1876 Newspaper AdvertisementTouting Pelham Manor & Huguenot Heights Association Real Estate

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Today's posting to the Historic Pelham Blog presents an image, and transcribes the text, of an advertisement published in a New York City newspaper in 1876 touting real estate in the new development in lower Westchester County being constructed by the Pelham Manor and Huguenot Heights Association. At the end of this posting is a listing of recent postings about the Association. 

Here is an image of the advertisement, followed by a transcription of its text.



"BUYERS, RENTERS OR AGENTS PLEASE NOTICE.
AT PELHAM MANOR ON THE SOUND,
between two railroads (two depots on the premises), both for one commutation ($70 yearly); 40 trains; half hour to Grand Central; hour to Fulton slip; all desirable privileges; healthfulness assured; neighborhood first class; restrictions against nuisances; scenery attractive; fine drives, boating, fishing, &c.  New (Boston suburb style) Houses, with every convenience, furnace, bath, gas, sidewalks, handsome shade trees, &c. to be sold or let on favorable terms.  Price $4,000 to $10,000; or rent ten per cent thereon.  Come and see this favored suburb.  Views, excursions, &c. from STEPHENS BROTHERS, 187 Broadway."

Source:  [Untitled Advertisement], NY Herald, Apr. 23, 1876, p. 18, col. 2. 

What follows are examples of previous Blog postings that deal with the Pelham Manor and Huguenot Heights Association.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010: Obituary of Charles J. Stephens of the Pelham Manor & Huguenot Heights Association.

Tuesday, May 18, 2010: 1874 Newspaper Advertisement Touting Pelham Manor & Huguenot Heights Association Real Estate.

Monday, May 17, 2010: Jessup Family Members Tried in 1909 to Take Back Some of the Lands Conveyed to Form the Lands Developed by the Pelham Manor and Huguenot Heights Association.

Friday, May 14, 2010: 1885 Article on Alleged Failure to Develop Pelham Manor Said the Development "At Best Resembles the Collapse of a Wild Cat Land Scheme."

Wednesday, November 11, 2009: 1874 Evening Telegram Advertisement for Pelham Manor & Huguenot Heights Development.

Monday, March 2, 2009: 1884 Advertisement Placed by Charles J. Stephens of the Pelham Manor & Huguenot Heights Association Offering Home for Rent.

Tuesday, June 20, 2006: Mystery: A Lawsuit Filed Against the Dissolved Pelham Manor & Huguenot Heights Association in 1915.

Monday, June 12, 2006: Early Deed of Land to the Pelham Manor & Huguenot Heights Association.

Tuesday, April 18, 2006: Prospectus Issued by the Pelham Manor & Huguenot Heights Association in 1874.

Thursday, December 22, 2005: Area Planned for Development by The Pelham Manor & Huguenot Heights Association in 1873.

Monday, March 20, 2006: Charles J. Stephens and Henry C. Stephens of the Pelham Manor & Huguenot Heights Association.

Monday, March 27, 2006: 1057 Esplanade: One of the Original Homes Built by the Pelham Manor & Huguenot Heights Association.

Monday, May 8, 2006: Edmund Gybbon Spilsbury Who Served as Engineer for the Pelham Manor & Huguenot Heights Association.

Wednesday, May 10, 2006: Horace Crosby, the Civil Engineer Who Laid Out the Chestnut Grove Division for the Pelham Manor & Huguenot Heights Association in the 1870s.

Friday, May 26, 2006: The 27th Conference on New York State History Will Include Presentation of Paper on Pelham Manor & Huguenot Heights Association.

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Another Newspaper Account of The Pelhamville Train Wreck of 1885

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I have written previously much about the Pelhamville Train Wreck of 1885.  For a few examples, see:

Monday, September 24, 2007: The Pelhamville Train Wreck of 1885

Tuesday, September 25, 2007: More About the Pelhamville Train Wreck of 1885

Wednesday, September 26, 2007: The Pelhamville Train Wreck of 1885 Continued . . .

