13 Historic Ghosts of the Niagara Frontier - October 14, 2005 Gallery

The Board of Trustees of the North Tonawanda History Museum extends its thanks to the Western New York community for its support of our three-week “13 Historic Ghosts of the Niagara Frontier” event in the Haunted Gardens of the North Tonawanda Botanical Gardens on the Eerie Canal, which also included a Haunted Hay Ride and a Haunted Greenhouse.

Special thanks to Ghostlight Theatre, particularly Joanne Mis and Carl Tamburlin, who spent an unbelievable amount of time researching historical ghosts, creating skits, gathering props and costumes, and training the performers, coordinating rehearsals, and setting up the park to become an amazing haunted stage. We are grateful as well to Frank Budwey; Pioneer Printers; the North Tonawanda Auxiliary Police; the North Tonawanda Department of Youth, Recreation, Parks, & Senior Services; the North Tonawanda Department of Public Works; Hartland Carriages; and the hundreds of volunteers who helped create and carryout the event—and Mason Winfield for his inspiration.

We are pleased to report that we had youth groups from North Tonawanda, Wheatfield, Kenmore, the Town of Tonawanda, the City of Tonawanda, and Amherst; individual youth from North Tonawanda, Amherst, Grand Island, Kenmore, the City of Tonawanda, the Town of Tonawanda,, Lancaster, and Niagara Falls performing a wide variety of roles both for community service and simply for the enjoyment of volunteering. Over one hundred youngsters participated in some way in the event.

We look forward to it being an annual event. The net proceeds of this year’s event have become part of our capital fund for the future permanent home of the Museum.

Sincerely,
Donna Zellner Neal
Director

This sign was at the entrance to the North Tonawanda Botanical Gardens from October 7 through October 28, resulting in many phone calls for additional information.

Niagara County Girl Scout Cadet Troop 191. Leader:  Helen Getz Co-Leader: Amy Kielaszek Cadet Girls:  Julianne Wilkinson, Sarah Kielaszek, Janelle Franasiak, Amanda Paradowski, Danielle Fuller, & Magean Martin This troop haunted their area of the hayride portion of the event.  The girls created their costumes, gathered or made the props, and created their "haunting actions" as a community service project.  This is the second year this fine group of girls has performed a community service project for the North Tonawanda History Museum.  In 2004, they joined forces with the St. Joseph's Youth Group to create a float for the Canal Fest parade.  See the photo gallery under this Past Events section for Canal Fest 2004.

It was still light out when these photos were taken but the girls had made provision to work in the dark as well.

Preparing for their evening of haunting work.....

The hayride passed by on the road in the foreground.

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