Long-time volunteer hired as executive director at Niagara County Historical Society

Thomas Tedesco, Lockport Union-Sun & Journal, N.Y.
·2 min read

Oct. 13—A familiar set of helping hands will be taking the reins as executive director at the Niagara County Historical Society.

Becky Pittler described NCHS as her "second home" over the years. She has been a frequent volunteer with the organization for nearly 40 years, during which time she was responsible for coordinating exhibits at the Historical Society's Col. William Bond — Jesse Hawley House, 143 Ontario St., and outfitting the house with its Victorian Christmas decorations each year.

"(It started with) decorating one room at Christmas, then one floor, then 20 years ago, it turned into the whole house," Pittler said.

Pittler, a Pendleton native, worked as a registered health information administrator for Elderwood, formerly Odd Fellow & Rebekah senior care, for more than 30 years. She has a degree in medical record administration from Daemen (College).

Pittler noted the similarities of handling precious documents in two very different work fields.

"I've always had a passion to store records, protect them and keep them safe. So it's kind of right in the same line to deal with all the issues of storing them and making sure that they're preserved," Pittler said.

At Elderwood, whether the request was for information on the original home that was located across from Reid's Drive-In, or educational programs for the senior residents, history always seemed to have a role in Pittler's work there.

"Anybody who wanted to do any kind of family research to find out if somebody passed away at the old home or the new home, I would help them try to find information," Pittler said. "I also was like the Odd Fellows historian for the home," she said.

At the historical society, Pittler is succeeding Melissa Dunlap, who was at the helm of NCHS for over 30 years.

Assistant director Ann Marie Linnabery said she and her peers at NCHS are happy to work with someone who has a lot familiarity with the organization.

"That's a big plus. We knew Becky before, so it wasn't like a completely new person coming in," Linaberry said.

In her new post, Pittler said she is most looking forward to continuing to showcase the history of the place she calls home.

"There's a lot of history in Niagara County, and we want to make sure it continues for future generations for the people that are inside and outside of the community."