History of the Museum / News Release Archive - April 2006 * Represents newest additions to our Archive
Telling the Story of Our City’s Rich Ethnic & Industrial Heritage As a City Located on the Historic Erie Canal & Mighty Niagara River 314 Oliver Street North Tonawanda, New York 14120 (716) 213-0554 e-mail: nthistorymuseum@aol.com - website: www.nthistorymuseum.org A new museum of the rich immigrant heritage of North Tonawanda and its role as an important shipping and manufacturing center on the Historic Erie Canal and the Mighty Niagara River in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Known as the “Lumber Capital of the World” in the late 19th century. 2005 Office Hours: Mondays 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Tuesdays 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Thursdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Fridays 9 a.m. to noon Also open by appointment; admission free; donations accepted Proud to be a member of the Cultural Alliance of Niagara, Downtown Merchants Association of North Tonawanda and the Chamber of Commerce of the Tonawandas!! The North Tonawanda History Museum announces the availability through the museum of an excellent resource for those seeking historical information on their homes. “House Histories: A Guide to Tracing the Genealogy of Your Home” by Sally Light will be available at the Museum or through its online gift shop at www.nthistorymuseum.org. The book has been recommended by the American Library Association, as “a good, practical guide to dating and documenting a house,” and is highly recommended by the Preservation League of New York State, as well as North Tonawanda History Museum representatives. It is an excellent aid for owners of older homes, preservationists, residential real estate brokers, and otherw with questions about the origins, styles, materials, past owners of and events surround old houses.NORTH TONAWANDA HISTORY MUSEUM Telling the Story of Our City’s Rich Ethnic & Industrial Heritage As a City Located on the Historic Erie Canal & Mighty Niagara River 314 Oliver Street North Tonawanda, New York 14120 (716) 213-0554 e-mail: nthistorymuseum@aol.com - website: www.nthistorymuseum.org A new museum of the rich immigrant heritage of North Tonawanda and its role as an important shipping and manufacturing center on the Historic Erie Canal and the Mighty Niagara River in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Known as the “Lumber Capital of the World” in the late 19th century. 2005 Office Hours: Mondays 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Tuesdays 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Thursdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Fridays 9 a.m. to noon Also open by appointment; admission free; donations accepted Proud to be a member of the Cultural Alliance of Niagara, Downtown Merchants Association of North Tonawanda and the Chamber of Commerce of the Tonawandas!! Area Young People and Families Invited to Participate as Seven Historical Venues Combine Forces to Celebrate Preservation Month As a way of recognizing International Museum Day 2006, the theme of which is “Museums and Young People,” the North Tonawanda History Museum invites area young people and families with young people to participate in their second annual Preservation Month bus tour on Saturday, May 20. The bus tour is available to all ages. International Museum Day is sponsored by the International Council of Museums. The theme this year was selected to raise awareness on how young people participate in redefining the mission and practices of heritage institutions in the 21 st century, and how museums can contribute to shaping tomorrow’s society by interacting with young people. This year’s International Museum Day aims at raising public awareness about the vital role museums play in celebrating differences, creating a new sense of community by giving value to a common cultural heritage and highlighting the role of individuals and groups whose singularities and differences are the cornerstone of the diversity inherent to that common heritage. The North Tonawanda History Museum, in collaboration with the Sanborn Area Historical Society, the Historical Society of North German Settlements of Western New York, and the Tonawanda-Kenmore Historical Society, is hosting the Preservation Month bus tour on Saturday, May 20. Grand Tours will provide the bus. The tour will pick up prepaid registrants at the Sanborn Fire Hall, Wheatfield Senior Center, North Tonawanda History Museum, and the Town of Tonawanda Senior Center, with the first pick up in Sanborn at 8:30 a.m. The tour begins following the arrival by bus at 10 a.m. with a tour of the Holland Land Office Museum, followed by lunch at the D&R Depot Restaurant. Following lunch there will be a tour of the Historic LeRoy House Museum and the Jell-O Gallery. All three museums and the restaurant have gift shop visits as well. Fee for the tour, including bus, admissions, lunch, and all gratuities is $39.50 each. There are three luncheon choices available. You do not have to be a member of