Pioneer Period of Western New York, book (Chipman P. Turner, 1888).pdf
date: 1888

Tonawanda, book excerpt, illustrations, photos (Buffalo of Today Business Histories, 1893)
description: https://archive.org/details/1893BuffaloOfTodayQCOTLBusinessHistories
date: 1893

Landmarks of the Niagara Frontier, Peter B. Porter, book (1914).pdf
date: 1914

The War of 1812 on the Niagara Frontier, book (Babcock, 1927).pdf
date: 1927

Niagara Falls Power Company - Information for Visitors, book (1907).pdf
date: 1907

The Niagara Frontier- Embracing Sketches of its Early History, and Indian, French and English Local Names, book (c.1865).pdf
date: 1865

Burke's Illustrated Guide to Niagara Falls, book (1855).jpg
description: Wry sketches of locales on the tourist's path through the forests of Buffalo-Niagara.
date: 1855

Gazetteer and business directory of Niagara County (1869), Biographical and portrait cyclopedia of Niagara County (1892), other books.htm
description: Four books scanned into one: History of Montgomery and Fulton Counties, N.Y., 1878 (p1) Gazetteer and business directory of Niagara County for 1869 (p.676) [Excerpted on NThistory.com] Biographical and portrait cyclopedia of Niagara County, New York, 1892 (p.813) [Excerpted on NThistory.com] Niagara County, New York: A concise record of her progress and her people (1821-1921) Vol. II Biographical (p.1145)
date: 1869

History of the Barge Canal of New York State, online book (Noble E. Whitford, 1921).htm
description: https://www.eriecanal.org/texts/Whitford/1921/contents.html
date: 1921

History of the North Tonawanda Police Department (Westphal, Butler, Belbas, ed. by Chief Glass, 2022).pdf
date: 2022

On the Avenues and Beyond by John Kolecki, 2007, book review (Dennis Reed Jr, 2023).htm
description: It’s disorienting to contemplate how different the Avenues would have appeared to young Master Kolecki in 1925. If you’ve seen photographs of the era, you realize they might as well have been taken in Slovenia. It’s a decidedly more rural existence. Most families keep their own small vegetable gardens “either on their own lot or on a nearby vacant city-owned lot. Many ‘lot gardens’ were located between Gilmore Street and Payne Avenue” (35). The “upper” avenues (9th through 19th) only begin to get filled in with homes during the post-WWII era. Livestock abounds, including poultry, rabbits and pigs (“The aroma of smoked sausages, hams and bacon signaled the Easter season” (35)). The author, John Kolecki, is about as homegrown as they grow ‘em: Born in North Tonawanda in 1920 and educated at OLC and NTHS, he later earns a degree from Canisius. He is a proud Polish WWII war veteran and educator. In the Acknowledgments he says he is now 86 years old, “more like an old horse than a young colt.” The earliest recollections are likely from around 1925, when he is a boy at 5 (a charming cover photo shows him on a palomino pony; we learn later it was staged by an entrepreneurial photographer who roamed the Avenues with the animal). It’s a time when the Polish presence on the Avenues is developing into a self-sufficient community; a time of new automobiles, Prohibition, and then the further privations of the Great Depression and WWII. His narrative is supplemented by church pamphlets preserved by his wife, Violet; articles from the Am-Pol Eagle; resources from local libraries and historical societies. Neither Burger King nor McDonald’s were offering their Big Fish or Fishwich sandwiches yet, so the Niagara River had to provide protein in fish form. The rod and reel, baited throw lines and night lines were common among the “slip area” of the river where the avenues’ fishermen most often plied their skill. In other areas of the river, fisherman use the “unsportsmanlike method” of…

The Town of Wheatfield, transcribed chapter (Landmarks of Niagara County, 1897).pdf
description: CHAPTER XXII. THE TOWN OF WHEATFIELD. Wheatfield is the last town organized in Niagara County, and was set off from Niagara May 12, 1836. It lies on the southern boundary of the county, west of the center, and extends farther south than any other town. The Niagara River forms its southwestern boundary and Tonawanda Creek its southern. Its surface is level or gently undulating. The soil is generally a clayey loam, not easy of cultivation, but productive of grains and especially of wheat; this latter fact gave the town its name. Cayuga Creek flows across the northwestern part of the town and empties into the Niagara River, and Sawyer’s Creek flows southeasterly across the southeastern part and empties into TonawandaCreek. The town contains four post offices Martinsville, Bergholtz, St. Johnsburg, andShawnee, besides the city of North Tonawanda, and the hamlet of Walmore, in the northwestern corner. The first town meeting was held on the 6th of June, 1836, in the school house of districtNo. 7, on the north line of the town, and the following were elected as the first officers:Supervisor, N. M. Ward.; town clerk, Edwin Cook; assessors, Isaac H. Smith, JamesSweeney, Hiram Parks; justices of the peace, L. B. Warden, John Sweeney; commissioners of highways, Elias Parks, Matthew Gray; collector, Stewart Milliman; Overseer of the poor, William Towsley; constables, Stewart Milliman, Daniel C. Jacobs, Calvin F. Champlin, Seth F. Roberts; commissioners of schools, Isaac L. Young, James Sweeney, Loyal E. Edwards. These were all esteemed citizens of the town at that comparatively late date. The following have been supervisors of the town: In 1836, N. M. Ward; 1837, Benjamin McNitt; 1838, N. M. Ward; 1839, WilliamVandervoort; 1840, John Sweeney; 1842, Isaac L. Young; 1843, N. M. Ward; 1844—45,Lewis S. Payne; 1846, N. M. Ward; 1847—48, L. S. Payne; 1849, Sylvester McNitt;1850, L. S. Payne; 1851, Seth F. Roberts: 1852, Sylvester McNitt; 1853—54, PeterGreiner; 1855, Joseph Hawbecker:…
date: 1897

