Welcome to the North Tonawanda History Museum Gift Shop Online!

Museum now accepting Credit Cards.

        

Please visit often. Your purchases help to continue our programming and the continued development of our Museum facilities.

Product images have been reduced in quality online to secure our rights to these items from theft. If you would like to view the full quality images, please visit the Museum at the address below during office hours.

Latest Items Added: 03/17/08

History Museum Book Production Expands

Full-length “North Tonawanda: “The Lumber City”” is in!!!!! 
Advance orders being taken for 3rd Heritage Cookbook to be released for WinterWalk
Early purchase recommended for holiday giving of all Museum publications. Family, individual, business and site histories for next three full-length books sought. Recipes and brief histories sought for 4th Heritage Cookbook.

The North Tonawanda History Museum received the first shipment of its first full-length book on the history of North Tonawanda on September 28 and all pre-purchased copies have been distributed, mailed out or are being held for pick up.   The initial order was sold out before it arrived and a second and third order already received to keep up with the demand.  
“North Tonawanda:  The Lumber City” is a “love story finally told,” the story of so many thousands upon thousands of individuals, organizations, and businesses that were woven together into the entity North Tonawandans so fondly refer to as just “NT” but which is proud to be the City of North Tonawanda.  The book has been described by some area historians who have had advance opportunities to read it as a “monumental first effort,” and a significant contribution to the city of North Tonawanda, its residents and former residents, and area educational institutions. It is a general overall account of the city’s development and shares many stories of the people who were part of the life of the city.

Donna Zellner Neal, Museum Director, is editor of the volume but a number of contributing authors have furnished parts of the text, including A. Daniel Bille, Gretchen Rasch Denk, Allen E. Gademsky, Lloyd Long, Arlene Stocki McNair, Diane M. Meholick, Ken Mountain, Helen Root Schieffer, Harold O. Schwartz, and Ken Sprenger.   Photos included in the book were contributed by many area residents and former residents, including photos from the Wittkowsky Collection.

It is not just a book of photos. About 20% of the volume is photographs. The unique and special history of our city could not be told with photos alone. The book includes eleven parts, with chapters within the parts. Originally intended to be a 325-page book, the length was expanded to 428 pages, plus 10 introductory pages. Because of the expanded length of the hard-cover book, the publisher requires a cover price of $39.95 each and will charge that for books purchased directly from the publisher and those sold through book stores around the world, for which they will pay royalties to the Museum.

The Museum, however, will be stocking and selling the books directly and will sell them for $34.95 each.   For a donation of $38.95, a copy of the book will be mailed anywhere in the United States. Foreign shipment is additional.

Because so many have already been purchased, those wishing to have copies for holiday giving this year are encouraged to come in soon to guarantee that a copy or appropriate number of copies will be available if they are meant for holiday giving.

The book is published by Trafford Publishing, which has offices in the United States; Victoria, British Columbia; and in Europe and the United Kingdom. The book will be distributed throughout North America, the United Kingdom and Europe by the publisher and will be available at major book store retailers at the $39.95 price. It will be distributed directly by the North Tonawanda History Museum at the $34.95 price to all countries of the world through its North Tonawanda History Museum Online Gift Shop at www.nthistorymuseum.org. Quantity pricing for schools is available through the Museum.

The Museum will also be releasing its third in the Heritage Cookbook Series, “North Tonawanda Sweet Treasures” at its two gift table locations during WinterWalk on December 1. The cookbook contains 159 recipes and notes about the individuals and families contributing them. Advance orders are being accepted for that also. The new cookbook will sell for $15. The first two cookbooks in the series, “North Tonawanda Ethnic Heritage Cookbook” ($7) and “North Tonawanda Families & Their Favorite Recipes ($11) are available in the Museum as well or from the On-line Gift Shop. All Museum publications are available at most Museum events as well and will be available at the December 8 (2 p.m. ) “Forgotten Holidays” program on Dutch Christmas traditions at Sutherland Lodge (1400 Ruie Road). Cookbooks will be mailed anywhere in the United States for $4 each. Foreign shipment is additional.

 The “Forgotten Holidays” program (December 8 at 2 p.m. at Sutherland Lodge, 1400 Ruie Road) will  explain the practices brought here by Dutch settlers in the 17th century that had a lasting impact on American life. The program will include the changes that took place, not only in the present day celebration of Christmas, but also in the festivities surrounding New Year’s, Pinkster (which became an African American holiday) and other events that are cause for celebration, such as the birth of a child. Slides illustrating the various festive occasions are part of the lecture. This program will also be presented by Peter G. Rose. One of the earliest Holland Land purchases of what is now North Tonawanda was made by Dutch William Vandervoort.