any of the organizations to participate. Reservation applications are available from all four hosting historical organizations or may be downloaded from the North Tonawanda History Museum website at www.nthistorymuseum.org or a mailed copy may be requested by calling the Museum at 213-0554. The Holland Land Office Museum is a registered National Historic Landmark, erected in 1815. The Birthplace of New York. During the first half of the 19 th century, the Holland Land Company used this historic landmark building. It is owned and maintained by Genesee County. Inside are the artifact collections of the Holland Purchase Historical Society, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and interpreting the historic and cultural heritage of this area. The Historic LeRoy House Museum includes three floors of 100 years of history. The Jell-O Gallerytells the history of “ America ’s Most Famous Dessert,” Jell-O, how it was produced, marketed, and enjoyed by millions. The D&R Depot Restaurant is in a former B&O train depot. Preservation Month serves as a showcase for our country’s diverse and unique heritage. Thousands of state and local community groups are honoring their distinct histories this month through various activities and are seeking to bring historic preservation to the forefront of Americans’ daily lives by emphasizing the vital importance of protecting our nation’s past. This first joint bus tour is an effort by four Western New York historical organizations to participate together in celebrating Preservation Month. The North Tonawanda History Museum participated as well in Preservation Month in May 2005 with a bus tour to the Niagara County Historical Society in Lockport.To download a printable registration form for our 2nd Annual Bus Tour, click HERE and choose to save to your computer for viewing in your word processor. NORTH TONAWANDA HISTORY MUSEUM Telling the Story of Our City’s Rich Ethnic & Industrial Heritage As a City Located on the Historic Erie Canal & Mighty Niagara River 314 Oliver Street North Tonawanda, New York 14120 (716) 213-0554 e-mail: nthistorymuseum@aol.com - website: www.nthistorymuseum.org A new museum of the rich immigrant heritage of North Tonawanda and its role as an important shipping and manufacturing center on the Historic Erie Canal and the Mighty Niagara River in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Known as the “Lumber Capital of the World” in the late 19th century. 2005 Office Hours: Mondays 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Tuesdays 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Thursdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Fridays 9 a.m. to noon Also open by appointment; admission free; donations accepted Proud to be a member of the Cultural Alliance of Niagara, Downtown Merchants Association of North Tonawanda and the Chamber of Commerce of the Tonawandas!! City of North Tonawanda and Niagara County Legislature Issue Proclamations for NT’s Birthday Party The Niagara County Legislature has issued a proclamation proclaiming May as National Preservation Month in North Tonawanda. The proclamation will be on display along with a similar proclamation by the City of North Tonawanda Executive Chamber, with Mayor Lawrence V. Soos as the issuing official, and a separate proclamation recognizing the establishments being honored at the North Tonawanda History Museum’s April 20 North Tonawanda’s Birthday Party event. The proclamation will be on display at the program and states the “The City of North Tonawanda wishes to recognize the following establishments on their respective anniversaries, and is proud of the achievements they each have attained within our community. We are honored to have them as part of our North Tonawanda family. Join with us as we celebrate.” The North Tonawanda History Museum invites residents and former residents to attend North Tonawanda’s Birthday Party on Thursday, April 20. The celebration will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the North Tonawanda Senior Center, 110 Goundry Street (the rear entrance of the Carousel Apartments at Oliver and Goundry). North Tonawanda was incorporated as a city 109 years ago on April 24, 1897. It is also the 141st anniversary on May 8 of the incorporation of the Village of North Tonawanda. This will be the 2-year-old Museum’s 3rd annual birthday party for the city and will include the celebration of the Museum’s 2nd anniversary as a chartered museum. The North Tonawanda History Museum received its Provisional Charter from the Regents of the State University of New York on April 20, 2004. The birthday party, which began in 2004 with a celebration of the city’s birthday and the 90th anniversary of DeGraff Memorial Hospital, and included five different celebrations in 2005, will celebrate the following, a total of ten anniversaries, each of which will be commemorated by a birthday cake created by Budwey’s Bakery:
