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2012 Events Schedule Officially Released - May Brings Spring Used Book Sale and Heritage Weekend!!!
Please consult our Events & Activities Section within the site for further details!
The North Tonawanda History Museum is open Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 10 a.m .to 4 p.m. through May 31. Admission to the Museum is free when attending programs. Parking is available in the Manhattan Street parking lot, with Webster Street accessible through the Project Pride walkway.
The History Museum will host a private group on Saturday afternoon, May 5, the Museum will close to the public at 1 p.m.
We will be open from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m
SPRING USED BOOK SALE AT HISTORY MUSEUM
The North Tonawanda History Museum at 54 Webster Street announces its SPRING USED BOOK SALE will be held on May 12 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The sale includes the popular bag of books for $5 (bag provided by Museum); paperbacks: 50 cents each;3 for $1; hard covers - $1 each; 3 for $2. Free parking is available in the municipal parking lot on Manhattan Street, with Webster Street accessible through Project Pride Way or Tremont Street.
HERITAGE WEEKEND IN THE TONAWANDAS: WESTERN GATEWAY TO THE ERIE CANAL
The North Tonawanda History Museum at 54 Webster Street is participating for the second year in New York Heritage Weekend, May 19, 20, and 21, 2012, with this year's focus on North Tonawanda's own racing legend Jim Hurtubise, the Erie Canal, and the 1901 Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo.
The History Museum's weekend event is funded in part by a grant from the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor program of the U. S. Department of the Interior National Park Service. The North Tonawanda History Museum is an Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor Partner Site. Additional sponsors of this year's event are the Niagara USA Chamber, North Tonawanda Metro Source, M&T Bank, Ross Service, Pioneer Printers, and the Chamber of Commerce of the Tonawandas.
The History Museum will be open all weekend with free admission all three days from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with special emphasis on the Jim Hurtubise Exhibit and the 1901 Pan-American Exposition diorama. At 1 p.m. each day, a video of the history of the Erie Canal will be offered, and at 2 p.m. a video of a trip from one end of the Canal to the other, emphasizing the history of the Canal also, will be presented in anticipation of the 2012 summer tourism season.
A Jim Hurtubise Classic Car Show in the Manhattan Street municipal parking lot is planned for Saturday, May 19 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. as part of the weekend celebration, leading up to Monday, May 21, which will be proclaimed by the City of North Tonawanda as the first annual Jim Hurtubise Day in North Tonawanda. In December 2011, the Common Council designated the block of Oliver Street between Sweeney Street and Tremont Street as "Jim (Herk) Hurtubise Way." If sufficient interest is exhibited, the car show may include Sunday also.
Owners of appropriate classic cars should contact the History Museum to express interest in participating. Museum volunteer Richard L. "Joe" Zellner will coordinate plans for the weekend with Museum staff. The show will be open to any pre-1980 vehicle.
The City of North Tonawanda will be designating May 21 as the first annual Jim (Herk) Hurtibise Day in North Tonawanda, in commemoration of his becoming Rookie of the Year in 1960. The City of North Tonawanda designated the block of Oliver Street between Sweeney Street and Tremont Street as "Jim (Herk) Hurtubise Way" in November 2011.
New York Heritage Weekend is designed to celebrate New York State's rich heritage during National Preservation Month by visiting historic sites and participating in special heritage events.
Modeled after France's popular annual event, "Les Journees du Patrimoine," New York Heritage Weekend showcases the Empire State to residents and visitors alike and is meant to help kick off the summer tourism season. Heritage Weekend highlights special events at heritage and cultural destination throughout New York State. With the cooperation of Federal, State, and private organizations, New York Heritage Weekend is to be an annual event and one of the lasting legacies of the 2009 Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Quadricentennial celebration. This is the second year the North Tonawanda History Museum has been a participant in New York Heritage Weekend.
Other area historical organizations participating in New York Heritage Weekend, listed on the New York Heritage Weekend site as partners, are the Historical Society of the Tonawandas Museum at 113 Main Street in the City of Tonawanda, the Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum at 180 Thompson Street, the Railroad Museum of the Niagara Frontier at 111 Oliver Street, the Historical Society of North German Settlements in Western New York's Das Haus Museum, 2549 Niagara Road in the Town of Wheatfield's Bergholz community; and the Tonawanda-Kenmore Historical Society Museum, 100 Knoche Road, Town of Tonawanda. The Tonawandas' area sites are listed individually on the New York Heritage Weekend website and also as a Heritage Series of Events as "The Tonawandas: Western Gateway to the Erie Canal Heritage Community."
The Historical Society of the Tonawandas will have free admission on Saturday, May 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Railroad Museum will be open Saturday and Sunday, May 19 and 20 from 1 to 4 p.m.
The Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum will be open both days from noon to 4 PM, with free admission. On Saturday there will be arts and crafts for children. On Sunday there will be a Carrousel Chat talk and demonstration of carousel horse restoration by Chuck Proefrock at 2:00 PM – a “behind the scenes” activity of the museum.
The Railroad Museum of the Niagara Frontier will be open from 1 to 4 p.m. on May 19 and 20.
The Das Haus Museum will be open on Saturday and Sunday, May 19 and 20 from 1 to 4 p.m. with German Heritage Days, including guided tours and free admission.
The Tonawanda-Kenmore Historical Society Museum will be open from 1:30 to 4 p.m. on May 19 and 20.
Museum visitors are invited to remain in the area after their Museum visits. There is so much to do in the Tonawandas.
The Historic Riviera Theatre at 67 Webster Street will feature Louis Prima, Jr. in concert at 8 p.m. on May 19. Contact the Riviera Theatre to order tickets in advance (www.rivieratheatre.org). Volunteers and staff in the Gateway Cities Visitors Center in the North Tonawanda History Museum can direct you to a variety of restaurants in the Tonawandas.
The North Tonawanda History Museum is located in the historic downtown shopping district of North Tonawanda, with Webster Street connecting to Main Street in the City of Tonawanda. The two downtowns have an eclectic variety of shops to cater to visitors.
Funding partners for the Statewide event are the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area, National Park Service, I LOVE NY, and the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor. Visit www.heritageweekend.org for all statewide participating events.
Come experience New York's heritage first hand. History happened here!
THREE TONAWANDAS' HISTORICAL VENUES PARTICIPATE AS NYS MUSEUM WEEK KICKS OFF
All across New York State, museums, zoos and botanical gardens, historic homes, living history museums, arts centers and cultural organizations cordially invite you to discover a fascinating world of art, photography, history, science, pop-culture and more during the first New York State Museum Week—May 31 to June 6, 2012. New York State Museum Week is an I LOVE NEW YORK event. Promoted by New York State Senator Betty Little and organized by I LOVE NEW YORK with assistance from the Museum Association of New York, the event is meant to publicize the state's cultural/heritage community to residents and visitors alike.
Participating as "The Tonawandas: Western Gateway to the Erie Canal Heritage Community" are the North Tonawanda History Museum at 54 Webster Street and the Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum at 180 Thompson Street, both in the City of North Tonawanda; and the Historical Society of the Tonawandas Museum in the City of Tonawanda at 113 Main Street.
Hours for the local museums are: North Tonawanda History Museum, every day except Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Herschell Carrsousel Factory Museum, Thursday, May 31 through Sunday, June 3 and Wednesday, June 6; the Historical Society of the Tonawandas Museum, Thursday, May 31, 1 to 6 p.m., Saturday, June 2, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Benjamin Long Homestead. operated by the Historical Society of the Tonawandas at 24 East Niagara Street in the City of Tonawanda, will also be open on Sunday, June 3 from 1 to 4 p.m.
