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
| 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 |
 |
| |
|
|
The Niles Historical Society will be hosting an author talk and book signing on Wednesday May 24 at 7:00 PM at the Ward-Thomas Museum, 503 Brown St. in Niles.
Mr. Brough was born in Newark, Ohio and grew up there and in Cleveland. He is a graduate of Case Institute of Technology (now Case Western Reserve University) and Xavier University in Cincinnati. He has authored three published books, two on electric interurban car builders and an award winning one on the Great Lakes automobile carriers of the early 20th century. He currently resides with his wife, Shirley, in Newark. Railroad enthusiasts and local historians can purchase his book for $30.00 at the event. There will be a $5.00 donation and light refreshments will be served. |
Erie Street view of the Niles Car & Manufacturing Company, makers of one of the finest lines of plush electric cars of the area. This building was located on the block bounded by Erie, South Cedar, Allison Avenue and Mason Street. the plant operated for 16 years before being converted to truck chassis production.PO1.1434 |
| 2017 Niles Historical Society Officers President — Anna Marie
Beagle Trustees
Front: Sandy Bilovesky, Fremont
Camerino, Nancy Malone
|
Niles Historical Society 2017 Scheduled Meetings/Events May 5, 2017 Meeting Cancelled Open House Tours |
Writer
Larry Brough will discuss his book The Electric
Pullman: A History of the Niles Car & Manufacturing Company.
This car company produced railway cars in Niles from 1901
until 1917. 
