Meet the 2021 Board of the Waterville Historical Society
OFFICERS

President: Jim Conrad is serving his seventh term as President.  In addition to giving programs for the society and other organizations, he continues to conduct walking tours of both downtown and uptown Waterville, as well as tours for local third graders.  He continues to work on our campaign to secure donations for property restoration/maintenance and improvement of our educational programs and outreach. 

1st Vice President: Julia Wiley as part of her duties, selects and contacts speakers for the monthly programs for the Historical Society. Julia is an attorney and Current President of the Fallen Timbers Battlefield Preservation Commission, has served on a number of Boards. Her hands-on history experience started with local history research in Putnam County, Ohio with architectural history and preservation field work in college. She has been actively involved in a number of living history projects, including the War of 1812 Bicentennial commission, Finding the Fort Project for Fort Jennings, and most recently, the Preservation of the Anthony Wayne Mural, the relocation of a 15’ x 25’ mural that was almost 90 years old from its original place in the People’s Savings Bank in Downtown Toledo.

2nd Vice President, Membership Chairman: Steve Lauer was born in Toledo, grew up in Rochester, New York and has a B.S degree in biology from Heidelberg University in Tiffin, Ohio. He has worked in water treatment and water treatment chemicals for 42 years. Steve and wife Paula were happy to move to Waterville in 1981, a work-related move. They have been members of the Waterville Historical Society since the mid-1980s. Steve has deep family roots in Henry County and the Maumee River Valley. His great, great, grandfather worked on the canal from 1840-1849. His interests are American History, American Presidents, genealogy and birding. He is a co-leader of the Oak Openings Region breeding raptor (hawks, owls and eagles) monitoring project. Steve and Paula have both served on the S.O.S. committee and now retired Steve desires to become more active with WHS.

Recording Secretary: Kathy Saco ~ Since joining the Society in 2011, Kathy has served as a docent in the Robbins House Museum, chairman of the Constitution Revision Committee and corresponding secretary for the Board. She currently serves as the Society’s recording secretary and as a member of the Museums and Historic Sites Committee, helped design and display an exhibit “On Women Suffrage-the right to vote” 

Corresponding Secretary - DeAnna Bradley, a lifelong Whitehouse resident with a 35+ year career with the Anthony Wayne schools has been elected again for the 2020 year.  She credits her father’s recounts of experiences in World War II and the influence of an Anthony Wayne teacher who “brought history alive” for her as her motivation to become involved with the historical society.  Mrs. Bradley has already charmed several years of third grade classes at the Waterville school with WHS’s “Suitcase Museum” presentation, and had several roles as ghosts in the Ghostly Encounters series

Treasurer (2021-2023)-Sue Bagdonas has been a CPA for 42 years, retiring in August of 2018. Her last position was Director of Finance at the Toledo Zoo.  She has been married to Jim Bagdonas for 42 years and they have two children, a son and daughter-in-law in Perrysburg and a daughter and son-in-law in Columbus. They have four grandchildren. They became docents about a year and half ago.   Sue has loved learning about the history of Waterville and is glad that she has this opportunity to be a small part in the preservation of that history.

Board of Directors at large, serving for three years (2021 through 2023)

Beth Hyder moved to Waterville in 1974 when her parents, David and Phyllis Hyder, bought and renovated the William Haskins house (built 1908). They were active members of Waterville Historical Society, volunteering countless hours restoring the Robbins House and Wakeman Hall. Phyllis is a WHS past president, and Beth is proud of the work her parents did to preserve Waterville’s history and build strong community partnerships to connect people to that history. It’s no surprise that after living from Honolulu to Naples, Italy (and quite a few places in between), Beth chose to return to Waterville in 2006, buying and renovating the Frank Haskins house (built 1903). She currently resides in the William Haskins house and opened it for the 2019 WHS Historic Homes Tour. She is a biologist, environmental scientist, and school administrator by profession. She also teaches and performs with the Ballet Theatre of Toledo. An admitted science nerd, Beth is an avid gardener, natural history buff, sailor, traveler, and lifelong learner. She is the mother of two, who have fond memories of dressing up and helping at RDB, three generations side-by-side sharing a love of history in a city that celebrates its past.

