Historic Pelham: Early Pelhamwood Advertisements with Important Sketches of the New Development

Archive of the Historic Pelham Web Site.
Home Page of the Historic Pelham Blog.
Order a Copy of "Thomas Pell and the Legend of the Pell Treaty Oak."

During the spring of 1909, a newly-created company known as Clifford B. Harmon & Co. began grading and developing the neighborhood we know today as Pelhamwood. The company built steps up the hill across from the station plaza on the north side of the New Haven Line tracks leading up to a sales office. It built a "tea house" used to host visitors and prospective buyers of lots and homes in the new development. It built the clocktower and covered "gates" leading in and out of the development, all intended to add to the rustic charm of the idyllic setting.

Within months of beginning such development work, Clifford B. Harmon & Co. began running countless real estate advertisements in New York City newspapers to attract buyers. A few of the early advertisements included sketches showing notable landmarks of the new Pelhamwood. Those unusual advertisements are the subject of today's posting to the Historic Pelham Blog.

On May 20, 1909, Clifford B. Harmon & Co. ran an advertisement in The New York Times to announced tht the following Sunday, the company would run a free "Inspection Train" from Grand Central Terminal to Pelham Station to permit prospective buyers to inspect the new development and meet with salespeople on the site. The advertisement including a sketch that showed the steps and the sales office as well as the Tea House. It also showed a view up the center of Highbrook Avenue (from about where it intersects with today's 1st Street) with the Highbrook overpass visible in the foreground and portions of the Highbrook gates visible beneath the arch of the Highbrook overpass.

An image of the full advertisement appears immediately below. It is followed by a citation and link to its source as well as a transcription of its text to facilitate search. Thereafter there is a detail from the advertisement showing the sketch.

Pelhamwood Advertisement with Sketch of Pelhamwood

Landmarks. Source: PELHAMWOOD [Advertisement], The

New York Times, May 20, 1909, p. 15, cols. 1-3 (Note: Paid

subscription required to access via link). NOTE: Click on

Image to Enlarge.

"[Sketch] OFFICE TEA HOUSE HIGHBROOK AVE

PELHAMWOOD

ARISTOCRATIC - ACCESSIBLE - ATTRACTIVE

A strictly high class property on the main line of the New Haven Road sold on the easy payment plan. Only 33 miniutes from Grand Central.

Don't imagine that accepting easy payments means easy acceptance of any purchaser. The standard of desirability is established and will be maintained.

Extensive improvements are now being completed at our expense. Water, gas, electric light, macadam drives, cement walks, stone gutters -- in fact every city convenience will be found at Pelhamwood.

Visit the property to-day or to-morrow on the 10.06 A.M. or 2.15 P.M. train. Tickets can be secured at our office.

Inspection Train Sunday 2.15 P.M.

$10 down secures any lot. Balance 1% Monthly.

CLIFFORD B. HARMON & CO.

42ND ST. AND MADISON AVE."

Detail of Sketch from the May 20, 1909 Pelhamwood

Advertisement in The New York Times. (See Above).

NOTE that there is a "Pelhamwood Clock" Seen Above

the Highwood Avenue Overpass In this Sketch, Suggesting

that a Second Clock May Have Been Planned But Never

Built Next to the Highwood Avenue Gates.

Below is a similar but more extensive Pelhamwood advertisement that appeared in The New York Times a little more than a week later on May 30, 1909. The advertisement is informative and includes a fascinating sketh of the clocktower entrance to Pelhamwood and the steps leading up to the sales office. The sketch also shows a billboard. Although it is known that Clifford B. Harmon erected billboards to attract the attention of passengers on passing trains, it is unknown if the billboard in the sketch depicts one that actually stood on the premises at the time. It reads: "THIS IS PELHAMWOOD WHY NOT LIVE HERE? CLIFFORD B. HARMON & Co. 315 MADISON AVE."