Visitors to the three participating museums are invited to remain in the area after their museum visits. There is so much to do in the Tonawandas.
The Historic Riviera Theatre at 67 Webster Street will feature "Legends of Doo Wop," featuring The Teenagers and Shades of Blue at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 2. On Tuesday, June 6, Nathan Avakian will play the Mighty Wurlitzer organ at 7:30 p.m. Contact the Riviera Theatre to order tickets in advance (www.rivieratheatre.org).
The North Tonawanda History Museum and the Riviera Theatre are located in the historic downtown shopping district of North Tonawanda, with Webster Street connecting to Main Street in the City of Tonawanda. The two downtowns have an eclectic variety of shops to cater to visitors.
There will be a classic car show on Webster Street in the evening of Monday, June 4, hosted by the Canalside Creamery at 82 Webster Street, where you can enjoy delicious ice cream and other treats while you enjoy the Tonawandas.
Volunteers and staff in the Gateway Cities Visitors Center in the North Tonawanda History Museum can direct you to a variety of shopping opportunities and restaurants in the Tonawandas, as well as helping with directions to the other participating museums. There are restaurants downtown and on the Erie Canal and Niagara River, and waterfront parks on both the Canal and River. History Museum staff will provide you with directions or maps of the area. The communities have a number of military memorials, including the nationally significant Seabees and Marine Memorials in North Tonawanda's Veterans Park.
Come to the Tonawandas during Museum Week, the Western Gateway to the Erie Canal since 1918. Discover the abundant variety of wonderful museums and other cultural and recreational tourism venues in the two Cities of Tonawanda and North Tonawanda—their contributions to our culture and local economies, and the one-of-a-kind personal experiences they offer visitors every day.
New York State Museum Week is designed to give guests a taste of what museums have available throughout the year and it is the perfect opportunity for neighboring residents and visitors alike to discover (or rediscover) these remarkable cultural institutions and their contributions to the preservation of our state's rich heritage. More than 150 museums are participating statewide.
We invite you to come experience New York's heritage locally first hand. History happened here in the Tonawandas at the Western Gateway to the Erie Canal! Come join the fun and be part of this great experience!
History Museum Announces Release of "North Tonawanda: Historic Treasures" Volumes I & II
For further details, please download our promotional flyer HERE (.PDF File Format).
Robert J. Clark, president, Robert L. Grosskopf, Jr., vice president, and Craig Haynes, treasurer, join with Executive Director and secretary of the North Tonawanda History Museum Board of Trustees Donna Zellner Neal to proudly announce the birth of their long-awaited two-volume book, "North Tonawanda: Historic Treasures."
The book was in process, per Mrs. Neal, who is also the editor of the book, and her son, Assistant Executive Director and assistant editor of the book, John P. Zellner Neal, since the organization began as an idea in the summer of 2003 when Mrs. Neal was a member of the first interest group discussing the establishment of a history museum IN North Tonawanda FOR North Tonawanda and ABOUT North Tonawanda.
The two Neals have been part of the Museum effort since the first Board meeting on October 9, 2003. Mrs. Neal has always been a full-time (often double-time and even triple-time) volunteer Executive Director in spite of her age and many physical disabilities and John Neal served as a full-time volunteer for the first four years, becoming a paid employee on August 15, 2007.
The book is the second full-length publication of the now nearly eight year old history museum, with the first book, "North Tonawanda: The Lumber City," having been released in November 2007. The first book continues to be available in hard copy ($35) and paperback ($30) --and should always be available because the North Tonawanda History Museum holds the copyright to all of its publications. "We are always having to re-order the first book in both paperback and hard cover," reports Haynes, "because it continues to be so popular, both for first time purchasers--and for gifts for others by first time purchasers and by those who have already read and treasured their own copy."
The new book, per the two Neals, is a totally North Tonawanda creation! Both Neals are North Tonawanda residents. The cover design is by North Tonawanda resident and Museum advisory committee member Beverly DiPalma, Vice President/Creative, Quinlan & Company. Publishing of this book, after a somewhat tumultous year of learning late in the process that a change of publishers was needed, is North Tonawanda's Pioneer Printers, Inc. "Carl P. Hoover, president and owner of Pioneer Printers is also a member of our advisory committee," says Mrs. Neal, "and he has overseen the publishing of all of our publications except our early heritage cookbook series (which also is still available and popular) and our first full-length book. The only reason Pioneer Printers did not publish that book was that they were unable at the time to do a hard cover book and we felt it important that our first full-length book be not only a hard cover version but also have a laminated cover to properly show our respect and love for North Tonawanda. In fact, we set aside the paperback copies and never made them available for the first two years, selling only the hard cover versions. We still sell many more hard covers than paperback copies. We also have never raised the price, keeping them affordable for all who want them so that they can afford multiple copies."
Research for the book began when the museum effort began, with Mrs. Neal learning to create a museum legally and also to develop one that the early supporters wanted, while modifying plans along the way as additional input came in from new people joining the museum effort. In 2006, Walter Wozniak became a volunteer researcher, also with no experience, and he continues as a valued volunteer. Although a Town of Tonawanda resident, now a Village of Kenmore resident, he has been a North Tonawanda History Museum volunteer since early 2006. Randall L. Warblow, former vice president and Trustee and now an Ex-officio Trustee and advisory committee member of the museum, with a focus on genealogy, became a museum researcher in 2009. John Neal, who has been the museum's webmaster and digital curator and IT director throughout the history of the museum, also developed into the museum's lead researcher once he became a paid employee and was physically in the museum daily. Mrs. Neal also credits her historian colleagues around the region and even in other states and countries and many museum supporters who also assist with specific research projects and, most of all, the thousands of present and past residents or members of the families of past residents who have contributed valuable information.
"We realized early on," notes Mrs. Neal, "that the volume of data we were accumulating would for the most part not be accessible to many because they wouldn't even dream of asking for such things without first knowing something about them. That is why we determined early on to preserve as much as we could in permanent form. The history of North Tonawanda is special and unique--and the richest part of it is the stories of the people who were, are, and will be North Tonawanda. We are so delighted that our supporters have realized that we accept things about living people because we will be able to preserve them for the benefit of future generations instead of having to scramble to gather it together in 50 years or so."
The title of this book came from the title given by Mrs. Neal to the museum's biennial historic homes tours, "Historic Treasures Tours." "The historic homes featured in our tours are not the only historic treasures in North Tonawanda," per Mrs. Neal. "Many no longer existing structures, such as our now lost Elks Lodge building, are also historic treasures. We believed from the beginning of our research on the city's history that Oliver Street, in particular, had the most fascinating history of anywhere in the city. It was where the working class people lived, worked, did business, and so many of the factories in which they were employed were near Oliver Street. The section on Oliver Street does not cover everything on Oliver Street--but no one will be able to read that section without coming away with a new appreciation for it. John and I were so pleased also because we were able to add a reference to the loss of Edward Wiater and the destruction of the Elks Lodge building in the copy before printing began. Our hands on approach to producing our publications on the city's history makes it possible to do things that would not be possible if we worked with more customary publishing methods. As with everything we have done in our first eight years, we have never taken the easy way or the routine way of doing things. We have always attempted to take the most effective way. We also have never allowed any obstacle to defeat us along the way. We always find a way to accomplish what we have set out to do for our supporters."