Diane M. Meholick, a member of the Museum’s Board of Trustees, will be present for a book-signing during the event, with her first two published novels, one of which, “Painting Katherine,” focuses on the beginning of the Riviera Theatre. Ms. Meholick will release her third novel in 2006. Representatives of the celebrating organizations and businesses will be present to share their histories. Attendees are invited to bring items for the Museum’s collections as their “birthday present” to North Tonawanda.
NORTH TONAWANDA HISTORY MUSEUM Telling the Story of Our City’s Rich Ethnic & Industrial Heritage As a City Located on the Historic Erie Canal & Mighty Niagara River 314 Oliver Street North Tonawanda, New York 14120 (716) 213-0554 e-mail: nthistorymuseum@aol.com - website: www.nthistorymuseum.org A new museum of the rich immigrant heritage of North Tonawanda and its role as an important shipping and manufacturing center on the Historic Erie Canal and the Mighty Niagara River in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Known as the “Lumber Capital of the World” in the late 19th century. 2005 Office Hours: Mondays 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Tuesdays 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Thursdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Fridays 9 a.m. to noon Also open by appointment; admission free; donations accepted Proud to be a member of the Cultural Alliance of Niagara, Downtown Merchants Association of North Tonawanda and the Chamber of Commerce of the Tonawandas!! The North Tonawanda History Museum announces the availability through the museum of an excellent resource for those seeking historical information on their homes. “House Histories: A Guide to Tracing the Genealogy of Your Home” by Sally Light will be available at the Museum or through its online gift shop at www.nthistorymuseum.org. The book has been recommended by the American Library Association, as “a good, practical guide to dating and documenting a house,” and is highly recommended by the Preservation League of New York State, as well as North Tonawanda History Museum representatives. It is an excellent aid for owners of older homes, preservationists, residential real estate brokers, and otherw with questions about the origins, styles, materials, past owners of and events surround old houses.NORTH TONAWANDA HISTORY MUSEUM Telling the Story of Our City’s Rich Ethnic & Industrial Heritage As a City Located on the Historic Erie Canal & Mighty Niagara River 314 Oliver Street North Tonawanda, New York 14120 (716) 213-0554 e-mail: nthistorymuseum@aol.com - website: www.nthistorymuseum.org A new museum of the rich immigrant heritage of North Tonawanda and its role as an important shipping and manufacturing center on the Historic Erie Canal and the Mighty Niagara River in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Known as the “Lumber Capital of the World” in the late 19th century. 2005 Office Hours: Mondays 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Tuesdays 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Thursdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Fridays 9 a.m. to noon Also open by appointment; admission free; donations accepted Proud to be a member of the Cultural Alliance of Niagara, Downtown Merchants Association of North Tonawanda and the Chamber of Commerce of the Tonawandas!! The Board of Trustees of the North Tonawanda History Museum has announced the establishment of a Publications Committee for the purpose of creating the Museum’s first full-length book on the history of North Tonawanda. The first book, “North Tonawanda: The Lumber City,” is expected to be the first in a series of books, as requested by area residents and former residents. The targeted release date is August 2007. “North Tonawanda: The Lumber City” will be a 352 page book and will be printed for the Museum by Buffalo Spree Publications, Inc. The book will have a preprint hard cover and 50# stock for the pages. It will sell for $29.95 plus applicable sales tax. Donna Zellner Neal is editor and contributing writers include A. Daniel Bille, Diane M. Meholick, Ken Mountain, Lloyd Long, Arlene Stocki McNair, Harold O. Schwartz, and Allen C. Gademsky, with assistance from architectural historian Martin Wachadlo, John W. Percy, and numerous other residents and former residents. Proof readers will include Paula Belair, A. Daniel Bille, John W. Percy, and Diane M. Meholick. Indexing will be by Frances Wilson. Research assistance is being provided by Frances Wilson, Lou Omel, and Walter Wozniak. The Board of Trustees has established a restricted Book Fund, on the suggestion of Niagara County Legislator Malcolm Needler. Needler has suggested that the community and museum members around the world be invited to participate in the book project by making $100 donations. Each $100 donation will entitle individuals, groups, and businesses to a patron listing in the published book—and one copy of the book. Needler has made the first $100 donation. Former Congressman John J. LaFalce has already made the second $100 donation in spite of the project not having been officially announced previously. Donations to the project may be made by cash, check, or money order payable to “North Tonawanda