New BCHS Director Offers History Group a 'Fresh Perspective'

The Blair County Historical Society has welcomed its new executive director to its team.

Dustin Smith, an Altoona native, said that he is looking forward to bringing a “fresh perspective” to the organization while putting an emphasis on the community in the county, including the Cove.

After he graduated from Bishop Guilfoyle High School, he went on to Penn State Altoona to initially pursue a degree in mechanical engineering, but soon realized it was not for him. Assistant history Professor Jared Frederick talked to him about the history program at the university.

“He seems to be the number-one converter in the history program,” Smith said.

One meeting was all it took to convince him.

“Jared pretty much sold me on the history program — it was a viable career plan and I knew it was for me,” Smith said.

After receiving a bachelor’s degree from Penn State in December 2020, Smith earned a master’s degree in 2023.

Smith also worked with the Hummelstown Historical Society. In November of the same year, he found out there was an opening for the executive director job at the BCHS.

“It kind of took me aback.It is a big title,” Smith said.

He interviewed for the position in December, and then got an offer. Once Smith accepted the offer, he started on Feb. 1, transitioning into the role previously held by Kate Rimbeck.

He said what made the transition easier was the board of directors and Rimbeck, who had built a solid base.

“They have equipped me with the tools and knowledge to succeed here,” Smith said.

Julia Plummer Schokker, treasurer for BCHS, said that the organization is “thrilled” to welcome Smith to the team.

“He has a strong background and brings a much younger generation to BCHS. His vision is new and fresh,” she said.

Schokker said the society has been wanting to do more community outreach in all areas of Blair County, and Smith’s ideas and vision will allow them to do that.

After being in the role for about a month, Smith said that there is a lot to do and there is nothing routine about it.

“You come into the office every day and you have no idea what task you are going to be assigned, who is going to reach out with information, or what events someone might want to plan,” Smith said. “It is really exciting but also challenging, which I enjoy.”

As the executive director, he will be the face of the organization when it comes to community outreach, events coordination, and general public engagement. Smith is also in charge of running operations at Baker Mansion and overseeing volunteers.

Beyond the administrative aspects, he said that he is excited to help teach the citizens of Blair County about forgotten parts of history and also learn about it alongside them.

“We think we have our history figured out — old railroad city, financial hardship in the 1970s — basically an old industrial town,” he said. “There is so much more to this area that I am now discovering.”

Smith said the Baker Mansion is “quite the office space,” and it is interesting to work in a museum and also happens to be where Elias Baker’s family lived.

“It is cool to walk in the same paths as the Baker family did so many years ago. It makes you appreciate history even more,” he said.

Smith stressed the importance of working with other historical entities in the county, including the Railroaders Museum, Blair County Genealogical Society, and local historical societies.

One of the ways he plans to get the community more engaged with county history is through a series of short videos.

“I really want to be community first here, and I want to put it forward to them and find out what they want to know,” Smith said.

He will use Facebook to find out what the community wants to know. Then Smith will use the responses for video topics and will go to places to help people learn more about events, historic sites, places of remembrance, monuments, buildings, or neighborhoods.

An example he had was the Eastern Reservoir Dam in Hollidaysburg where the project was aborted at the last minute.

“I had an individual email me about it and wanted some wider recognition about it,” Smith said.

He said the public’s interest in history is there, they just have to find ways to get the community even more invested in it.