May 16 this year is the 56th anniversary of the founding of the Sandisfield Historical Society.

This month may also mark the end of this community organization that has for nearly six decades collected and preserved Sandisfield heritage and promoted local awareness and interest in our past.

Think of the society as Sandisfield's museum, housed since 1979 in a former Congregational Church building (1909) in South Sandisfield Center.

In a "message from the board" in the March issue of The Times, society President Ann Wald signaled that due to confirmed retirements of current board members, unless new leadership including a slate of officers emerges, the society's future is in doubt and will probably close.

Succession is a frequent problem for legacy community service organizations, especially in small towns. Aging populations and changing social patterns are factors. In recent memory Sandisfield has lost its Grange, the Ladies Aid Society, and the Taxpayer's Association because of dwindling membership and leadership.

When long-time Historical Society president Norton Fletcher retired in 2013 no successor was available. The board considered invoking a bylaws provision which allowed for a limited period of inactive status with acting officers who would serve as caretakers of the building and its contents until new officers were in place. John Kuzmech answered the call and provided able and effective leadership for three more years.

When John resigned in late 2016, again there was no successor. Norton Fletcher agreed to serve "temporarily," but he died in October 2018 at age 95.

To avert inactive status a second time, Ann Wald stepped up to lead. She said then, "I'm no historian but I just could not stand by and do nothing." Thanks to Ann the Society has continued activities since 2019, albeit with a limited schedule.

Reached by The Times, Ann said, "I really hope that there are some people out there with energy and ideas who understand and appreciate the importance and the need to promote Sandisfield history."

The Society normally opens for business every May but will not do so this year. According to Ann, unless others take the reins, the process of dissolution will begin by this summer. The Christmas Fair, which for many years has been sponsored by the Society, will continue under other Town groups.

The potential loss of the Historical Society would leave only one Sandisfield community social service organization from that era, American Legion Post No. 456.