History Museum” and marked “BOOK PROJECT.” In the next two weeks, it will also be possible for donations to be made by using Master Card or Visa. Advance orders of the book will also be accepted and should be marked “BOOK ORDER.” For out of town orders or those wishing to have the completed book(s) mailed to their address, a $3 per book shipping and handling fee should be included. The North Tonawanda History Museum, celebrating its second anniversary as a chartered museum on April 20, has previously published a 70 page cookbook, “North Tonawanda Ethnic Heritage Cookbook,” printed by Morris Publishing Company, and “The Definitive Guide to a Tour of Historic Homes & Sites of North Tonawanda,” a 65-page book, both in 2005. The latter, printed by Pioneer Printers, Inc., together with the Museum’s Historic Treasures Tour 2005, earned the Museum an Organizational Award of Merit from the Western New York Association of Historical Agencies in October 2005. The North Tonawanda History Museum will present its two newest publications at the “North Tonawanda’s Birthday Party” on Thursday, April 20, at which they will also celebrate the Museum’s second anniversary: “North Tonawanda: The First 100 Years – 1797 – 1897” is a 12-page booklet which begins with the Holland Land Purchase in 1797 and summarizes the development and evolution as a municipality of the hamlet which became the City of North Tonawanda in 1897. “North Tonawanda: The Lumber City” is a 32-page book, designed as a self-guided walking & driving tour guide. This book is sponsored in part by the Seaway Trail Corporation and was financed in part with funds from the New York Council for the Humanities, a State affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Museum Director Donna Zellner Neal is the editor, Martin Wachadlo served as architectural historian, and maps were provided by the North Tonawanda Engineering Department. The booklet contains 81 stopping points, but hundreds of actual sites are included in the format. The focus of the book is on the history of North Tonawanda from the Holland Land Purchase in 1797 through the present. The thumbnail descriptions are meant to permit the reader to take a leisurely stroll or drive on a number of occasions, observing the locations at which North Tonawanda’s history took place. Both books are published by North Tonawanda’s Pioneer Printers, Inc., which is celebrating its 40th anniversary as part of the “North Tonawanda’s Birthday Party” event. “It is our sincere hope that both publications will prove useful both to our residents and to visitors to our city and to teachers in North Tonawanda schools wishing to use them as a tool in their local history focus,” noted Paula Belair, Education Committee Chair.NORTH TONAWANDA HISTORY MUSEUM Telling the Story of Our City’s Rich Ethnic & Industrial Heritage As a City Located on the Historic Erie Canal & Mighty Niagara River 314 Oliver Street North Tonawanda, New York 14120 (716) 213-0554 e-mail: nthistorymuseum@aol.com - website: www.nthistorymuseum.org A new museum of the rich immigrant heritage of North Tonawanda and its role as an important shipping and manufacturing center on the Historic Erie Canal and the Mighty Niagara River in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Known as the “Lumber Capital of the World” in the late 19th century. 2005 Office Hours: Mondays 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Tuesdays 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Thursdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Fridays 9 a.m. to noon Also open by appointment; admission free; donations accepted Proud to be a member of the Cultural Alliance of Niagara, Downtown Merchants Association of North Tonawanda and the Chamber of Commerce of the Tonawandas!! Significant numbers of owners of homes built with lumber from the Ray H. Bennett Lumber Company and homes purchased as Bennett Redi-Bilt Homes as well as former employees of the lumber company have responded to the North Tonawanda History Museum’s initial announcement in February. The North Tonawanda History Museum is seeking owners of Bennett-made homes or Bennett-Bilt homes. The Ray H. Bennett Lumber Company, which was established at Main and Islands Streets in North Tonawanda in 1902, later taking over the former W. G. Palmer Lumber Co. location at 190 Oliver Street at the Erie Railroad crossing, manufactured these packaged homes in North Tonawanda through, and was in business through the mid-1970’s. Several Museum members were originally interested in developing an organization, possibly to be named “Bennett Homeowners Association,” to include owners of Bennett homes in the area. Museum representatives report that some of the homeowners and former employees have donated original blueprints and drawings of their homes and instruction booklets for building the homes, several have provided advertising materials, and others have volunteered to be interviewed as part of the Museum’s oral history program—detailing how they built their home, or telling of their work for the company. These wonderful homes are located all