Contact:

Berrien County Historical Association
P.O. Box 261
Berrien Springs, MI 49103

Tele: (269) 471-1202

BCHA Executive Director Leo Goodsell Accepts Westville Village Directorship

Leo J. Goodsell steps down as executive director of the Berrien County Historical Association effective December 31, 2005. He will assume his new position as executive director of Westville Village, Lumpkin, Georgia, in January 2006. Leo has been the director of the Berrien County Historical Association since February 2000.

“He has been successful in bringing the Association to its present high stature in the community,” said Tom Kimmel, association board chairman. “Through his hard work he improved the Association’s ability to offer programs and services throughout the county, as well as provide guidance to move the organization toward a major fund drive and site restoration.”

“I leave with mixed feelings as this is a great professional opportunity, but I will miss friends and colleagues I have here in Michigan. My experience as director of the Berrien County Historical Association has been great and rewarding. We have done many creative programs, activities, and exhibits. I am proud to have been a part of this and am confident of the Association’s future successes,” said Leo Goodsell as he reflected upon his nearly six years with the organization. His new site, Westville Village, interprets rural Georgian life during the 1850s through interpreters, demonstrators, and artisans. The 80-acre village site has nearly 40 pre-Civil War buildings with a courthouse as a central feature of the village. President Jimmy Carter’s great-grandfather served as clerk in the historic courthouse on the property. As a former board member, Pres. Carter remains connected with the historic site.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for Leo,” Kimmel said. “Westville is a much larger institution than the BCHA. Leo will manage a staff of 20 and a budget of $700,000. The Westville Village enjoys statewide financial and other support throughout Georgia. Leo has helped to move the BCHA forward as a professional and well-respected organization. His moving to a larger institution is a credit to his leadership abilities and to this organization as it benefited from his management for these past several years. He will be missed and we wish him well in his future endeavors as he takes the reins of a major institution in southwest Georgia.”

Daniel R. Stice was appointed as interim director at the Association’s October 25 meeting of the board of trustees until a permanent replacement for Leo Goodsell has been selected. Dan will provide for a seamless transition and already has assumed the duties as interim director and will lead the BCHA through its future growth and development, to include a major site restoration.

Stice earned a B.S. from Western Michigan University and retired from full time service with the US Army Reserve as a Lt. Col. He owned and operated Historic House Antiques for thirteen years.

“He has been very involved with the planning of the 1839 Courthouse Museum complex restoration project from its earliest phases and has a thorough knowledge of the organization. He has completed two terms on the board of trustees with the last two years as chair. Dan’s proven leadership skills within the organization and his deep involvement with the project makes his appointment ideal,” Kimmel emphasized.

As a lifelong resident of Berrien County with early Berrien County pioneer heritage, I am totally committed to this organization and will work diligently to ensure a smooth transition, as well as success of the up and coming restoration project,” Stice said. “This site holds special meaning to me as my wife and I were married in the historic courthouse standing in the same room as my great-great-great-great-grandfather when he married his wife.”

Stice was born and raised in Benton Harbor and now resides outside of Eau Claire.

The Berrien County Historical Association’s 1839 Courthouse Complex is located at 313 N. Cass Street (old US 31), in Berrien Springs, Michigan. It is the site of the Historic county seat and comprises the 1839 Courthouse, 1870s Sheriff’s Residence, 1830 Murdock Log House, Bennett’s Forge and 1870 Jail Plaza. For more information call (269) 471-1202.

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