Ward —
Thomas Museum |
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| E-Mail Us | Phone: 330.544.2143 | Mail: PO Box 368 Niles, Ohio 44446 |
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Niles Historical Society is looking for your photographs
to scan and preserve the History of Niles
If you or someone
you know has interesting or historic images:
E-Mail Us
Individual Membership: $20.00
Family Membership: $30.00
Patron Membership: $50.00
Business Membership: $100.00
Lifetime Membership: $500.00
Corporate Membership:
Phone: 330.544.2143
To Review the Third Amended Constitution of The Niles Historical Society, Click Here
| Built in 1862, the Ward Thomas House was the home of two prominent Niles industrial families. James Ward, who built the house, was a pioneer in the iron industry in the Mahoning Valley. He built puddling plants, Falcon Nail and Iron Company and the Russia mill for manufacturing steel. The second
owners were John and Margaret Thomas who came
to this country from Wales. The Thomas family founded the Niles
Firebrick Company and later, Mahoning Valley Steel. The Thomas
family occupied the house until 1969 when the property was deeded
to the City of Niles. Through the efforts of Clare Westenfield,
a local attorney, the house became the home of the Niles Historical
Society. |
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| The house is now a museum consisting of fourteen rooms, many furnished in the style of the period, some with furniture owned by the Thomas family and donated to the museum. The museum collection has more than 5000 items, including many from the two families. Throughout the museum, mannequins wear life size replicas of the White House ladies’ gowns displayed at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.. |
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| Also on the five acre property are a recently restored barn and a 1925 green house as well a various gardens and 56 varieties of trees in the arboretum. Care of the house and gardens is done by volunteers and the house is decorated appropriately for each season. |  |
| Proceeding from the back porch of the Ward-Thomas house, a walk-way leads to a secondary building. This building is used as a workspace for the greenhouse. The first Sunday of each month the Thomas House is open to the public. Additional
guided tours may be arranged by contacting the Niles
Historical Society |
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2016 Niles Historical Society Officers
Vice-President — Donna Nellis Treasurer — Patty Burgess-Fisher Secretary — MaryAnn McMahon Corresponding Secretary — Ruth Van Huffel Trustees Nancy Malone, Anne Townley, Freemont Camerino
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2016 Scheduled Meetings/Events To review the Third Amended Constitution of The Niles Historical Society, Click Here
September 16-17, 2016 Household Items, Garden Items,
Large Selection of Books, Friday, 9 - 4 Saturday 9 - 12 37 Hartzell, Niles, OH
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