Ball B.R.&P. Railway presentation watch

[Fred Hansen]

I recently picked up a Ball watch with a nice railway inscription on the cuvette and wanted to show some photos here and also hopefully find out a little more information on it.

It is a 16 size 19 jewel Ball made by Waltham with serial number B220852 and is in a hinged Keystone J. Boss gold-filled Ball model case. The cuvette is inscribed ...

Presented
L.S. Buxton
by
B. R. & P. Ry. Co.
In recognition of meritorious
service at fire
Rochester
Sept. 5, 1912

Here are pics of the watch ...

http://mb.nawcc.org/picture.php?albumid=29&pictureid=119

http://mb.nawcc.org/picture.php?albumid=29&pictureid=120

http://mb.nawcc.org/picture.php?albumid=29&pictureid=121

http://mb.nawcc.org/picture.php?albumid=29&pictureid=122

http://mb.nawcc.org/picture.php?albumid=29&pictureid=123

Fred

[Fred Hansen]

The two things I'd like to find out about this watch ...

- The B.R.&P. Ry. letters are for the "Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburgh Railway", but I haven't been able to find out what the fire was that this watch is marked for.

- I haven't been able to find out anything about who L.S. Buxton was. The watch itself is a railroad man's piece that was designed for working RR service and it looks to have seen significant use. It definitely isn't a showy presentation piece that sat in a drawer most its life. I would have to think that this was the point and that Buxton was a B.R.&P. Railway worker, but it would be nice to have some evidence to support this.

Fred

[John Cote]

Fred,

I love the watch and the inscription. I will bet that the mystery will be solved someday. Kinda makes a guy understand why the Doc collects inscriptions.

JC

[BILL KAPP]

Fred,

Rochester had its first fire related fatality in Sept 1912.

http://208.125.72.75/erfd/NEW/history.htm
quick search did not get me any more info nor whether Buxton was involved. Assuming the date is of the event and not the presentation date, that is the fire that I would expect to be relevant.

happy hunting,

[Tom Huber]

Fred, I have maintained an interest in the BR & P RR for many years. The southern end of the line runs through the city where I live. The BR & P was first Chartered in 1870 as the Rochester Stateline RR. It went through a number of name changes and expansions through it's lifetime.

The original mainline had two northern starting points, one in Rochester and one in Buffalo. They traveled south and met in a "Y" at Salamanca, NY. From there it traveled directly south to Punxsutaney, PA (home of the infamous groundhog). In Punxsy, it broke into two mains. The south branch went into coal country to Indiana, PA and south to haul out coal for the Rochester & Pittsburgh coal company. The west/south branch went to New CAstle, PA and to Pittsburgh. The last part of the trip to Pittsburgh was on B&O trackage rights. The BR & P utilized the B&O station in Pittsburgh.

In 1931, the B&O bought the BR &P, and continued to ship coal on it's original configuration. In the 1980's, the line from Salamanca, NY to Rochester was discontinued by the CSX system (successor to the B&O). In the 1990's, CSX sold the line to the Genesee & Wyoming RR holding Co. The line was rechartered as the Buffalo & Pittsburgh RR. It is still in business today and doing a thriving business.

I have a book on the history of the BR&P. I can't remember any mention of a major fire in 1912 or a Mr Buxton in the book. I will look it over again and see if I can find anything.

Tom

[Joe Kendall]

Fred,

I checked the US census records for a L. S. Buxton and found in the 1910 census:

Leon S. Buxton
Male
24 years old
New York
Monroe County
Gates Township (just west of Rochester)
Occupation: Railroad Switchman

Looks like this is your man. Unfortunately he is not listed in another on-line US census (either as Leon Buxton, L. S. Buxton. or L. Buxton) so no idea what happened to him after the 1910 census.

Joe

[Fred Hansen]

Thanks everyone!

Joe has turned up a great piece of info there with the census data and hopefully I can build on it and find out what the connection with the fire was and if it is the same fire that Bill has posted info on. I will definitely post back here with anything that I can find.

Fred

[LloydB]

Fred,

I checked the US census records for a L. S. Buxton and found in the 1910 census:

Leon S. Buxton
Male
24 years old
New York
Monroe County
Gates Township (just west of Rochester)
Occupation: Railroad Switchman

Looks like this is your man. Unfortunately he is not listed in another on-line US census (either as Leon Buxton, L. S. Buxton. or L. Buxton) so no idea what happened to him after the 1910 census.

Joe

With that useful reference as a start...

The several Rochester City Directories list Leon S. Buxton
Switchman for the BR & P Ry 1909 and 1910
Conductor for the BR & P Ry 1911 through 1918
The name (MAY) appears after his, beginning 1916
(presumed to be his wife)
No listing for 1919 or later

.

[JohnL]

Upon doing some research I came across a watch that was in a Jones horan auction that also had a presentation on it from this same rail line. Unfortunately I do not have any pics of this watch. Seems Ball watches were a favorite for presentations on this Rail line.

From JH archives.

Ball Waltham #B134908 16S 17J Official RR Standard, 14K double-hinged in BWC Co case with presentation to TJ Delantie, an agent for the Buffalo, Rochester and Pittsburgh Railroad in 1907.

[Fred Hansen]

Lloyd - Awesome info and thanks for posting! The info that you and Joe posted has been fantastic and is much appreciated.

John - Thanks for posting about the other watch and its interesting to hear that Ball may have been a preferred brand for this RR line's presentations.

Fred

[Pat McCarthy]

Just a quick bit of research resulted in some specific information.

Volume 1, Issue 2 of the BR&P "Employees Magazine" (page 22, November, 1912) contains a Roll of Honor including our Mr. Buxton along with direct reference to the September 5th fire. The fire was located upon the property of Monroe County Oil Company.

$10.00 and a quick note to the research staff at the Central Library of Rochester/Monroe County (Local History Reference [lochist@mcls.rochester.lib.ny.us]) will result in their emailing copies of the pertinent documents.

I just love the historical mysteries our watches create. Fortunately, this particular Ball made specific reference to a known historical event. Good luck with the rest of your search!

Mac

[JohnL]

Amazing research! This is what makes collecting really fun! IMHO!

[Fred Hansen]

Wow! Thank you Mac and I will be getting in touch with the library for those documents and will post back here with the info.

I am very grateful and impressed by the tremendous help which I've received in this thread! What was an anonymous name/event to me just over a week ago is now much more. Thanks all!!!

:):)

Fred

[Pat McCarthy]

. . . What was an anonymous name/event to me just over a week ago is now much more. Thanks all!!!


Fred, it is my pleasure.

I've often told friends who admire my collection that ". . . if only these watches could talk". But, in many cases, they actually do; your Ball did. And it gave us clues not only to the man who carried the watch, but also to the events that occured around him which resulted in it's gift.

I think collectors too often focus on the jewelry/collectibility facet of these heirlooms and forget that these watches - particularly the railroad watches - were used daily by their owners, often for many years. These watches were part of their lives, and were constant companions. In many cases, these watches were the only pieces of jewelery, other than wedding rings, that the railroad men owned.

In my humble opinion, the stories behind these watches are as precious as the watches themselves.

Mac