In the 1800's a group of immigrants from Germany settled in at the northern end of what is now North Tonawanda.  Many of the men worked for a lumber company:  White, Gratwick, & Mitchell. This was a large lumber company, operating along the Niagara River at approximately the present location of Riverside Chemical's operation now.  These German immigrants called their community Gratwick.

Letter & Notes from Museum Visitors

Correspondance between George W. Cobb, Jr. and the Museum - November 28, 2005:

June 2005

In response to a message from volunteer Museum Director, Donna Zellner Neal asking if she was aware that 147 Christiana Street was the Gombert family home, later owned by Dr. Charles Clendenan:

No, I wasn't aware of that Gombert address.  I will have to check it out.  What time frame would it have been?  It may have been part of Phillipe's family.   Wilma told me that Das Haus was the home of one of his daughters who married a Schimschack and that the house next door was also owned by Gomberts and is known as the Gombert House.

My g-grandfather, John Gombert lived on Geneva St behind the carousel factory then after my  g-grandmother died, he lived on William Street in T.  His brother, August lived in Buffalo with his wife Elizabeth until he died bet 1920-1930. By 1930 Elizabeth, a widow, was in the Erie County Home in Alden.

Wilma also gave me a book of old maps that showed the location of the Gombert farm which would have been on the northwest corner of Niagara Falls Blvd and Wallmore Road.   My g-g grandfather & his brother Philippe Gombert lived side by side there until Chistoph died in 1865 and as far as I can tell Phillipe & Caroline lived on the farm until they died in the early 1900s and the neighbor across the road bought out the farm.  Louise Schlager Gombert, widow of Christoph remarried and buried at least two more husbands, William Bodecker & Charles Beyer.  I've lost track of her after 1880, so assume she died sometime between then and 1900.  I haven't been  able to find her and if she married a 4th time, I'm sunk.  I assume she was buried in Holy Ghost with Christoph, but I would have to find out who holds the cemetery records to be sure.

Carol Hughes at Holy Ghost School gave me a name & phone number of the man she thought would know, but wouldn't you know it, somehow I've managed to lose it in the shuffle.

Speaking of Wilma.  What is her last name?  I would like to send her a thank you note for all her gracious help and opening Das Haus.  I thoroughly enjoyed visiting with her.  She is also a friend of my cousin's sister-in-law Lillian DuBois.  Small world.

Thanks again for all your help.  Without you, I wouldn't have gathered any of this wonderful info.

Hi Donna,
    I had the pleasure of meeting you when I was researching my Gumbert, Schmelling, & Fanclow ancestors who first came to the Tonawandas in the mid-1800s.  You were a great help and I've had much success with further research using the information and direction you gave me.
    I'm pleased to see the museum coming to fruition and would love to volunteer. Unfortunately, I am in WA state.  However, I did find one of the books you are seeking, by Willa K. Baum, "An Oral History for the Local Historical Society."  Please let me know if you still need it and I will be happy to purchase it and donate to the museum.
Sincerely,
Nancy Robinson
Whidbey Island , WA
e-mail dated 4-16-04

Nancy :  Yes, we definitely would like to have that book as we start our oral history planning.  We will be most grateful for the donation.  I'm glad we were able to assist you.  Thank you for your support and interest in North Tonawanda 's history.  We would love to know about your ancestors, if you'd be willing to share any information for our ancestors section of the website.

Good Evening, Donna Neal:

    I wanted to thank you for a wonderful evening last week and the opportunity to learn about your accomplishments and goals for the NT museum. I met so many great people who are assisting you and I see great things in the future of your endeavor.
    I do hope my son Miles who accompanied me that evening will be available to help y'all in any way he can. I am glad to hear that you have a preservation component to your work, and I think that is most important as we cannot replace the lost architecture that is the underpinning of historical efforts. I see such beauty behind the aluminium facades on Webster Street , and we must stop the "vinyling" of Goundry Street and its environs. And certainly, preserved public buildings are a natural habitat of museums..such as yours!
    Best of luck with your efforts, and please let me know how I can assist in the future.
All the best,

John Bernhard Thuersam, CPBD, ASID
Shoreline Design Group, Inc.
Wilmington, NC  28401
www.shorelinedesigngroup.com
Date: 4/23/2004


I am so pleased to hear of a North Tonawanda history museum being formed to collect artifacts and preserve the history of the city for future generations to enjoy. I commend you and the others who have given their time and effort toward this goal and wish you all the best in this project.
    My sisters and I have been slowly gathering family tree information about the Thuersam lineage in the area, what attracted them to NT and the German culture we inherited. I have been saddened to hear of the loss of my church whilst growing up, Friedens, as well as the Tonawanda Library building being torn down. During my visits to the area, I always look at the old brick Niagara Mohawk (I think) building at the corner of East Robinson and Division Street as a beautiful,
irreplaceable, building to preserve. One they are gone, you can never get them back.
    Having been involved in preservation and research projects around the southeast since heading South many years ago, I can attest to the "sense of place" that local history museums provide for residents, especially children. My service for the last 5 years as a Trustee at the Cape Fear Museum has been rewarding and my Chairmanship of the Board last year allowed me to concentrate staff energy on expanded local history exhibits and understanding those who came before us.
    If I may be of assistance in your important efforts in the future, please let me know.
   
With best wishes, I remain,
John Bernhard Thuersam
(NTHS Class of 1966)