JEFFERSON - The Jefferson Historical Society (JHS) recently saw two of its most dedicated and influential volunteers step down from their leadership roles. Diane Ericson, who served for years as Treasurer or Co-Treasurer during some of the Society’s busiest years, and Bonnie Dailey, a longtime volunteer and more recently Secretary of the Board of Trustees, have both made extraordinary contributions to the organization.
Their years of service have helped shape the Jefferson Historical Society into the active organization it is today. While their accomplishments are too numerous to fully document, we would like to recognize some of the many ways they have contributed.
Diane Ericson
Diane Ericson served on the JHS Board of Trustees for several years before becoming Co-Treasurer and later Treasurer. Her tenure coincided with some of the most active and challenging years in the Society’s history, particularly the restoration and development of Judd Hall.
During this period, numerous contractors were involved in renovating the building, making the management of payments, grants, and budgets especially complicated. At the same time, JHS was serving as a community sponsor for another organization undertaking its own extensive restoration project involving multiple contractors. We also began developing formal annual budgets during these years, adding another layer of responsibility for our treasurers. Diane helped guide us through these financial challenges while keeping our operations running smoothly.
Diane’s contributions extended far beyond managing finances. As Judd Hall developed into our headquarters, museum, and community gathering place, she was deeply involved in making the building an efficient, comfortable, and welcoming facility. She helped obtain furnishings, equipment, and other needed materials and secured donations to improve our computer capabilities. She played a major role in reorganizing, painting, and transforming our kitchen into an attractive and functional workspace.
We affectionately refer to Bob Glas as our “Judd Hall Boss” because of his responsibility for maintaining the building and arranging professional assistance when needed. Diane served as his capable assistant, helping ensure that the many details involved in operating and maintaining the building were addressed.
Diane was also central to planning some of our most significant events, including the dedication of Judd Hall and the grand opening of the Nicholas J. Juried Museum of Jefferson History. Both occasions required extensive preparation and coordination. She worked with former Town Historian Ingrid Zeman on the rededication of the Presbyterian Church Centennial plaque following its return to the Maple Museum.
Our annual yard sales, which have consistently been among the Society’s most successful fundraisers, also benefited greatly from Diane’s efforts.
At nearly every JHS event, Diane could be counted on to be there, often working behind the scenes to ensure everything ran smoothly. Whether it was a farmers’ market, lecture, concert, alumni reception, quilt show, Heritage Day celebration, Holiday Boutique, or another activity, she helped make sure events were adequately staffed, visitors were welcomed, and countless organizational details were handled.
Diane regularly represented JHS at community events sponsored by other organizations, including the Schoharie County Chamber of Commerce and the local arts council. She also served as our representative on the Jefferson Heritage Day Committee.
When Bonnie Dailey led our oral history video interviews, Diane frequently assisted with the process. She was involved in the early planning of our museum, donated numerous materials to our historical archives, and suggested speakers for our lecture series.
What makes Diane’s contributions particularly remarkable is that she accomplished all this while holding a job and volunteering countless hours throughout the year. Unlike many of our board me