Tonawanda, New York

Tonawanda is a city on the Niagara River in New York State. It is surrounded on three sides by the town of Tonawanda, and sits across the Erie Canal from the city of North Tonawanda. Tonawanda has a population of around 16,000 residing in a 4.1 square mile area. Located five miles from Buffalo, and 15 miles from Niagara Falls, Tonawanda has a small-town feel, with easy access to big city amenities. Tonawanda offers historic homes, five parks, and a variety of recreational opportunities. A former New York Central & Hudson Valley Railway station now houses a local history museum, focusing on the lumber industry and the Erie Canal.

The first permanent resident of Tonawanda arrived about 1808, building first a home and then, in 1811, a tavern. That same year, a blockhouse was constructed in anticipation of what would become the War of 1812. In 1813, British soldiers burned the blockhouse, and most of the settlement. A series of developments helped turn Tonawanda into a major lumber and shipping center: the completion of the Erie Canal in 1825, the establishment of railroads in 1836 and 1842, and an increased demand for lumber after the Civil War. By 1892, the "Lumber City" had also established an iron & steel foundry, rolling mills, boiler works, cider mill, brewery and water pipe factory. The Spaulding Fibre Company established a plant for making vulcanized fibre sheeting and pipe in 1911. In the 1930s, the plant began producing "Spauldite," a phenol formaldehyde resin molding material similar to Bakelite. For many decades Spaulding was the largest employer in Tonawanda, leading to several expansions. The plant closed for good in 1992, and was demolished in 2006. Today, Tonawanda's manufacturing base is largely gone, and the city's economic focus is on tourism, healthcare and education.

Tonawanda's history of manufacturing and transportation makes asbestos exposure a concern for workers. Workers exposed to asbestos may be at risk for mesothelioma, a cancer of the lungs. Mesothelioma clinics in and around Tonawanda are listed at the bottom of this page. If you were exposed to asbestos in Tonawanda and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you should also consider contacting a mesothelioma law firm.

Jobsites in Tonawanda where Asbestos Exposure Occurred

A number of jobsites in Tonawanda, NY have been identified as harboring asbestos containing materials. These sites, at one point in their history, were known to have exposed a variety of tradesmen to asbestos. We will be documenting in more detail how asbestos exposure occurred at these sites in the future on this web site.

Mesothelioma Cancer Centers Near Tonawanda, NY

For your convenience we have compiled a list of mesothelioma cancer centers that are located within a 100 mile radius of Tonawanda, NY. Please click on a cancer center link to obtain more information about the clinical programs offered, professional designations, areas of expertise and how to contact the center.