Waterbury’s Jane and Paul Willard are recognized for years of historical society service

June 12, 2025  |  By Cheryl Casey  |  Correspondent

Jane and Pail Willard were honored with the Achievement Award for Extended Service by the Vermont Historical Society’s League of Local Historical Societies and Museums at its annual conference in May. Photo by Joe Camaratta

Two Waterbury residents were honored with the Achievement Award for Extended Service by the Vermont Historical Society’s League of Local Historical Societies and Museums at its recent 71st Annual Conference.

Jane and Paul Willard were nominated by the Waterbury Historical Society’s Board of Directors for their decades of service to the society, including roles on the board, committee membership, fundraising efforts, outreach initiatives, and book publications.

“We are appreciative of those in our historical society who felt us deserving of this acknowledgement and who made the effort to nominate us,” the couple said in a statement to the Roundabout. 

When they learned of the award, they said they were “surprised, humbled and honored.”

“We have always respected and appreciated the fine work that the Vermont Historical Society provides to local historical societies,” they said.

Jan Albers, president of the Vermont Historical Society’s Board of Trustees, presented the award, noting a long list of contributions and accomplishments by the Willards. 

“Paul served for 30 years as the society's treasurer and during that time he applied excellent financial wisdom that has allowed the society to have funds to hire part-time staff. Paul also came to manage the membership list, the society's various communication channels, and ensured the society had a presence in the digital world by setting up and managing their first website,“ among other tasks, Albers summarized.

Jane Willard’s involvement over the years included organizing programs and presentations for audiences ranging from elementary school students to senior citizens, Albers noted.

”Jane focused on innovating strategies and developing relationships that brought Waterbury's story into the community,” Albers said. “Jane's deep passion for preserving and sharing history led to her spearheading important projects such as the recording of oral histories of WWII and Korean War veterans, and the production of the book, ‘A New Century in Waterbury, Vermont: Stories of Resilience, Growth, and Community,’ published in 2022, which documented Waterbury life in the first two decades of the 21st century.”

Jane admitted that she is most proud of her work on the society’s recent book, noting that its format was modeled after the “History of Waterbury, Vermont 1915-1991.” She shared that her parents and uncle helped write “the blue book,” as the society’s members refer to the blue hardcover tome chronicling life in Waterbury during much of the 20th century.  

After acknowledging the different roles Jane and Paul played in the society over the decades, Albers then recognized their efforts as a team. Most notably, they advocated for the historical society to retain its space in the historic Janes building when the new municipal complex was constructed on that site after Tropical Storm Irene forced the town to build new town offices. The municipal building project added offices and a new library to what was previously a much smaller Waterbury Public Library housed in the historic home of Civil War surgeon Dr. Henry Janes. The home portion of the complex today is the Waterbury History Center, containing the historical society’s collection.   

Waterbury Historical Society members Paul and Jane Willard with Jan Albers, president of the Vermont Historical Society Board of Trustees at the May conference. Photo by Joe Cameratta

”Together, Jane and Paul mobilized in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Irene…[and] safeguarded the society's collection, consulted with the Town for the layout of the new History Center, documented key phases of construction along the way, and threw their energies into the society's capital campaign to raise money for the History Center renovations,” recounted Albers.

Reflecting on his service to the society, Paul said his “work in helping fundraise for our new History Center, through the capital campaign initiative, set the WHS up for all kinds of new possibilities. Many of these possibilities have been actualized and make me proud.”

Albers said the judges who chose the Willards for the honor were impressed “by the sheer breadth and depth of work the Willards have done over time.” The judges pointed out the Willards’ work on digital initiatives and their efforts to add more contemporary history items to the society’s collection.

The Willards said their intentions were always more modest. “Our primary motivation to serve in several roles in our local society is based on our love of our community and our interest in history,” they said.

In 2018, the Vermont Historical Society’s League of Local Historical Societies and Museums presented its annual Achievement Award for Extended Service to two other Waterbury residents, Betty and Bob Jones.

The league was founded in 1953 by the Vermont Historical Society to support local historical societies, cultural organizations, and museums throughout the state. It offers workshops and webinars throughout the year on topics such as collections care, strategic planning, community engagement, and exhibit curating. The organization’s annual conference, held at a different historic location each year, is funded in part by the Walter Cerf Community Fund. 

This year’s event was held on May 9 at the Middlebury Inn in Middlebury.

Cheryl Casey is president of the Waterbury Historical Society.