Souvenir history of Niagara County, New York - Commemorative of the 25th anniversary of the Pioneer Association of Niagara County (1902).pdf
date: 1902

Papers Relating to the Burning of Buffalo, and to the Niagara Frontier Prior to and During the War Of 1812 (Buffalo Historical Society).pdf
date: 1812

Pioneer History of the Holland Purchase, complete book (Orasmus Turner, 1849).pdf
description: Embracing Some Account of the Ancient Remains ... and a History of Pioneer Settlement Under the Auspices of the Holland Company; Including Reminiscences of the War of 1812; the Origin, Progress and Completion of the Erie Canal, Etc., Etc., Etc This fascinating volume contains a wide variety of early WNY lore. Elsewhere on this site the reader may find excerpted portions pertaining to our special interests: Tonawanda: Horatio Jones, the early mounds of Tonawanda Island. There is also a good deal of material dedicated to the War of 1812: Page 590 begins description of McClure's rashness in burning of Newark. Flight of the "motley throng" eastward down the Ridge Road to Forsyth's. Aid of the Tuscarora. Invalid Judge Cook at Lewiston shooting Indians from an ox sled. The following summer (British) Indians pillaged occasionally from occupied Fort Niagara. Sparrow Sage and a "female companion" abducted, he axes them (592). (December 23rdish, 1813) Eighteen Mile Creek and destruction of Lake Road dwellings, Van Horn Mill (mansion not built for a few more years). "Seldom has there been a more peaceable and humane march of invaders through a conquered territory. " (593). Brought "fifteen or sixteen" men back to Niagara as prisoners. Moves onto Black Rock landing, Buffalo's shoddy defense, the "disgraceful" spectacle of retreating soldiers passing fleeing families: "The rout, the hasty, panic stricken retreat, the unnecessary surrender ing of a frontier, and its then largest village, to the arms and the a torch of an invading foe, not formidable either in numbers or military prowess" (597). Still credits the behavior of the settlers in the aggregate. "Before daylight, the citizens of Buffalo were fully apprised of the feeble and ill managed defence at Black Rock; of its prospect of failure. Tidings that all was hopeless, had reached them , and were confirmed by the hasty retreat of squads of militia, who were making palpable demonstrations of their innate love of life, in the…
date: 1849

North Tonawanda City Directory (1893), excerpts.jpg
date: 1893

Greater Buffalo NY Industrial Commercial, book (1914).pdf
description: Hundreds of illustrations of Buffalo institutions and factories. Tonawandas section: 71: Lumber views, Sweeney Building 72: Tonawanda Iron, Buffao Bolt, Felton School 73: Bennet, Eastern Lumber Co., Buffalo Pump 74: Niagara Falls (Adama Power Plant) 77: Lockport 80: Depew
date: 1914

Power or The Story of Niagara Falls, booklet (Elbert Hubbard, 1914).jpg
date: 1914

YWCA of Niagara 1915-2015, book.pdf
date: 2015

A History of the City of Tonawanda, illustrated booklet (Dittmar, Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society, 1971).jpg
date: 1971

Sweeney Estate - Reconaissance Level Survey of Historic Resources of City of North Tonawanda (kta preservation, 2019).pdf
description: A very readable overview of the area's early development from 1600, with special emphasis on early village luminaries in general and the Sweeney family in particular. The urban development of their land, and its use as Pine Woods Park is detailed. HISTORIC OVERVIEW LOCATION The survey area lies in the south portion of the City of North Tonawanda in Niagara County, New York. It is bordered by the New York State Barge Canal Historic District to the south, the Niagara River a few blocks to the west, and other residential and commercial areas of 5 Architectural fabric considers stylistic trends, materiality and construction technology. Reconnaissance Level Survey of Historic Resources Sweeney Estate, City of North Tonawanda 7 North Tonawanda to the north and east. The total area surveyed of the Sweeney Estate is approximately 307.59 acres. HISTORIC TRENDS AND THEMES This section of the report includes a general history of the area as well as a description of the development of the project area documented by historic maps. Archeologists and historians generally accept 1600 CE as the beginning of the Historic period in northeastern North America.6 Iroquoian-speaking Wenro, Neuter, and Erie nations occupied western New York at that time.7 In the 17th century European missionaries, traders, and soldiers arrived in the Great Lakes region. Widespread epidemics and wars followed the introduction of European diseases and the fur trade. Early History The present-day city of North Tonawanda, whose name derived from a Seneca word which translates to ‘swift water,’ was the site of several Indian settlements by 1687. Missionaries and traders were the first Europeans to visit the Niagara Frontier. French and English fur trades competed with one another in the business of trading fur with Native Americans. The various tribes trapped and traded beaver in exchange for guns and iron kettles. The desire to trade with the Europeans in order to acquire weapons and other goods resulted in th…
date: 2019