Thursday, September 27, 2007: Findings of the Coroner's Inquest That Followed the Pelhamville Train Wreck of 1885

Friday, December 21, 2007: 1886 Poem Representing Fictionalized Account of the Pelhamville Train Wreck of 1885

Wednesday, January 9, 2008: The Aftermath of the Pelhamville Train Wreck of 1885

Bell, Blake A., The Pelhamville Train Wreck of 1885: "One of the Most Novel in the Records of Railroad Disasters, 80(1) The Westchester Historian, pp. 36-43 (2004).
Today's posting to the Historic Pelham Blog transcribes the text of a newspaper account of train wreck published in the December 28, 1885 issue of the Newark [Ohio] Daily Advocate.  The transcribed text is followed by a full citation to its source.

"DOWN AN EMBANKMENT.

-----

A Train Derailed by a Depot Platform.
Dead and Injured.

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., December 28. -- The train leaving New Haven bound west, known as the 'Big Owl,' met with a most singular accident at Pelhamville station, which resulted in the death of one of the train hands, the serious injury of another and  the general shaken up of all the people aboard the train. 

The train was speeding rapidly over the down grade between New Rochelle and Mount Vernon, and when opposite Pelhamville station the engine struck an obstruction on the track and went over an embankment, nearly sixty feet high.  The tender and mail car followed.  The other cars, composing the train did not leave the track, although two sleepers were thrown on their sides.  The mail car fell nearly on an end at the bottom of the bank.  The ball broke the coupling of the air brakes to be applied and the six passenger cars behind the mail car were stopped almost instantly. 

The obstruction on the track which caused the accident was the platform of the railway station, which had been torn from its foundation, and thrown across the track by the heavy wind which prevailed during the night.  The total loss to the railway com [sic] is about $10,000.  The following are the casualties.

Eugene Blake, fireman of this city, married a few months ago, killed.  C. P. Turner of Boston, mail clerk, severely hurt about the breast and back.  He was taken to the Grand Union hotel, New York.  The three other mail clerks on the train were all more or less bruised.  Engineer Ralph Phillips was badly hurt in the back.  Wm. Gamble, of Springfield, Mass., baggagemaster, was injured about the back, and had his shoulders strained.  The passengers, of whom there were comparatively few on the train, beyond a shaking up, were uninjured."


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After Annexation of Part of Pelham by New York City, Mount Vernon Barbers Avoided Sunday Blue Laws by Operating in the Remainder of Pelham

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When New York City annexed large portions of the Town of Pelham in the mid-1890s, it annexed City Island.  At the time of the annexation, most Town officials -- including law enforcement officials -- lived on City Island or in other areas annexed by New York City.

Good entrepreneurs that they were, Mount Vernon barbers sensed a business opportunity.  The so-called "Sunday law" of that time operated to prevent barbers from doing business on Sunday.  Pelham, however, was essentially without an enforcement mechanism.  Thus, Mount Vernon barbers and others took to calling the Town of Pelham "No Man's Land" and began setting up shop in saloons, back rooms, restaurants and hotels on Sundays and encouraged their regular customers to ride the trolleys to No Man's Land for a shave and a haircut. 

The newspaper "The World" learned of the arrangement and wrote a tongue-in-cheek story about the little backwoods Town of Pelham with its remaining "Pooh-Bah Constable" who did not have the time to enforce the Sunday law.  The text of that article appears in its entirety below.

"SHAVE AND TROLLEY RIDE.

-----

Go Together in Pelham, Which Has a Pooh-Bah Constable.

When the recent annexation act went into effect, that part of the town of Pelham wherein lived the town officials was gathered in by New York City.  The remainder is now know as No Man's Land.  Mount Vernon barbers against whom the Sunday law operates resolved to do busioness in No Man's Land.  Word was passed around among their customers that by taking a trip to No Man's Land on Sunday, a shave, shampoo, mustache curl and trolley ride from and to Mount Vernon could be had for 25 cents.  The barbers established themselves in saloon backrooms, restaurants and hotels last Sunday and did a rousing business.