Scott Duncan has worked tirelessly on many historical society functions over the past years from managing the Society’s ice cream fundraisers and parking at the Wakeman building for the Roche de Boeuf festival to volunteering his skills in restoration and cleanup of buildings and grounds.

Board of Directors serving a three year terms ~ 2019-2021

Fred Goodell is very interested in participating as a board member of the Waterville Historical Society. His background is in helping people with their investments as a financial advisor with Prudential for over forty years. He lives in the Waterside community in Monclova with my wife, Kris. She was an elementary teacher for thirty years at Waterville Primary School. My wife has extended family members who have been a part of the Waterville community for many years. I am interested in helping in the society's work at preserving the history of Waterville.

Bill Albert has been a resident of Waterville since 1981. He was an active participant in the 50th Anniversary Committee, organized the first official event in December 2014, and has assumed responsibilities for a number of other events with new and interesting ideas. Among his may interest is stereography, three dimensional photography. Bill has participated in RDB Day for many years. He has volunteered as a docent for the open houses.

Gregory Durivage owns his own Financial Planning practice at Thrivent Financial for 5 years. He graduated from Miami, OH with a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and a minor in Business Legal Studies. Greg has been a resident of Waterville for 29 years and has a passion for helping others. He is a board member of the American Cancer Society, on the Finance Committee of the Anthony Wayne YMCA, member of the Waterville Steering Committee, is an active volunteer at Habitat for Humanity, and loves going on mission trips to Central America to help build homes for the underprivileged. Greg loves being outdoors racing motocross, snowboarding, cycling, golfing, and soaking up the sun at the lake. 

Standing Committee members, appointed positions:

Bob Chapman, Chairperson of the Museum and History Committee is an active member who assists with the building and grounds and also volunteers in the Wakeman Archival Research Center. Bob has served as a docent during open houses and Third Grade visits. He arranges the special exhibits at the Robbins House and manages the exhibits in the other museums.

Verna Rose, Chairperson of the Archives Committee has organized the Archival Research Center at the Wakeman Building. She has led the search and creation of the WHS website and Facebook. Verna and her husband John have authored five books on Waterville.  They have volunteered countless hours to staffing the archives and assisting visitors with research and responds to numerous local genealogy questions. She and her husband maintain the website and Facebook page for the historical society.

Jim Stoma, Chairperson of the Building and Grounds Committee: He oversees and directly works on maintenance and renovations for the WHS campus of buildings, including the Wakeman building, Robbins House, Sargent House, Cobbler Shop, Sargent House garage and the former Gas Co. building.

Dennis Jones, Chairperson of the Student Outreach Committee. During his tenure as Executive Director he conducted a major capital campaign for the Society and among his accomplishments secured the donations of the Welcome Pray House and the Old Waterville Gas Company building for the Society. He mobilized 64 new volunteers for the campaign and conducted a series of highly successful special events and awareness projects including the Polar Bear Plunge, WHS Historical Spooktacular and Light Up Waterville to name a few. In addition, Dennis instituted the first ever students’ group to support and promote the Society in the community. The SAC, as they are known, conducted numerous programs and events throughout the community including teaching a lesson on John Pray’s founding of Waterville to 108 third grade students at Waterville Primary School (the teacher’s loved it and asked the students to return). This year Dennis was elected to the Board of Directors as the Chairman of the Student Outreach Committee and continues to lead the Student Advisory Council now in its third year.

Katharine Morris Heintschel, Chairperson of Publicity and Public Affairs. Katharine is the daughter of Marian Good and Wilson Morris. She attended Waterville and Anthony Wayne High School. Katharine attended The University of Toledo, graduating in 1979 with a Bachelor of Education degree. In 1986, she earned a Master of Education, specializing in Curriculum and Instruction. In her 36-year public school career, she taught in the Oregon City Schools and retired from Anthony Wayne High School as a senior English and British Literature teacher. She is a past president of the Anthony Wayne Alumni Association. In June, 2020 she moved back to Waterville. Katharine has served as a tour guide for the Waterville Historical Society home tours. She also has  an interest in preserving the interurban bridge over the Maumee River and educating others about the rich and colorful history of Waterville, Ohio.