By Kendall Tillotson
With the transition of leadership at the Skaneateles Historical Society, Julie DiBagio, a lifelong resident, has assumed the role of president, succeeding Bob Eggleston.
As enthusiastic and devoted members of the museum and its board, both DiBagio and Eggleston exemplify a profound dedication to preserving Skaneateles’ history.
Like numerous volunteers, they generously contribute their time and expertise to ensure the vitality of the museum.
Both DiBagio and Eggleston had always had a deep-rooted interest in history.
DiBagio became interested in Skaneateles history in part through her own personal family history, as her ancestors had been a part of the significant immigration of those coming from Somerset, England.
But it wasn’t until Eggleston and the museum had hosted a picnic at the trolley station, one that she had gone to as a child, that she would finally join the historical society.
Eggleston became interested in the museum when the building became available through the village; they agreed to lease it and allow renovations so the building could be repaired as it had fallen out of disarray. Ever since those renovations,
Eggleston has stayed with the historical society as they have made him a lifelong member.
Both Eggleston and DiBagio shared their overall goals and what they hope to see accomplished at the museum.
Both answered similarly, as they seem to have a shared vision of what the Skaneateles Historical Society is all about.
Eggleston said “collect, protect, display and educate,” is what the museum has always been about and what he hopes to see carry on.
DiBagio said that her long and short-term goal at the museum is to get more people interested locally and to continuously bring people in.
DiBagio said the historical society, in a word, is all about community.
She mentioned that COVID-19 had brought a lot of separation, so now the historical society jumps at every opportunity to be a collective such as being a part of the Dickens Christmas celebration, the yearly boat show, and the sidewalk sale. The historical society also does activities together, such as the mailboat cruise around the lake is a fun way they build camaraderie.
From his year’s of service, Eggelston said one thing in aprticualr stands out.
Egglestons aid being able to serve the community has been the most memorable moment as well as aiding those in uncovering and learning
their own history.
DiBagio also shared some insight, discussing what her favorite piece of Skaneateles history is.
Growing up in Skaneateles, she said it is her own family history and she enjoys chasing down relatives that had migrated from Somerset to Skaneateles as well as knowing about different groups that came over from England.
Eggleston on the other hand was from Cooperstown but had relatives that lived in Central New York, so he had always known about Skaneateles.
He recalled a story of uncovering a box of old things from the early 1900s and finding his grandmother’s wedding dress, wedding shoes, and inside those shoes were grains of rice thrown at the wedding. Alongside the rice, a note read “This is the rice I took out of my shoes when I got to Skaneateles.”
An interesting story that Eggleston got to learn about as he uncovered these things, as he never knew his grandparents came to Skaneateles the night of their
wedding.
The Skaneateles Historical Society has experienced a smooth transition in leadership with DiBagio succeeding Eggleston as the new president.
