How to Schedule a Tour of the Ward - Thomas Museum.

With the price of gas going up and people trying to find things to do close to home, may we suggest, visiting your local historical home. It is interesting how many people in Niles have never been inside the McKinley Memorial Library building, let alone our Ward-Thomas museum.

People travel all over the world looking for interesting places to visit, and here in their own home town, sits one of the most beautiful museums in the country. The Ward-Thomas Museum exists because caring people have volunteered to create it. It holds over 5,000 items in the 14 rooms and it takes over an hour just to walk through. If you take your time, you could spend hours and still not see everything.

I once asked a Niles man, who has traveled the world, why he never visited our museum. He said, “I guess because it will always be there.” “No, it will not”, I answered him. If no one visits and donates money to support it, the Ward-Thomas Museum will fade away like everything else in town”.

Remember we are open for public tours on the first Sunday of every month from 2-5 pm. However, we are more than glad to open the doors just for you, if you call ahead and schedule a tour time. Just E-Mail Us or call the office, 330-544-2143 and leave your name and phone number. We will return your email or call and schedule a tour.

Sample piece of 19th Century bedroom set
on the second floor of the Ward-Thomas Museum

Newsletter:
The Society will gladly publish stories of the accomplishments of current or former residents of Niles. Contact: Anna Marie Beagle 330.719.5716 or ambgeb@aol.com

Update on the Ward-Thomas property:

The Westenfield Room, the old carriage house, which serves as a meeting space has been renovated and is now open again. The improvements include: proper insulation, painting, flooring and temperature – humidity control.

Advisory Committee sought:
It is necessary to form a committee to determine the direction to take with the monies in the New Building Fund account that was begun in 2011. The Society requires an improved space for education, research and storage of the collection. At this time there is not adequate space or temperature and humidity control to accept any more physical donations.

There is a proposed rendition for a facility that would be expensive to build and maintain. The amount of money in this fund is not adequate to cover the expense of this lofty plan. The Board of the Society seeks input from members on how to best use the building fund monies to provide an improved space.

I implore members to weigh in on this discussion. Average attendance at meetings is approximately ten members who should not be making this enormous decision for an organization with over three hundred members.

Please contact Anna Marie Beagle at 330-719-5716 or ambgeb@aol.com for further discussion.

Thank you, Anna Marie Beagle, President.

Tour the Buildings and Garden

Ward-Thomas House

1924 Green House