North Tonawanda Football Hall of Fame
240-½ Goundry Street
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The first honorees in the NT Football Hall of Fame. |
Behind the Carnegie Art Center is the NT Football Hall of Fame, this building is the former home of Mack Casey. The Hall of Fame tells the history of the football rivalry of the Twin Cities which began in 1893 when Professor Frank Beardsley succeeded in organizing a high school eleven in
North Tonawanda. Makeshift uniforms were used on a makeshift field but sufficient interest was aroused to warrant a continuation of the game the following year. The first meeting of Tonawanda and North Tonawanda football teams was in 1896, with North Tonawanda winning 34-0.
Few people today remember that the “Little House” was formerly the caretaker’s home for the old
Goundry Street School. The School was located where the vacant lot is now to the west of the Carnegie Art Center building. Following a period when the Goundry School building was used as the offices of the Board of Education, the building was demolished. The City’s library was located in Goundry School until 1904 when the Carnegie Library opened.
Letters & Comments from Museum Visitors
From: Sara Burkholder - 06/02/06
I just discovered your great site. In reading the history of Goundry St. it mentioned that Mack Casey lived behind the library. Mack Casey was my great great grandfather. I always thought that he lived on Sweeney St. So I am wondering if you can tell me what street he would have lived on if it were behind the library.
Also in the article it mentioned a Max Highland who drove the girls to a skating site. I believe the last name should be Hyland. I believe that this Max is the grandson of Mack Casey. His father was a chauffeur.
My great grandmother, Elizabeth, was the daughter of Mack Casey. She married John H. Holler Jr. Their daughter, Sarah Margaret Holler was my grandmother
I taught for two years in North Tonawanda at the Grant St. school. At the time I was not interested in family history. So many opportunities were missed to do up close and personal research. I now live in Anchorage, AK and so get back only once in a while to do on the scene searching.
Thanks for a great site. I have bookmarked it for future use...
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