By Mike Pettinella
For Video News Service
When talking to longtime Town of Stafford residents, one can appreciate their sense of pride when it comes to their town’s illustrious history following its settlement in 1798 as one of the first townships in the Holland Purchase to be occupied.
In 1984, community members formed the Stafford Historical Society – a group dedicated to preserving “what came before” and, in 2004, sharing that legacy via the Stafford Museum of History that’s attached to the Town Hall building at 8903 Route 237.
For many years, Linda Call was the driving force behind the SHS. Call passed away on Jan. 21, 2024, at the age of 78, leaving a huge void in an organization that already had been adversely affected by the COVID-19 epidemic.
“Linda was the one who kept things going,” said Ed Schramm, retired state trooper and newly elected vice president of the SHS. “A couple other ladies passed away as well so not much has happened (with the group) lately.”
Schramm, speaking to Video News Service on Monday afternoon at the museum, said the historical society is reorganizing due to the fact that only three executive committee members remain.
At a meeting on the afternoon of Oct. 20 at the St. Paul’s Episcopal Church parish hall, seven trustees were elected, including five on the executive committee, Schramm said.
James Duyssen, a town board member, is the new president; Schramm is vice president; Andrew Darling is the recording secretary; Paige Johnston is the corresponding secretary, and Crista Boldt is the treasurer. David Metzler and Amy Swanson are trustees, and Phyllis Darling is serving in an advisory role.
While these people are moving forward as the executive board, that Oct. 20 meeting proved to be contentious because other town residents that had been working on reviving the historical society also wished to be heard.
Laura Giacchino, who owns an historic home (built in 1809) on Route 5 across from the former Stafford Trading Post, said she had been researching matters and working on legal issues concerning the SHS for quite some time. A former member of the historical society, said she had been asked to become president.
A few days ago, Giacchino said she was disrespected by the some of those now in charge.
“It became very ugly,” she said. “We were told that there already was a board in place and were asked to leave.”
Schramm said he spoke up at that time, stating that they had the right to stay, but after a while Giacchino did leave the meeting.
File photo from August 2024 Historical Society meeting
Stafford resident Cathy Worthington, who is active in the community, said, “They didn’t want to hear anything from Laura about our plans.”
“We had put ads in the Pennysaver, invited people to come (to a meeting on Oct. 22, that eventually was cancelled), put together seven names for a board and Laura did a lot of work. We just wanted to get this going, and it turned out to be a coup – to push us out.”
On Monday, Schramm acknowledged that the meeting did not go well but extended an olive branch for those in the other group, including Giacchino, to join the historical society. Worthington said she probably will; Giacchino said she wants nothing to do with it.
Incidentally, the SHS was first chartered in 1987 by the Board of Regents of The University of the State of New York. Its charter was made “absolute” by the Board of Regents in December 2013.
Phyllis Darling, a member of the historical society since 2011, said the future success of the organization hinges on one key point: “It takes people.”
“At one time, we had almost 50 members … and then COVID hit,” she said.
Schramm said the plan going forward is to review the bylaws at an executive committee meeting set for Jan. 6 and present the bylaws, with any amendments, at a membership meeting sometime next March.
“We’re close to 25 members now and we’re inviting more to join,” he said. “There are no residence requirements, and all of our membership meetings will be open to the public.”
He said the SHS has some money – around $21,000 – and hopes to conduct more fundraising events such as the Taste of Stafford while possibly extending the hours of the museum. Currently, the museum is open from 2-4 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
When asked for the society’s three priorities, Schramm responded, “More involvement, more activities and more public outreach.”
Following is a list of current members:
Amy Swanson, David Metzler, Susan Briggs, Leslie Krajewski, Steve Boldt, Crista Boldt, Andrew Darling, Phyllis Darling, James Duyssen, Ed Schramm, Don Iwanicki, Sherry Snell-Roberts, Rob Chapman, Becky Saeva, Betty Loncz, Paige Johnston, Andrew Duyssen, Tim Thomas, Barb Radley, Amy Mathisen, Colleen O’Connor, Robert Clement and Michael Lathan.
Others wishing to join can call 585-813-2066.