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Individual Membership: $20.00
Family Membership: $30.00
Patron Membership: $50.00
Business Membership: $100.00
Lifetime Membership: $500.00
Corporate Membership:
Call 330.544.2143
Do you love the history of Niles, Ohio and
want to preserve that history and memories of events for future generations?
Click
here to donate:
As a 501(c)3 non-profit organization,
your donation is tax deductible. When you click on the Donate Button,
you will be taken to a secure Website where your donation will entered
and a receipt generated.
To Review the Constitution
of The Niles Historical Society, Click Here
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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
from 2 - 5 pm.
The last tour begins at 4:00 pm and ends at 5:00 pm.
Additional
guided tours may be arranged by contacting the Niles
Historical Society
or calling: 330.544.2143. |
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Niles Historical Society
2018 Scheduled Meetings
Open House Tours
Niles Historical Society
2018 Scheduled Meetings
Open House Tours
There will be no open
house tour due to
Easter being the first Sunday of April.
The Niles Historical Society
will hold its annual dinner at Ciminero's Banquet Center in
Niles on Thursday April 19.
Doors open at 5:30 PM and dinner is served at 6:00 PM
Sandra Zikursh will
speak about "Life in the Western Reserve." It will
include a glimpse into a pioneer woman's life presented with
humor and facts.
Ralph Tolbert will present a"
Niles Nostalgia" slide show at 5:30 when the doors open
and repeat during the dinner.
Tickets are $25 and can be obtained
by calling: 330-652-8329
or: 330-856-5274. Reservations should be placed by April 9.
Historical Niles books and calendars
will be available to purchase at the banquet. (Avoid the shipping
charges)
Regular Meeting
Saturday, April 7, 2018
10AM Westenfield
Room
All members are welcome to attend.
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A few remaining 2018 calendars
featuring 'Recreation in Niles in the Past' will be for sale
for $10.00 ($1.00 if shipped).
Pictures include those of Waddell
Pool, Handy Andy, McKinley Theater, Ma Perkins and others.
Calendars can also be obtained
by calling: 330-652-8329.
Please renew your membership
for 2018.

One of the many books available that document
the history of Niles, Ohio. Please check out the books that
are for sale Here.
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