Educational Programming - Other
Museum Awarded Grant to Produce Brochures for Self-Guided Historical Walking Tours
The North Tonawanda History Museum has been awarded a $5,000 grant from the New York Council for the Humanities, a state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
The grant will enable the Museum to produce two separate self-guided historical walking tour brochures for distribution beginning with the 2006 tourist season. The brochures will be based on the Museum’s experience in presenting 16 weeks of guided Seaway Trail Walks in both 2004 and 2005 and in producing their first Historic Treasures Tour of ten historic homes, five historic churches, and four additional historic sites. Both brochures will incorporate the influence of North Tonawanda’s rich ethnic heritage on the City’s development. The brochures will supplement the Museum’s guided Seaway Trail Walks and the new Haunted History Ghost Walks, which are to begin as part of the Museum’s participation in Canal Fest of the Tonawandas.
The grant will cover the services of Martin Wachadlo, an architectural historian who has previously provided such services for the Historic Treasures Tour, and graphics, design, layout, and printing services of Pioneer Printers.
"North Tonawanda: On the Seaway Trail, one of America's Scenic By-ways."
The North Tonawanda Seaway Trail Walks begin and end at the Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum at 180 Thompson Street on Wednesdays, from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. through September 28, and include two rotating tours, “ North Tonawanda’s Industrial Heritage,” and “ North Tonawanda’s Historic Homes.” Fees for the guided walks are $8 for adults and $4 for children under 12.
The Historic Treasures Tour 2005 is set for Sunday, July 31 by advance sale tickets only, although the Museum has planned a full day of events in historic Pine Woods Park which are open to the general public to supplement the tour.
AREA YOUNGSTERS TO TAKE PART IN HALLOWEEN EVENT
Pre-SaleTickets Now Available for “13 Historic Ghosts of the Niagara Frontier"
The North Tonawanda History Museum, in collaboration with Ghostlight Theatre and Mason Winfield, will present “13 Historic Ghosts of the Niagara Frontier,” in the “ Haunted Gardens on the EEErie Canal ” on three evenings in October, the 14 th, 21 st, and 28 th, from 6 to 8 p.m. each evening. The event will take place in the North Tonawanda Botanical Gardens on Sweeney Street, just north of East Robinson Street.
Area youngsters and their adult group leaders and parents will take an active role in the event, which has been designed as an educational event to afford community service opportunities to area students and volunteer opportunities to students of all ages and to provide Halloween entertainment for residents and visitors to North Tonawanda. It is hoped to become an annual event.
Joanne Mis and Carl Tamburlin of Ghostlight Theatre are coordinating the creation of skits and logistics for the Guided Stroll through the Haunted Gardens. They have researched local historic ghost stories and are creating scripts for the thirteen sites in the stroll through the gardens and will supervise the performances.
Hartland Carriages will provide a “Haunted Hay Ride” and refreshments and gift items will be available for purchase in the “Haunted Greenhouse.” North Tonawanda History Museum volunteers will coordinate ticket sales and the Haunted Hay Ride and Haunted Greenhouse, parking and traffic control, and ticket collection.
Pre-sale tickets are available at the Museum at 314 Oliver Street, and at Hodgepodge, 72 Webster Street. Museum hours are Mondays and Tuesdays 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Thursdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Fridays 9 a.m. to noon. Pre-sale tickets will be available through October 13.
Pre-sale ticket information: Guided stroll through the Haunted Gardens on the EEErie Canal : Adults: $8; children 6 -11: $4; 5 and under – free; Maximum Family Pre-admission: $30. For Museum members, Adults: $6; children – 6 – 11: $3. Maxim Family Pre-admission for Museum members: $25.
Haunted Hay Ride tickets: Adults - $5; children 6 – 11: $3; 5 and under: free.
Refreshments available for purchase in the Haunted Greenhouse will include Budwey’s donuts, Barb’s Sweet Treats cookies, candied apples, popcorn, cider, coffee, and hot chocolate. Mason Winfield Haunted History Ghost Walks shirts, and a special North Tonawanda version, will be available for purchase, along with other interesting items for early Christmas shoppers. Dale Jenks of Hartland Carriages will also be offering fresh pumpkins from his farm during the event.
Mason Winfield, who is also presenting Haunted History Ghost Walks for the North Tonawanda History Museum on Fridays beginning at 7 p.m. from September 16 through October 28, starting at the Museum at 314 Oliver Street, is expected to also be present to meet visitors at the “13 Historic Ghosts of the Niagara Frontier.”
Proceeds from the event will become part of the North Tonawanda History Museum’s “The Future of Our Past” capital fund for the permanent future home of the Museum.
Tickets will be available at the Botanical Gardens as well beginning with the October 14 performances. At the door admission fees will be: Adults: $10; children 6 – 11, $5; 5 and under – free. Maximum family admission: $40. Haunted Hay Ride: Adults - $5; children 6 – 11: $3; 5 and under: free.
Call the Museum at 213-0554 or email at nthistorymuseum@aol.com for additional information.
To view an event flyer, please click here.
North Tonawanda History Museum Participates in Archives Week
The North Tonawanda History Museum is participating in Archives Week, October 9 through 16. The Museum will have part of their photo collection of the industrial heritage of North Tonawanda on display.
Photo collections will include Richardson Boat Company, Bison Shipyard, Buffalo Bolt Company, Taylor Devices, and R. T. Jones Lumber Company.
Archives Week is an annual observance of the importance of archival and historical records of our lives. Over the years, the State Archives, local governments, and other historical institutions in New York State have celebrated Archives Week in a variety of ways.
The Museum, located at 314 Oliver Street in North Tonawanda, will be open Tuesday, October 11 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Thursday, October 13 from 9 a.m. to noon and Friday, October 14 from 9 a.m. to noon.
Museum Participates In State Humanities Month By Presenting “The American Gumbo: Multiculturism In America”
Performers Have Incorporated Many Of The NYS Department Of Education’s Learning Standards Into Their Performance
As part of State Humanities Month, the North Tonawanda History Museum will present a lively and fun-filled concert celebrating the multicultural stew that is America for its 2 nd Annual Ethnic Heritage Night. The program, “The American Gumbo: Multiculturism in America,” will begin at 7 p.m. on Thursday, October 20, in the DeGraff Community Center, 139 Division Street. Parking is available in the rear of the center.
State Humanities Month is a statewide celebration of New York’s historical and cultural riches. State Humanities Month gives New Yorkers an opportunity to explore new ideas and celebrate their common heritage, while calling attention to the state’s unique contributions to the humanities.
The Hill Brothers, armed with a slew of intriguing musical instruments (guitar, jaw harp, banjo, mandolin, dulcimer &/or washtub bass) and a zest for exploring history through music, will perform. They will combine fun songs from Russia, Africa, Ireland, Mexico, and other countries. Adults and children attending the concert will be able to sing along with the entertainers on the songs that are more familiar. The Hill Brothers attempt to have audience participation to celebrate the diversity of cultures in our country, and in our own communities. The performance incorporates many of the New York State Department of Education’s Learning Standards and is ideal for parents who home school as well as individuals and families who enjoy a “different” type of history program!
Students of multicultural and diversity programs, immigration studies, international/world communities, and just lovers of history and music will find the evening entertaining.
The event is free and open to the public. For information, call 213-0554 or email to nthistorymuseum@aol.com.