Per Mrs. Neal, the requests for written history began as soon as the idea of a museum was discussed in the summer of 2003. The requests for tours focusing on the history also were frequent and the museum developed 90 minute history walks before they even occupied their first temporary location on Oliver Street. Between the history walks and the biennial homes tours, Mrs. Neal realized that there are many individuals who cannot do the walking anymore and many who wish to enjoy the experience but don't live here anymore. That was the reason the museum has always produced a publication the continue to sell as the guidebook for the homes tours instead of just a disposable program. The guidebooks for the 2005, 2007, 2009, and 2011 tours continue to be good sellers in the museum gift shop. Hence, after producing the first chronological format book, "North Tonawanda: The Lumber City," the focus turned to a street by street history.
"We had to cut out quite a bit from this book that we would have liked to include," said John Neal. "We ended up with an 800 page book in a 680 page two-volume set. We have enough copy that had to be pulled out of this one for at least one more volume, but we are working on Volume III and Volume IV of this title and haven't yet transferred what we had to regretfully pull out of Volume I and Volume II." DiPalma will produce covers for the rest of the series and they will also be printed by Pioneer Printers.
In addition to the many hundreds that were pre-ordered, initial purchases have been significant in the first three days the book has been out, reports Mrs. Neal. "It has been heartwarming to have customers come in who saw copies purchased by friends or family members who just had to run over and get their own copies. We are pretty good at remembering who is related to who but we have had many who came to buy a gift for a friend or relative who knew from our first book release to check and make sure they hadn't already obtained their own copy. We have enjoyed seeing the surprise and pleasure on people's faces as they turn to their street and either find their home or business or that of neighbors or discover a story about family members they didn't realize would be in the book. Often they didn't know the story before, either. It is those reactions and the delight and eagerness of our customers that makes the struggle to get this one out before Christmas worth all the effort. Most customers have walked out looking like they are holding a valuable prize."
Board president Clark said, "We are grateful to the dedicated museum volunteers who responded to the unheard of last minute needs of getting the two-volume sets assembled for distribution on arrival, worked on record keeping so that all prepaid orders were ready for pick up, handled the sale of additional copies and copies of our other publications, packaged and prepared for mailing the hundreds we had to get to the post office on December 23. Half of the books arrived on December 22 and our museum juggler and Executive Director managed to keep her sanity and satisfy everyone until the second half arrived late on December 23. Our thanks to the volunteers who worked with her and made it possible to be open late on the 22nd and 23rd and all day on Christmas Eve."
Now that the book is in stock, it is available for $40 for the two-volume set (tax included). The History Museum accepts Master Card, Visa Card, Discover Card and cash or check. Copies may be mailed for $6 additional.
History Museum Announces Hours for 2012!!!
January: Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays - 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
February 1 to May 31: Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays - 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Admission is $5 adults; $3 senior and veterans; Museum members free at all times. Call for rates for group tours.
The North Tonawanda History Museum Announces its Management Team for 2012!!!
The Board of Trustees of the North Tonawanda History Museum, at its December 1, 2011, Annual Meeting of the Board of Trustees, elected the following officers for 2012: Robert J. Clark, President; Robert L. Grosskopf, Jr.; Vice President; Craig B. Haynes, Treasurer; and Donna Zellner Neal, Secretary.
Robert J. Clark, President; Donna Zellner Neal, Secretary (and Executive Director); Craig D. Haynes, Treasurer; and Robert L. Grosskopf, Jr., Vice President. Photo courtesy of Museum volunteer William Bauza.
Robert J. Clark, HMCM (FMF) USN (Ret); CMSGT USAF (Ret), is chairman of the North Tonawanda Taxpayers' Advisory Committee. He has a Bachelor's Degree in Liberal Studies from Thomas Edison State College and an Associate’s Degree in Allied Health Sciences from the Community College of the Air Force. He was awarded 35 decorations, two badges, and 11 state awards (New York and New Jersey) during his military career. He is a life member of the 1st Marine Division Association, Air Force Sergeants' Association, American Legion, Marine Corps League, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Naval Enlisted Reserve Association, Navy League, New York Naval Militia Association, SeaBee Veterans of America, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Vietnam Veterans of America. He is a proud resident of North Tonawanda’s Gratwick section.
A life member as well of the North Tonawanda History Museum, he has been working with staff and volunteers in recent months on various operational projects. He is also working with Advisory Committee member George Trautman on the development of military heritage programming. He is Government Relations chair for 2012.
Robert L. Grosskopf, Jr. is Store Manager of the Walgreens at 1066 Payne Avenue at 19th Avenue. Now a resident of the Town of Wheatfield, he was raised in North Tonawanda and is a North Tonawanda High School graduate, majoring in business applications. He obtained an Associates Degree in Business Management at Niagara County Community College in 2006, while serving as a Hardlines Manager for KMart. He also was Overnight Manager for BJ's Wholesale Club in Clarence prior to joining Walgreens as an Assistant Manager and then Executive Assistant. He has been a Store Manager for four years and began his career as a Walgreens Store Manager at the Main Street and Kenmore Avenue location in Buffalo. He has been the Store Manager of the Payne Avenue & 19th Avenue Walgreens for 1-1/2 years, but has a total of twelve years of experience in retail management.
Grosskopf has been a volunteer firefighter with Gratwick Hose Fire Company since 1993, is a member of Salem United Church of Christ in Tonawanda since birth. He is very active with activities in which his children are involved, including Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, North Towns Soccer Club, Niagara Wheatfield Amateur Athletics (football and cheerleading), swimming, and camping.
He completely remodeled his former historic home in North Tonawanda and enjoys renovation projects. A Museum supporter since he became Store Manager of the new Walgreens location in 2010, he has assisted with sales of Museum publications at the store. He has provided discount offers for Museum visitors at the Payne Avenue Walgreens since becoming Manager. Walgreens was a major sponsor of the Historic Treasures Tour 2011 also. His business management, retailing and marketing experience will be valuable in all areas of Museum operations. His renovation skills and enjoyment of remodeling are very useful to the History Museum. He is a business/civic member of the North Tonawanda History Museum. He served on the Personnel committee in 2011.
Clark and Grosskopf were Governance committee co-chairs during 2011. Working with Executive Director Donna Zellner Neal, they have been pro-active in the effort to develop the Board of Trustees of the now nearly eight year old North Tonawanda History Museum into the kind of professional and active body the North Tonawanda History Museum needs for its current and long-term vision.
Craig B. Haynes is a resident of North Tonawanda and was appointed to the Board of Trustees in September 2010. He is of Irish-American, German-American, English-American, and Hungarian-American heritage. A journeyman pipefitter, he is employed by General Motors and his educational history includes archaeology, anthropology, history, and criminal justice. He is active in planning Museum fundraising events and serves in the cataloguing of archival materials and artifacts. He chaired the first annual North Tonawanda’s Memorial Bowlathon in 2011 and is actively involved in the planning of the second bowlaton on April 22. He has been Personnel committee chair.
