Early History of the Wolfs Lane Railroad Bridge on the New Haven Line in Pelham
"Oh, East is East and West is West,
and never the twain shall meet."
From "The Ballad of East and West" by Rudyard Kipling.
The railroad overpass by which the New Haven line tracks pass over Wolfs Lane next to the Pelham National Bank building (the old Post Office) located at One Wolfs Lane has a fascinating history. Though it has been known for more than a century as the "Fifth Avenue Bridge," it does not cross Fifth Avenue -- only Wolfs Lane. (Perhaps it should be called the "Wolfs Lane Bridge.") Regardless of label, the overpass has a fascinating history marked by lawsuits and petty squabbles between Pelham Heights and North Pelham.
When the New York and New Haven Railroad line opened through Pelham in late December, 1848, the Pelham countryside was very different than today. The winding and dusty lane now named Wolfs Lane and Fifth Avenue was little more than a narrow dirt path with wagon wheel ruts. It extended from the Boston Turnpike (today's Boston Post Road), crossed the Old Boston Post Road (today's Colonial Avenue), and ran parallel to and inland from the Hutchinson River toward the old homestead of shoemaker and early Mormon convert John Anthony Woolf.
This path to the Woolf homestead was ancient. It was carved by local Native Americans well before Thomas Pell acquired the region from local Native Americans in 1654. As John Anthony Woolf traversed that little pathway back and forth over the years, it widened and slowly became the ancestor of today's Wolfs Lane (and a portion of today's Fifth Avenue) extending from the Boston Turnpike to the Woolf farmhouse.
With the opening of the New York and New Haven railroad line in late December, 1848, the tiny little wooden Pelham train station soon sat approximately where the Pelham National Bank Building (the old Post Office) stands today at One Wolfs Lane in the Village of Pelham. The railroad tracks crossed the roadway later known as Wolfs Lane at grade level. Years later manual crossing gates were installed to protect and prevent travelers along that dirt road from attempting to cross when a train was scheduled to approach. A station master in the station had to raise and lower the crossing gates by hand. The gates stood essentially where the railroad overpass now crosses Wolfs Lane.
The Pelhamville train station was a so-called "flag stop." That meant travelers wishing to board a train at Pelhamville had to alert the station master who then raised a flag to signal the locomotive engineer to stop the train. Absent such a flag, trains sped through the station without stopping.
From nearly the beginning, Pelham residents felt that such speeding trains thundering past the railroad grade crossing on the main road through the settlement of Pelhamville was unreasonably dangerous. Yet, for at least the next thirty five years, the crossing remained at street level as the tiny hamlet of Pelhamville grew. Such growth, however, meant that by the 1880s the crossing danger had to be addressed.
Late that decade the railroad agreed further to raise the grade of the tracks and work with Pelhamville to lower the grade of the Wolfs Lane roadway enough to permit a tiny railroad overpass to be constructed above a lowered roadway. (Indeed, to this day one can see that the roadway beneath the current overpass dips at the spot.)
The initial Wolfs Lane Bridge was supported by two bridge abutments. One was on the east side of the roadway; the other on the west. As constructed, however, the two bridge abutments allowed a narrow roadway only 38-feet wide to pass beneath the railroad tracks. To make matters worse, the abutment on the west side was raised against a major rock outcropping that left only about eighteen inches of passage without stepping onto the roadway.
While such a narrow passage may have been adequate for foot, horse, and wagon traffic in the last two decades of the 19th century, the beginning of the 20th century presented troubling challenges. The passage, plainly, was too narrow. The Villages of North Pelham and Pelham Heights began agitating for a new bridge to allow a wider roadway to pass beneath the New Haven line railroad tracks.
Suddenly, on a Saturday, April Fool's Day, 1905, railroad workers appeared at the overpass and began working on the overpass. All of Pelham seemed to have been surprised -- both by the railroad initiative and by the lack of advance warning.
According to news reports, both Villages of North Pelham and Pelham (the Heights) successfully sought an injunction against the railroad to stop all work. The villages wanted to make certain that if the bridge was to be replaced or substantial work was to be performed, the narrow passageway below would be expanded.
Within a short time, the railroad and villages reached a settlement. North Pelham resident and civil engineer John F. Fairchild began working with railroad engineers and worked out a solution acceptable to all. The railroad agreed to move the bridge abutment on the east side of the roadway further east to permit widening of the roadway from 38 feet to 50 feet.
