North Tonawanda History Museum © Collections - Our Business/Industrial Heritage

Collections - Our Business/Industrial Heritage

The focus of this section of the Museum will be on the Industrial Heritage of our City. Stay tuned for regular additions as we continue our catologuing of the actual Museum collections.

The North Tonawanda History Museum has received word from Heritage Preservation: The National Institute for Conservation, in Washington, D.C. that the Museum has been determined eligible for the 2006 Conservation Assessment Program (CAP). The Museum will be allocated $6,540 to hire a professional conservator to assess the Museum's collections and a preservation architect to assess the facilities for the future Museum home. Assessors will meet with Museum staff and volunteers, as well as with members of the Board of Trustees, so that everyone will play a part in the CAP assessment and will be invested in carrying out the assessor's recommendations. The Museum will need to match the grant with $610.

Heritage Preservation’s Conservation Assessment Program is supported through a cooperative agreement with the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is an independent federal grant-making agency dedicated to creating and sustaining a nation of learners by helping libraries and museums serve their communities.

From: C. D. Leslie - April 4, 2006

I'm wondering what became of the original Wurlitzer Organ that was in the Aztec Theater in San Antonio, Texas. It has been replaced, but what became of the original?

Thanks,
CDL

From: Delphine Blachowicz Herbert - Ocala, Florida, July 1, 2005

In shifting through papers I brought from the old house, I found a 1961 Fire Prevention Manual which includes my brother, Albert Richard Blachowicz's photo on page 44, along with others who were members of the Paid Firemen's Association at that time. Also enclosed is a page from the May 29, 1961, Tonawanda News in which my brother's photo appears.

While at the museum, I was very pleased to learn that Albert had the highest score on the fire department's employment examination according to the gentleman who apparently is a member of your board. Albert left the department in order to pursue various entrepreneurial endeavors, the most successful of which was publication of a book called "Vital Survival Information."

I am grateful that you and others are building a worthy testament to the history of a wonderful town. My father, especially, was very well known and respected throughout the community. Thank you for your generosity in helping to perpetuate the memory of my parents and of my brother.

I look forward to seeing the progress of your efforts when next I return. Meanwhile, please accept this modest financial contribution.

Both my father and I worked at Tonawanda Iron, he in the 50's and again in the 60's and 70's me in the early 70's.

From: E-Mail from Douglas Taylor - February 2004:

    Since you are researching NT businesses and already have an Auto-Wheel Coaster sled, I'll pass along a tip on another forgotten firm.

    The company was called the Tonawanda Magneto Company, located somewhere on Schenck St. I was at the Thousand Islands Shipyard Museum at Clayton , NY back in the late 70's, and came across a Sterling Engine, built in Buffalo circa 1920. This was a fair sized marine engine that was once a very well known brand. While looking the engine over I noticed a brass plaque on the magneto labeled with the Tonawanda Magneto name and address.

     I'll also see if I've got any old Wales-Strippit catalogs from the early 1950's in my Dad's archives. The old Strippit plant is still in use on Payne Ave.

Sincerely,
Doug Taylor

Crown Agency - 31 Webster Street - Established in 1890

Pioneer Printers, Inc.- 1087 Erie Avenue - Established in early 1900's
as Maerten Printing on Pierce Avenue by Leroy Maerten; purchased by Paul Hoover and operated as P&M Printing, then became Pioneer Printers, Inc. in 1961.

William C. Wittkowsky, Master of Photography - 483 Roncroff Drive - Established in 1907
Originally located on Oliver Street

Thiele's, Inc. - 7485 Shawnee Road, Wheatfield - Established in 1918
in Martinsville section of North Tonawanda. Originally was Thiele Coal & Fuel.

Overhead Door Company of North Tonawanda - 778 Oliver Street - Established in 1921
now known as Ridge Overhead Door

Walker Bros. & Monroe Jewelers- 84 Webster Street - Established in 1925

Kudla's Collision, Inc. 748 Oliver Street - Established in 1935
Since 1935, when founder Edward Kudla opened up his business in North Tonawanda , Kudla's Collision has been providing a quality auto body repair shop that relies on satisfying its customers. Kudla's has continued to tend to the needs of the community from the 60's to the present under the leadership of Paul Kudla. Kudla's is now operated by a third generation of Kudlas. Roseann Kudla-Kelly, Paul's daughter, serves as President. Kevin Kelly is Shop Manager.

Brick, Brick, & Elmer - 91 Tremont Street - Established in 1938

Platter's Chocolates - 954 Oliver Street - Estabished in 1938
The business started in a basement on East Felton Street.