An image of the full advertisement appears immediately below. It is followed by a citation and link to its source as well as a transcription of its text to facilitate search. Thereafter there is a detail from the advertisement showing the sketch.

Pelhamwood Advertisement with Sketch of Pelhamwood

Landmarks. Source: PELHAMWOOD [Advertisement], The

New York Times, May 30, 1909, p. 15, cols. 2-7 (Note: Paid

subscription required to access via link). NOTE: Click on

Image to Enlarge.

"[Sketch] View of the Property from Pelham Station View of the Property from Pelham Station

THESE GATES LEAD TO A HOME AND INVESTMENT AT

PELHAMWOOD

REFINED RESTRICTED DESIRABLE

The only high class property on the main line of the New Haven for sale on the easy payment plan. Extensive improvements now being completed at our expense. Macadam streets, cement walks, stone gutters, water, gaas, electricity; in fact, all city conveniences. Restrictions insuring desirable neighbors.

NO SMOKE, NO DUST, NO CINDER, NO FERRIES, NO STRAPHANGING.

Only 33 minutes by electric train. Pelham Station on the property -- 15 miles from Grand Central.

TWO INSPECTION TRAINS

TO-DAY, MAY 30th and TO-MORROW, MAY 31st 2.20 P.M.

From Grand Central, main station, and from 125th street 10 minutes later. Tickets at our office or from representative at either station half an hour before train time.

Don't put off seeing Pelhamwoo until too late. The demand for this property is increasing rapidly and the number of lots is limited. Go at once. Opening day June 15th. But don't you wait. Come NOW, while $10 gives you your choice of lots.

$10 DOWN SECURES ANY LOT BALANCE 1% MONTHLY

$5 a mmonth buys at $500 lot.

$8 a mmonth buys an $800 lot.

$10 a month buys a $1,000 lot.

Demand creates vaalue and this section of Westchester County is in demand.

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS

Free deed in case of death.

free carfare if you build.

Title insured to us.

Prizes for builders.

We are building for others. Why not for you?

Ask for our plan.

CLIFFORD B. HARMON & CO. INC.

42ND ST. AND MADISON AVE.

OFFICE OPEN EVENINGS."

Detail of Sketch from the May 30, 1909 Pelhamwood

Advertisement in The New York Times. (See Above).

Nearly a year later on April 28, 1910, Clifford D. Harmon & Co. announced it would open what it called "THE SECOND SECTION" of Pelhamwood centered along Highbrook Avenue the following Sunday. On that date, it placed an extensive advertisement in The New York Times with a sketch of the Highbrook Avenue entrance to Pelhamwood including the Highbrook Avenue gates.

Pelhamwood Advertisement with Sketch of Pelhamwood

Landmarks. Source: PELHAMWOOD [Advertisement], The

New York Times, Apr. 28, 1910, p. 17, cols.1-3 (Note: Paid

subscription required to access via link). NOTE: Click on

Image to Enlarge.

"THE SECOND SECTION OF PELHAMWOOD 30 MINUTES FROMM GRAND CENTRAL STATION, WILL BE OPENED NEXT SUNDAY

Persons interested should see our EMBOSSED RELIEF MAP, which shows the exact elevation and grade of every lot aand aids one in selecting the best sites before going to the property.

SPECIAL INSPECTION TRAIN Leaves 42d St. 2 P.M., 125th St. 10 Minutes Later.

TERMS $10 DOWN PER LOT. THE BALANCE ON MONTHLY PAYMENTS.

A Life Insurance Contract and a Non-forfeiture Agreement with Every Purchase.

On the Celebrated New Haven Road

Call, 'phone or write for our 'Book of Views' and complimentary railroad tickets for to-day or for next Sunday, May 1st.

Agents opn the Grounds Daily and Sunday. Telephone -- Murray Hill 2326.

[Sketch] HIGHBROOK AVENUE ENTRANCE to PELHAMWOOD

CLIFFORD B. HARMON & CO. INC.

AT 42ND ST. AND MADISON AVE."