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
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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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Tour
the Buildings and Garden
Ward-Thomas
House Tour |
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.
Gift Ideas:
Society memberships may be obtained for
$20.00 an individual and $30.00 for a family. $50.00 for a Patron,
$100.00 for a business, and $500.00 for a life-time membership.
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.
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1924 Green
House Tour |
Museum Tours
Tours of the Ward-Thomas Museum
for groups will be scheduled as requested.
We have frequent requests for
private tours from those visiting the area, various organizations
and church groups.
For more information
call:
Sandy at (330) 652–8329
or
Anna Marie at (330) 856–8274.
Please leave a message, we will contact you.
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Calendar of Events:
Community Connection Presentation
May 29, 2024, Wednesday,12:00 PM
Reservation by May 23, call 330-652-8329 or 330-719-5716.
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church,
Holy Family Hall
381 Robbins Ave., Niles, 44446
June 1, 2024, Saturday, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Family Day
Warren – Trumbull County Public Library
444 Mahoning Ave NW, Warren, 44483
June 2, 2024, Sunday, 2:00 – 5:00 PM
Open House
Ward – Thomas House
Last tour at 4:00 PM
June 8, 2024, Saturday, 10:00 AM
Business meeting in Westenfield
Room
July 6, 2024, Saturday, 10:00 AM
All are welcome to attend.
Open House
Ward – Thomas House
July 7, 2024, Sunday, 2:00 – 5:00 PM
Last tour at 4:00 PM
Newsletter:
The Society will gladly publish
stories of the
accomplishments of current or former residents of Niles.
Contact: Anna Marie Beagle ambgeb@aol.com |
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 |
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Dear Friends of the Niles
Historical Society,
As you know, the 250th anniversary of the
founding of the United States is rapidly approaching. In addition
to this important date, the Niles First Ladies Gowns are approaching
the 50th anniversary of their creation.
In 1976, in order to honor the Bicentennial,
some of the ladies of Niles formed an organization to recreate
the First Ladies Gowns that were in the Smithsonian collection.
The gowns were all locally made
and sewn after many painstaking drawings, photos and visits were
made to Washington DC in order to ensure absolute accuracy.
After the gowns were made, they
were modeled and displayed in many venues around the area, and
the ladies even went back to Washington DC to model the dresses
there.
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The Niles Historical Society is
incredibly fortunate to have been given most of the First Ladies
Gowns. In order to put this in perspective, Niles is the only
community in the Unites States to have a life sized collection
of these gowns, outside of the Smithsonian National Museum. But
as all things age and deteriorate, the gowns have also, and as
they approach their 50th year, the Niles Historical Society is
asking for your help.
We are asking you to sponsor a First
Ladies Gown. This would entail paying for the cleaning, mending
where necessary, and storage of the dresses. A one-time fee of
$100.00 will ensure your sponsorship of one of the dresses. When
the dress is displayed, as we hope they all will be between now
and 2026, your name and/or your family name will be prominently
displayed with the dress.
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As we work together to preserve
the past for the future, we appreciate your generous support.
Sincerely,
Meredith Elliott
Niles Historical Society
Please take some time to consider
this opportunity. If you are interested, please fill out the form
below, enclose it with your check and mail it to:
The Niles Historical Society
PO Box 368
Niles, Ohio 44446.
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I/we would like to sponsor a First
Ladies Gown.
Enclosed please find a $100.00 donation for the cleaning and preserving
of one of the gowns.
Name_____________________________________________
Address___________________________________________
Phone #___________________________________________
Since the Niles Historical Society
is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization (EIN 34-1276513) and no
goods or services are provided for donations, your donation is
fully tax deductible.
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.
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To
view an electronic file of this Ladies Gown form, click here.
Please save/print and share this
form with any family or friends that may want to help preserve
the White House Ladies' gowns.
Create an email and attach the file
or print the form and share. |
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The Niles Historical
Society mission is to preserve and promote Niles history and share
that history with the community.
Click
here to join or renew your Niles Historical Society membership.
Please call Sandy (330) 652-8329 or
Anna Marie (330) 719 -5716 to schedule a tour.
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-time 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.
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