Saber Funeral Home - 549 Oliver Street - Established in the 1940's
after WWII ended

Brunner Funeral Home - 156 Robinson Street - Established in 1947

Fretthold Funeral Home - 1241 Oliver Street - Established in 1947
Established by Carl E. Fretthold, Sr., who died in 2003

Battenfeld Grease & Oil Corp.- 1174 Erie Avenue - Established in 1948
Located in a building which used to be a railroad train station.

Mid-City Plaza - Payne Avenue at Meadow Drive - opened for business in 1951
as Payne Avenue Plaza. Originally had ten stores.

Gunta's Cleaners - 1482 Payne Avenue - Established in 1954
The business first started on Schenck Street , then moved to Ward Road. Mr. Gunta's wife is a McCarthy of the McCarthy's Market which operated on Oliver Street. for 75 years.

Bush Trucking and Landscaping, Inc., - 1144 Sweeney Street - Established in 1956
by Bill Bush. They do bulldozing & backhoe, snow plowing & removal.

Soos' Oliver Street Café - 300 Oliver Street - Established in 1957
Larry Soos established originally as Soos' Grill, and it became Soos' Oliver Street Café in 1980

Graf Land Surveyors, - 163 Robinson Street - Established in 1958
Moved from 1333 Strad Avenue to 163 Robinson Street building in 2005. Successor to W. L. Sparks, P.L.S

Accu-Die - now Synergy Tooling System - Established in 1960
at 926 Nash Road in a basement shop by Albert Quinlan. Originally was A. J. Quinlan, Inc. Moved to 124 Ward Road , next door to Gratwick Hose. Moved in 1986 to 836 Wurlitzer Drive. Sold to Synergy Tooling Systems in November 2003. Office is in Amherst now but production facility still in North Tonawanda at 836 Wurlitzer Drive.

Matt's Music Store - 937 Oliver Street - Established in 1963
by Matthew Piorkowski, a local musician who in his youth appeared on the Lawrence Welk show (which can be seen in our Polish Heritage – Polish Music section HERE).

Armstrong Pumps - 93 East Avenue - Established in 1965

Miranto Machinery Corp. - 1128 Oliver Street - Established in 1971
In 1971 Joseph Miranto started his company, a manufacturers' representative company, on Webster Street in North Tonawanda. He continues to serve as president with the office now on Oliver and Allen Streets.

Paperback Swap 'n Shop - 85 Webster Street. Established in May 1974
This half-price bookstore is a wonderful way to enjoy reading at a fraction of the cost that most people in other areas pay. They keep a large selection of books, over 40,000 from which to choose. Trade in gently read paperback books to save 75% off the cover price.

Patco Motors - 426 Oliver Stret - Established in 1976
by Pat Skill

Colucci Funeral Home - 652 Oliver Street - Established in 1977

Barb's Sweet Treats and Jack's Trains - 238 Oliver Street - Established February 14, 1983
Barb Wickman (can be seen HERE presenting a sled to the Museum in 2004) previously ran a candy business from her home. When she opened the store on Oliver Street , her husband took half the store for his train business; Barb continues to run both.

Lauranda's Bake Shop - 18 Webster Street - Established in July 1991
by Ken & Laurie Golding, the shop was named after Ken & Laurie's two daughters Lauren & Maranda (poor Kory wasn't born yet). Offering a full line of old world hand-made baked goods. Lauranda's has been compared to a lot of the Old Bakeries of Days Gone By. Stop by and try some homemade goodness (you'll swear we have your grandmother's recipe book). A Ward Road location was destroyed by fire in 2004.

Partners in Art Studio - 83 Webster Street - Established in 1995
in the original Tonawanda News building. In the Partners in Art Complex there is "The Frame Shop" with custom framing, gallery, Classes and Workshops and Art Supplies.

Hodgepodge - 72 Webster Street - Established originally at 510 Oliver Street on February 1, 1996
Hodgepodge opened a second location at 16 Webster St. on July 13, 2001. Both locations were combined into 72 Webster St. by August 1, 2002. Co-owners and managers are Kay Learned and Penny Creasy. Hodgepodge has North Tonawanda souvenirs: sweatshirts, T-shirts, old photos, postcards, pottery with " North Tonawanda " on it, framed prints that say, "There's No Place Like the Tonawandas" with historical buildings of North Tonawanda in them, created by Kat Learned. A café was added in May 2004.

Greater Buffalo Savings Bank - 107 Main Street - Established on 9/11/2001
the opening ceremonies were delayed because of the terrorist attacks on our country on 9/11/2001.