Lenox

Sports History

In 1982 several Canastota residents came together with a desire to honor hometown boxing champions Carmen Basilio (welterweight and middleweight champion 1950s) and Billy Backus (welterweight champion 1970). Funds were raised and a showcase was erected honoring the accomplishments of these two champions.

Determined to establish a venue in which boxing's great athletes could be inducted and honored similar to other sports legends, a group organized with the intent of creating a hall of fame. In 1984 the International Boxing Hall of Fame was incorporated and officially recognized by the State of New York. In 1987 the IBHOF purchased a parcel of property on which they would build their museum and facilities. The property, located at NYS Thruway exit 34 and North Peterboro Street in Canastota, is described in book of deeds 848 beginning on page 218 on file at the County Clerk's office.

International Boxing Hall of Fame

On June 10, 1989, the International Boxing Hall of Fame opened its doors to the public. The IBHOF has an extensive archives collection including every issue of The Ring magazine (1928 to present), books, videos, a list of Olympic medalists, and much more. Within the museum you will find the Madison Square Garden boxing ring on which Muhammed Ali and Joe Frazier fought in 1971, boxing gloves and equipment, as well as plaster casts of fighters' fists.

Hall of Fame Weekend

Hall of Fame weekend every June ends with a parade through Canastota's downtown and an induction ceremony at the museum.

The Watson Wagon Company

In 1888 David S Watson patented a design for a dumping wagon to efficiently transport and dump large quantities of materials (trash, sand, gravel, stone, etc). Watson began building his wagon in Stratford, NY and as demand increased he sought out a new manufacturing site that would allow his product to be transported throughout New York State and the country. A West Center Street location in Canastota located between the Erie Canal and the New York Central Railroad was purchased by David H Burrell (Watson's financier) on January 25, 1896 (deed book 193, page 294). On May 31, 1899 this property was transferred to Watson (deed book 204, page 423). An adjacent piece of property was purchased by Watson in 1897 for $70 at auction (deed book 200, page 371).

Capital Stock

The Watson Wagon Company incorporated May 16, 1899 (Miscellaneous book 4, page 157) with capital stock of $40,000. The amount of capital stock was increased several times: in 1901 to $50,000; in 1903 to $100,000; in 1905 to $200,000; in 1908 to $400,000; in 1910 to $600,000; and finally in 1919 to $1,000,000.

Directors

In 1900 the directors of the company included David S. Watson, Charles E. Crouse (of Syracuse), Levi S. Chapman, J. Clarence Rasbach (of Canastota) and others.

Ownership & Names

David Watson left the company bearing his name in 1908 selling his shares to Levi Chapman and Albert A Keesler.

During World War I Watson Dumping Wagons were extensively used in France.

In 1919 the corporate name was changed to Watson Products Company.

In 1926 a new company was formed through a merger with the Rex-Baler Corp called the Rex-Watson Company. Rex-Watson specialized in building school bus bodies, but also manufactured children’s sleds and skates.

Bankruptcy

In 1928 the Rex-Watson Company filed for bankruptcy.

In the years following its bankruptcy the facilities on Center Street have been used for manufacturing mobile photographic processing labs (by Oneida Ltd subsidiary Oneida Products Corp) used during World War II, school bus and truck bodies (Oneida Products / Henney Motor Co), television and radio cabinets (DuMont Emerson Corp), motor homes & recreation vehicles (Titan Homes), and recycling (Canastota Recycling).

Fire

Fire destroyed the factory in 1994.

Patents

A selection of patents issued to David S Watson:

Baptist Society of Lenox

The Baptist Society of Lenox filed their religious incorporation with the Madison County Clerk on February 4, 1824. The incorporation states that the meetings of the society were held in the school house (specific location not given). The trustees elected at their meeting dated January 20, 1824 were: William Cobb, Roswell Randal, Charles Allen, Stephen Chapman and Arthur Palmer. In the County Clerk's Archives we have one deed for a pew (PDF) purchased by Chancy Webster. On March 28, 1829 one half of pew number 22 was conveyed for the sum of $25. This document more specifically places the Society's meeting house in Clockville. All of the trustees except for Stephen Chapman have signed the deed. Chapman apparently has been replaced by B Laurence (last name uncertain). The pew deed is a unique source of information for the researcher.