OUR HISTORY

  • 1858 - St. Stephen Drug Store and Watson House

    In 1858, the location was "Watson House" owned by Robert Watson. It was a very large 4-storey brick hotel, taking up a large footprint at the corner of King St. and Water St. (now Milltown Blvd.). The first recognized drugstore in New Brunswick, "St. Stephen Drug Store", was established in a portion of the building.

  • November 6, 1861 - James Naismith Born

    James Naismith born November 6, 1861 at Almonte, Ontario, Canada

  • July 3, 1868 - Lyman Archibald Born

    Lyman Archibald born July 3, 1868 at Pleasant Valley, Colchester County, Nova Scotia, Canada

  • May 14, 1877 - St. Stephen Fire

    Fire burns down Watson hotel in St. Stephen, New Brunswick, 6 King Street. Over 80 businesses and houses burned in the downtown core, including the St. Croix Courier Office. The newspaper would not publish again until June 10th, in which they reported R. Watson had already had a contract to rebuild a 2-story 80x76 brick block with a hall and offices upstairs.

  • November 1877 - New Building Is Contructed

    The new brick structure which still exists and replaced Watson House was opened at 6 King St.— retail downstairs and meeting rooms upstairs of different sizes.

  • 1890 - James Naismith moves to Springfield, Massachusetts

    James Naismith moves to Springfield, Massachusetts to attend YMCA Training […]

  • 1891 - YMCA inhabits second floor of structure in St. Stephen, New Brunswick

    YMCA inhabits second floor of structure in St. Stephen, New […]

  • Autumn 1891 - James Naismith invents game of basketball in Springfield, Ma

    James Naismith invents game of basketball in Springfield, Ma

  • December 21, 1891 - First Game of Basketball Played

    First game of basketball played at International YMCA Training School/School […]

  • 1892 - Basket Ball: Rules of Basket Ball

    The original version of the 1892 edition "Basket Ball: Rules of Basket Ball" was written by Dr. James Naismith, which lists the original 13 rules for the game. The Springfield College Archives and Special Collections has a digital version of the rare edition available for viewing so you can read all of the original structure of the game from it's creator.

  • Spring 1893 - Lyman Archibald Graduates

    Lyman Archibald graduates from 2 year course at YMCA Training […]

  • June/July 1893 - Lyman Archibald Becomes General Secretary

    Lyman Archibald becomes General Secretary at the St. Stephen, New […]

  • October 17, 1893 - First Game of Basketball Played

    First game of basketball played at 6 King St as […]

  • 1897 - YMCA Closes Its Doors

    YMCA on second floor of building in St. Stephen closes […]

  • 1965 - Building in Springfield, Ma demolished where first game of basketball played.

    Building in Springfield, Ma demolished where first game of basketball […]

  • 1995 - McDonalds Built Where Basketball First Played

    McDonalds restaurant Corporation buys property and builds restaurant on site […]

  • May 2010 - Structural Fire At St. Croix Vocational Thrift Store

    Structural fire occurs at St.Croix Vocational Thrift Store in St. […]

  • December 22, 2011 - Canada 1st Basketball Inc. Established

    Canada 1st Basketball Inc. established (C1BI) – key community volunteers […]

  • 2012 - 1893 Newspaper Articles Discovered

    1893 newspaper articles discovered in St. Croix Courier detailing the […]

  • October 2018 - 125th Anniversary Event

    125th anniversary event held at site (6 King St) to […]

  • June 13, 2019 - Toronto Raptors NBA Title Win Viewing Party

    C1BI holds private function at site to watch Toronto Raptors […]