Jesse Schust is stepping up as Andover Historical Society president as Pat Cutter steps down. Photo: Helen Wickham

Jesse Schust, a Maine native who moved with his family to Andover at age three, will become president of the Andover Historical Society effective January 1.  He succeeds Patricia Cutter, whose presidency has spanned more than a dozen years.

Proposed for the position by the society’s nominating committee and elected by its members, Jesse is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire with a bachelor’s degree in history, and of Imperial College, London, England, with a master’s degree in the history of science and medicine. He is also a graduate of Proctor Academy, where he developed a passion for history.

Currently a sales associate with Belletetes Home Center in Andover and a member of the Andover Conservation Commission, Schust is also part of a musical family and is an occasional member of Lindsey Schust and the Ragged Mountain Band, which is named for his sister and includes his mother and father.

In a brief interview, the Beacon asked Jesse for his thoughts about his new position.

How did you get interested in the Andover Historical Society?

“I lived in New Hampshire until 2000, when I moved to the UK shortly after marrying my British spouse, Helen Wickham. We lived in the UK until 2014, when we moved back to Andover. After living away from the area for so long, I had a lot of interest in learning more about Andover’s history and landscape. Becoming part of the Andover Historical Society felt like a natural fit.

“I find the local history of Andover fascinating — there are so many details and stories that we as Andover residents can play a role in uncovering and preserving, especially through the work of the Historical Society. I feel very excited to be working with such a motivated and knowledgeable group of volunteers.”

What do you think about the current activities of the Andover Historical Society and its role in the community?

“I’m very happy with the way the Historical Society fulfills its mission today. Our annual Old Time Fair is one of the area’s premier public events. And the Potter Place railroad station and general store and our Tucker Mountain Schoolhouse draw visitors from all over the state and beyond. The behind-the-scenes work — answering questions from historical researchers, managing our archives, building our collection of artifacts — is also important and being done well.”

So what new activities might the Historical Society get involved in under a Schust presidency?

“In particular, I have some ideas for organizing events that will bring people of all ages together to share aspects of Andover’s history that are personal to them: objects that they own, or stories from their family, or research they have done. I’d also like to see some arts-related activities which have connections to local history, such as musical concerts, photography exhibits, painting and theatrical performances. Doing these things could highlight aspects of Andover’s cultural heritage that  people may not know much about.”

Any final thoughts?

“For more than a decade, Pat Cutter has shaped the Historical Society into what it is today: a thriving organization with an outstanding group of volunteers engaged at many levels. Pat is an inspiration to all of us at the Historical Society, and we are thrilled that she’ll remain actively involved.”