Who We Are

Our Mission

The purpose of the Piedmont Historical Society is to encourage interest and increase knowledge of Piedmont's unique local history, to publish material of historical interest, to produce exhibits and events and to collect material of historical importance to the city.

Officers of the Piedmont Historical Society

President		Ralph Marinelly
Vice President		Shirley Price
Recording Secretary		Marlene Bottano
Corresponding Secretary		Elaine Oldham
Treasurer		Gail Lombardi
Parliamentarian		Tim Abel
Newsletter Editor		Gail Lombardi
Newsletter Co-Editor		Stafford Buckley
Director		Alice Erskine
Director		Paul Manolis
City Liaison		Ann Swift

In the Beginning...

In January, 1972, a small group of dedicated historians proposed the formation of an historical society for Piedmont. Mrs. Harmon Bell presented the plan to Mayor Arthur Flegal and the City Council, and a town meeting was scheduled to determine community interest in an historical society. The Society's Formation Committee gathered a small collection of historical artifacts and displayed them in the Octagon Room at the Recreation Center. The display and the town meeting which followed on April 12, 1972, were a success. Piedmonters showed a great deal of interest in an historical society, and the Piedmont Historical Society was formed. Nine Board of Directors were nominated, and the first Membership Meeting was held at the Hugh Craig home at 55 Craig Avenue on September 10, 1972. The first Directors of the Piedmont Historical Society were the following:

Mrs. Bradley Rutledge, President

Mrs. Winslow W. Hall, 1st Vice President

Mrs. Stanley B. Price, 2nd Vice President

Mrs. Arthur R. Flegal, Secretary

Raymond D. Harper Jr., later Randall W. Harper, Treasurer

Carleton F. Bryan Jr., Director at Large

William G. Henshaw, Director at Large

Donald F. Doward, Director at Large

R. James Nutting, Jr, Director at Large

The Piedmont Recreation Department donated space in the Octagon Room for the Society's permanent display of Piedmont's memorabilia, and the Society is extremely grateful for the Department's generosity. The History Room is open to the public on the second Wednesday and fourth Friday of the month from 2:00 to 4:00 pm.

Many of the Founding Members of the Historical Society who joined in 1972 are members today. We thank them for their long-time support. A year later, the Society's newsletter announced the membership at 492. Since that time, the Historical Society has continued to collect memorabilia on Piedmont's history, maintain the History Room in the Recreation Center and hold an Annual Meeting.

Under City Clerk and Historian Ann Swift's research and creativity, the Historical Society presented major public historical exhibits: The Highlands of Piedmont, the story of Isaac Requa and his family (1997), Bubbling Springs and Bushy Dells, the history of Piedmont Springs Park (1998), and the Ghirardelli Connection, the Ghirardelli families in Piedmont (2002).

The Society currently publishes its newsletter, The Attic Trunk, twice a year, sharing short, interesting tales of Piedmont's history with its members.