Preserve Our History!
Donation protected
The North Tonawanda History Museum has come far in its thirteen-year existence, from a small interest group to a fully functional museum having been granted its Absolute Charter by the New York State Department of Education. Visitors come from local areas as well as from around the country to participate in events and learn the history of this small, but important, industrial center located on the Erie Canal and the Niagara River.
But we have a few more hurdles left to overcome. The doors have been reopened after the passing of our full-time volunteer Executive Director, Donna Zellner Neal, back in March. However, the lack of any paid employees has made it necessary to offer reduced visiting hours for the present time, and there is an even bigger obstacle standing in our way. Our permanent home, 54 Webster Street, in the historic building that once housed the beloved five-and-dime G.C. Murphy’s store, is in jeopardy.
One of our Executive Director’s final efforts for the Museum was the elimination of half of the mortgage through the bank lender, and she was able to accomplish this amazing feat. However, the other half of the mortgage is held by the private seller, and he has begun legal actions made possible by the elimination of the other half of the mortgage. We only have a short time to negotiate and pay off the mortgage on our building, or the history of North Tonawanda could be in permanent danger.
We are currently located in the perfect spot, on the path of foot traffic down Webster Street and close enough for visiting boaters to walk to from along the Canal. There is a large public parking lot behind the Museum and enough square footage to house even our largest displays, which include a collection of locally-produced Wurlitzer organs and Jukeboxes, and a full-size Richardson boat. We do not have manpower to move our extensive collections, and another building would not offer the same level of safety, accessibility, or protection to many of our fragile collections items and photographs.
North Tonawanda was a center for the lumber industry in the 1800s, and boasted an impressive number of lumber-related businesses. Our factories stepped up to the challenge during World War II, with many earning the prestigious Army-Navy Production Award banners. We are world-famous for Wurlitzer musical instruments, Remington Rand office supplies, Auto-Wheel Coasters, Bennett Homes, Herschell-Spillman Carrousels, and so much more.
Our Military Heritage stretches back to the Revolutionary War, and we are exploring exciting recently discovered possible connections to the Underground Railroad. Our ethnic heritage is rich and diverse, and the area is well-known for theatre, music, and the arts, from the famous Melody Fair theatre-in-the-round to modern artists like Robert Mangold and world-renowned opera singers.
Our history is rich, exciting, and worth protecting and preserving, and we ask for your help in doing so. All proceeds from this fundraiser will go towards the operating expenses of the Museum, from paying off mortgage costs to hiring full-time employees to allow us an expanded schedule and the ability to host more events. The North Tonawanda History Museum is a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit organization.
Donations may also be made in person or sent by mail to:
North Tonawanda History Museum
54 Webster Street
North Tonawanda, NY 14120
But we have a few more hurdles left to overcome. The doors have been reopened after the passing of our full-time volunteer Executive Director, Donna Zellner Neal, back in March. However, the lack of any paid employees has made it necessary to offer reduced visiting hours for the present time, and there is an even bigger obstacle standing in our way. Our permanent home, 54 Webster Street, in the historic building that once housed the beloved five-and-dime G.C. Murphy’s store, is in jeopardy.
One of our Executive Director’s final efforts for the Museum was the elimination of half of the mortgage through the bank lender, and she was able to accomplish this amazing feat. However, the other half of the mortgage is held by the private seller, and he has begun legal actions made possible by the elimination of the other half of the mortgage. We only have a short time to negotiate and pay off the mortgage on our building, or the history of North Tonawanda could be in permanent danger.
We are currently located in the perfect spot, on the path of foot traffic down Webster Street and close enough for visiting boaters to walk to from along the Canal. There is a large public parking lot behind the Museum and enough square footage to house even our largest displays, which include a collection of locally-produced Wurlitzer organs and Jukeboxes, and a full-size Richardson boat. We do not have manpower to move our extensive collections, and another building would not offer the same level of safety, accessibility, or protection to many of our fragile collections items and photographs.
North Tonawanda was a center for the lumber industry in the 1800s, and boasted an impressive number of lumber-related businesses. Our factories stepped up to the challenge during World War II, with many earning the prestigious Army-Navy Production Award banners. We are world-famous for Wurlitzer musical instruments, Remington Rand office supplies, Auto-Wheel Coasters, Bennett Homes, Herschell-Spillman Carrousels, and so much more.
Our Military Heritage stretches back to the Revolutionary War, and we are exploring exciting recently discovered possible connections to the Underground Railroad. Our ethnic heritage is rich and diverse, and the area is well-known for theatre, music, and the arts, from the famous Melody Fair theatre-in-the-round to modern artists like Robert Mangold and world-renowned opera singers.
Our history is rich, exciting, and worth protecting and preserving, and we ask for your help in doing so. All proceeds from this fundraiser will go towards the operating expenses of the Museum, from paying off mortgage costs to hiring full-time employees to allow us an expanded schedule and the ability to host more events. The North Tonawanda History Museum is a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit organization.
Donations may also be made in person or sent by mail to:
North Tonawanda History Museum
54 Webster Street
North Tonawanda, NY 14120
Organizer and beneficiary
John Zellner Neal
Organizer
North Tonawanda, NY
North Tonawanda History Museum
Beneficiary
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