Gratwick, Smith and Fryer Lumber Co., promotional booklet (1880).jpg
description: This illustrated booklet details the business of the Gratwick, Smith and Fryer Lumber Company, showing how they were able to be successful by controlling all phases of lumber cutting, transporting and refining for market. Their Tonawanda dock, yards and planing mills would fuel the growth of the village of Gratwick, named for them. SS William Gratwick at Wikipedia.
date: 1880

Commerce, Manufactures and Resources of Buffalo and Environs (1880).pdf
description: Later part of the book has a ton of great and detailed lumber and other ads.
date: 1880

Niagara County 1821-1921 Vol 2, Biographical, book.pdf
date: 1921

Niagara County 1821-1921 Vol 1, Historical, book.pdf
date: 1921

City of North Tonawanda, Centennial Celebration, book (1997).pdf
date: 1997

A Graphic Story of the Buffalo Bolt Plant, photo book (1920).jpg
date: 1920

Waterfront Revitalization Plan, City of North Tonawanda (1988).pdf
date: 1988

City of North Tonawanda Brownfield Opportunity Area, report (2012-12).pdf
description: From the 376-page illustrated report's Introduction: The North Tonawanda Brownfield Opportunity Area (BOA) is an approximately 546 acre area located along the Niagara River and Erie Canal in the City of North Tonawanda, encompassing all of Tonawanda Island, the Little River and the majority of the City’s historic downtown core. The City and BOA are also located at the western gateway to the Erie Canal, and are within short distances to Buffalo, Niagara Falls, and Ontario, Canada. The study area includes a variety of waterfront, industrial, commercial, and retail land uses. In addition, the BOA is home to some of the City’s primary cultural and natural resources, most notably 15,000 feet of waterfront along the Niagara River and 3,500 feet of the New York State Erie Canal. This document is a summary of the full Nomination Study, which includes the detailed analysis and Master Plan for the North Tonawanda BOA. The Nomination Study is a framework to guide public and private investment within the Study Area, including the rehabilitation of vacant, underutilized and/or contaminated sites, the enhancement of parkland, and the efficient utilization and reinvestment in the City’s wealth of infrastructure.
date: 2012-12

North Tonawanda Centennial Magazine 1865-1965.pdf
date: 1965

North Tonawanda and Tonawanda - The Lumber City, book (1891).pdf
date: 1891

Landmarks of Niagara County, book (1897).pdf
date: 1897

History of Niagara County 1821-1878.pdf
date: 1878

Paul's Dictionary of Buffalo, Niagara Falls, Tonawanda and Vicinity, transcribed excerpts (1896).pdf
description: From pp. 163-164: Tonawanda, the second-greatest lumber market in the world, lies midway between Buffalo and Niagara Falls, and it has a happy conceit that it will one day annex Buffalo. Be this as it may, it is a remarkable little city, and either way the annexation results, it will add to the extent of Greater Buffalo. From the city line of Buffalo to the city line of Tonawanda is but a space of three miles, so it is plain to be seen that with such a small barrier between two progressive, rapidly growing cities, the time is close at hand when both will virtually be one, even though they maintain distinct municipal governments. Tonawanda, as it is known to outsiders, comprises Tonawanda and North Tonawanda, but between the residents of the two places, there is a friendly rivalry. North Tonawanda considers itself the most prosperous city in the State of New York and sets forth several reasons of high statistical qualities to that end. Glancing at a comparison in the different periods from 1880 to 1893 inclusive, we find an increase in population of over 720 percent. In 1880 the population was 1,400; in 1892, over 8,000, and in 1893, over 11,000. For the past three years, those who claim to know give the opinion that the increase has been fully as great, if not greater. Besides the increase in population, Tonawanda has added many thousands of dollars in improvements that make a city, and with each new improvement came an increase in population and added industries. Tonawanda has a great harbor and immense dock facilities, or it could not take care of lumber to 422,623,000 feet, as was the case in 1894. But this is not the limit of her capacity. She can handle and store greater amounts than that and ship to the various points expeditiously, and at the same rail or water rate as Buffalo. The harbor can float anything that passes over the lakes, and that, no doubt, has been the principal reason for making it so great a lumber city. Tonawanda has many fine brick and ston…
date: 1896