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
WILLIAM ALLERDICE
William Allerdice is a 5th generation Saratogian and a lifelong resident of Saratoga Springs, having a family history there dating back to 1860. A graduate of Saratoga Springs High School, he currently works for his family and their business, Allerdice Building Supply, Inc. He has sat on the boards of both Friends of Lake George Opera and Universal Preservation Hall, which he currently has been re-elected to in 2026. William has a strong passion for history, the arts, and the Saratoga County community.
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
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.
Interim Treasurer
KRISTI KRULCIK
Kristi grew up in Saratoga County, spending the first years of her life in Clifton Park prior to moving to Saratoga Springs early in her childhood. After graduating from Cornell University, she spent time in San Francisco before returning to Saratoga with her husband, Marco Anichini where she works remotely in marketing. Kristi and her husband spend much of their time researching and rehabilitating their Second Empire home, originally called, “Chestwood,” and sharing their progress on Instagram (@ChestwoodSaratoga).
Secretary
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Brandon Dingeman
Brandon is a lifelong advocate for his community and has called Saratoga County home for over 30 years. Deeply invested in the region’s cultural health, Brandon currently serves on the Board of Trustees for the Stillwater Public Library and is an active volunteer with Saratoga Bridges. He holds a physics degree from the University at Albany and resides in Stillwater with his wife and two children. Professionally, Brandon is a Vice President at Goldman Sachs, specializing in software solutions, operating efficiencies, user engagement strategies, and financial management.
Florence Glasser
Florence “Flo” is a long-time resident of Greenfield Center. Flo has a BA in history from Binghamton University and a masters in library sciences from the University at Albany. She was an elementary and middle school librarian for 29 years, retiring in 2020. She joined Brookside as a volunteer in 2023.
Gail Speranza
Gail is a former lifelong resident from Long Island, currently lives in Ballston Spa. She was a Not-for-Profit administrator for over 17 years which included Executive Administration, Program Management, Community Development and Database Administration. In addition, she worked for the New York State Senate as an event planner.
John Scherer
John has a long history of being a part of the Clifton Park community and has served as their town historian since 1978. He has written several books exploring this area, is a contributor to our own bi-monthly history articles and is the senior historian emeritus at the New York State Museum.
Joy King
Mina Dunnam
Mina is a longtime resident of Saratoga Springs and has a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. Her career encompassed hospital practice, private practice, teaching, and clinical research, which also required grant writing. In 2022, she discovered a new passion, gardening, and completed the Master Gardener Program through Cornell. Mina has volunteered in Brookside’s historical gardens since 2022.
Ruby Marcotte
Ruby Marcotte lives in the Town of Day on her grandfather’s land. She was past historian for Day. Ruby is also a community scholar with the NYS Folklore Society since the early 1990s. It is her goal to keep history lovers in the outlying areas of the county informed as to what a historically rich county we live in.
Staff:
Anne Hollmuller, Ph.D.
Executive Director
director@brooksidemuseum.org
Beth Silvestri
Shop Manager/Services Coordinator
bsilvestri@brooksidemuseum.org
Charlene DuBuque
Education Director
charlene@brooksidemuseum.org
Volunteer Coordinator
Roy Arnold
volunteer@brooksidemuseum.org
