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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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.
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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. |  |
| 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 |
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Mark Your Calendar: Leaf Helpers
Click on photo to view larger image. On November 5, 2018, clients from the Tony Tamasi Center on North Road in Niles, raked leaves at the Ward-Thomas House. It was a “Giving-Back to the Community Project” spearheaded by Julie Blaine, coordinator. They wanted to thank the community
for voting for the Fairhaven levies over the years. |
Niles Historical Society In November and December, clocks from member Pete Sciullo's vast clock collection of Ansonia clocks from the 1800-1900's will be on display in the house. Calendars featuring "Early Schools in Niles" will be on sale this year for $10.00. Shipping is available for an additional fee. Orders may be placed by calling 330-652-8329. Plans for McKinley Christmas on December 8 from 12:00-4:00 are being made. This will be held in conjunction with the McKinley Birthplace Home, McKinley Memorial Library and McKinley Museum with activities planned at each location. The trolley will transport patrons between sites. The Ward-Thomas House will have crafts for children, special stories and refreshments as well as tours of the house which will be decorated for Christmas. Looking for a unique gift for that person who has everything? Try one of the Niles historical books. |
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