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.
Secretary
DONNA DARDARIS
Donna Dardaris was employed by the Veteran Administration overseeing contractual compliance for hospital building improvements throughout upstate New York. She has helped organize Schenectady’s Scottish games, volunteers at Proctors Theater and Brookside Museum, and has served as the Ballston Spa Rotary President.
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.
FREDERICK E. SOBER, JR.
A lifelong resident of Saratoga County, Fred has a Bachelor’s Degree from Siena College, and a Juris Doctor from University at Buffalo. He is an avid history enthusiast, and has practiced law for 25 years.
JAMES RICHMOND
James Richmond worked in Power Systems at General Electric for forty years, after which he concentrated on his lifelong passion for history. He has published two books: War on The Middleline and Milton,New York, A New Town in a New Nation (with Kim McCartney). In 2018, Jim was a founding member of the Saratoga County History Roundtable, whose mission is to expand interest in our local history through presentations, research, articles and tours. In 2021, Jim led the effort to publish Saratoga County Stories, a compilation of weekly articles on Saratoga County history.
JOHN CROMIE
John Cromie was the first paid employee of the Ballston Spa Area Historical Society, (a predecessor to the History Center) . He served as President of the Society’s board, 1982-3, and works as an attorney and local historian. He has a MA in Public Administration from the Maxwell School of Syracuse University, and has been on numerous local and regional not-for-profit boards.
JOY KING
Joy’s family has lived in Saratoga Springs for multiple generations. She volunteers for numerous organizations in the Saratoga Springs area and is very active in the Frederick Allen Elks Lodge 609, which is named for her great-grandfather.
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.
John Pecora
John has been the CEO of the Saratoga Regional YMCA for 22 years and worked as a CPA for Fredette, Sankowski, and Company prior to that. John has an interest in history and is currently starting his second stint as a Trustee for the Saratoga Springs History Museum. John is also serving as the Treasurer on the Board of Directors of Wellspring. John lives in Wilton with his wife Melissa, son Sebastian, and three daughters Hanna, Emily, and Isabel. In his free time, he enjoys running, particularly marathons, and skiing. He also enjoys being a youth softball umpire.
Kate Jeanson
Kate has enjoyed a long career in Saratoga County and New York State governments. She was Promotions Specialist for the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors and served as Deputy Saratoga County Clerk. She retired from the New York State Senate as a Public Events Planner.
RUBY MARCOTTE
Ruby was born in Saratoga County. She lives in Day, where she was Town Historian from 1998-2004. She is a fourth-generational traditional artist of Abenaki and Quebecois heritage.
CAROL GODETTE
Carol is a former fifth grade teacher for the Saratoga Springs School District. For the past seven years her history column, “On This Spot,” has been featured in Simply Saratoga Magazine. Carol has presented many historical programs for nonprofits and was one of the 2022 Saratoga County History Award recipients.
She is also an co-owner of Saratoga’s Ben & Jerry’s.
Staff:
Anne Clothier
Education Director
aclothier@brooksidemuseum.org
Staff:
Beth Silvestri
Shop Manager
bsilvestri@brooksidemuseum.org
Volunteer Coordinator
Roy Arnold
volunteer@brooksidemuseum.org