With spring elections fast approaching, the Board of Trustees of the Village of North Pelham held its final meeting before the March 20 elections on the evening of Wednesday, February 28, 1906. At that meeting, John F. Fairchild read a communication from the railroad offering to move the east abutment further east so the road beneath the railroad tracks could be widened to fifty feet. Fairchild recommended that the trustees accept the offer. At the meeting, the trustees voted to accept the offer.
The matter was resolved. Work could begin immediately. Then, the unthinkable happened. Something happened that became a legend in Pelham on its own, without regard to its impact on plans to restructure the railroad bridge.
On election day, March 20, 1906, a massive snowstorm gripped the region. The Democratic and Republican candidates for President of the Village of North Pelham were having trouble getting out the vote. A political novice, the local blacksmith named Jim Reilley, was bucking the establishment as a third-party candidate by running as a member of the "Municipal Ownership" party.
"Honest Jim Reilley," as he called himself, was a clever man. He defeated his Republican and Democratic opponents in a most ingenious manner. During the snowstorm on election day, Honest Jim Reilley hired all available snow sleighs in the area to ensure that only his supporters could get to the polls easily. He rolled into office and immediately became a bull in a china shop, completely upsetting the initiative to widen the roadway under the railroad bridge.
Within weeks Reilley began an unwise and petty battle between the Villages of North Pelham and Pelham over how the railroad bridge should be rebuilt.
The new North Pelham Board of Trustees held a special meeting on April 13, 1906, barely three weeks after the election. Civil engineer John F. Fairchild dutifully appeared again. He presented the plans to move the eastern abutment of the railroad bridge and recommended the board accept those plans. The Board appointed newly-elected President Reilley a committee of one to consider the matter.
The following day, Reilley dropped a bombshell. According to a local newspaper:
"President Reilley stated this morning that he was not in favor of moving the eastern abutment. He was of the opinion that the one which ought to be moved was that which protruded out upon the sidewalk and that was the western abutment. He said that he did not understand why the railroad company should wish to remove the Eastern abutment. 'That is all right. There are no offsets in it,' he said. He is very firm in his opinion that the western abutment ought to be moved and not the eastern abutment."
Honest Jim Reilley got it into his head that the western abutment encroached on the village sidewalk (actually, a dirt pathway) on the west side of the roadway. He demanded that the west abutment be moved to resolve the supposed "encroachment" and to permit the roadway to be widened. The only problem was that the west abutment was up against a large rock outcropping that would have to be blasted to permit such work -- a monumental task that would complicate and slow the project, not to mention making it exponentially more expensive.
"Oh, East is East and West is West, and never the twain shall meet" . . . .
The railroad, of course, preferred moving the east abutment because consequent structural work could be performed without blasting away rock. The Village of Pelham (the Heights) sided with the railroad.
The Village of North Pelham, however, felt differently. Village President James Reilley claimed that when the underpass was created, the railroad had changed the line of the roadway and that the roadway needed to be straightened to its original straight line at the underpass. To do this, the western abutment would have to be removed and rock would have to be blasted away to permit the consequent structural work.
The "battle" began. For nearly two years Honest Jim Reilley and a majority of his board fought to have the west abutment moved. In the meantime, the lawsuit against the railroad in which the original injunction had been issued languished. The two villages each had their own lawyers in the matter: Benjamin L. Fairchild for the Heights and George P. Breckenridge for North Pelham.
There was a single voice of reason on the North Pelham Board: Trustee David Algie who constantly urged President Reilley and the remaining members of the board to give up the fight and proceed with allowing the railroad to move the east abutment so the narrow roadway beneath could be widened. His was a lonely voice that seemed to have been unheard among the board.
After battling for nearly two years, someone had the bright idea in the spring of 1907 to have a formal survey of the lines performed to determine whether the roadway had been changed from its original path and the west abutment consequently encroached on the "sidewalk" on the west side of the roadway. A local newspaper reported the results as follows:
"This survey, which was made by Mr. Roberts at the request of the village officials and not by order of the New Haven road, as was at first supposed, shows according to the monument and line of Fifth avenue that the Western abutment of the Fifth avenue railroad bridge does not encroach upon the sidewalk as it was believed it did by the North Pelham board. The survey reveals an entirely different situation. It shows that the Eastern abutment extends eleven feet beyond the sidewalk on that side of the street and that after all that is the abutment that will have to be changed in order that the roadway may be widened.
