Ward —
Thomas Museum |
||
| E-Mail Us | Phone: 330.544.2143 | Mail: PO Box 368 Niles, Ohio 44446 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
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?
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
To learn about Historical Society Management Tools:
Collection Policies,Click
Here
Toolbox Workshop, Click
Here
Management and Policy, Click
Here
Sample Collections, Click
Here
Developing a CMP, 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. |
 |
| |
|
| 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.. |
 |
| 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
from 2 - 5 pm. Additional
guided tours may be arranged by contacting the Niles
Historical Society |
 |
| |
|
|
Niles Historical Society The Niles Historical Society will be hosting their annual Heritage Day on Saturday August 4 on the grounds of the Ward-Thomas house at 503 Brown Street(near the Middle School) from 12-5. Arts and crafts by local vendors will be on display and for sale as well as material and books on Niles history. There will be games, face painting and activities for children. Rick Muccio will be doing caricature drawings. Amanda Beagle, Miss Ohio 2004, will give a musical presentation accompanied by Jack Ciarnello at 1:00. A show by Birds in Flight will be at 2:00 with Heather Merritt and local historian Sean Posey will speak at 3::00. There will also be tours of the Ward-Thomas house, greenhouse and barn. Heritage Day includes food and family fun for everyone with free admission. Any vendors who would like to participate may call 330-652-8329.
Click on image to view larger photograph.
Click on image to view larger photograph.
Click on image to view larger photograph. |
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.
|
|
|
|