over Western New York—and around the country. Museum representatives report that the encountered wonderful enthusiasm from all who contacted them to date. Those interested in becoming part of such a group are invited to contact the Museum at 213-0554.NORTH TONAWANDA HISTORY MUSEUM Telling the Story of Our City’s Rich Ethnic & Industrial Heritage As a City Located on the Historic Erie Canal & Mighty Niagara River 314 Oliver Street North Tonawanda, New York 14120 (716) 213-0554 e-mail: nthistorymuseum@aol.com - website: www.nthistorymuseum.org A new museum of the rich immigrant heritage of North Tonawanda and its role as an important shipping and manufacturing center on the Historic Erie Canal and the Mighty Niagara River in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Known as the “Lumber Capital of the World” in the late 19th century. 2005 Office Hours: Mondays 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Tuesdays 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Thursdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Fridays 9 a.m. to noon Also open by appointment; admission free; donations accepted Proud to be a member of the Cultural Alliance of Niagara, Downtown Merchants Association of North Tonawanda and the Chamber of Commerce of the Tonawandas!! The North Tonawanda History Museum’s first award-winning historic homes tour, “Historic Treasures Tour 2005,”on July 31, was attended by visitors from five states, Canada, and all over New York State, with a significant number of visitors expressing serious interest in relocating to North Tonawanda if the appropriate historic home were available for purchase in the future. The 2005 tour was the first of what is expected to be a bi-annual event in odd-numbered years, rotating with an ethnic heritage festival in even-numbered years. The Western New York Association of Historical Agencies awarded the North Tonawanda History Museum an Organizational Award of Merit for excellence in presenting the 2005 tour and the 65-page guidebook created as the passport to the tour which has continued to be purchased by people from all over the country. The Museum Historic Treasures Tour Committee has begun plans for the 2007 event, tentatively scheduled for Sunday, July 29 from noon to 6 p.m. It is anticipated that advance sale tickets will be available in early December in time for Christmas giving as was done with the first tour. Ticket prices are expected to be $18 each for the tour of between ten and fifteen homes. A Cinderella carriage ride is expected to be repeated also, at a charge of $5 per person. RealtyUSA was the event’s major sponsor in 2005. Cipriano, Inc., Realtors also advertised in the event guidebook. Museum representatives are presently initiating the screening process for candidate homes for inclusion in the 2007 tour. Homeowners interested in discussing having their home featured in the tour are invited to contact the Museum. Realtors and mortgage companies interested in serving as event sponsors are also invited to contact the Museum. The event’s primary purpose is to present and promote North Tonawanda as a wonderful city in which to live. North Tonawanda is described by Museum representatives as “the best little city in New York State, with a small town atmosphere and a rich and unique history.” The Museum has a limited amount of space available as well for advertising in its 2006 Historic Gardens Tour guide/map. The garden tour runs from June 15 through August 31 and is the Museum’s second annual such tour. Deadline for copy is May 20.
NORTH TONAWANDA HISTORY MUSEUM Telling the Story of Our City’s Rich Ethnic & Industrial Heritage As a City Located on the Historic Erie Canal & Mighty Niagara River 314 Oliver Street North Tonawanda, New York 14120 (716) 213-0554 e-mail: nthistorymuseum@aol.com - website: www.nthistorymuseum.org A new museum of the rich immigrant heritage of North Tonawanda and its role as an important shipping and manufacturing center on the Historic Erie Canal and the Mighty Niagara River in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Known as the “Lumber Capital of the World” in the late 19th century. 2005 Office Hours: Mondays 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Tuesdays 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Thursdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Fridays 9 a.m. to noon Also open by appointment; admission free; donations accepted Proud to be a member of the Cultural Alliance of Niagara, Downtown Merchants Association of North Tonawanda and the Chamber of Commerce of the Tonawandas!! North Tonawanda Museum hosts walking tours of City’s history on Wednesday evenings 3rd Season is co-sponsored by Seaway Trail Corporation and the Landmark Society of the Niagara Frontier The North Tonawanda History Museum will host its third season of North Tonawanda Seaway Trail Walks. This year’s walks are co-sponsored by the Seaway Trail Corporation and the Landmark Society of the Niagara Frontier. The 1-1/2 hour guided walking tours will begin at 6 p.m. on Wednesdays at Project Pride Way on the west side of