Rerouting Fifth Avenue in Pelham Beneath the New Haven Line Railroad Tracks in 1887

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A very brief item appeared in a July 1887 issue of The Chronicle of Mount Vernon, New York noting that work to reroute Fifth Avenue in Pelham to run beneath the New Haven Line Railroad Tracks was underway and likely would be completed by mid-August of that year.

The item has been difficult to date because I only have available to me the newspaper page on which the item appeared.  The newspaper page at the time did not include the date or page number.  References in the stories on the page make clear that the issue was published after Thursday, June 30, 1887 and before mid-August, 1887.  References further suggest, but do not establish, that the issue was published in early July, 1887 and, most likely, on July 5, 1887.  The brief item referencing the work reads as follows:

"PELHAM AND CITY ISLAND.

It is probable that by the middle of August if not sooner, vehicles will be able to drive through Fifth avenue, beneath the railroad track, instead of going over it as now.  The work of excavating is progressing nicely.

Yesterday as per previous announcement, there was a grand time in Pelhamville.  The flag pole having been previously raised, at six o'clock in the morning the flag was unfurled and swung to the breezes, while the brass band played a national air.  Speeches and songs followed and there was a grand time generally."

Source:  Pelham and City Island, The Chronicle [Mount Vernon], July ?, 1887, p. ?, col. 2 (references make clear that the issue was published after Thursday, June 30, 1887 and before mid-August, 1887; references further suggest, but do not establish, that the issue was published in early July, 1887 and, most likely, on July 5, 1887).

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