Six added to Brookside Museum board in Ballston Spa

PHOTOGRAPHER: Photo Provided

The exterior of the Brookside Museum in shown in this undated photo.

BALLSTON SPA — Six members have been added to the Saratoga County Historical Society’s board of trustees, as it continues to raise money to keep the Brookside Museum open.

To date, the society said it has raised about $85,000 toward a goal of raising $100,000 by March 31 to keep the museum open while the group itself reorganizes, after nearly running out of money last October. “These individuals came forward as part of the outpouring of support for the society and Brookside Museum,” the historical society said in announcing the board expansion.

The new board members are Jere Blackwelder of Ballston, a retiree and active local citizen; Mark Blech, a painter and sculptor who has also been active in a number of community activities in Ballston Spa; Isobel Connell of Clifton Park, a retired General Electric engineer and Brookside volunteer; John Cromie, a Ballston Spa attorney, historian, and former Brookside board member; Michael Landis of Milton, a historian and author; Nora Osuchowski, executive director of the Ballston Area Recreation Commission; and Maureen Walsh of Milton, a financial adviser.

“The goal of the board of trustees is to reevaluate the operations of the Historical Society and integrate its resources with the needs of Saratoga County residents, as a way of assuring its future economic viability,” said K. Michelle Arthur, the museum’s executive director. “I am looking forward to working with this expanded Board of Trustees to reach our immediate funding goal — and to launching new, exciting and meaningful programs to serve our community.”

The museum, located at 6 Charlton St., focuses on Saratoga County history. It is house in one of the oldest buildings in the village, a former hotel that dates back to about 1792.