Efforts by Pelham Landowners in 1900 to Halt Construction of a Trolley Line on Shore Road

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site
Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/.
Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings.

During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, small transportation companies raced to lay trolley tracks throughout the New York metropolitan area.  Suburban residents often fought such efforts.  I previously have written of the unsuccessful efforts of Pelham Manor residents to fight construction of the Pelham Manor trolley line that eventually became quite beloved after it inspired Fontaine Fox to create the Toonerville Trolley that appeared in his long-running comic strip "Toonerville Folks".  See:  Wed., April 19, 2005:  Pelham Manor Residents Fight Construction of the Toonerville Trolley Line.

Today's posting to the Historic Pelham Blog transcribes a brief article published in 1900 about the efforts of a different set of Pelham Manor landowners who opposed construction of a trolley line along today's Shore Road (then known as Pelham Road).

"TO KEEP TROLLEY OFF PELHAM ROAD.
-----
A BILL MAKING NECESSARY THE CONSENT OF A MAJORITY OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS.

Assemblyman Cooley has introduced a bill to prevent the construction of a trolley road in any part of Pelham Road, in the village of Pelham Manor or the city of New-Rochelle, except with the consent in writing of a majority of the owners of property along the thoroughfare.  A similar bill offered last year was adopted in the Assembly and failed in the Senate.

Assemblyman Cooley, it is understood, is acting on behalf of a number of prominent people who live in the road and desire to save it from being destroyed by the construction of a surface railroad.  One of the results of the measure, if it be adopted, will be to prevent the New-York, Westchester and Connecticut Traction Company, or P. H. Flynn syndicate, from reaching Glen Island."

Source:  To Keep Trolley Off Pelham Road, New-York Daily Tribune, Mar. 6, 1900, p. 10, col. 2. 

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site
Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/.
Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings.