Nestled in a valley near Painted Post, NY, is a conference and retreat center called Watson Homestead. The facility and its mission are the fulfillment of a dream held by a man of remarkable generosity and a great love for people.

Thomas J. Watson, Sr., the founder of the IBM Corporation, spent his boyhood in this valley, playing in the fields, woods and streams that surrounded his parents’ farm. After a fire destroyed the farmhouse in which he was born in 1874, Mr. Watson had a replica built on the site of the original. This white house on Dry Run Road sits behind a picket fence on the approach to the Lodge. Near the home is the Red Schoolhouse, the one-room school operational from 1839 to 1957, that Watson attended as a child. In 2001, the Schoolhouse was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Throughout his career in business and even after he became the leader of an international corporation, Thomas Watson often returned to his childhood home to renew his strength and regain perspective. Near the end of his life, Mr. Watson expressed his wish to develop the land that had meant so much to him into a retreat center for non-profit groups. In August of 1955, with the help of their attorney, Mr. and Mrs. Watson drew up a "Declaration of Trust" to transfer the Homestead deed to the former Genesee Conference of the Methodist Church (now the Western New York Conference of the United Methodist Church). In addition, Mr. Watson donated nearly $1 million in cash and stocks for the purpose of constructing the retreat center buildings.

The gift was made as a memorial to Watson’s parents, Thomas and Jane White Watson, and was to be known as the Watson Homestead Memorial Foundation. Its purpose was to maintain the Watson Homestead at Coopers Plains, NY, make capital improvements, and to provide for a religious scholarship fund for deserving students entering religious work. Additionally it was to give assistance and benefit to people of all faiths and denominations. Specific goals for the Homestead were also articulated including: a recreation center and summer camp for young people, a place of relaxation and convalescence for pastors, a meeting place for affiliate boards and groups of the United Methodist Church, and a general place of assembly for religious, social service, and community organizations for personal, spiritual and educational enrichment.

The original Watson farm was about 100 acres. Prior to the building of the Lodge, three adjoining farms in the valley were added to the Homestead. Later, two other parcels of land were added, making a current total of approximately 600 acres. The sweep of the valley and the magnificent hills that enclose its beauty form the panoramic view that can be seen from the picture windows of the Lodge. Hiking trails through white pine, maple and hemlock forests are popular throughout the year and are used as cross-country ski trails in winter. In addition, a visit to our "waterfall" (actually a hanging valley) yields a breathtaking vista on the property.

The first facilities constructed were the Lodge and Cabin area, dedicated on June 30, 1957. Unfortunately, Mr. Watson was unable to see his dream come true, as he died in 1956, less than a year after establishing his vision. He was, however, personally involved in the architecture of the Lodge, especially its size, the western cedar woodwork, and the graceful laminated wood arches.

Four Retreat Centers were added to the campus in the mid-1960s. Meanwhile, church groups using the facility expressed need for an adequate chapel. The Jeannette K. Watson Chapel was dedicated in January of 1966. Named in memory of Thomas Watson’s wife, the structure was built to reflect the rugged terrain on which the Homestead is located. This addition to the north end of the Lodge also provided a large recreation hall, a library, and flexible spaces for multiple program use.

An indoor Olympic size pool was built in 1969 and remains one of our most popular attractions. In 1981, a staff house was remodeled to become Hillside House accommodating sixteen. Retreat Hall, a multi-purpose meeting facility, was constructed in 1985. In 1990, the West Wing was constructed adjacent to the south end of the Lodge. These 27 motel-style rooms with private baths were created in answer to requests for more comfortable adult housing. Since 2001, new additions to the campus include an arts and crafts center, a 36’ vertical climbing tower and modular-ropes course, a seven-circuit stone labyrinth, and a maple sugaring operation. These elements reflect an expanded focus on programmatic and recreational opportunities available for our guests.

2003 began the move to become an independent conference and retreat center with a revised mission statement. (updated 11/03)