by David Crumb,
Parma Hilton Historian
An old Parma/Hilton landmark had to be demolished on September 3, 2024. The weigh station at Hilton Packing Storage, which stood at the corner of Hojack Lane and Collamer Road, was deteriorating due to years of neglect. The owners and the Town of Parma agreed to have it taken down.
The complex, called the “West Storage,” was built around 1906 by the Collamer family, which was famous for its orchards and apple production. A track went up to the side of the huge storage building for convenience in loading products for transport to faraway places on the Rome, Watertown, and Ogdensburg line, better known locally as the “Hojack.” This location was known as “The Collamer Siding.”
The Weigh Station building near Collamer Road was where wagons and trucks had their loads weighed before shipment or storage. The good news is that the owners generously donated the old Hilton Packing sign, which hung on the south side of the building, to the Parma Hilton Historical Society Museum. It is now in the hands of the curator, with plans for restoration and future display to be announced later.
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