Neal is a native of the City of Tonawanda and a transplant to North Tonawanda. She is of Polish-American and German-American heritage and a Roman Catholic. She is a retired business administrator who also worked extensively as a public relations coordinator, bookkeeper, and a development director. A member of the History Museum's original steering committee, she was asked to coordinate the development of the History Museum by then Mayor David Burgio on September 10, 2003, and became a Founding Trustee at the first meeting of the Board of Trustees on October 9, 2003, at which time she was elected Secretary and also appointed as Executive Director. She was made a Charter Honorary Life Member in 2005 for her significant contributions to the startup of the Museum. She has served as the History Museum's volunteer Executive Director since October 9, 2003. She served as Secretary from October 9, 2003 through December 31, 2006, and from January 1, 2008 through December 31, 2011. She served as Assistant Secretary from August 1, 2007 through December 31, 2007. Neal completed an online training program on Nonprofit Management for which the History Museum obtained a $500 GO! grant from Museumwise in Oneonta, New York, in 2010. Presented by The Learning Institute for Nonprofit Organizations, it is part of the Learning Institute Certificate Series of training. Certificates of Excellence in Nonprofit Leadership and Management were granted to Neal for each of the eight segments she completed under the grant from the Society for nonprofit Organizations and Michigan State University's CARRS Department. Michigan State University has awarded 4.8 Continuing Education Units for completion of the courses. The courses completed were Board Governance, Marketing, Mission-Based Management, Resource Development, Volunteer Management, Strategic Alliances, Strategic Planning, and Social Entrepreneurship. The Museum has a framed certificate on exhibit in the Museum, verifying her training.
Other Trustees continuing for 2012 are Jeffrey A. Kasubski and Barbara M. Wickman.
Jeffrey Kaszubski and Barbara Wickman in the Museum annex on December 2.
Kaszubski is a lifelong resident of North Tonawanda and was appointed to the Board of Trustees in November 2010. He is of Polish-American heritage. He is retired from a career in heating/air conditioning/refrigeration and electrical services. He is a Certified Heating/Air Conditioning/Refrigeration Technician with electrical training from Niagara County Community College. He has an EPA in refrigeration with State and Federal certification and an AAS degree in industrial and residential service. He has served as volunteer maintenance coordinator for the History Museum since August 3, 2009. He has been a Trustee since 2010. He has participated in many Museum events and programs. He has been active on the Facilities committee.
Wickman is a long time North Tonawanda resident of English-American, Irish-American, and Swedish-American heritage. She is a self-employed store owner of Barb's Sweet Treats and Jack's Trains on Oliver Street. She has been a member of the North Tonawanda History Museum since its days as an interest group in 2003 and has been a Trustee since 2005. She was made a Charter Honorary Life Member in 2005 for her significant contributions to the startup of the Museum. She served as Vice President in 2005, 2006, and 2007, and as Treasurer in 2009, 2010, and 2011. She has served as chair of the Heritage Cookbooks committee and has taken an active role in all fundraising events and programs since her first participation in the Museum’s involvement in Winter Walk 2003. She has been active on the Museum’s Community Relations committee and its various fundraising committees.
In other business at the Annual meeting, the Board of Trustees appointed Brandi Ziehm to a three-year term as Trustee. An active Museum volunteer, she also serves on the Board of Directors of Dom Polski.
Brandi Ziehm, left, assisted by volunteer Penny Buterbaugh-Naimi at the December 2 Winter Walk reception in the History Museum annex.
The Board of Trustees also appointed retiring Trustees, the Rev. Carl D. Onofrio and Randall L. Warblow, as Ex-officio Trustees.
Onofrio is a native of North Tonawanda. A retired Lutheran pastor, he now resides in Niagara Falls, Ontario. He is of Italian-American and German-American heritage and has an adopted daughter of First Nations heritage. He has been a member of the North Tonawanda History Museum since 2005 and is a life member. He served as a Trustee from January 2009 through December 2011. He has taken an active role in the Community Relations committee, in various fundraising committees. He was co-chair of the External Affairs committee. The History Museum's quarterly used book sales were begun with his assistance and support in 2006. He and his wife, Joan, have volunteered at most Museum events.
Warblow is a lifelong resident of North Tonawanda of German-American heritage and is a Lutheran, a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church. He is a retail store manager at Rite Aid Drugs on Robinson Street. He has been a member of the North Tonawanda History Museum since 2005 and is a life member. He was a Trustee from January 2009 through December 2011. He has served as chair of the Facilities committee, the Sign committee, and was a co-chair of the Internal Affairs committee. He is chair of the Genealogy committee and is active on the Education committee, focusing on research. He has presented genealogy workshops for the Museum. He developed the Museum's chowder sales in collaboration with Ava’s Place using his own secret recipe. He has volunteered at most Museum events.
The Board of Trustees also named retiring President and Trustee Carl T. Tamburlin a Trustee Emeritus.
Tamburlin, center, with Executive Director Donna Zellner Neal and HSBC Bank representative Thomas Crowley, as he executed the final purchase and mortgage assumption documents on March 18, 2009.
Tamburlin is a lifelong resident of North Tonawanda of Italian-American heritage and is a Roman Catholic. He is a high school teacher's aide in special education for the North Tonawanda School District and is an active and founding member of Ghostlight Theatre/Starry Night Theatre. He was active with the Riviera Theatre in the past. He has been a member of the North Tonawanda History Museum since 2005. He had been a History Museum Trustee since 2007. He previously served as Vice President of the History Museum in 2008 and served as President from July 2008 through December 31, 2011. He was made an Honorary Life Member of the History Museum for his contributions in its early development. He made significant contributions to the development of and presenting of the Haunted Gardens on the EEErie Canal event the Museum presented in 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008. He also was chair of the 2008 Dancing Under the Stars event for the Museum's capital campaign to purchase the building.
The following is the full slate of Ex-officio Trustees who were re-affirmed for 2012: A. Daniel Bille, Lynn S. Beman, Cindy A. Burkett, Peter J. Kopf, James F. Mroz, John Zellner Neal, Rev. Carl D. Onofrio, John W. Percy, Peter G. Pullman, Kory M. Schuler, Peter Trinkwalder, Randall L. Warblow.
Additionally, the Board of Trustees re-affirmed the following as members of the Museum’s Advisory Committee for 2012: A. Daniel Bille, Cindy A. Burkett, Dr. Thomas A. Chambers, James D. DiBernardo, Beverly DiPalma, Carl P. Hoover, Barbara B. Hughes, CTC, MCC; Deborah L. Jaeger, Hon. George D. Maziarz, Michael B. Mroczka, James F. Mroz, John W. Percy, Kory M. Schuler, Hon. Peter E. Smolinski, Kevin T. Stocker, Esq.; Douglas P. Taylor, George Trautman, Jr.; Margaret A. Waite, James J. Weber.
Trustees Emeritus thus honored since the inception of the Museum as an interest group in September 2003 are: Paul A. Rumbold, Jr., Founding President; Kay Learned; John Borycki; Cynthia Fredricks; Betty Brandon; Joyce Santiago; Judith L. Mittiga; Margaret M. Cheeley; Diane M. Meholick; Dr. John H. George; and Carl T. Tamburlin.
The Board of Trustees is holding its annual retreat at the History Museum on Saturday, January 7 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Museum will be closed that day. The Trustees invite all Ex-officio Trustees and Advisory Committee members to join them as they plan the future of the Museum, both short-term and long-term.
Museum Needs Your Help!
The Board of Trustees of the North Tonawanda History Museum requests your immediate support of the day-to-day operations of what is rapidly becoming acknowledged as a quality history center and a regional attraction for visitors. We have been operating with an operating funding gap since the beginning of the year.