The difference while it existed caused a number of exciting situations and might have involved the village of North Pelham in heavy legal expenditures. It will be remembered that the widening of the roadway beneath the Fifth avenue bridge has been a point of contention for sometime between the officials of the village of North Pelham and the New Haven road. The first time, legal proceedings were instituted against the railroad the latter finally agreed through its counsel, to widen the roadway by making alterations in the Eastern abutment, the very one which the village board did not want changed and which, after all, will have to be altered according to the map filed by the latest surveyors.
The present village board would not adhere to any such plan and President Reilley was firm in his belief that the Western abutment should be removed. The board then instructed Attorney Breckenridge to proceed against the New Haven road with a view of compelling them, through the courts, to widen the roadway as desired by the North Pelham officials. It was supposed that the matter would come up in January, but there were delays. Finally it was decided to have a survey made and the result came as a great surprise to the local officials. It could not be believed that the Western abutment did not encroach upon the sidewalk but the map of the surveyors proved the accuracy of their work."
The North Pelham Board was stunned. Honest Jim Reilley was embarrassed. Nearly two years had been wasted. Attorneys' fees had been paid needlessly. North Pelham residents were unhappy.
Within weeks, the matter was resolved and the railroad began work to move the east abutment. Work was well underway by late July. The work, however, took much longer than expected. Not only was the eastern abutment moved eastward and a new bridge constructed, but related changes had to be made to the railroad tracks between the bridge and Pelham Station. It took much of the month of August, 1908 to complete the work before Pelham had its new Wolfs Lane Railroad Bridge with a newly-widened roadway beneath.
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"PELHAM.
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R. H. Marks opened his new grocery store, corner of Fifth avenue and Fourth street Saturday.
Fred Binney has returned from a trip through the South and West.
The N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R. Co. began work Saturday at the bridge on First street. They will move one abutment twenty feet towards the west. This is an important improvement that will be appreciated by residents of North Pelham and Pelham. As it is now, there is no sidewalk under the bridge on the west side, only a narrow foot path that in winter is covered with ice, and in summer is a mud hole.
Stephen French was severely bitten by one of the numerous dogs with which North Pelham is infested, Friday evening."
Source: PELHAM, The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], Apr. 3, 1905, p. 4, col. 3.
"NEW RAILROAD BRIDGE FOR PELHAM VILLAGES ASSURED
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Welcome News From New Haven Road to Trustees -- Census of North Pelham -- Subway at Depot.
Welcome news was brought to the North Pelham board of trustees at their regular meeting last night in the court house, when it was announced by President William Edinger, that the New York, New Haven and Hartforrd Railroad company had decided to build a new bridge for the villages at Fifth avenue near the railroad station, where the present bridge is now located. Mr. Edinger stated that he was informed of this fact yesterday afternoon. The railroad company has already ordered the iron work, and expects to have the bridge completed by the end of the year.
Did Not Need it.
The decision of the railroad company comes after a dispute between the villages of North Pelham and Pelham, which has been in progress for several months, over the bridge question. Not long ago, the railroad company put new iron work on the present bridge which it is said was erected some fifteen years ago. As soon as the village trustees saw what the railroad company was about, it was decided to make a move toward having a wider bridge put up, as there is a width of but thirty-eight feet between the abutments. Accordingly, the railroad company was requested to put up a bridge so that there would be a passage-way of fifty feet. The request was ignored. The trustees were told that the erection of such a bridge would cost too much. The company also felt that the village did not need it at present.
Litigation Discontinued.
As the village trustees saw that the railroad company was determined about the matter, it was decided to file an injunction against the company. This was done about three months ago. The railroad company decided to fight the case, which was expected to come up in the courts before long. Then came the welcome news through President Edinger that it had been dropped and that the railroad company would build the bridge.
Welcome News.
The residents of Pelham and North Pelham will doubtless be glad to hear this news and will look forward to the completion of such a bridge with great interest, as the one at present is inadequate. A passageway of thirty-eight feet in width is altogether insufficient for the purposes of traffic in the villages of Pelham and North Pelham; but one fifty feet in width, will doubtless meet the requirements of the people of this district.
Subway Wanted.