Webster Street between Tremont Street and Goundry Street. Located in the Historic DowNTown North Tonawanda Shopping District, Project Pride Way joins Webster Street across from the Historic Riviera Theatre. The walks are sponsored by the Seaway Trail Corporation and the Landmark Society of the Niagara Frontier. The walks begin on June 7 and continue to September 27, 2006. They are 90 -minute walking tours of the City's lumber and industrial history and historic mansions hosted by the North Tonawanda History Museum. Each walker receives a packet of information on North Tonawanda historical and cultural attractions, concert schedules, restaurant menus, and will also receive a free pass to an organ concert in the Riviera Theatre and a token for a free ride on the historic carrousel at the Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum. Included in each packet will be self-guided walking/driving tour brochures created by the Museum, funded in part by a grant from the New York Council for the Humanities. Museum volunteers present two different rotating tours of historic North Tonawanda, a city whose location at the juncture of the historic Erie Canal with the mighty Niagara River made it a significant industrial center in the 19 th and early 20 th centuries. The “North Tonawanda’s Historic Homes” tour will be presented on July 19 as part of Canal Fest of the Tonawandas activities, and on June 7, June 21, August 2, August 16, August 30, September 13, and September 27. This tour takes you through the North Tonawanda “historic mansion district” and combines the stories of the lumber barons, bankers, insurance executives, and other prominent North Tonawandans with the stories of their wonderful historic homes. See wonderful homes and hear about the people who built them and lived in them. The “North Tonawanda’s Industrial Heritage” tour will be presented on June 14, June 28, July 12, July 26, August 9, August 23, September 6, and September 20. Learn about the rich immigrant heritage of “the Lumber Capital of the World,” in a walk which takes you through the historic downtown Webster Street business district, an eclectic mix of restaurants, small shops, and cultural attractions; and along the historic Erie Canal as concerts are taking place, enabling you to learn the history of the North Tonawanda waterfront area now participating in a rebirth as a summertime mecca for boaters and other tourists, past many of the City’s historic buildings and other sites, and through the historic Oliver Street business district, once described as having the most taverns on a single street in the country. Also two special times during Canal Fest week: Tuesday, July 18 at 2 p.m.: North Tonawanda: The Lumber City on the Seaway Trail” and Thursday, July 20 at 4 p.m.: North Tonawanda: Historic Homes of the Lumber City.” Plan to visit the historic downtown North Tonawanda shopping district earlier in the day. Plan to stay after the walking tour for a free concert in Gateway Park on the banks of the historic Erie Canal. Spend a day or more in North Tonawanda, visit its wonderful waterfront on the Canal and mighty Niagara River, and explore the Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum, the Ghostlight Theatre, Carnegie Art Center, the Railroad Museum of the Niagara Frontier, Partners in Art Studios, and the Riviera Theatre. Visit the City’s 98-year old Farmer’s Market or its parks and Botanical Gardens. Visit the North Tonawanda History Museum at 314 Oliver Street Mondays 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Tuesdays 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Thursdays 9 to 5 p.m., or Fridays 9 to noon. Also open by appointment. Call 716-213-0554 for further information. Fees for Seaway Trail Walks are $8 for adults, $4 for children under 12, $6 ea. in groups of 15 or more. The walks can also be scheduled at other times for groups or school classes by advance reservation.NORTH TONAWANDA HISTORY MUSEUM Telling the Story of Our City’s Rich Ethnic & Industrial Heritage As a City Located on the Historic Erie Canal & Mighty Niagara River 314 Oliver Street North Tonawanda, New York 14120 (716) 213-0554 e-mail: nthistorymuseum@aol.com - website: www.nthistorymuseum.org A new museum of the rich immigrant heritage of North Tonawanda and its role as an important shipping and manufacturing center on the Historic Erie Canal and the Mighty Niagara River in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Known as the “Lumber Capital of the World” in the late 19th century. 