Born at home June 1, 1930, Myron J. Watkins, Jr. was the third child of Myron and Helena Watkins. He attended Ferry Street Schoolhouse, Margaret Murphy Elementary School and the Hudson Falls High School on Main Street, graduating in 1948. After high school, Myron served in the army. Completing his time in the army, Myron and his new bride Joan, moved to Ithaca, NY where he studied horticulture at Cornell University. Graduating in 1956, Myron and his new family moved back to Hudson Falls, becoming the fourth generation in the family florist, greenhouse and landscape business. In 1960 Myron built his home on Meadow Road where he and Joan raised their four boys.
Myron was involved in the creation of an outdoor skating rink at Derby Park lasting 21 years. He encouraged neighborhood kids to sell raffle tickets where money raised was used to buy hockey equipment. To this day, the game “Red Rover”, played on the last third of the flooded football field, brings many fond memories for the kids of Hudson Falls. At the end of the season, the Kiwanis Club held a field day with races and hockey games, filling kid’s shelves with well-deserved medals and ribbons.
Myron was a past board member and President of the Hudson Falls Chamber of Commerce. For many years, Myron actively participated in the holiday decorating of the park-now-known as Juckett Park. Mr. and Mrs. Claus, the Nativity, tree lights, the Three Wise Men (created by the Hudson Falls High School art class) and the Hanukkah candles were some of the village favorites. During summer concerts, Myron provided ample lighting for the musicians. Since the beginning of “Sandy Hill Days”, Myron used his skills aiding in the success of the craft show. Myron was a founding board member in the Feeder Canal Alliance that utilized towpaths along the Feeder Canal linking the communities of Kingsbury, Hudson Falls, Glens Falls, and Queensbury.
Myron loved to ski! He operated a rope tow at Wall Street in 1949-50 and at “Hogan’s Hill” during the 60’s. This passion led to a winter career as a ski instructor at Killington VT for nearly 30 years.
Myron loved his family, friends and the surrounding communities where he lived, worked and played. His compassion for the environment and people was ever present. We were fortunate that despite his love for exploring new places, he always came home to Hudson Falls.