Following six years of profitable operations, we have encountered serious setbacks in the last 18 months because of the economic downturn and just as we had taken on our move into larger quarters and set up for operations and activities. We had to draw on our reserves to make up for reduced grant income caused by the nation's financial crisis. We needed--and continue to need--our current facilities in order to properly protect and display and make accessible to the general public the rich and unique history of North Tonawanda.
Those who spend time appreciating what we have created thus far are so grateful. We have been told by museum knowledgeable individuals across the State that we have accomplished in seven years what would have taken many others 30 years to do.
Our wonderful and loyal volunteers and primarily volunteer staff deserve the financial support of those we serve. Utilities, insurance, telephone, internet service, payroll, etc., etc. all must be paid in monetary form. Our supporters assist us with donations of office supplies and many operating supplies on a continuing basis, reducing our monetary outlays for such things. Our volunteer Executive Director and her crew have worked miracles to bring us this far. We are, however, at a critical stage right now and need your donations, as you are able, to be able to continue through our eighth year.
The North Tonawanda History Museum is a charitable organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
We, the Board of Trustees, are truly grateful for the membership fees, donations, purchases of Museum publications and support of our activities. Without you, we wouldn't have begun--and we wouldn't have gotten this far.
Our Executive Director, staff and volunteers need your support of our day-to-day operations as enthusiastically as you are in a position to do so that they can continue to develop the exhibits, properly preserve and protect our rapidly expanding collections, and continue the quality research for which we have become highly respected.
We encourage you to consider becoming a Lumber City History Center Steward, with a regular donation, monthly, quarterly, or annually, as you are able, or by becoming a member of our Legacy Society by any number of methods, including simple bequests in your will. It is our firm belief that one day someone who values our efforts will provide for an endowment fund to get us through lean periods in the future.
In the meantime, in addition to our existing needs for capital items, we currently need your help in any way possible in addressing our current funding gap.
Thank you from the Board of Trustees and on behalf of all of those we serve for your continued faith in us.
Thirteen enthusiastic gentlemen served as an honor guard for the move into the North Tonawanda History Museum on November 20 of "Woody," the wooden Seabee statue with a sledgehammer in one hand and a carbine rifle in the other which was part of the Navy Seabee Veterans of America Niagara Frontier Island X-8 Navy Seabees Monument in Raymond J. Klimek Veteran's Park since 1998. The monument was dedicated on June 8, 1996. "Woody" was replaced by a bronze statue on November 11, 2008. The hammer held by "Woody" is a symbol of the Navy fighting Seabees' specialty as its construction division. The rifle was proof of their readiness to suspend their work and fight.
The moving crew was comprised of members of Navy Seabee Veterans of America Niagara Frontier Island X-8, coordinated by George Trautman, a resident of the Town of Tonawanda who is secretary of the Niagara Frontier Island X-8 chapter of the Navy Seabee Veterans of America, and North Tonawanda History Museum volunteers, coordinated by Benton Hiltz II. "Woody" was delivered to the History Museum, courtesy of Island X-8 member Paul R. Wendt, who donated the use of his truck from Wendt's Propane & Oil. Assisting with the move were George Trautman, Paul Wendt, Bill Myers, Raymond Franchell, and Louis Fronczak of Island X-8, Paul Wendt's son, Jacob; and Benton Hiltz II, Kenneth Nedell, M. J. Lewandowski, Chris Gurnett, William Wild, John Zunchak, and John Zellner Neal of the North Tonawanda History Museum.
The North Tonawanda Seabees Monument began as a concept in the mid 1990s, built by members of Island X-8 and financed by donations. A Seabees monument is also in Arlington Cemetery. There are Seabee memorials in Exeter, Rhode Island, Gulfport, Mississippi, Port Hueneme, California. A Seabee Memorial is also located in Veteran's Park in Toms River, New Jersey, erected by Navy Seabee Veterans of America Island X-2 of Lakehurst, New Jersey. The Seabee Memorial is located in Rhode Island Veteran's Cemetery in Exeter, Rhode Island, was erected by Navy Seabee Veterans of America Island X-1 of Davisville, The North Tonawanda monument is the largest by far of any Seabee Memorials in the world. The second to it is the one at the entrance of Arlington Cemetery. The others are granite markers or single wall with plaques.hode Island.
"Woody" was created for Island X-8 by chain saw artist Rick Pratt.
The bronze statue which replaced "Woody" at the monument was created by Brian Porter, a lecturer and member of the Fine Arts Department at Buffalo State College, who was awarded a commission from the Community Foundation of Greater Buffalo to create a life-size bronze statue of a World War II Navy Seabee. It was made possible with funds from the estate of the late Dorothy Darlak and is in honor of her husband, Joseph E. Darlak, a World War II Seabee and also in honor of the 350,000 men who served in the Seabees in World War II.
On November 11, 2010, the new "Fighting Seabee" sculpture was unveiled and dedicated. A replica of the famous Bee in the Seabee logo was fabricated in stainless steel and donated to the memorial by Skrlin Coating and Blasting Ltd. of Niagara Falls. The major contribution was given by George Skrlin in memory of Nancy Skrlin and her father, Stephan Butski, USMC, who gave his life on Iwo Jima in World War II. The hammer and rifle were selected to be part of the statue by sculptor Brian Porter.
The Seabees are the Navy's construction battalion. The Seabees began in 1942 when there was a mammoth need for construction work in the islands of the Pacific. The Seabees wanted a logo and a file clerk creating a design suggested a beaver. Since beavers turn tail and run, a bee was selected instead. Per George Trautman, a member of the North Tonawanda History Museum Advisory Committee, "With a bee, you fool with them and they'll sting you. Seabees will not only sting you, but shoot you as well." Per George, "The Seabees literally paved the way to victory. They went in right after the Marines to build houses, storage buildings, and air strips. As the air strips were bombed, they just built new ones."
A bulldozer, which is also at the monument, is the same as was used in World War II. George's dream of having a map of the world that lit up is part of the monument.
It was through the efforts of the Seabees detachment from North Tonawanda as well that a three-mile section of River Road was designated in July 2003 by the State Legislature as "North Tonawanda POW-MIA Memorial Highway."
State Senator Recently Stops By Museum!
New York State Senator George Maziarz and Robert C. Rand toured the North Tonawanda History Museum on September 28. Senator Maziarz called the first interest group meeting on September 10, 2003, to kick off plans to create the history museum. Members of the Rand family, proud of their family's roots in North Tonawanda and the contributions their ancestors made to North Tonawanda, Tonawanda, and the world, have been supportive of the history museum effort from the beginning. Robert Rand visits the History Museum frequently. Here, Senator Maziarz and Robert Rand join Executive Director Donna Zellner Neal in front of a Wurlitzer Model 1400 jukebox manufactured in 1951 and donated to the History Museum by member George Trautman.
Museum Announces Volunteer and Board Positions Available Immediately
The North Tonawanda History Museum is seeking a number of volunteer trainees who are able to commit to a regular weekly schedule. These volunteers will be trained for specific museum related responsibilities.
Needed are volunteers for the following categories:
Researchers - preferably with experience in working with old records, directories, census reports, land deeds, etc. Will train as needed if sufficient interest exists. Computer and internet experience valuable. Must collaborate with archival records coordinator, reference library assistants, digital records assistants, cataloguing assistants, and data entry assistants.
Data entry assistants to be trained to use museum specific software, requires use of digital camera, scanner, etc. Must be detail oriented. Must collaborate with digital records assistants, cataloguing assistants, reference library assistants, and archival records assistants.
