YARMOUTH — The Yarmouth Historical Society is searching for a new executive director.

The society announced Aug. 2 that former Executive Director Amy Aldredge, who held the position since 2014, has taken a new job as the executive director of the Dallas Historical Society in Texas.

Program Director Katie Worthing is filling in as interim executive director until Aldredge’s replacement is hired. Worthing said she’s not interested in the permanent position and won’t be applying for the job.

“I love my current job, so I don’t want to leave it,” she said. “I’m happy to step in and keep things moving smoothly.”

A job posting for the position is available at yarmouthmehistory.org and applications will be accepted until someone is hired. Worthing said the society will begin reviewing applications Aug. 26 and hopes to hire someone by late fall or early winter.

“We’re looking for someone who’s comfortable with fundraising and is passionate about history, particularly local history, and someone who has a vision for the future of the organization,” Worthing said.

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Worthing said the new executive director doesn’t have to be from Yarmouth or be familiar with the town’s history, but must be excited about learning local lore.

An important aspect of the position, Worthing said, is planning for the society’s future. Maintaining the past while engaging current and future residents can be a challenge, but Worthing said it can be done through programming, collaboration, and interactive exhibits.

“We want someone with that kind of vision and ideas for how this space can best be used to serve the community,” she said.

The historical society has been at 118 East Elm St., across from Royal River Park, for almost four years, and, Worthing said, “There’s so much we can do with the space.”

Aldredge, who held many positions at the society, will be greatly missed, Worthing said. The former executive director started as a volunteer, then became a member of the board before she was hired as the program director in 2011.

“She was involved for a very long time and dedicated herself to the organization,” Worthing said.

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Aldredge “was good at getting a variety of people to come” to the society, Worthing said, and had many other qualities that made her a good executive director.

“She really knew her local history and we’re going to miss that,” Worthing said. “She was a great source for research and loved chatting with seniors and getting information from them.”

Although most of Worthing’s responsibilities as interim executive director will involve hiring someone new, she is also working on a tour of local historic homes. The event is scheduled for Sept. 17 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased online, at the history center, or by calling 846-6259. The tour will take people into seven historic homes built between the mid-19th and mid-20th centuries.

“Yarmouth has so many historic houses and structures and this gives people a chance to get into them,” Worthing said.

Tours are a way to immerse people in history and get more people interested in the organization, Worthing said. The history center has seen more than 16,000 visitors at its new location since January 2013, with 8,000 people visiting during the society’s last fiscal year alone.

The hope, Worthing said, is for the new executive director to keep increasing the number of visitors.

Kate Gardner can be reached at 781-3661 ext. 125 or kgardner@theforecaster.net. Follow her on Twitter: @katevgardner.

The Yarmouth Historical Society, at 118 East Elm St., is searching for its next executive director following the resignation of Amy Aldredge.


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