Recipes and brief notes on family or individual history from the recipe sources are being accepted for the Museum’s fourth heritage cookbook, expected to be released in time for Valentine’s Day 2008. “Chilly Days in North Tonawanda” will focus on chili, soups, stews, and hearty “winter” meals, but recipes of all kinds will be accepted.

The second in the series, “North Tonawanda Families & Their Favorite Recipes,” with 174 recipes, sells for $11 including sales tax.    Include $4 for shipping and handling per cookbook. Recipes, along with historical notes on individuals, families, and businesses are from a wonderful cross section of North Tonawanda, including workers and owners in businesses on Oliver Street, Payne Avenue, and Webster Street. “Even gentlemen have joined in to have their favorite recipes included,” notes Museum Director Donna Zellner Neal. The second cookbook is dedicated to Barbara Wickman, described in the dedication at “the heart of the Museum” for her volunteer efforts on behalf of the Museum in its first three years.

The Museum’s first book in the series, “North Tonawanda Ethnic Heritage Cookbook”, which was first released for sale on January 6, 2005, has been reprinted four times since. Orders have come in from all over the country, and as far away as Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates for the first cookbook.   The unique cookbook contains 115 recipes, with a variety of ethnic flavoring, each including a historical note about the family or individuals contributing or originating the recipe. A brief history of North Tonawanda is included as well. The cookbook is dedicated to Ken Mountain, a 1958 graduate of North Tonawanda High School, who is a Charter member of the new Museum and a researcher/writer for the Museum. He is credited as having suggested the cookbook project. He is now a resident of Texas. Cynthia Fredricks coordinated the creation and compilation of first the cookbook. This first cookbook is still available at the Museum offices at 314 Oliver Street, or by mail for $7 each, including tax.   Include $4 for shipping and handling for each cookbook for mail orders. The Museum also accepts Master Card and Visa.

Barbara Wickman is Heritage Cookbook Committee Chair. Danielle Oney is typing coordinator for the fourth cookbook and is credited with selecting the name for the new book. Oney worked on producing the second and third cookbooks also.  
Call 213-0554 for further information. Orders may be phoned in with Master Card of Visa information.   Submit new recipes or checks for orders to the Museum at 314 Oliver Street. Because the first cookbook sold out so quickly in the first printing and the second one has already resulted in significant advance orders, and advance orders have already come in for the third one, early ordering is suggested for the cookbook to be released in December.

Museum representatives also encourage residents and family residents to dig out the family and individual historical photos and records and all historical material they have collected on the history of North Tonawanda. If you prefer not to donate your originals, Museum volunteers will copy and scan them and return them safely to the owners. The materials will be used in completing the next three full-length books. Museum researchers are already gathering additional materials and working to fine tune facts for future volumes. Museum Director Donna Zellner Neal has already begun drafting all three.

“North Tonawanda:  Historic Treasures” will focus on buildings, homes, and other sites in the city. A 2009 release date is anticipated. “North Tonawanda:  Its People” will focus on the stories of the people who have lived in or were born in North Tonawanda and their accomplishments. A 2010 release date is anticipated. “North Tonawanda:  Lumber Capital of the World & Industrial Center” will focus on the businesses and industry of North Tonawanda.  A 2011 release date is anticipated.

Patron sponsorships for the publication of these three books will be accepted as they were for the first full-length book.   For $100, a patron will be listed in the book of their choice as a patron and receive a copy of the book upon release. For $175, a patron will be listed in the two books of their choice and receive a copy of each upon release. For $250, a patron will be listed in all three books of their choice and receive a copy of each upon release. The copies included in the patron arrangement may also be donated in the name of the patron to area schools or the North Tonawanda Public Library or others at the donor’s request.  The cover price for the books will not be official until the total number of pages for each is established. However, those wishing to make advance orders for “North Tonawanda:  Historic Treasures” may do so for a $35 donation per book. The price may later be increased due to length and increased production costs for future purchasers.

The Museum accepts Master Card and Visa orders and will mail any of its publications to addresses anywhere in the world.  
Call the Museum at 213-0554 for information.

Letters & Notes from Gift Shoppers Online:

From: Dr. Ken Volk, Hong Kong - March 20, 2006

From: Joanne Marks - Audubon, PA

"Congratulations on the establishment of your history museum.  I'm enjoying your website very much."

© 2005 North Tonawanda History Museum
314 Oliver Street
North Tonawanda, NY 14120
(716) 213-0554