Docents/greeters, must enjoy history and meeting people. Must be team oriented.
Digital records assistants - for scanning and other related assignments, collaborating with other digital records assistants, cataloguing assistants, archival records assistants, reference library assistants, and data entry assistants.
Cataloguing assistants - must enjoy manual record keeping, creating labels, collaborating with digital records assistants, data entry assistants, reference library assistants, archival records assistants.
Reference library assistants - must have library experience, collaborate with archival records assistants, cataloguing assistants, digital records assistants,
Archival records assistants - must have thorough knowledge of filing methods, enjoy history, collaborate with cataloguing assistants, digital records assistants, data entry assistants and reference library assistants.
Volunteer coordinator - must have experience in orientation, training, scheduling, and volunteer records management.
All volunteers report to the Executive Director and Assistant Executive Director. Residence in North Tonawanda is not a requirement.
Call or email for an application form.
Also, the Governance Committee of the Board of Trustees is seeking candidates for several additional openings on the Board of Trustees. Call or email for an application form.
Hurtubise Exhibit Being Developed at Museum!!!
Photo shows Richard L. "Joe" Zellner invited Karen Hurtubise-Pashong, daughter of North Tonawanda's race car legend, Jim Hurtubise, to visit the Museum and see the exhibit being developed under Joe's direction.
The North Tonawanda History Museum, in collaboration with Richard L. (Joe) Zellner, is developing an exhibit on North Tonawanda's Jim "Hercules" Hurtubise. James Ernest Hurtubise was a champion automobile race car driver. He established a fine record nationally, beginning with being named Rookie of the Year in 1960 at Indianapolis, until he was seriously injured and burned in a racing accident at Milwaukee on June 6, 1964. The exhibit is only partially complete, but those interested in "Jim" are invited to visit the Museum.
Others assisting Zellner in gathering items for the exhibit include James Warblow, John Farino, Bill Stone, and Rick Schumacher.
When he won his first national championship in only four tries, he was nicknamed "Hercules" by the sports writers.
Jim had worked at American District Steam, but his passion for racing caused him, with his chief mechanic, Lee Bruss, to move to California in February 1956 so they could race year round.
In 1956, Jim won features in his home-built vehicle, with even better results in 1957, the year he was elevated to "superstar" status alongside Parnelli Jones and Roger McCluskey. Jim was leading the IMCA point standings in 1959 when USAV star Johnny Thomsom was inured in a sprint car. Thomson's car owner, Art Lathrop, asked Jim to leave IMCA and fill in for Thomson while he healed.
In his third championship car outing, Jim beat Tony Bettenhausen and A. J. Foyt to win the Sacramento 100. He'd gone from driving at Merritville to winning the last champ car race of the 1950s in four years.
In 1960, Jim became a legend. As a rookie at Indianapolis, he broke the track record by nearly two miles per hour. He came very close to being the first to turn a lap in less than one minute. In 1961 he started outside the front row, and in 1963 in the middle of the front row. He often led at Indianapolis, but mechanical breakdowns kept him from the Victory Lane. However, he had become a master of Indy cars on mile dirt tracks, conquering Longhome, Springfield, and Sacramento!
On June 7, 1964, during the champ car race at Milwaukee, Jim qualified third fastest behind Rodger Ward and A. J. Foyd. They ran nose to tail for the first 51 of the 100 laps. Ward's rear end seized up, Foyt jumped on the brakes, the left front of Jim's car vaulted Foy'ts tail and Jim rammed the front of stretch wall. Jim's right rear tire snapped off and struck him in the chest, breaking three ribs and puncturing a lung. Jim was unconscious as methanol flooded the cockpit,erupting almost immediately into a 1000-degree inferno.
Jim's brother Pete pulled him from the flaming wreck. Jim almost died, lying in critical condition at the Houston Army Burns Center. Doctors told him that his hands would remain paralyzed by the burns. Jim asked them to mold them to fit around a steering wheel. The doctors did so.
In 1965 Jim returned to racing and was tenth fastest at Indianapolis in Andy Granatelli's Novi. The car broke down on the first lap. Jim brought in a fourth place finish at Atlanta and a second at Trenton, but he was no longer the driver he had been before the fire. His 1965 comeback earned him nine awards for bravery, but he was no longer sought by owners of top cars.
Despite his limited success, Jim was a fan favorite throughout much of his career, and many described him as an "old style" race car driver. He raced in the USAC Championship Car series in the 1959-68 and 1970-1974 seasons, with 97 career starts. He finished in the top ten 38 times, with 4 victories, in 1959 at Sacramento, 1960 at Langhorne, and 1961 and 1962 at Springfield. Jim died of a sudden heart attack on January 6, 1989 at the age of 56. His car number had always been "56." He was inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 1993.
MUSEUM PROUD MEMBER OF NEWLY FORMED CULTURAL ALLIANCE
Rae Proefrock, Acting Chair, and Donna Zellner Neal, Acting Secretary announce the first meeting of the Cultural Alliance of the Tonawandas took place on Monday, June 1 at the North Tonawanda History Museum. Initial participants in the new local alliance of cultural non-profit organizations were the Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum/Carrousel Society of the Niagara Frontier; the North Tonawanda History Museum; the Historical Society of the Tonawandas and its Benjamin Long Homestead; the Railroad Museum of the Niagara Frontier/Niagara Frontier Chapter of the National Railroad Historical Society; the Riviera Theatre, the Carnegie Art Center; Starry Night Theatre/Ghostlight Theatre; and Gateway Harbor, Inc.
The purpose of the alliance is to collaboratively address issues of importance to the individual members and issues which affect them collectively and work together toward solutions.
Since its inception, the following have joined the Alliance: North Tonawanda Public Library, the City of Tonawanda Public Library, the American Legion Post 264 Band of the Tonawandas, Partners in Art, Canal Fest of the Tonawandas, and Winter Walk in the Gateway Cities.
The Cultural Alliance of the Tonawandas normally meets on the first Monday at 7 p.m. in the North Tonawanda History Museum, 54 Webster Street, North Tonawanda.
Click the logo above to enter the new directory page for the Cultural Alliance of the Tonawandas.
NORTH TONAWANDA MAGNETS NOW AVAILABLE!!!
The North Tonawanda History Museum is pleased to announce the beginning of a line of North Tonawanda magnets. The first two in the series, a colored photographic view of Webster/Sweeney Street looking across the Canal from Tonawanda declaring "PROUD to be from...North Tonawanda, NY" and a black and white 1953 view of the west side of Webster Street from the Sugar Bowl almost to Goundry Street labeled "Historic Downtown North Tonawanda, NY" are the first in the line and are available for purchase at $2 each. An NTHS team letter magnet will also soon be available. Additional photo magnets will be designed. A trial selection of tee shirts and caps reading "Proud to be from North Tonawanda" will soon be available also.
"PROUD to be from... North Tonawanda, NY"
"Historic Downtown North Tonawanda, NY"
Call us at (716) 213-0554 for shipping rates if placing order by phone.
Museum Now Accepting Discover Card!!!
The North Tonawanda History Museum is pleased to announce that, in addition to MasterCard and Visa, Discover Card is also an acceptable form of payment. In addition to Museum books and publications and other publications by local authors, these cards may be used for the purchase of registration for tickets to the September 12 tour of historic homes.
Contact a Museum Representative by calling (716-213-0554) or emailing nthistorymuseum@aol.com for more information.
