As a member of the New York State Assembly, Welch was a key player in the efforts to acquire the lands adjoining Niagara Falls, and to make them free for all to view.

In the mid-19th century, heavy industries and mills crowded the shoreline near the falls, in order to take advantage of free power.

[1] A group of concerned citizens, politicians, and architects - including T.V.Welch - started the "Free Niagara" movement.

When the bill making Niagara Falls free was signed on April 30, 1885, it was the culmination of a campaign in the New York State Legislature spearheaded by Thomas V. Welch.

His parents originally immigrated to Canada and were married in Cornville, Ontario on Aug.31, 1842 and later moved to Onondaga County.

On April 12, 1876 – the same day that Welch was elected Supervisor of the Town of Niagara[3] – he and his partner Michael Ryan announced the opening of a new dry goods store on Falls St., the first door east of the Spencer House.

[9] In 1874 Welch's new partner, Humphrey Elias Slocum, had married Frances Marion Binkley of Niagara Falls and moved on April 12, 1875 to Geneva, Ontario County, NY.

He is recognized all over the district as an able, capable and deserving man, who has filled all positions of trust to which he has been called with credit to himself and with usefulness to the public.

As one of the trustees of the village of Niagara Falls he stood up manfully against the demands of the pseudo police commissioners and by the firmness of himself and his associates the rights of the people were vindicated in Judge Barker's court, and his election to the Legislature would be such a popular rebuke to the concoctors of this mischievous legislation as they deserve.

[16]The New York state election, 1881 held on November 8, saw "…the greatest victory ever won by the Democrats of Niagara."

The Saratoga Journal reported he "spoke with force, made a favorable impression and commanded the attention of the house.

[20] On March 2, 1882 Welch introduced his first bill, a brief bill that would create an independent board of Water Commissioners, elected at a separate election in June of each year, as well as a clause that prohibited the increase of bonded indebtedness of the village of Suspension Bridge, Niagara County.

[22] Welch proved himself to be a strong believer in democracy with his speech on April 13, 1882 concerning the Railroad Commission Bill.

[25] Welch saw his bill repealing the police law pass on May 3, 1882,[26] he sponsored a bill to change the boundaries of the Village of Niagara Falls,[27] and on May 20, 1882 voted in favour of a women's suffrage bill[28] Welch was also part of an Assembly Committee investigating the receiverships of insolvent insurance companies in the State, along with Alfred C. Chapin, James Haggerty (Chairman of Grievances), Benjamin F. Baker and George Z. Erwin[27] During the presidential campaign of 1884, he acquired a wide reputation as a talented and convincing speaker.

His speeches on behalf of the election of Grover Cleveland made him an outstanding figure and following the election of President Cleveland, Thomas V. was regarded as the most likely appointee for U.S. Collector of Customs at the then Port of Suspension Bridge, for many years the most powerful and most remunerative position in that part of the country.

By none his death more deeply deplored than by the Commissioners of the State Reservation at Niagara, who, as an expression of their sense of loss, hereby adopt this Memorial, this 22nd day of December, 1903, directing that it be spread upon the minutes, and that a copy, suitably engrossed, be presented to the family of the deceased.T.V.Welch was originally buried in the cemetery of St.Mary's of the Cataract in Niagara Falls.