250th Anniversary Commemoration Commission, and as the Director of the Washington County Fair Farm Museum.
RUSS VANDERVOORT
Russ VanDervoort is a 14-year member of the Waterford Village Board. He is president of the Waterford Canal Towpath Society, Town of Waterford Historian, author of two books, co-author of a third, and currently writing a fourth, all dealing with local history. He has a long-term involvement with local and regional firefighting organizations.
Karen Strack James
Karen James is a lifelong resident of Saratoga County. She enjoyed a 37 year career in Information Technology, retiring from New York State in 2014 as a Manager of Database Technical Services. While working part-time for the Town Clerk of Wilton, Karen volunteered to write the script for the Town’s Bicentennial play “First Town Meeting, 1818”. Subsequently, Karen was asked to succeed the retiring Wilton Town Historian and as they say, “the rest is history”. Karen recently relocated to Ballston Spa, downsizing from several acres to a maintenance free condo, so is shifting her focus from gardening to cooking and travel. She is looking forward to helping out at SCHC at Brookside and learning more about the history of other towns in Saratoga County.
Patrice Bokan
A lifelong Saratogian, Patrice’s formative years were spent between The Washington Inn and her grandparents’ Hotel Russell. After a career in hospitality and the wine business, she spent many years working in child development. She is passionate about community, the local springs, travel, history and helping others.
Lynda Bryan
Lynda is the Town of Halfmoon Historian and President of the Halfmoon Historical Society. She also serves as Town Clerk and is liaison to the Town of Halfmoon Senior Center. Lynda is a lifelong resident of Halfmoon whose family has lived in Halfmoon since the early 1800s. Her love of the history of Halfmoon and Saratoga County focuses on learning from and preserving local history in a rapidly changing area.
Ben Kemp
Ben is a living historian, speaker, and researcher who has been featured by C-Span, PBS, the National Park Service and on the 2020 History Channel documentary, Grant. Ben has been a staff member at Grant Cottage since 2014 and was on the Hadley-Lake Luzerne Historical Society Board. He serves on the Friends Leadership Council for the non-profit Parks & Trails New York and advocates for public lands and historic preservation. He has published numerous online articles and is a contributing author to the book Grant at 200: Reconsidering the Life and Legacy of Ulysses S. Grant. An avid outdoors person, he is an ADK 46er.
Susan McGrath
Susan is a resident of Ballston Spa, has a B.A. in history from Agnes Scott College and a M.A. and Ph.D. in history from Emory University. She is a retired Professor of History from Georgia State University where she taught for 25 years and continues to teach part time.
Tillman W. Nechtman
Tillman is a professor of British and British Imperial History at Skidmore College. He holds degrees from Georgetown University and the University of Southern California. He is the author of two books with Cambridge University Press, as well as a host of academic articles in a wide array of journals.
Rick Reynolds
Rick has been the Ballston Town Historian since 2004. He is a retired social studies teacher at Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Middle School and is the author of the book From Wilderness to Community: The Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Central School District. In 2003, he was awarded the National American History Teacher of the Year honor by the DAR, and in 2007, he became a registered New York State Public Historian.
Matthew Veitch
Matthew is currently the Supervisor representing the City of Saratoga Springs on the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors and serves as Vice-Chair of the Board and Chair of the Law & Finance Committee. He has served as Supervisor for the past 17 years and is in his 9th term. He worked for Verizon Communication for the past 25 years as a Principal Engineer in the Global Network & Technology Division. He previously served on the Saratoga Springs History Museum Board of Directors and the Saratoga Springs Preservation, serving as President of the Board from 2017 to 2019.
Staff:
Beth Silvestri
Shop Manager
bsilvestri@brooksidemuseum.org
Charlene DuBuque
Education Director
charlene@brooksidemuseum.org
Connor Murphy
connorm@brooksidemuseum.org
Volunteer Coordinator
Roy Arnold
volunteer@brooksidemuseum.org
