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HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION OF LEWISTON
LEWISTON, NY · EIN 237260141 · Form 990 · FY2025 · Micro (<$100K) · historiclewiston.org
revenue
$88K
expenses
$85K
net assets
$292K
employees
0
volunteers
200
program ratio
59%
mission · from form 990

Preserve/promote Lewiston NY's rich heritage,operate and maintain the Lewiston Museum, interpret the history of Lewiston, collect, preserve and display items related to the history of Lewiston, NY.

profile · synthesized from sources

The Historical Association of Lewiston preserves and promotes the heritage of Lewiston, New York. It operates the Lewiston Museum, interprets local history, and maintains historic sites including the Freedom Crossing Monument. The organization engages the public through educational programs, historic home tours, and documentation of Lewiston's architecture and role in the Underground Railroad.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2020

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $2K
    Tour of historic Lewiston homes highlighting Lewiston architecture and history with approximately 1000 attendees
named programs · 4 · from sources

What they call their work

Freedom Crossing Monument and Webcam
Maintains the Freedom Crossing Monument and provides a live webcam view; educates on Lewiston’s role in the Underground Railroad
Historic Home Documentation
Researches and publishes historical narratives of key Lewiston structures, including the Frontier House, Barton Hill Mansion, and Tryon’s Folly
Lewiston Museum
Operates and maintains the Lewiston Museum at 469 Plain Street, preserving and displaying artifacts related to the town's history
Picture Tour of Historic Lewiston
Photographic documentation and public display of historic Lewiston homes and sites, highlighting architecture and local history; draws approximately 1,000 attendees
activities · 9 groups

What they do

  • Local History Preservation and Education 2 activities
    • Curating and presenting historical exhibits and collections
      Curates and presents historical content including a collection of one hundred historic photographs of Lewiston, New York; displays exhibits created by local service organizations; and maintains historical records of early settlers, local businesses like Vevirit Lumber Company, and significant historical developments such as Le Magazin Royal and the British takeover after the Battle of Fort Niagara in 1759.
    • Publication of local history books
      Published several books on local history, including "Tuscarora Heroes" (2010), "From the Mouth of the Lower Niagara River" (2012), and "The Journey of the French Coat" (2013).
  • Historic Site Public Programming 2 activities
    • Development and delivery of educational walking tours
      Developed and expanded a self-guided walking tour of Lewiston, New York, originally distributed as a paper pamphlet and later enhanced with audio narration at each stop.
    • Hosting public historical events and tours
      Hosted a tour of historic Lewiston homes that attracted approximately 1,000 attendees and an annual appreciation brunch for 81 members, volunteers, and sponsors.
  • Organization Website and Online Platform Management 1 activity
    • Digital documentation and online engagement
      Maintains a Flickr website featuring photographs of recent events and programs to enhance public access and engagement with the organization’s activities.
  • Capital Infrastructure Funding 1 activity
    • Grant acquisition for museum operations and capital projects
      Secured $50,000 in grant funding from external funders to support museum renovation projects.
  • Memorial and Veteran Honor Services 1 activity
    • Historic site preservation and public commemoration
      Dedicated the Freedom Crossing Monument on October 14, 2009, with over 400 attendees, and installed webcams at the site for remote public access. Also donated land for the construction of Dickersonville Church on Ridge Road.
  • Local History Archival Access 1 activity
    • Maintenance and provision of access to historical records
      Maintains and provides public access to historical records including tax records, censuses, cemetery records, and vital records dating back to the early 19th century.
  • Local History Museum Operations 1 activity
    • Museum operations and exhibit management
      Operates the Lewiston Museum with seasonal public hours and by-appointment access, including major renovations to exhibit spaces with insulation, HVAC, fire and security systems, and permanent wall exhibits with LCD monitors. Also expanded rear addition for collection storage and installed a new roof.
  • Museum and Historical Gift Shops 1 activity
    • Sale of historical and community-themed merchandise
      Sells Lewiston-themed merchandise including ornaments, books, mugs, and children's games through its museum and online store.
  • Historic Site Designation Advocacy 1 activity
    • Securing historic designations and advocacy for preservation
      Secured designation of the Lower Landing Archeological District as a National Historic Landmark in 1998, recognizing its national significance in documenting early intercultural relations in the colonial Niagara region.
financials · form 990 · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$88K
Contributions & grants$28K31%
Program service revenue$57K65%
Investment income$3K3%
Other revenue$503
expenses
Total expenses$85K
Program expenses59%
Admin / overhead11%
Fundraising30%
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineFacilities
balance sheet
Total assets$294K
Cash$178K
Investments$0
Liabilities$2K
Net assets$292K
Liquid reserves25.0 mo
6 years on record · 2020–2025 · YoY revenue +14.8%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025

