Ward —
Thomas Museum |
Announcement: All historical photographs and their Webpages have been removed. For questions regarding this action, please email the Niles Historical Society Phone: 330.544.2143 Mail: PO Box 368 Niles, Ohio 44446 |
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Niles Historical Society is looking for photographs to
scan and preserve the History of Niles
If you or someone you know has interesting or historic images, call: 330.544.2143
Niles Historical Books for sale
Stories and Historical Photographs
View Past Issues of the Niles Historical Society Newsletters
| 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. |  |
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| 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 curator or calling: 330.544.2143. |
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Join the Niles Historical Society Individual Membership: $15.00 Phone:330.544.2143 or |
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