Trusty caretaker says goodbye after 20 years at Ward-Thomas

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Staff report

NILES

As George H. John, maintenance chairman at the Ward-Thomas Museum for 20 years, approaches his 90th birthday this year, he wants to enjoy a second retirement and so has resigned the volunteer job.

The Niles Historical Society announces that David Martin and David Rosine have accepted the responsibility of maintaining the museum and grounds.

The Ward-Thomas Museum property needs constant upkeep. John has overseen the restoration of the 1925 greenhouse, repairing the front porch pillars on the main house, the replacement of barn flooring and restoration of the barn.

In the basement of the garden house, he placed support beams and redirected heating vents. Cold-frame boxes along the greenhouse were repaired and painted under John’s direction, as were railings on the back porch room of the museum.

John took care of the majestic trees planted by the Ward and Thomas families years ago. He planted seedlings to replace older trees. John has planted more than 50 sugar maples along the north property line of the estate to form a buffer from the encroaching cityscape and preserving the natural grounds.

The list of projects John has accomplished are too many to count. His work has saved the historical society thousands of dollars as he quietly went about one job after another for 20 years.

John graduated from Niles McKinley High School in 1943, served in the U.S. Army Air Forces, graduated from Kent State University and taught industrial arts in the Fowler-Vienna School District for 25 years before retiring in 1987.

He has planted trees in all the Niles parks while serving with the Niles Beautification Commission. He also was involved in buying land and creating the Tom Murphy Park on Langley Street with the Niles Interfaith Program in 1971.