Old news from 2006 and earlier:
- DeGraff Hospital Waiting Room - ‘Revisiting Goose Island'
'A display case entitled 'Revisiting Goose Island', which explores some of the businesses that thrived in this section of Tonawanda.
- Tonawanda Senior Citizens Center - ‘Rooted in the Tonawandas’
Presenting a substantial overview of Genealogical research and the various sources of information that can be examined in pursuit of your family's history.
- Tonawanda City Hall Foyer - ‘Urban Renewal’
A collection of photos of Tonawanda’s urban renewal.
- North Tonawanda Library, Local History Dept.
Christmas ornaments and memorabilia from the late 1800’s to 1960.
- Kibler Apartment
A number of artifacts relating to the days of Kibler High are on display in the old trophy cases in the foyer of the old high school.
- Tonawanda Library - ‘Not So Good Old Days’
A display focusing on life without the modern conveniences. "We love to recall the past - but who would care to relive it!"
Two new displays are now viewable at the museum. The first contains a collection of toys of the Victorian Era and the early 20th Century from the Museum's archives. The second new display, focused on the 'Not so good old days', focuses on some of the hardships our predecessors had to deal with. As the display states: "We love to remember the past, but who would want to live there?!"
Heritage Partnership Program:
The Historical Society is continuing to move its collection of artifacts and educational displays out into the community through the Heritage Partnership Program. Two new display cases have recently been set up, one at the Tonawanda Senior Citizens Center on Main St in Tonawanda and the other in the waiting room at DeGraff Hospital.
In addition to the displays at the Museum and the Long Homestead, the following displays can currently be found around the Twin Cities:
- DeGraff Hospital Waiting Room - 'Two Cities, one Community'
Celebrating the unique common history of our two cities located in two counties and the confusion that has caused over the years.
- Tonawanda Senior Citizens Center
A potpourri of some 40 artifacts is drawing a lot of attention from visitors to the center.
- Tonawanda City Hall Foyer
We have two display cases in the foyer; the most recent being titled 'Revisiting Goose Island',which explores some of the businesses that thrived in this section of Tonawanda.
- North Tonawanda Library, Local History Dept.
'Rooted in the Tonawandas' - presenting a substantial overview of Genealogical research and the various sources of information that can be examined in pursuit of your family's history.
- Kibler Apartments
A number of artifacts relating to the days of Kibler High are on display in the old trophy cases in the foyer of the old high school.
- Tonawanda Library
A display focusing on some of the Twin Cities' sources of world fame - Wurlitzer, Herschell, Pickard. Also included are a number of ads and advertising paraphernalia relating to the old stores of downtown Tonawanda and North Tonawanda.
Museum volunteer Janet McKenna is rapidly wrapping up a project which has catalogued the Museum's scrapbook collection. Over 100 scrapbooks have been identified as to content and catalogued, making the collection another fantastic resource for local researchers. Scrapbook subject matter covers a wide range including:
- Career of local tenor Christopher Hayes from 1909 to 1942
- Bicycling in the 1890s
- Pan American Exposition
- Career of NT Police Chief John Ryan 1903-1941
- Felton High School-1908
- Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church in NT (who celebrate their 100th anniversary this coming year)
- Local sports and local schools
- World War I and World War II
- Jaycees
DISPLAY SHELVING
The museum recently acquired 24 ft. of portable display shelving. The shelving allows us to add considerable artifacts to our museum displays. Recently we've added a number of notebooks for visitor perusing filled with:
- letterheads from past local businesses
- "Yesterday and Today" photos of various Twin City sites
- sampling of over 100 of our archival photographs
RECENT DONATIONS
New artifacts continually come in our front door from donors who are looking for a safe place to deposit pieces of our local heritage. Highlights of recent donations include:
- Large collection of artifacts and documentation from the recently closed City of Tonawanda Water Department
- A large red canal lantern - donated by Bill and Marylin Munschauer - currently on display at the museum
- Set of Spaulding Fiber chips which are linked to local attempt to have US treasury mint fiber pennies rather than steel pennies during WWII. Donated by Tim Oldenburg
- Collection of over 40 NT High School yearbooks donated from NTHS
HERITAGE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM
Through State grant monies, the Society recently purchased 3 portable display cases which have allowed us to expand our array of offsite displays. In addition to the displays at the Museum and the Long Homestead, the following displays can currently be found around the Twin Cities.
- Tonawanda City Hall Foyer
We have two display cases in the foyer; the most recent addition, titled "Revisiting Goose Island", explores some of the businesses that thrived in this section of Tonawanda.
- North Tonawanda Library, Local History Dept.
"Two Cities, one Community" - celebrating the unique common history of our two cities located in two counties and the confusion that has caused over the years.
- WNY Railroad Museum, Oliver St.
Nestled into the vast array of wonderful displays at the Railroad museum is our own display showcasing the train stations and towers of the Tonawandas.
- Kibler Apartments
A number of artifacts relating to the days of Kibler High are on display in the old trophy cases in the foyer of the old high school.
- Tonawanda Library
A potpourri of 40 artifacts is on display in the center of the library. An explanation of the artifacts can be obtained at the librarian's desk. Or, ask for the self quiz and see how well you can identify these pieces of our past.