In this connection it might be said that another matter of as great importance as the bridge question has been agitated by the people of Pelham and North Pelham. That is, the building of a subway at the passenger station. At present, passengers are obliged to do considerable walking when either desirous of reaching or leaving the station. Pelham Heights people, in order to take the New York trains, are obliged to either cross the tracks, or walk around under the bridge then up the stairs to the long platform. The same is true of North Pelham people leaving the trains. It is felt that a subway should be built here and that it is a great necessity.
All Present.
Last evening's meeting of the trustees opened with President Edinger in the chair. The following were present besides the president: Clerk James W. Caffrey, Treasurer Durham, M. J. Woods, and David Algie.
Take a Census.
The usual routine business was transacted and several matters of importance were considered and passed upon. The first item of principal interest was the information concerning the action of the railroad company relative to the bridge, given by President Edinger. The next matter of importance taken up was the census question. Several letters were read by the president relative to the matter and it was ascertained that this was the year to take the enumeration, after Mr. Algie had enlight-
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Continued on Page Two.
NEW BRIDGE
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(Continued from page one.)
ened the board on the matter by reading a section from the law.
Finish by 20th Inst.
It was decided that work on the enumeration should be commenced at once. John Case, who was present at the meeting, and who it was expected would take the enumeration, was asked how long he thought it would take him and what the cost of the same would be. The population of North Pelham was estimated to be about eight hundred. Finally, an arrangement was made with Mr. Case relative to the taking of the enumeration. It will have to be finished by January 20. Mr. Case will probably begin his work Monday morning.
Sand on Crossing.
Another matter of importance taken up by the board was the advisability of putting sand on a number of the crossings in the village. Complaint has been made that it is almost impossible to get over some of these crossings in the village after a rain storm on account of the large puddles and the condition of the locality. This fact is especially true of Hill's and Sprague's corners. The conditions are much worse at some crossings than at others. It was voted at the meeting of the board last night to notify the street commissioner to put sand on all of the crossings in the village, he to use discretion as to the amount to be used at each. Some of the crossing will doubtless need two or three loads of sand, while others will not need so many. At any rate there is no doubt that the matter will be well looked after by the commissioner. Those especially in need of attention are the ones located at Hill's corner, Sprague's corner and that located in front of P. Godfrey's.
Few More Meetings.
The treasurer reported that there was a balance on hand of $1,716.44. The receipts with the previous balance were announced as $3,745.76 and the disbursements as $2,029.02. The present board has but two more regular meetings this year, and one special meeting which will be called to consider the enumeration. It will then be time for the next election."
Source: NEW RAILROAD BRIDGE FOR PELHAM VILLAGES ASSURED -- Welcome News From New Haven Road to Trustees -- Census of North Pelham -- Subway at Depot, The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], Jan. 6, 1906, Whole No. 4209, p. 1, cols. 6-7 & p. 2, col. 3.
"NORTH PELHAM TO HAVE NEW BRIDGE SOON
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Stipulation Filed With the Board of Trustees at Regular Meeting Last Evening.
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CHANGE IN THE CENSUS FOUR MORE THAN BEFORE
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The frigid weather which had North Pelham in its tight grasp last night had no terrors for the village trustees, for they were out in force at their regular meeting, which occurred in the court house. It takes a good deal to prevent these men from attending to their duties as trustees.
Features of Meeting.
The two principal features of last night's meeting were first the reading of a stipulation from the New York, New Haven and Hartfored Railroad Company relative to the case of the village against the company concerning the railroad bridge, and, second, the presentation of the enumerator's sworn statement concerning the recent taking of the census, which showed a population of 872 instead of 868, as originally reported.
Railroad's Intent.
The real feature of the meeting was the stipulation of the railroad company, which was read by Clerk Caffrey in connection with a letter from B. L. Fairchild, the attorney for the plaintiff. In this letter Mr. Fairchild stated that the stipulation sets forth the purpose of the railroad company to conform to the demands of the village relative to the kind of a bridge the people want, which practically means that the new bridge is a surety [sic]. He said that the present purpose is to keep alive the action until the completion of the bridge. The stipulation in full follows:
The Stipulation.
