Historical Society of the Tonawandas

03/19/2026

We are gearing up for the new season at the Long Homestead. Spring cleaning has begun but we could use your help. If you would be willing to help with the care and cleaning of the structure and artifacts, please email [email protected].

Docents are also needed to guide visitors through the house. Please consider spending 3 hours on a Sunday, sharing the story of the Benjamin Long family and their home which has stood on the banks of the Erie Canal since 1829. Training will be provided at your convenience. Email [email protected] for more information.

03/17/2026

The family of Allen C. Gademsky has given us permission to share the text of his "The Bison Shipyard Story" through our online catalog at https://tonawandashistory.catalogaccess.com/archives/16217. The attachment found here is a PDF version of his story which contains some wonderful photos. Thank you to his family!

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12/22/2025

HONORING A TWIN CITIES HERO…It was 11pm on the night of February 25, 1978, when off duty Tonawanda paid firefighter William Wythe saw a north bound truck crash into the rail of the north Grand Island Bridge. The driver was ejected and fell thirty feet into the ice-covered Niagara River. As a twenty-one-year veteran of the Tonawanda Fire Department, Wythe used his firefighter training and crawled out onto the ice. He pulled the driver out of the water and to safety. Once he covered the driver with a blanket, and administered first aid, he went for assistance. Wythe returned to the driver and stayed with him until the State Police arrived. The driver survived the crash and the fall. Wythe was recognized for his heroism by local officials and at the 1978 New York State Professional Firefighters Convention he was named “Firefighter of the Year.” It was, in fact, William Wythe’s second time saving the life of an accident victim. As the Tonawanda News editorial stated, “We’re sure Mr. Wythe is representative of the outstanding firefighters we have in the Tonawandas. He has brought distinction to his profession, and his community by his actions.” Thank You, William Wythe!

12/20/2025

The Twin Cities Heritage Center will be closed on Saturday, December 27th. For January and February, it will be open by appointment only. Please call (716)694-7406 or email us at [email protected] to schedule an appointment.

12/18/2025

Help us identify these Boy Scouts from Troop 73. The troop was out of Grace Lutheran Church in North Tonawanda.

12/05/2025

Stop in at the Long Homestead at 24 East Niagara Street in Tonawanda during Winter Walk on Saturday, December 6. It will be open for tours from 11AM to 3PM.

12/01/2025

CELEBRATING TWIN CITIES BUSINESSES...nationwide food chains come to town...On December 21, 1963 McDonald's opened at 333 Meadow in North Tonawanda. Just down the street from the new North Tonawanda Senior High School, it was an ideal location. The Grand Opening featured visits from Santa Claus, Joey Reynolds aka Jelly Belly of WKBW, and Dave Thomas and Promo the Robot from Rocketship 7!!! Six years later, in September of 1969, Burger King opened at 924 Payne, North Tonawanda - near Memorial Pool and Mid-City Plaza. Both businesses gave many local teens their first taste of employment.

11/24/2025

Remembering the "Win Cities"...during WWII the Twin Cities renamed themselves the "Win Cities" as the community came together on the Home Front to support the men and women serving in the armed forces. In November of 1943, the Tonawandas were recognized as leading the state in wartime work and unity. The "Win Cities" had raised 111% of their assigned quota from the United War Fund which helped organizations such as the USO. Scrap drives in the Tonawandas were always successful in collecting vitally needed resources. The Tonawanda NEWS promoted the Tonawandas as "the Twin Cities of Industry on the Niagara Frontier," while reminding people of tin can salvage collections and paper drives led by volunteers from the Red Cross, Boy Scouts, and local basketball leagues. On November 26, 1943, the employees of the Buffalo Bolt Company in North Tonawanda were honored with the coveted "Army-Navy E Award" for excellence in war production. While hundreds of Buffalo Bolt workers joined the military, with many losing their lives in battle, thousands of Buffalo Bolt employees continued to produce the products that literally allowed the US to produce the machines that won the war. Tanks, ambulances, jeeps, hospital ships, and twin-engine transports were truly kept together through the work and patriotism of the women and men of the Buffalo Bolt Company.

11/21/2025

Due to a shortage of staff, the Long Homestead will not be open on November 30th.

11/21/2025

Remembering Twin Cities food...A recent post concerning the Woodshed included ads for chicken wings. A 1972 ad called them the "newest taste sensation." People commented on the low cost of the now pricier food. "Buffalo Wings," as the world now knows the dish, had its start in Buffalo in the mid-1960s. Searching through old TONAWANDA NEWS papers, the earliest we could find mention of chicken wings as we know them today was a 1971 ad for Happy Hour at Pringles at 192 Young St., Tonawanda. In 1972, a few more places were advertising wings - such as the Woodshed, Louis Restaurant and the White House. In 1973, Jolly Rug's and Mario's often had ads promoting their wings. After that, ads featuring chicken wings were always present. Does anyone recall Twin Cities establishments serving them before 1971? Many private organizations such as fire companies made them in their kitchens for members, but when did that start? Where in the Tonawandas could you find the best wings in the early days?

11/17/2025

Help us identify these people! During WWII, Msgr. Weismantel of St. Francis RCC, Tonawanda took snapshots of people in the service and their families. The problem is...none were labeled. Some were featured in one of our recent LUMBER SHOVER mailings and people were able to identify a few. Here are some others. Do you recognize any of these faces? If so, please let us know!!

11/13/2025

All seats have been sold for the Holiday Tea at the Homestead on November 22nd.