Front View of Thomas House Five images of buildings and grounds
Calendar of Events
Ohio Association of Historical Societies and Museums
 

Ward — Thomas Museum
Home of the Niles Historical Society
503 Brown Street Niles, Ohio 44446

Click here to become a Niles Historical Society Member or to renew your membership

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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?

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.


 



Read or Download:

Niles Historical Society
5-Year Strategic Plan

 

 

 

 

 

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

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

 

 

Calendar of Events:
August 2023

Open House August 6, 2023
2-5 PM, last tour begins at 4 PM

Business Meeting August 12, 2023
10:00 PM in Westenfield Room

Tours for groups will be scheduled as requested. We have frequent requests for private tours from those visiting the area, various organizations and church groups.


Please call Sandy (330) 652-8329 or
Anna Marie (330) 719 -5716 to schedule a tour.


The Society will have a Yard Sale on Saturday, September 23, 2023, 9:00 AM– 3:00 PM.
Donations will be accepted on Thursday, September 7, 2023 from 10:00 AM–2:00 PM
and Friday, September 8, 2023 from 3:00–6:00 PM.


Please deliver household items, games, toys, tools, etc. to the Westenfield Room.

We do not accept clothing. Thank you for your donations.



A membership drive is currently being held.

The yearly membership drive is underway with fees of $20 for individuals, $30 for families, $50 for patron level, $100 for businesses and organizations and $500 for life memberships. Memberships support the society's programs and includes the bimonthly newsletter.

For more information call:

Sandy at (330) 652–8329 or
Anna Marie at (330) 856–8274.
Please leave a message and we will contact you.


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

 


A membership drive is
currently being held.

Memberships Available:

The yearly membership drive is underway with fees of $20 for individuals, $30 for families, $50 for patron level, $100 for businesses and organizations and $500 for life memberships. Memberships support the society's programs and includes the bimonthly newsletter.

For more information call:

Sandy at (330) 652–8329 or
Anna Marie at (330) 856–8274.
Please leave a message and we will contact you.

 

 

Gift Ideas:
Society memberships may be obtained for $20.00 an individual and $30.00 for a family. All are welcome to join. Members receive the newsletter six times/year and free admission to the Ward-Thomas Museum when open on the first Sunday of the month.

Gifts with a Niles' History connection. Click on link below:

Try one of the many Niles Historical books.

Books vary in price.

Sample of book content



'A Pictorial History of the Buildings of Niles Ohio'

Over 200 pages and 400 high resolution photographs

To order your book call: Sandy at: 330.652.8329
Niles Historical Society Office at: 330.544.2143

or Email Us

Price: $40.00 local pickup or $45.00 shipped

To save on shipping costs, all of the listed books are available for purchase at any Ward-Thomas Museum open house.
Shipping/Mailing costs are $5.00 for each book ordered.

Please make checks out to: Niles Historical Society
Send your name, address and phone number, and check to cover costs to:

Niles Historical Society
P. O. 368
Niles, Ohio 44446

Thank You

 


 

 


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