| The Andes Society for History and Culture | ||
| Mission Statement & Organizational History |
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The Andes Society for History and Culture was organized in 1975 by Andes residents Eric Wedemeyer and Anne Geiger and was granted a permanent charter by the Board of Regents of the State of New York on June 13th., 2000. The organization is dedicated to preserving and promoting the history of Andes and the surrounding area and to providing diverse educational and cultural programming.
After having received the Hunting Tavern building in 1976 as a gift from the Gladstone family, the group began what was to be a 25 year journey into the world of building restoration. Being the oldest structure in the village presented the group with the task of restoring the pre Anti - Rent War era building while being sensitive to its original uses yet meeting the needs of a busy and growing organization. The Hunting Tavern Museum was finally dedicated on August 14th., 1999. In 1996, the ASHC purchased the former Pleasant Valley Methodist Church and dining hall located at the mouth of the Pepacton Resevoir. The facility has been restored and the dining hall renovated for use as a cultural and performing arts center. The organization purchased the old Andes Village Fire Hall on Main Street in 2003 and is presently embarked on a $50,000 fundraising campaign (of which over $10,000 has been raised so far this winter). The goal of this effort is to be able to finance both the re-roofing and stablization efforts needed for this building (as recommended by restoration architects Crawford & Stearns in their thorough report to the ASHC), and additional re-roofing and other essential repairs needed to the former church building, now known as the Pleasant Valley Meeting House, also under our stewardship. Donations are welcome at any time, and are tax deductible. We have a matching challenge from a Board Member who will match her original $1,000 with another $1,000 if 20 or more contributions of $1,000 or more are received by April 1, 2006. . Plans are underway for restoration and for creative uses for the second floor. For almost thirty years, the ASHC has operated a community Thrift Shop where good used items are donated and in turn, offered to the public for a nominal fee. This major fundraiser for the ASHC is now located on the first floor of the Fire Hall building. The ASHC's 30 year history in the community speaks of the literally hundreds of events, programs, concerts, lectures, demonstrations, scholarships, plays, ski programs, dinners, tours, Community Days and other activities to which the organization has either sponsored, funded or contributed. Although the organization employs a part time Executive Director, all other operations are organized and carried out by volunteers. The ASHC has a longstanding record of financial responsibility and stability with its income being derived from membership dues, the Thrift Shop, annual fundraiser, programming proceeds, donations and interest on the ASHC Endowment Fund. The volunteer Board of Directors consists of 11 members who may serve three consecutive three year terms and includes a President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. At this time all operations are organized and carried out by volunteers
and various standing committees who are responsible to the Board.
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