Board Members
CATHERINE BERGMANN, President
Cathy is a native of Bellows Falls. She has held several public offices from Village President to Trustee to School Board Director. She formed a community group called Our Town Civic Organization Inc.. Among other things, this group restored the downtown clock tower. She saw that Bellows Falls was a special place with a fabulous history and potential, and felt that being part of the Historical Society she would be able to help preserve and share that history. Cathy is learning to write grants in order to bring funds into the Historical Society. She is also working on the website with Mary Narkiewicz and membership with Marge Ladd. Cathy also is in charge of the Volunteer Committee. She also serves on the Executive and Exhibit Committees.
LARRY CLARK, Vice President
Larry Clark is an invaluable member of the Historical Society. His expertise with computers allows the Board to Zoom their meetings. He is in the process of creating computer files of the Society’s photos. Larry has a collection of glass negatives and can usually find any picture to fit any need. He has many other strengths as well. He is a walking history book. We have come to rely on him to answer questions that we are unable to. He has access to our newspaper collection and can find historic references in their delicate pages.
MARGERY LADD, Secretary - DENNIS LADD
Marge and former Society President, Dennis Ladd, have lived in the community for many years. Marge participated in several re-creations during Victorian Days, also Art on the Porches, Hidden Gardens of Bellows Falls,Front Porch Theater Group and Horse Drawn Caroling . Dennis created a teaching unit called Place Value based on the history and architecture of the Village. It was a natural step to the Historical Society and the sharing of the collection with the public. Marge has remained active as a docent at the Adam’s Grist Mill. Their shared love of history shows in all of their community activities. They remain docents at the Archive, Education Center and Museum at 31 Westminster St. Not only does Marge keep minutes and records of the Society she also works on membership issues and drives with Cathy Bergmann. Marge serves on the Exhibit and Executive Committees. Dennis serves on the Exhibit Committee also.
ANNETTE SPAULDING, Fundraiser
Annette is a master scuba diver, historian and archaeologist and she has a passion for preserving our environment. She has spent several decades exploring the Connecticut River. Annette also serves as a Trustee on the Board of Connecticut River Conservancy (CRC). We are thrilled to have her join our Board.
MARY NARKIEWICZ, Media Specialist
Mary was born in Bellows Falls, as were her parents who worked in the local paper mills. She was fortunate to experience that congenial, busy culture up close for many years. Preservation of our architecture, historic atmosphere, and lore is of great importance to her. She finds Bellows Falls to be “endlessly fascinating” and very photogenic. Mary is the Media Lady of the Society and runs our Facebook page and is working on the website with Cathy Bergmann. She is our voice to the outside world and stays very busy answering questions, doing research, putting out an ever changing assortment of historical pictures and text, and the public loves her. At the Center she continues to work on the data base among other things. Mary serves on the Collections Committee.
Collection Committee - Responsible for archiving, accessing, keeping data base up to date, and all else to do with processing the historical items in the collection.
Exhibit Committee — Responsible for displaying the collection within the cases, window and any other space chosen by the committee or Board.
Executive Committee - Responsible for making decisions when a full Board can not be called.
Landscape Committee - Responsible for the care of the land in the Park and around the Grist Mill. Also the signage, fences, gates plus brush and trees that interfere with walking and views.
ELIJAH ZIMMER
Elijah recently joined our Board. He’s a gifted photographer. and is very active in our community. He currently serves on the Rockingham Selectboard. is on the staff of Bellows Falls Downtown Development Alliance and works at Windham Antiques.
JIM NARKIEWICZ
Jim Narkiewicz has an extensive background in Travel & Tourism. He graduated from NH College (University of Southern NH) in 1982 with a BS degree in Hotel, Restaurant & Tourism Management. He has worked in Inns and Hotels for many years. Jim was involved with Monadnock Travel Council and Discover Monadnock for many years, as well as Granite State Ambassadors and is on their board. He has a strong interest in the Arts and has been a member on the board of Arts Alive in Keene, NH. Jim was born in Bellows Falls, VT, raised in North Westminster and graduated from Bellows Falls Union High School. He has a concern for the area's history. His interest is in the Adams Grist Mill to keep its richness in history alive and to share it with visitors at the mill. He enjoys the summer and fall season at the mill as a docent. He is also active in restoring the Adams Grist Mill and looks forward to being part of its 200th anniversary celebration in 2031.
PAT FOWLER
Former owner of the Village Square Booksellers in Bellows Falls Square studied history at the George Washington University and has extensive experience with archiving historical materials.
PATRICK WALKER
Grew up in Bellows Falls and graduated from BFHS Class '66. He is an Air Force and Vietnam Vet. Graduated from Hawthorn College, Antrim, NH with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business.
SPECIAL ASSISTANTS TO THE BOARD
KIMBERLY CLARK
Is part of the Grist Mill team working on developing educational signage for the machinery.
BONNIE NORTH, Finances
Bonnie handles BFHS accounts, membership records and donations.