Photographs of the Old Hunter House on Travers Island Before it Burned in 1889

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Recently I wrote about the tragic fire in 1889 that destroyed the Old Hunter House on Travers Island.  See Wed., Nov. 16, 2016:  More on the 1889 Fire that Destroyed the Hunter House on Travers Island.  See also Thu., Feb. 19, 2009:  The Old Hunter House Burns to the Ground in an Arson Incident on Travers Island on April 4, 1889.  In that post I noted that I had never been able to locate any images of the structure.

Thankfully, the Town of Pelham is blessed to have a number of talented and dedicated historians devoted to the history of the Town and the surrounding region.  One of those local historians, Mark Gaffney of Pelham Manor, is a member of the New York Athletic Club and magnanimously has provided two images of the Old Hunter House published in the July 1910 issue of New York Athletic Club Journal and the July 1913 issue of the same journal, renamed as The Winged Foot.  

The first photograph, taken in 1888, shows the Old Hunter House from a distance.  The beloved oak tree that shaded the home and that was saved by firefighters as the home burned in 1889 stands in front of the structure.  In the photograph the structure stands on a small rise.  The image appears immediately below.

"'HUNTER HOUSE.'  Travers Island Club House in 1888."

Source:  HUNTER HOUSE, The Winged Foot, Jul. 1913,

p. 9, cols. 1-2.  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

The second photograph shows the famous fire hearth in the original section of the home.  Text accompanying the photograph notes that photograph was taken by Mr. Bleeker N. Mitchill and that the fireplace was known, for obvious reasons, as the "well-befall fire-place."  The pertinent text states:

"The accompanying picture of the old well-befall fire-place, photographed by Mr. Bleeker N. Mitchill before the Hunter house was destroyed, will be of interest to the early settlers at Travers Island.  The fire-place in the present clubhouse is modeled after the original in the old house."

"ORIGINAL WELL-BEFALL HALL."

Source:  TRAVERS ISLAND, New York Athletic Club

Journal, Jul. 1910, p. 10.  NOTE:  Click on Image to

Enlarge.

With page views of the Historic Pelham Blog nearing the half million mark, the community of Pelhamites and former Pelhamites who read these articles and communicate with me to provide additional information, comments, corrections, and revisions have turned out to be an invaluable resource.  On average I receive one or two emails each day containing questions, additional information, comments, corrections, and revisions.  Hopefully, that will continue indefinitely!  Thank you, Mark Gaffney, for providing these images of the Old Hunter House for the benefit of Pelham!

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I previously have written about the New York Athletic Club facilities on Travers Island.  Below is a linked listing of such writings.

Wed., Nov. 16, 2016:  More on the 1889 Fire that Destroyed the Hunter House on Travers Island.

Tue., Sep. 13, 2016:  Notable 1903 and 1904 Cross-Country Championships Were Run on a Course Between Travers Island and Pelham Manor Station.

Wed., Aug. 03, 2016:  1891 Images of the Old New York Athletic Club Facilities on Travers Island.

Mon., Nov. 30, 2015:  Another Detailed Account of the 1901 Fire that Destroyed the Clubhouse of the New York Athletic Club on Travers Island.

Tue., Dec. 23, 2014:  The Original Summer Clubhouse of the New York Athletic Club in 1889, Shortly After it Was Built.

Mon., Jun. 16, 2014:  1892 Images of Travers Island NYAC with an Important Description of the Clubhouse and Facilities.

Thu., Jan. 23, 2014:  Another Account of the Devastating Fire that Destroyed the Travers Island Clubhouse of New York Athletic Club in 1901. 

Fri., Sep. 4, 2009:  1901 Newspaper Article About Fire That Burned New York Athletic Club Clubhouse on Travers Island.

Thu., Apr. 28, 2005:  Ladies' Day on Travers Island in the 19th Century.

Thu., May 26, 2005:  The New York Athletic Club's Opening of the 'New Summer Home' on Travers Island in 1889.

Tue., Jun. 21, 2005:  Life at Travers Island in the 1890s.

Thu., Aug. 11, 2005:  How Dry I Am:  Pelham Goes Dry in the 1890s and Travers Island Is At the Center of a Storm.

Wed., Dec. 21, 2005:  An Early Sketch of the First Clubhouse of the New York Athletic Club on Travers Island in Pelham.

Thu., Jul. 19, 2007:  Members of the New York Athletic Club Were Duped Into Believing the Club Created a Small Nine-Hole Golf Course in Pelham Manor in 1897.

Fri., Jul. 20, 2007:  Account of Early Baseball in Pelham:  Pelham vs. the New York Athletic Club on Travers Island in 1897.

Wed., Nov. 21, 2007:  Baseball on Travers Island During the Summer of 1897.

Thu., Nov. 22, 2007:  August 1896 Description of Cycle Route to Travers Island in Pelham Manor.

Fri., Nov. 23, 2007:  The Festivities of the Huckleberry Indians of the New York Athletic Club Off the Shore of Pelham Manor on July 12, 1896.

Mon., Nov. 26, 2007:  Box Score of a Baseball Game Played on Travers Island in Pelham Manor in July 1896.

Thu., Feb. 7, 2008:  Village Elections in Pelham in 1900 - New York Athletic Club Members Campaign Against the Prohibition Ticket in Pelham Manor.

Mon., Jan. 19, 2009:  Photograph of Members of the New York Athletic Club Shooting Traps on Travers Island in 1911.

Tue., Feb. 17, 2009:  The New York Athletic Club Opens Its New Clubhouse on Travers Island in Pelham in 1888.

Wed., Feb. 18, 2009:  The New York Athletic Club Opens Its New Travers Island Boathouse in 1888.

Thu., Feb. 19, 2009:  The Old Hunter House Burns to the Ground in an Arson Incident on Travers Island on April 4, 1889.

Wed., Mar. 4, 2009:  "Ladies' Day" on Travers Island in Pelham Manor in 1894.

Tue., Mar. 24, 2009:  1897 Photograph of Visitors Streaming to Athletic Outing on Travers Island in Pelham Manor.

Wed., Oct. 28, 2009:  Article About the June 10, 1888 Opening of Travers Island Facility of the New York Athletic Club.

Tue., Aug. 18, 2009:  New York Athletic Club Board of Governors Decided to Mortgage Travers Island in 1895.

Mon., Apr. 12, 2010:  New York Athletic Club Stage Coach Accident Leads to Death of Pelham Manor Man.

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