James Burnett, who is town constable of the territory, said he was too busy to look after the law violators.  Burnett, as well as being Chief Constable, is County Game Constable, janitor of the Presbyterian Church, Street Commissioner of the Village of Pelham Manor, village policeman, janitor of the public school, street lamplighter for Pelham Manor and Pelham Heights, janitor of the Manor Club and Deputy Sheriff.  He expects shortly to run an express between New York and No Man's Land.  In the interval between his labors, he is studying law.  He says he will find time next Sunday to watch the Mount Vernon barbers."

Source:  Shave and Trolley Ride, The World, Feb 10, 1896. 

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City Island Horse Railroad Temporarily Shut Down in 1892 Over Cruelty Concerns

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I have been working on a history of the "horse railroad" that once ran in the Town of Pelham from Bartow Station to the end of City Island. Today's post adds additional research to the collection I have assembled so far. At the end of this post is a list of links to earlier postings on the topic.


Today's posting transcribes a newspaper article about the horse railroad that appeared in July 16, 1892 issue of The World. The article is transcribed in its entirety below.

"SO THE FISHERMEN SWORE.
-----
The Twelve Horses of the Pelham Park Railroad Tied Up.
-----
PASSENGERS FROM BARTOW TO BELDEN POINT WALKED.
-----
The Bergh Society Says the Animals Work Too Hard and, Like Them, the Road is Tied Up, Too -- The President of the Road Is Also Head of the Local Brnach of the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Twenty fishermen sat on the platform at Bartow Station yesterday morning and whistled.  They had come out on the Harford and New Haven Railroad from New York for a day's sport on the Sound.  At Bartow Station the trains connect with a horse-car line running to City Island and Belden Point, the places nearest to the best fishing grounds on the Sound. 

The fishermen expected to find a car waiting as usual, but it was not there.  Half an hour passed and the whistle changed to a ragged chorus of profanity.  A bare-footed country boy came down the road, patting the dust with his feet.

He wore a torn straw hat, and had a stone bruise on his heel.  He looked about as if searching for something.  Seeing the crowd on the platform, he eyed them silently for a few moments and then yelled:

'I say, if you fellers is waiting for the cars yer might as well go back.  There won't be any cars.  The cops stopped them.'

He then went on his way, not replying to the questions hurled at him by the now thoroughly disgusted group. 

No car meant either to return to the city or to walk three miles under a broiling sun over a road on which the dust lay six inches deep.  Some concluded to have the fishing at all costs, and so trudged away to Belden Point.  The majority, however, concluded to return to town, and so, packing up their outfits, they took the next train to the city.

Inquiry at the offices of the company showed that the road was virtually tied up, the officers of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, this city, having suspended most of the company's horses from work. 

The car line is known as the Pelham Park Railroad.  It has about six miles of track and is operated by twelve horses, one horse to a car.  Twenty-three round trips are made daily from Bartow Station to Belden Point.  It is the line over which all the Sound fishermen who go to Belden Point or City Island must travel.  It does a large business and often, particularly on Sunday, the cars are crowded. 

The Superintendent, F. Underhill, is a very young man, and bears his youth with all the dignity of old age.  He wears a flowing red mustache on his upper lip and a pair of darkened glass spectacles on his eyes.

'Yes,' he said, heaving a sigh, 'the society has just about tied us up.  We cannot carry out our contract with the railroad and make regular trips.' 

Supt. Hankinson, of the society, was not at all pleased to learn that his operations in Westchester County had become public, for he did not intend to make it so for several days.

'We have been receiving complaints against this road for some time past,' he said, 'and after investigating found that the horses were greatly overworked.  One horse was supposed to make two continuous trips hauling a heavy car after him.  The road runs over several hills, and the traffic being heavy, we concluded to stop abuse.