The Board of Trustees of the North Tonawanda History Museum announces that the purchase of their permanent home at 54-60 Webster (and 59-61 Manhattan Street) has been finalized, with closing occurring on March 18 in Buffalo. History Museum President Carl Tamburlin and Executive Director Donna Zellner Neal consummated the purchase on behalf of the History Museum's Board of Trustees.
The purchase price was $675,000. A significant role in the purchase was played by The Margaret L. Wendt Foundation, which in January 2008, approved a $150,000 grant toward the purchase. The History Museum has assumed an existing mortgage with HSBC Bank USA, National Association, using the $150,000 to pay down that mortgage to $202,386.87. A $33,750 downpayment was made in 2008. The previous owner, Regent Properties, LLC, is holding a second mortgage note in the amount of $290,623.77, with interest only payments until the HSBC mortgage is paid off. There are no prepayment penalties on either mortgage. Vadim Gorobets, principal in Regent Properties, a resident of California, is also guarantor on the first mortgage for the History Museum, having come to support the organization's vision for the building during the negotiation process which began in 2006.
The History Museum has negotiated a lease with Tanning Bed to continue its operations in the south end of the building. Museum Trustees hope that Tanning Bed will remain for at least several years. Phoenix Frontier, which operated the Re-Tap Thrift Store in the part of the building now occupied by the North Tonawanda History Museum, moved out in January 2007 but had continued to be obligated under the terms of their lease with Regent Properties.
Gorobets purchased the building from Plaza Group in July 2006, assuming the two existing leases at that time. Neal, having been informed of the purchase by Mayor Lawrence V. Soos, contacted Gorobets in early September 2006 to inquire about purchase possibilities. Leasing was ruled out because of the heavy investment the History Museum Board plans for the renovation phase over the next ten years. The experience of the then Niagara Aerospace Museum in losing its 37-1/2 year lease and conversations with potential donors ruled out leasing. Gorobets and Neal enjoy recalling the first conversation in which Neal informed him that, while the group felt it would be a good location for their Lumber City History Center project, they were not then, as a two and a half year old organization, financially able to accomplish the purchase but were determined to find a way to do so.
Area residents, businesses, cultural organizations, and elected and appointed officials submitted a barrage of letters of support to Neal to submit to Gorobets to encourage him to consider a future sale. By April 2007, Gorobets had issued a "non-binding letter of intent" to sell the building to the History Museum for $675,000, to enable them to begin raising the funds. Then Board President John H. George signed the non-binding letter of intent in May 2007. Now deceased Trustee John H. Kolecki suggested a "5&10 Campaign" for fundraising for the project. Sadly, with his death on December 31, 2008, he did not live to see his dream come true. Museum representatives reflect often on his influence during his two-year tenure as a Trustee.
In addition to the grant from The Margaret L. Wendt Foundation, grants were received from Niagara County ($5,000), New York State Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation ($10,000 in 2007 and $50,000 in 2008, both through the efforts of Senator George D. Maziarz), the Max & Victoria Dreyfus Foundation ($5,000), M&T Charitable Foundation ($2,500), Wal-Mart Foundation ($2,000), and a private foundation. Individual donations through the 2005-6 "Future of Our Past Campaign," the "5&10 Campaign" and the "Buy a Brick Campaign," helped with expenses of the downpayment, due diligence and other expenses related to the purchase.
History Museum representatives have found the response heartwarming to their plan to purchase and renovate the building, which was originally six separate buildings, four on Webster Street and two on Manhattan Street, parts of which date to 1888, with serious renovations having taken place in the mid-1960s and the second floor portion facing Webster Street having been totally reconstructed following a 1986 fire. Donations have come in from as far away as Dubai in the United Arab Emirates and from all over the United States.
In 2008, the History Museum Board authorized volunteer Danielle Oney to develop plans for the "Buy a Brick Campaign." This campaign is ongoing, with engraved 8x8" ceramic tiles offered for $100 for individuals and non-profit organizations, $250 for families, and $500 for corporations. The tiles, many of which are already on display in the new building, will eventually be installed on the interior walls of the History Museum portion of the building. Brick may be purchased by downloading and printing the following application which can then be sent in to the Museum for processing:
BUY A BRICK APPLICATION
(.PDF File Format)
Michael A. DeFreitas of William C. Moran & Associates handled the legal work for the History Museum.
William L. Henderson, AIA, of WL Henderson, Architect, of Clarence will serve as architect for the long range project.
During the lengthy pre-closing period, the History Museum supervised extensive repairs to the roof at Regent Properties' expense, repairs to the heating system at Phoenix Frontier's expense, and electrical upgrades on the first floor and basement level at the History Museum's expense. A strong Facilities Committee has developed, with Trustee Edward Wokersien as Chair. Benton Hiltz II has taken on the volunteer role of Facilities Manager.
The History Museum took over the deposits and expenses of gas and electric utilities and the security system in December, and had the building insured by The Hartford as of January 12, all in contemplation of closing.
The History Museum officially moved out of their start up quarters at 314 Oliver Street over the Martin Luther King weekend when 24 volunteers spent the better part of a week packing, moving, unpacking, and hauling History Museum possessions from the Oliver Street location and from the former Lowry School Building, now Gersh Experience, at 621 Payne Avenue. They had occupied the Oliver Street site since August 2004 when then owner David Zobrist of Awnings Plus had donated the use. When Zobrist sold the building in September 2005 to Paul Brown, the History Museum became a paying tenant.
The North Tonawanda School District donated storage space in the former Lowry School building at 621 Payne Avenue for two years prior to the sale of the building to Kevin Gersh for his Gersh Academy project. When Gersh took ownership, he extended the donated use of three rooms for storage as a donation to the History Museum.
Interior and exterior renovations for the final finished project will not begin until the History Museum has raised funding for and accomplished a solid fire warning and suppression system, an appropriately designed sprinkler system to meet the long term and short term requirements of the History Museum, a new HVAC system to perfectly climate control the entire building, and a total roof replacement. Fundraising is presently underway for this phase of renovations--and to pay off the two mortgages, as well as to cover the mortgage payments while the organization works to organize the existing interior to bring in operating income.
Part of the History Museum's Board's reasoning for desiring the building was that, in addition to its being perfect for the long term plans, its existing status lends itself to their short term needs as they remodel the building around themselves.
The Board of Trustees report that response to their occupancy of the building has been met with enthusiasm by the History Museum's more than 4,500 members and supporters.
The North Tonawanda History Museum began as a grass roots interest group in June 2003, grew to over 100 people by the first public meeting on September 10, 2003, created a Board of Trustees on October 9, 2003, and received its Provisional Charter from the Regents of the State University of New York on April 20, 2004. The Board of Regents on December 16, 2008, extended their Provisional Charter to December 16, 2013. Once the organization is fully functioning in the new building, they will make application for an Absolute Charter.
The History Museum Board of Trustees is grateful to the Board of Directors of Phoenix Frontier and to the management of Tanning Bed for their collaboration over the past two years.
The Museum is currently staffed by volunteer Executive Director Donna Zellner Neal, Assistant Executive Director John Zellner Neal. John Zellner Neal is the organization's only paid employee. Part-time volunteer staffs include Jane Garis, Archival Records Coordinator; Walter Wozniak, Research Coordinator; Daniel Harmon, Curatorial Assistant; Carol Kopcznski, Staff Assistant and Curatorial Assistant; and a number of general helpers.
