Mr. Barshied was an accomplished historical preservationist. From a very early age, he was engaged in collecting, preserving, restoring, and stewarding all forms of Mohawk Valley heritage—artifacts, sites, stories, and people. He was one of the founders and first president of a group that dedicated itself to the preservation of Fort Klock near St. Johnsville in 1954. Fort Klock and its surrounding complex are now one of the very few national landmarks in Montgomery County. He participated in the restoration of the Windfall Dutch Barn at Salt Springville and was the first chairman of the Trustees of Salt Springville Community Restoration. He restored the Conrad Kilts Farm at Stone Arabia, which includes a Dutch barn, circa 1790 Greek Revival house, a summer kitchen, a relocated 18th-century house, and a relocated building used as a shoe shop. Many of those with an interest in the past and the area were proud to have been given personal tours of the beloved property.

Willis was a strong participant and leader in many important Mohawk Valley organizations. He was one of the founders of the Stone Arabia Preservation Society as well as a Trustee of Canajoharie Library and art gallery. He spent many years helping the Young Pioneer Program at Fort Klock. He was a supporter and friend of the Stone Arabia Amish community. Many of his tools can be seen in the hands of this community today. He was an active part of the Town of Palatine citizenry and often informed the town board on rulings and events of the recent (and distant) past. In 2008, Mr. Barshied received the 2008 Liberty Bell Award from the Montgomery County Bar Association and the National Historic Preservation Medal from the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Skip’s collecting often focused on the families of Stone Arabia. His collections have been important for many in genealogy searches and those looking to learn more about the Palatine region of New York. Throughout his years, he authored various newspaper articles and historical narratives. He was the author of the book “Shoes for John,” the story of a Stone Arabia boy in the time of the American Revolution. Over the past few years, many of his unique historical tools and artifacts have had a weekly presence in the paper under the title of “Whatchamacallits.” 

His wife of 58 years, Ethel Nellis Barshied, predeceased him on November 10, 2006. His brother Robert and sister-in-law Penny also predeceased him. Mr. Barshied is survived by his son Andy and daughter-in-law Maureen, who reside in Averill Park, NY. He has four wonderful grandchildren: Ben (and Claire) Barshied, of New York, NY; Matthew (and Lauren) Barshied of Ross, CA; Gregory (and Alexandra) Barshied of Grand Rapids, MI; and Kristen (and Tim) Sheehan of Pleasant Valley, NY. His nephew Scott Barshied resides in Mechanicsville. At the time of his death, there are 12 children that called him Great-Grandpapa.