Calendar of Events
Ward —
Thomas Museum 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 |
News
Tours
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.
Read or Download:
Niles
Historical Society
5-Year Strategic Plan
Calendar of Events: April 7, 2024 April 12, 2024
Dear Friends of the Niles
Historical Society,
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. 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.
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. 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 As we work together to preserve the past for the future, we appreciate your generous support. Sincerely, I/we would like to sponsor
a First Ladies Gown. 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
To view an electronic file of this 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.
A studio portrait of Lucille
Bassett who portryed Lucretia Randolph Garfield 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: 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. Thank you, Anna Marie Beagle, President. |
How to Schedule a Tour of the Ward - Thomas Museum.
Sample piece of 19th
Century bedroom set 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. 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.
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 Newsletter:The
Society will gladly publish stories of the accomplishments
of current or former residents of Niles.
Gift Ideas: Try one of the many Niles Historical books. Books vary in price. Sample of book content
Over 200 pages and 400 high resolution photographs To
order your book call: Sandy at: 330.652.8329 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. Please make checks out to: Niles Historical
Society Thank You
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