Museum hours are currently Monday though Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. while unpacking is completed and re-inventorying of upwards of 200,000 items is completed.
Kristin Doebler Antemann and Facebook to the Rescue!
We have recently found out that our Online Forums provider (Xsorbit.com) has shut down services (without giving anyone notice at that). We were lucky enough to have a Facebook page created for us within the last few months by Kristin Doebler Antemann and would like to invite all of our old Forum guests to visit the following link to join our new online community hub via registration through Facebook. You will see that she has added the very same forum topics as with Xsorbit and encourage everyone to join and post freely.
Click here to view and register for our Facebook page
"Demonstration Edition" of the "Niagara Historic Trail" Update 2008-2009 Announced
The North Tonawanda History Museum, in cooperation with the County of Niagara and the Association of Municipal Historians of Niagara County and other County historians, the Historical Society of North German Settlements in Western New York and the Niagara County Historical Society, has produced a "Demonstration Edition" of "Niagara Historic Trail: A self-guided historic tour of Niagara County." It is an update of the original 1975 County project and the 1991 update by the County.
The 166-page spiral bound book (designed for use in driving around the County so that the pages will remain open for reference) will be available in January initially through the North Tonawanda History Museum and will also be distributed to other County cultural and tourism locations wishing to handle the sale.
Cost of the "Demonstration Edition" is $15 each and can be mailed for an additional $4. The North Tonawanda History Museum is accepting advance orders and accepts Master Card and Visa. Mail orders should be sent to the History Museum at 314 Oliver Street, North Tonawanda, NY 14120.
The new "Niagara Historic Trail" is dedicated "to our inspirations for their love of local history: Dr. H. William Feder, A. Daniel Bille, and John W. Percy."
Although the North Tonawanda History Museum is presently actively involved in moving from their three previous locations into their new home at 54 Webster Street, orders may be placed by phone at 213-0554 or email at nthistorymuseum@aol.com. A Museum representative will get back to you within 24 hours and arrange for pick up or delivery or mailing.
When the current Trail update project began in early 2008, the entire County of Niagara was enthusiastically celebrating the 200th anniversary of its establishment. The volunteer crew of municipal historians and historians from historical organizations in the County did not know what to anticipate in doing the update. A few had been involved in the earlier versions and some had never seen the printed versions of the earlier efforts. We did, however, generally conclude that, since a significant number of sites included in the previous two printed publications either no longer exist, were of current interest at the time of their original inclusion, or required new or additional descriptive material based on knowledge gained since the earlier publications, an updated version was justified.
The original intent was to have each community section updated and redone as correctly and thoroughly as possible so that the current publication would be an appropriate addition to the celebration of the County’s anniversary and provide a starting point for future updates, since technology has significantly improved in recent years and repeat printings and updated printings are much easier to facilitate. The finished product was to serve visitors to Niagara County, students of local history, and residents and become the basis for regular future updates and printing.
The plan was to fund the initial printing with grants and use the proceeds of the sale of the actual first printing for future printings. A dedicated fund was established by the North Tonawanda History Museum for this purpose, and a $5,000 grant was obtained from the Niagara County Legislature and a $2,500 Mini-Grant from the New York Council for the Humanities, a New York State affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, toward the initial printing costs. Beverly DiPalma of Quinlan Associates volunteered her services for the design of the cover. Carl Hoover of Pioneer Printers served as a consultant to the editor as plans progressed. Donna Zellner Neal, North Tonawanda History Museum Executive Director served as Editor and coordinated the project. Dr. H. William Feder made a presentation on the original Trail project at a March 2008 program of the North Tonawanda History Museum.
Because of the complications of a busy anniversary year in the County, a number of municipal historians were unable to fulfill the request for the historical descriptions, photos, and mapping data for their communities. We apologize, therefore, if their communities’ segments require future work. Without their assistance, we worked with what others were able to provide and did some of the work at the editor level so that all towns and villages and cities in Niagara County would be represented in the guidebook. The delays that resulted and the additional unanticipated work prevented us from having a completed copy at the initially planned time in September.
Our goal from the beginning, however, and the requirements of our funding of the printing, were for a book to be published in 2008 that could be easily updated and reprinted as needed.
Once the copy was as complete as we could make it, with the variety of styles provided merged into a uniform style, mapping proved to be a problem because it was not just a matter of adding available maps. Much of the material supplied, at a significant contribution of time by the historians, did not incorporate street addresses into the descriptions. In some instances, we had to totally eliminate a site which has an important history but for which siting it on a map was not possible as we passed our initial deadline and were continuing past the original schedule to complete the publication.
Locating accurate maps which would work became a problem. From the beginning, we had planned on using a uniform map, breaking it into segments. That, we found as time was running out, left us with maps which did not agree with either of the previous publications in detail. The historians who provided actual street addresses make it possible for the reader or traveler to locate their sites using the addresses. We resigned ourselves to using what we had for the first printing. John Zellner Neal of the North Tonawanda History Museum worked with the editor on this. We will appreciate input from users of the book and the contributing historians so that the first update we do may include any necessary corrections and revisions. We also will be grateful for better maps for future reprints.
We realize at this time with the initial printing that better maps are a necessity for the next printing. Good quality black and white local municipal maps of the cities, towns, and villages are desired for future updates. It is our belief that the kind historians who worked with us in getting this “demonstration edition" together will, upon seeing the initial printing, assist in locating and preparing better local maps. We also hope that other historic sites omitted from this initial printing of the publication can be incorporated into the next printing. We hope as well that street addresses can be included – or at least a description of where on the road or street, or between what other sites, a site is located.
Copies will be distributed to all participating contributors to the publication and to the Mayor of each of the three cities, the Town Supervisors of the twelve towns, and the Mayors of the five villages. City, Town and Village Clerks will also be given a copy of the "demonstration edition." The "Demonstration Edition" will be available for purchase and will be reprinted as needed until the next update. It is hoped that the publication will be updated every couple of years.
DOWNLOAD YOUR PRINTABLE ORDER FORM HERE
(.PDF File Format)
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A key feature we have made available to you is our sizeable framework. You'll notice once inside that there is a frame going across the top, and one going down the left side. These frames will ALWAYS be visible wherever you navigate through this website. If you were to place your mouse over the inside borders (blue lines running left to right and top to bottom) of either frame, you will notice a black symbol replace the cursor. If you from there click and drag these lines, you will see you can now slide the frames as far as you please to help expand the information view of our main frame. This will come in handy more for our visitors using a resolution or browser other than what we have above suited appropriate, and users not viewing our site maximized as suggested above as well. Also, when browsing our category indexes, please keep in mind that after you click on certain categories, you just simply need to click the Back button on your browser to return to the main category of that section.
Because of new security protection schemes in newer browsers, we recommend if you receive any warning(s) that content has been blocked
from viewing, to please choose to allow this content as you may be missing out on certain features (Flash based buttons and our Updates/Contests/Events Scroller) that have been implemented within our site. You are personally guaranteed on our behalf you will not be bombarded with pop-ups or ads if you allow these features on our site. Our Guestbook and Online Community Forums are hosted free through servers who require we display their ads for service. We recommend you ignore the ads on these pages as they may try to lure you into a deal "too good to be true". The Museum is not responsible for any actions taken to contradict this last statement. Also, the Museum cannot be blamed for pop-ups or ads created through previous adware/spyware exposure prior to visiting our site.
Thank you for your time and please enjoy your visit!