'An injunction having been granted herein enjoining the defendant company from prosecuting working upon the bridge sought by this action to be removed, and said injunction having been vacated upon condition, among other things, that the defendant should stipulate to try this case at the January special term of this court, this case having been reached for trial at said January special term, and the defendant having thereupon expressed a willingness to conform to the demands of the plaintiff regarding the construction of said bridge and abutments as set forth in the complaint herein. It is now stipulated and agreed for the purpose of giving the defendant a chance to carry out its said intention, this action is hereby adjourned to the special term of this court, to be then and there set down peremptorily for trial, upon application of the plaintiff, unless this action shall in the meantime have been settled. Signed, B. L. Fairchaild, attorney for the plaintiff; William Greenough, attorney for the defendant.'
Change in Census.
The sworn statement of Enumerator John Case, as read by Clerk Caffrey, showed a population for North Pelham of 872, the report having been revised since given to the Argus. This statement showed a population of 484 over twenty-one years of age and 388 under twenty-one. Mr. Case stated that he commenced his enumeration at 10 a.m., January 9, and finished it January 20, 4 p.m., on which day it was subscribed and sworn to before J. W. Caffrey, notary of public. It was voted by the board that the statement be accepted and the clerk and secretary of state of such completion in compliance with the law.
Other Matters.
The usual bills were received and ordered paid. The report of Treasurer Durham showed a balance on hand of $1,121.63. The total receipts for the months amounted to $85.09. Last month's balance was $1,216.44. The disbursements for the month were $179.90. This village board will have but two more meetings before election. A special meeting will occur probably Tuesday evening, January 20, and the last regular meeting February 28, when the annual budget will be presented."
Source: NORTH PELHAM TO HAVE NEW BRIDGE SOON -- Stipulation Filed With the Board of Trustees at Regular Meeting Last Evening -- CHANGE IN THE CENSUS FOUR MORE THAN BEFORE, The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], Feb. 3, 1906, Whole No. 4233, p. 1, col. 1.
"NORTH PELHAM TRUSTEES HOLD LAST SESSION
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Of Fiscal Year -- Budget Is $11,665.75 -- Widen Roadway Under Bridge
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NEW WALK ON EAST SIDE OF FIFTH AVENUE
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The present board of trustees of the village of North Pelham held its last meeting Wednesday night, when the budget for the year 1905, calling for $11,665.75 was presented and adopted. A communication was also read from John F. Fairchild, civil engineer, relative to the widening of the roadway under the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad company's bridge. This communication stated that the railroad company had offered to widen the street at the east side so that it would be fifty feet in width. This will mean that only one abutment will be changed. The trustees voted to adopt the plan as suggested by Mr. Fairchild, the engineer. A plan of the work to be done was presented to the trustees.
The following is the budget: To pay interest on bonds, $1,803.75; to pay principal on bond No. 4, of the $39,000 issue, $1,500; to pay principal on bond No. 28, of first $5,000 issue, $500; to pay principal on bond No. 38, of second $5,000 issue, $500 to pay treasurer's salary, $75; clerk's salary, $75; board of health, $200; legal services, $200; election expenses, $100; contingent fund, $600; liability fund, $1,782; roads and culverts $600; sprinkling streets, $400; to pay certificate of indebtedness held by the bank of Mount Vernon, $2,500; to lay sidewalk on east side of Fifth avenue from First street to Third street, $750. Total, $11,665.75.
One of the interesting items in the budget is that calling for the sum of $750 for the laying of a sidewalk on the east side of Fifth avenue from First to Third street. This sidewalk is needed as the street is the one on which the car line runs. At present there is not even a path, and for a long distance much grass. The walk will be a big improvement to the village. There is already a very good walk on the west side.
The following is the communication of John F. Fairchild, relative to the widening of the street: 'I met the engineer of the New Haven Railroad company at the overhead crossing at Wolf's lane, and after discussing the matter it was finally decided as the most advantageous way of making the required alteration in the width of the abutment, to widen it out entirely on the easterly side, the New Haven road owning the abutting property on both the north and south sides of the railroad. I enclose herewith a map showing the proper alteration. This will, of course, require the readjustment of the macadam street lines and sidewalks which should be done at the expense of the New Haven Railroad company, etc.'"
Source: NORTH PELHAM TRUSTEES HOLD LAST SESSION -- Of Fiscal Year -- Budget Is $11,665.75 -- Widen Roadway Under Bridge -- NEW WALK ON EAST SIDE OF FIFTH AVENUE, The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], Mar. 1, 1906, Whole No. 4258, p. 1, col. 1.
