Did Boss Tweed and Tammany Hall Have Designs on Pelham and Plans to Annex It to New York City in 1870?

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By 1870, Tammany Hall had become an efficient and corrupt Democratic Party political machine that used patronage and graft to control New York City -- and some would argue New York State -- politics.  Its leader at that time was William M. "Boss" Tweed.  Boss Tweed was near the height of his power, though he was nearing the end of his corrupt career.  Indeed, shortly thereafter Tweed was arrested, tried, and convicted of corruption and was jailed in the Ludlow Street Jail.  Although he escaped at one point, he was recaptured and died in jail in 1878 at the age of 55.

William M. "Boss" Tweed in Photograph Believed To

Have Been Taken in 1869 or 1870.  Source:  WIKIPEDIA - 

The Free Encyclopedia:  William M. Tweed (visited Jan.

23, 2016).  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge. 

In 1870, however, as Tweed neared the end of his reign, Tammany Hall was looking to expand its tentacles to encompass new public works to feed its voracious need for jobs, public contracts, and public funds to keep its graft and corruption scheme afloat.  Boss Tweed and Tammany Hall looked toward Pelham and lower Westchester County hoping to annex the region to fulfill its evil needs.  Indeed, the New York Times warned residents of Pelham and Westchester County to beware Boss Tweed's "Ring" and the graft it would bring, saying:  

"The fat 'jobs' on which they have thriven so lustily here for years past, will soon be exhausted.  There will be no more Courthouses to be built; no more streets or avenues to be 'opened,' 'widened,' or 'extended.'  The opportunities for combined speculations in real estate with the public money, are also diminishing here every day.  But in the green pastures of Westchester County, the 'Ring' sees fresh mines of future wealth, provided they are only worked on the New-York plan.  Once let those pastures be 'annexed,' and become a part of this City, and there will be such an upturning of Westchester soil as the plodding farmers of that region never dreamt of.  They will have 'grand boulevards' in place of corduroy roads; broad avenues will open through all their cow-yards; they will have macadamized drives and asphaltum walks; magnificent streets will traverse their waste places, laid out at right-angles, nicely graded, and paved with 'Nicolson,' 'Russ,' 'Belgian,' or 'Fiske concrete,' as one or another of those pavements shall furnish the most profitable 'job.'  The expense of all these improvements will be readily borne by the tax-payers of the old City of New-York, in return for the benefits to be derived from annexation and 'Ring' extension."

I have written before of plans by New York City to annex much of Westchester County including the Town of Pelham in 1870.  See:

Wed., Jan. 16, 2008:  Plans To Annex Pelham and Make It Part of New York City in 1870.

Thu., May 10, 2007:  Report That Pelham Favored Annexation of Much of Westchester County by New York City in 1870.

Wed., Apr. 6, 2005:  A Behemoth Looks to the Suburbs:  Talk of New York City Annexing Pelham As Early As 1870.

Plans to annex Pelham to New York City have been around for nearly two centuries.  See, e.g.:

Thu., Feb. 22, 2007:  An 1843 Plan To Annex Southern Portion of Pelham to Queens County?

It took more more than 25 years for the annexation issue to be settled.  Pelham gave up City Island and surrounding islands as well as properties on the mainland that now form today's Pelham Bay Park.

Today's posting to the Historic Pelham Blog transcribes the text of the New York Times article warning lower Westchester County about the tentacles of Tammany Hall and the designs the political machine had on Pelham and other Westchester towns.  I also have included a second article that provides a little additional background.  Each is followed by a citation and link to its source.

*          *          *          *          *

"Westchester County.

The people of Yonkers are beginning to get nervous over  project said to be on foot to annex the lower part of Westchester County to this City.  A bill for that purpose is reported to be already drawn up for presentation to the next Legislature.  The editor of the Yonkers Gazette, although unable to get a sight of the bill, is 'informed that it proposes to gobble up the towns of Yonkers, Morrisania, West Farms, Westchester, East Chester, New-Rochelle and Pelham.'  The editor of the Mount Vernon Chronicle has been more fortunate.  He was 'accorded the privilege of reading the bill, under the stipulation that none of the information thus obtained should be used until its authors see fit to make it public.'  The secrecy thus enjoined stamps the project, beyond question, as an emanation of the 'Ring.'  It is their way of doing business.  They have been very desirous for some time past of extending their dominion.  Manhattan Island is becoming too contracted a field for their enterprise.

