Richardson Boat Company

In 1909 G.Reid Richardson founded the Richardson Boat Company in North Tonawanda, New York to build high quality boats at a fair price. History has shown that he was quite successful in this undertaking. Over the years many types of boats were produced including not only cruising vessels but sailboats, runabouts, racing boats and military craft during the war years. The Richardson Boat Company organized "Sailaways" where the owners of newly purchased boats were encouraged to congregate in North Tonawanda and join in a cruise down the Erie Canal to New York City. Sadly, Mr. Richardson passed away in 1937 and his wife Ethel took over management until 1941 when the company was sold to a group of local businessmen.

G[EORGE] REID RICHARDSON, boat builder, was born at Midland, Michigan, December 13, 1879, son of Israel Harris Reid and Edith (Turner) Richardson.

After a high school education he became a mechanic with the Brooks Boat Company at Bay City, Michigan, and in 1906 entered the employ of the Niagara Motor Boat Company at North Tonawanda, New York, as shop foreman.

Three years later he founded the Richardson Boat Company of North Tonawanda, of which he was president and general manager until his death. The company built standardized cruisers and other pleasure craft, ranging in size from twenty-five to thirty-five feet. Starting in a small way, it was at the time of Mr. Richardson’s death the largest company in the world building medium-sized cruisers exclusively. It employed one hundred men and produced annually an average of one hundred and sixty boats which, under the trade names of Little Giant, Junior and Master Cruisabout, were sold all over the world. The Richardson hull is well known for its practicability and beauty.

Mr. Richardson was always ready to serve the business, civic and social interests of his community. He was a director of the Certified Finance Company of Tonawanda and from 1935 until his death he was president of the Chamber of Commerce of the Tonawandas. He was particularly interested in the Boy Scouts, held various offices in the council of the organization and for many years was active in promoting the movement.

He was a director of the National Association of Engine and Boat Manufacturers and the National Motor Boat Association and a member of the American Power Boat Association, I.O.O.F., and the Tonawanda Kiwanis, Youngstown Yacht, Olcott Yacht, Buffalo Launch and New York Regatta clubs.

During the World War the Richardson Boat Company built harbor tugs for the United States government.

In religion he was a Unitarian but at the time of his death was a member of the North Presbyterian Church. In his politics he supported the Republican party.

His hobby was his interest in boys. Fishing was his favorite outdoor recreation. He was a man of the highest character and was everywhere esteemed for his honesty and trustworthiness.

He was married twice: (1) at North Tonawanda, New York, January 25, 1910, to Lottie Belle, daughter of Sylvester Perry, of that place; she died in 1911, leaving a daughter, Jean Elisabeth, wife of James Franklin Moore; (2) at North Tonawanda, June 21, 1924, to Mrs. Ethel (Hill) Hoadley, daughter of Harvey P. Hill, a lumberman, of that place.

Mr. Richardson died at North Tonawanda, New York, February 17, 1937.