2005 Office Hours: Mondays 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Tuesdays 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Thursdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Fridays 9 a.m. to noon Also open by appointment; admission free; donations accepted Proud to be a member of the Cultural Alliance of Niagara, Downtown Merchants Association of North Tonawanda and the Chamber of Commerce of the Tonawandas!! Museum Releases Two New Publications: “North Tonawanda: The First 100 Years” and “North Tonawanda: The Lumber City” The North Tonawanda History Museum will present its two newest publications at the “North Tonawanda’s Birthday Party” on Thursday, April 20. “North Tonawanda: The First 100 Years – 1797 – 1897” is a 12-page booklet which begins with the Holland Land Purchase in 1797 and summarizes the development and evolution as a municipality of the hamlet which became the City of North Tonawanda in 1897. “North Tonawanda: The Lumber City” is a 32-page book, designed as a self-guided walking & driving tour guide. This book is sponsored in part by the Seaway Trail Corporation and was financed in part with funds from the New York Council for the Humanities, a State affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Museum Director Donna Zellner Neal is the editor, Martin Wachadlo served as architectural historian, and maps were provided by the North Tonawanda Engineering Department. The booklet contains 81 stopping points, but hundreds of actual sites are included in the format. The focus of the book is on the history of North Tonawanda from the Holland Land Purchase in 1797 through the present. The thumbnail descriptions are meant to permit the reader to take a leisurely stroll or drive on a number of occasions, observing the locations at which North Tonawanda’s history took place. Both books are published by North Tonawanda’s Pioneer Printers, Inc., which is celebrating its 40 th anniversary as part of the “North Tonawanda’s Birthday Party” event. “It is our sincere hope that both publications will prove useful both to our residents and to visitors to our city and to teachers in North Tonawanda schools wishing to use them as a tool in their local history focus,” noted Paula Belair, Education Committee Chair. North Tonawanda is on the Seaway Trail, a National Scenic Byway, the longest National Recreation Trail in the country. The North Tonawanda History Museum will present its third season of Seaway Trail Walks (16 weeks) on Wednesdays at 6 p.m. June through September. This year’s walks are also sponsored by Seaway Trail Corporation and the Landmark Society of the Niagara Frontier.NORTH TONAWANDA HISTORY MUSEUM Telling the Story of Our City’s Rich Ethnic & Industrial Heritage As a City Located on the Historic Erie Canal & Mighty Niagara River 314 Oliver Street North Tonawanda, New York 14120 (716) 213-0554 e-mail: nthistorymuseum@aol.com - website: www.nthistorymuseum.org A new museum of the rich immigrant heritage of North Tonawanda and its role as an important shipping and manufacturing center on the Historic Erie Canal and the Mighty Niagara River in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Known as the “Lumber Capital of the World” in the late 19th century. 2005 Office Hours: Mondays 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Tuesdays 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Thursdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Fridays 9 a.m. to noon Also open by appointment; admission free; donations accepted Proud to be a member of the Cultural Alliance of Niagara, Downtown Merchants Association of North Tonawanda and the Chamber of Commerce of the Tonawandas!! With a Memorial Day ending and May having been proclaimed National Preservation Month in North Tonawanda by Mayor Lawrence V. Soos and the Niagara County Legislature as co-sponsored by the North Tonawanda History Museum and the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Museum representatives invite area residents and former residents with internet access to visit the Military Heritage section of the Museum’s website at www.nthistorymuseum.org. A listing of North Tonawanda servicemen and women from past wars has been growing over the last two years of the Museum’s existence. All names which appear on local monuments are listed on the website. Individual obituaries, tributes, and photos of the servicemen and women are linked to their names as the material is provided to the Museum. Memories of the servicemen and women from their families are also included where provided. The Museum has received donations of items for the Military Heritage portion of the website from as far away as the Netherlands and from all across the United States. The North Tonawanda History Museum, in collaboration with the Sanborn Area Historical Society, the Historical Society of North German Settlements of Western New York, and the Tonawanda-Kenmore Historical Society, is hosting the Preservation Month bus tour on Saturday, May 20. Grand Tours will provide the bus. The tour will pick up prepaid registrants at the Sanborn Fire Hall, Wheatfield Senior Center, North Tonawanda History Museum, and the Town of Tonawanda Senior Center, with the first pick up in Sanborn at 8:30 a.m. The tour begins following the arrival by bus at 10 a.m. with a tour of the Holland Land Office Museum, followed by lunch at the D&R Depot Restaurant. Following lunch there will be a tour of the Historic LeRoy House Museum and the Jell-O Gallery. All three museums and the restaurant have gift shop visits as well. Fee for the tour, including bus, admissions, lunch, and all gratuities is $39.50 each. There are three luncheon