Who runs it

board members · 13
  • BRIAN BEEBE — Treasurer
  • BRYAN PLUNKETT — President
  • DANIEL HOFFNER — Trustee
  • JENNIFER D'ANTUONO — Vice President
  • JOANN FIEGEL — Secretary
  • LEANDRA COLLESANO — Trustee
  • PAUL LYMBURNER — Trustee
  • PETER COPPINS — Trustee
  • SUSAN REINHARDT — Trustee
  • THOMAS DEAL — Trustee
  • VIC EYDT — Trustee
  • WILLIAM BURG — Trustee
  • ZACH COLLISTER — Trustee
relationships · 21

Who they work with

  • Apple Granny Partner — Local business linked in support of the Freedom Crossing Monument web presence.
  • Apple Granny Restaurant Partner — Hosted the association's annual appreciation brunch for members, volunteers, and sponsors.
  • Dickersonville Methodist Church Partner — Rev. Sheldon Clark Townsend served as minister at Dickersonville Methodist Church.
  • Femmes En Force, Inc. Partner — Local service organization that created exhibits displayed at the museum starting in 1974.
  • Fishing Charters Partner — Local service provider linked in support of the Freedom Crossing Monument web presence.
  • Girl Scout Troop 70007 Partner — Collaborated with the organization to develop the walking tour as part of a Girl Scout Silver Award project.
  • Key Bank Partner — Financial institution linked in connection with the Freedom Crossing Monument web presence.
  • Leandra Collesano Partner — Volunteer who compiles the organization's official Flickr website.
  • Lewiston Chamber of Commerce Government — Recognized Hibbard's Custard Stand as Business of the Year in 2005.
  • Lewiston Museum Partner — Distributes books published by the Historical Association of Lewiston
  • Lewiston Service Guild Partner — Local service organization that created exhibits displayed at the museum starting in 1974.
  • National Park Service Government — Partnered to designate the Lower Landing Archeological District as a National Historic Landmark in 1998.
  • National Park Service Government — Partnered with the National Park Service to secure National Historic Landmark designation for the Lower Landing Archeological District in 1998.
  • New York Power Authority Funder — Provided grant funding for the 2007–2008 museum renovation project.
  • New York Power Authority Government — State agency linked via Power Vista and Niagara Power Vista, associated with the Freedom Crossing Monument web presence.
  • Power Vista Partner — Partner organization linked in connection with the Freedom Crossing Monument web presence.
  • Seneca Casino Funder — Provided grant funding through County Legislator John Ceretto for the 2007–2008 museum renovation project.
  • State Sen. George Maziarz Funder — Provided grant funding for the 2007–2008 museum renovation project.
  • The East Hill Foundation Funder — Provided grant funding for the 2007–2008 museum renovation project.
  • UPS Store Partner — Local business linked in support of the Freedom Crossing Monument web presence.
  • Wikipedia Partner — Partnered by referencing a Wikipedia page to provide additional information about the Freedom Crossing Monument.
strategies · 2

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Education Through Cultural Narratives
    methodology: education-through-literature
    By using culturally resonant stories—such as the Underground Railroad in Freedom Crossing and colonial-era intercultural exchange—the organization teaches history in a way that increases student and public engagement, because narrative-based learning fosters emotional connection and memory retention.
  • Place-Based Historical Storytelling
    methodology: place-based_history
    By anchoring historical narratives to specific local sites such as the Freedom Crossing Monument and the geological formation of Niagara Falls, the organization fosters deeper public connection and regional identity, because place-based context makes history more tangible and personally relevant to residents and visitors.