Save Brookside Museum
AN OPEN TO LETTER TO SCHR MEMBERS AND ALL ADVOCATES OF OUR LOCAL HISTORY
History Buffs,
Brookside Museum in Ballston Spa which we consider the home of the Saratoga County History Roundtable, is facing the real possibility of having to close its doors due to lack of funds.
Since this situation first became known in mid-October, an ad-hoc group of Brookside supporters have banded together to insure this does not happen. At a meeting at the Museum on Monday October 21, a initiative to “Save Brookside Museum” was launched. A $100,000 appeal was outlined and is now being further developed by a Core Team consisting of seven members- Board members Ervin Murray, Sander Bonvell, Donna Dardaris and Jon Hallgren; Museum Director Michelle Arthur; and SCHR members John Cromie and Jim Richmond. SCHS and SCHR have both issued press releases to bring this issue to the Saratoga County community and beyond.
How can we help? In several ways. Most immediately, the Museum needs a cash infusion of at least $50,000 by year end and another $50,000 during the first quarter 2020 to remain open and continue their programs. As of October 21, over $10,000 has already be raised from a small number of donors. You can help build on that by making a donation through Network For Good on the Brookside website. Please follow the link below.
http://www.brooksidemuseum.org/keep-history-alive/donate-sponsor/
Secondly, A Task Force has been formed to evaluate Brookside’s current operations and prepare a business plan to place the Museum on a sustainable path to financial viability. Much more on that in coming weeks, but we would ask that each of you consider how you can help.
You may have ideas for new programs, grants, or fund-raising events. You may have insights into what other history museums do. You may have contacts in the community that can help. You may be willing to be part of an expanded volunteer staff to breathe new life into the museum. If you do, please let us know so the Task Force can maintain a list of these ideas and proceed in an organized fashion. You will be kept in the loop on these efforts going forward. Please share your thoughts and ideas via e-mail to
SaratogaCoHistoryRoundtable@gmail.com
We see this as both a challenge and an opportunity. Please join with us to save and revitalize Brookside Museum!
Jim Richmond,
SCHR Coordinator
Past Programs Blog
Ballston vs. Saratoga in 1836
Joshua B. Aldridge (Jim Richmond) presented Ballston’s case and Henry Walton (Charlie Kuenzel) presented on behalf of Saratoga.
Click here for blog: Ballston vs. Saratoga 1836
Forgotten Railroads
Presentation by Bill Bennison
Click here for blog: Forgottten Railroad blog
History Isn’t Old, it’s New!
Presentation by Ballston Town Historian Rick Reynolds April 2019
Click here for blog: History Isn’t Old, It’s New!
Race and Prejudice in Antebellum Saratoga County
Presentation by James Richmond February 2019
Click here for blog: Race and Prejudice in Antebellum Saratoga County Blog
Resources for Newspaper Research
Presentation by Anne Clothier January 17, 2019
Click here for blog: Newspaper Research
Saratoga County War Heroes
Presentation by Jim Richmond, Lauren Roberts, and Paul Perreault November 20, 2018
Click here for blog: War Heroes
Saratoga County Legal Cases
Presentation by Sam McKenzie, John Cromie and Charles Hogan October 10, 2018
Click here for blog: Saratoga County Legal Cases
Nineteenth Century Photography
Presentation by Anne Clothier August 22, 2018
Click here for blog: Nineteenth Century Photography
Rock City Falls
Presentation by Jim Richmond and Karen Staulters at Simpson Methodist Church September 20, 2018
Click here for blog: Rock City Falls
Historical Resources in Saratoga County
Five historians presented a brief overview of their collections in repositories in Ballston Spa and Saratoga Springs July 17, 2018
Click here for blog: Historical Resources in Saratoga County