'Mr. Underhill was in my office to-day and I thold him that he must put on more horses.  A number have been suspended and I do not see how he can run his road with those he has left.  He can not do it." 

A large squad of the officers will make a descent on the road to-morrow, and it they find that the company is using the horses agaisnt orders, every man, from driver to president, will be arrested. 

A curious fact in connection with the affair is that W. R. Lambertson, the President of the Pelham Park road, is also President of the branch of the New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals located at Bartow, which society has no official connection with Mr. Hankinson's society.  Thus the chief officer of a society formed for the one purpose of protecting animals may be prosecuted for cruelty to the very animals which he should protect under the laws of the State.  As to-morrow is the great day for Sound fishermen there will be hundreds going to Bartow Station expecting to be carried over to the Sound."

Source:  So the Fishermen Swore, The World, July 16, 1892, p. 9, col. 8.

Thu., May 13, 2010: More on the Early History of the Pelham and City Island Railroad.

Tue., May 4, 2010: Questions Regarding the Trolley Franchise from Bartow Station to the Tip of City Island Arose in 1915.

Mon., May 3, 2010: Efforts To Reorganize the Operators of the City Island Horse Railroad and Monorail in 1914.

Fri., April 30, 2010: "Truly, An Illuminating Little Passage in the History of New-York!" - Efforts to Develop Shore Road Trolley Line in 1897.

Thu., April 29, 2010: City Islanders Complain and Force the Operators of Their Horse Railroad to Agree to Replace Antiquated Cars in 1908.

Wed., April 28, 2010: Efforts by the Pelham Park Horse Railroad to Expand and Develop a Trolley Car Line on Shore Road in 1897.

Tue., April 27, 2010: New York City's Interborough Rapid Transit Company Sued to Foreclose a Mortgage on the Horse Railroad in 1911.

Mon., April 26, 2010: Public Service Commission Couldn't Find Marshall's Corners in 1909.

Fri., March 5, 2010: Construction of the City Island Horse Railroad in 1887.

Thu., March 4, 2010: Beginnings of Horse Railroad - News from Pelham and City Island Published in 1884.

Wed., March 3, 2010: 1879 Advertisement for Robert J. Vickery's City Island Stage Line, A Predecessor to the City Island Horse Railroad.

Tue., March 2, 2010: 1901 Report Indicated that The Flynn Syndicate Planned to Buy the Pelham Bay Park & City Island Horse Car Line.

Mon., March 1, 2010: Flynn Syndicate Buys the City Island Horse Car Line in 1907 to Incorporate It Into Electric Trolley Line.

Fri., February 26, 2010: 1913 Decision of Public Service Commission to Allow Reorganization of City Island Horse Railroad for Electrification.

Thu., February 25, 2010: Photograph of Patrick Byrnes and Article About His Retirement of the City Island Horse Car in 1914.

Wed., February 24, 2010: Attempted Suicide of City Island's Long-Time Horse Car Driver

Wed., February 3, 2010: Early Information Published in 1885 About the Organization of the "City Island Railroad", a Horse Railroad from Bartow Station to City Island

Tue., February 2, 2010: Information About the Pelham Park Railroad at its Outset

Fri., January 22, 2010: 1884 Account of Early Origins of Horse Railroad Between Bartow Station and City Island

Tue., September 1, 2009: Pelham News on February 29, 1884 Including Talk of Constructing a New Horse Railroad from Bartow to City Island

Wed., December 2, 2009: Accident on Horse-Car of the Pelham Park Railroad Line in 1889

Thu., December 31, 2009: 1887 Election of the Board of Directors of The City Island and Pelham Park Horse Railroad Company

Mon., January 4, 2010: 1888 Local News Account Describes Altercation on the Horse Railroad Running from Bartow Station to City Island.
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