Trustees

We’re passionate about Ballard’s history and culture. We’re an all-volunteer organization that carefully selects projects to celebrate this historic Seattle neighborhood.

The Ballard Historical Society was formed in 1988 with encouragement from the Ballard Centennial Committee in celebration of the Washington State Centennial in 1989. The Society is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization of volunteers committed to the research, preservation and public awareness of Ballard history.

Our repository includes the following:

  • Digital archive of over 1000 Ballard photographs
  • Extensive collection of Ballard memorabilia
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Zachary Nesgoda

President

Zachary Nesgoda, President

Contact Zachary

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Lesli Cook

Vice President and Volunteer Coordinator

Lesli Cook, Vice President

Born about 76 years too late, Lesli Cook has resided in Ballard since 1993. She loves all that is old and is resistant to modern conveniences and technology. She’s passionate about “the way things were.”
Contact Lesli

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Cass O'Callaghan

Treasurer

Cass O’Callaghan, Treasurer

Cass has been a resident of Ballard since 1998 when she and her family moved into a 1913 Craftsman. Her professional experience includes bookkeeping and accounting for various non-profit community organizations.
Contact Cass

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Peggy Sturdivant

Secretary

Peggy Sturdivant, Secretary

Peggy Sturdivant has called Ballard home since 1988. For ten years she wrote “At Large in Ballard” for the Ballard News-Tribune. Founder of Ballard Writers Collective and curator of “It’s About Time Writers’ Reading Series” at the Ballard Branch Library, she cannot resist finding ways to connect everyone in Ballard with its history, or its present.
Contact Peggy

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David Guthrie

Membership

David Guthrie, Membership

David M. Guthrie, a long time resident of Seattle, has a deep connection to Ballard.  His father owned a business at the end of Market Street, and he would work in his factory while he was in high school.  Later, he would move to Ballard with his wife Cheri, and raise their two daughters.  Over the last 25 years, He has meticulously restored his 1910 home in Ballard and continues to promote restoration efforts whenever possible.  He previously served on the board of Allied Arts of Seattle and The Pike Place Market Historical Commission
Contact David

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Mari Pantaleo

At-Large & Archivist

Mari Pantaleo, At-Large Trustee and Archivist

Contact Mari

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Mary Schile

President Emeritus

Mary Schile, President Emeritus

Mary Schile has enjoyed living in Ballard since 1994. A UW graduate, she found her true calling as a Remax Real Estate agent in 2003. She has restored two brick homes in Ballard, one from 1940 and another from 1927. She also is active with the Jr. League of Seattle, the Washington Talking Book and Braille Library and the Salmon Bay Eagle’s Club.