The fat 'jobs' on which they have thriven so lustily here for years past, will soon be exhausted.  There will be no more Courthouses to be built; no more streets or avenues to be 'opened,' 'widened,' or 'extended.'  The opportunities for combined speculations in real estate with the public money, are also diminishing here every day.  But in the green pastures of Westchester County, the 'Ring' sees fresh mines of future wealth, provided they are only worked on the New-York plan.  Once let those pastures be 'annexed,' and become a part of this City, and there will be such an upturning of Westchester soil as the plodding farmers of that region never dreamt of.  They will have 'grand boulevards' in place of corduroy roads; broad avenues will open through all their cow-yards; they will have macadamized drives and asphaltum walks; magnificent streets will traverse their waste places, laid out at right-angles, nicely graded, and paved with 'Nicolson,' 'Russ,' 'Belgian,' or 'Fiske concrete,' as one or another of those pavements shall furnish the most profitable 'job.'  The expense of all these improvements will be readily borne by the tax-payers of the old City of New-York, in return for the benefits to be derived from annexation and 'Ring' extension.

As for the aristocratic denizens of Yonkers, we are surprised that they manifest any opposition to this annexation scheme, or think themselves entitled to be consulted in the matter.  Their local organ says the subject is one that should be 'thoroughly ventilated.'  This only shows what crude notions of government are entertained by people who have not had the benefit of 'Ring' rule.  The idea of 'ventilating' any of TWEEN and SWEENY'S acts or projects would be regarded as rank mutiny by their subjects here.  They may be whitewashed, but not 'ventilated.'  It will be time enough for the people of Yonkers to discuss this annexation question after the'Ring' have got their bill through the Legislature.  At present it is none of their business.  After they are annexed they will be entitled to a representative in our Board of Aldermen, and that ought to satisfy any reasonable ambition.  Perhaps, if they behave themselves and exhibit proper 'ancillary qualities,' some of our 'Ring' nabobs may one day build a 'palatial residence' in their midst, and introduce a little cultivated society there during the Summer months."

Source:  Westchester County, The New York Times, Dec. 11, 1870, p. 4, cols. 5-6 (NOTE:  Paid subscription required to access via link).  

"ANOTHER BIG JOB.
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Project to Enlarge the City of New York -- Portions of Westchester County to be Annexed -- A Grand Canal Contemplated -- Additional Suburban Improvements.

For some time past it has been well understood among certain influential political leaders in New York and Westchester county that a great annexation project, with other gigantic suburban improvements, are to be brought forward and pushed through at the next session of the Legislature.  The most important scheme affecting the interests of the taxpayers of Westchester county is the projected incorporation of the towns of Morrisania, West Farms, Westchester and the lower section of Yonkers with the city of New York.  It is understood that numerous residents of the towns named, not only favor the annexation of the sections indicated, but also the towns of East Chester, Pelham, New Rochelle, Mamaroneck, Scarsdale, White Plains and Greenburg, also the southern portions of Harrison and Rye, running

THE BOUNDARY LINE

from the Hudson river at Tarrytown, along the northern line of Greenburg and White Plains, thence in a direct line through the towns of Harrison and Rye to the Connecticut line at Porchester [sic].  Inducements are held out to the citizens of the towns named, by the projectors of the scheme, which will doubtless have the desired effect.  The convenience of a plentiful supply of Croton water (by the construction of an additional reservoir if necessary), and the protection of the Metropolitan Police and Fire departments, are promised, and a large proportion of the population would doubtless hail such an event with satisfaction.

ANOTHER PROJECT

determined upon is that of converting the Bronx river from its outlet in the East river, near West Farms and opposite Ricker's Island to White Plains, into a grand canal, one hundred feet wide and eight feet deep, with locks at such points as may be determined upon, so as to render it available at all times for the transportation in barges of lumber, coal and other heavy articles of merchandise.  It is also suggested that a canal be cut from the Bronx river at a point immediately south of Williamsbridge to Millbrook at Fordham, and thence widen and deepen that stream, and construct what locks may be necessary also along the same, so as to adapt it to the purposes of a canal, to its outlet in the Harlem river.  A portion of the Bronx river may by this arrangement be diverted from its present course to Millbrook, and thus greatly remedy the impurity of the latter stream."

Source:  ANOTHER BIG JOB -- Project to Enlarge the City of New York -- Portions of Westchester County to be Annexed -- A Grand Canal Contemplated -- Additional Suburban Improvements, N.Y. Herald, Aug. 12, 1870, p. 4, col. 6.  

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