choices available. You do not have to be a member of any of the organizations to participate. Reservation applications are available from all four hosting historical organizations or may be downloaded from the North Tonawanda History Museum website at www.nthistorymuseum.org or a mailed copy may be requested by calling the Museum at 213-0554. The Holland Land Office Museum is a registered National Historic Landmark, erected in 1815. The Birthplace of New York. During the first half of the 19 th century, the Holland Land Company used this historic landmark building. It is owned and maintained by Genesee County. Inside are the artifact collections of the Holland Purchase Historical Society, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and interpreting the historic and cultural heritage of this area. The Historic LeRoy House Museum includes three floors of 100 years of history. The Jell-O Gallerytells the history of “ America’s Most Famous Dessert,” Jell-O, how it was produced, marketed, and enjoyed by millions. The D&R Depot Restaurant is in a former B&O train depot. Preservation Month serves as a showcase for our country’s diverse and unique heritage. Thousands of state and local community groups are honoring their distinct histories this month through various activities and are seeking to bring historic preservation to the forefront of Americans’ daily lives by emphasizing the vital importance of protecting our nation’s past. This first joint bus tour is an effort by four Western New York historical organizations to participate together in celebrating Preservation Month. The North Tonawanda History Museum participated as well in Preservation Month in May 2005 with a bus tour to the Niagara County Historical Society in Lockport. NORTH TONAWANDA HISTORY MUSEUM Telling the Story of Our City’s Rich Ethnic & Industrial Heritage As a City Located on the Historic Erie Canal & Mighty Niagara River 314 Oliver Street North Tonawanda, New York 14120 (716) 213-0554 e-mail: nthistorymuseum@aol.com - website: www.nthistorymuseum.org A new museum of the rich immigrant heritage of North Tonawanda and its role as an important shipping and manufacturing center on the Historic Erie Canal and the Mighty Niagara River in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Known as the “Lumber Capital of the World” in the late 19th century. 2005 Office Hours: Mondays 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Tuesdays 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Thursdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Fridays 9 a.m. to noon Also open by appointment; admission free; donations accepted Proud to be a member of the Cultural Alliance of Niagara, Downtown Merchants Association of North Tonawanda and the Chamber of Commerce of the Tonawandas!! Eugene Spiak, a Buffalo resident and student in the School of Architecture at the University of Buffalo, will make a presentation on May 10 during the final review process of the History of Place course. With the assistance of the North Tonawanda History Museum, Spiak has completed a project on the lumber history of North Tonawanda, with a special focus on the W. G. Palmer Lumber Company and the Ray H. Bennett Lumber Company. He has completed a power point presentation on the history he uncovered and will present a proposal on how this history might be interpreted on the landscape. Museum Director Donna Zellner Neal will attend the session at Hayes Hall on the South Campus. The Museum anticipates utilization of Spiak’s completed work in future Museum programs and publications. NORTH TONAWANDA HISTORY MUSEUM Telling the Story of Our City’s Rich Ethnic & Industrial Heritage As a City Located on the Historic Erie Canal & Mighty Niagara River 314 Oliver Street North Tonawanda, New York 14120 (716) 213-0554 e-mail: nthistorymuseum@aol.com - website: www.nthistorymuseum.org A new museum of the rich immigrant heritage of North Tonawanda and its role as an important shipping and manufacturing center on the Historic Erie Canal and the Mighty Niagara River in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Known as the “Lumber Capital of the World” in the late 19th century. 2005 Office Hours: Mondays 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Tuesdays 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Thursdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Fridays 9 a.m. to noon Also open by appointment; admission free; donations accepted Proud to be a member of the Cultural Alliance of Niagara, Downtown Merchants Association of North Tonawanda and the Chamber of Commerce of the Tonawandas!! The North Tonawanda History Museum will host a History Weekend in Gratwick Riverside Park as part of Canal Fest week activities on July 22 and 23. Part of the event will be a used book sale. Individuals or groups wishing to donate books to the Museum for this event are invited to contact the Museum at 213-0554 or by email at nthistorymuseum@aol.com. |
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© 2005 North Tonawanda History Museum |
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