"VINCENT BARKER IS ELECTED AS PELHAM'S STREET COMMISSIONER
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Important Meeting of the Trustees Last Night -- Question as to Removal of Railroad Abutments
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(Special to Daily Argus.)
North Pelham, April 14. -- An important special meeting of the board of trustees of the village of Pelham was held last night in the court house. Those present were President James Reilley, Trustees W. G. Barker, and David Algie, Treasurer D. Paul O'Flynn and Clerk James W. Caffrey. . . .
A communication was read from Engineer Fairchild relative to the contemplated action of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad company in the removal of the eastern abutment of the Fifth avenue bridge for the purpose of widening the roadway at that point according to the desire of the village. Mr. Fairchild enclosed a plan of the contemplated improvements, and advised the acceptance of the same. President Reilley was appointed a committee to meet a committee from the Pelham Heights board of trustees, relative to the matter.
President Reilley stated this morning that he was not in favor of moving the eastern abutment. He was of the opinion that the one which ought to be moved was that which protruded out upon the sidewalk and that was the western abutment. He said that he did not understand why the railroad company should wish to remove the Eastern abutment. 'That is all right. There are no offsets in it,' he said. He is very firm in his opinion that the western abutment ought to be moved and not the eastern abutment."
Source: VINCENT BARKER IS ELECTED AS PELHAM'S STREET COMMISSIONER -- Important Meeting of the Trustees Last Night -- Question as to Removal of Railroad Abutments, The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], Apr. 14, 1906, Whole No. 4231, p. 1, cols. 4-5.
"DIFFICULTY IN ARRIVING NOW AT AGREEMENT
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What President Reilly [sic] of North Pelham, Says About Widening of Fifth Ave. Bridge
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ALTERATIONS NOT TO BE AT EASTERLY ABUTMENT
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North Pelham, May 22. -- From present indications it appears that the trustees of the villages of North Pelham and Pelham Heights are going to have some difficulty in coming to an agreement relative to the widening of the roadway underneath the Fifth avenue bridge.
At a meeting of the trustees held Wednesday evening, May 9, a communication was read from Mr. Fairchild, who was counsel for the village in its case against the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad Company relating to the building of a new bridge, etc., in which he called attention to the fact that the attorney for the New Haven road concedes the liability of the company to restore the road or highway as near as may be to its former state. He also stated that the alterations at Wolf's lane, as planned by the railroad company, involves a change of location of the east abutment, the west abutment remaining as at present. In this letter Mr. Fairchild suggested that the plans of the railroad company be approved at once, etc., in order that the company might proceed with the necessary work.
But President Reilley will not listen to any alterations on the easterly abutment, as he contends that the trouble is not there at all. That abutment does not need to be altered in the least. He contends that the westerly abutment is the one that is causing all of the trouble. It should be moved back so that the width of the street under the bridge will be fifty feet. To do this there should be an alteration of between ten and twelve feet.
No action was taken by the board at this meeting relative to the letter, as it was deemed advisable that President Reilley should confer with the trustees of Pelham Heights. He said that he had made several attempts to meet the committee having the matter in charge, etc., but had failed. It was suggested at the board that he make another effort. Since then he has seen the president of the village of Pelham Heights, and Mr. Fairchild and both are in favor of the alterations to the easterly abutment.
Mr. Reilley said that he had an appointment the other day with the Pelham Heights representatives, but none of them showed up. He says that he will never accede to the suggestions of Mr. Fairchild's letter. He is firm in his belief that the village of North Pelham would not be benefited by any alterations to the easterly abutment.
He was asked if it would be necessary for the two boards to concur in the matter before any action could be taken, and he said that such a step would be necessary. He said: 'A joint resolution has got to be passed by both boards authorizing the railroad company to make the alterations. I will never pay any attention to the widening of the road from the easterly side.'
This means that the roadway will not be widened this year. Mr. Reilley said: 'They won't widen the roadway anyway while I'm in office."
Source: DIFFICULTY IN ARRIVING NOW AT AGREEMENT -- What President Reilly [sic] of North Pelham, Says About Widening of Fifth Ave. Bridge -- ALTERATIONS NOT TO BE AT EASTERLY ABUTMENT, The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], May 22, 1906, p. 1, col. 4.
"PELHAM DIFFICULTIES.
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A Settlement Said to Be Assured for Present at Least.
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North Pelham, May 26. -- There is no indication that the difficulty between the Pelham Heights and North Pelham boards of trustees relative to the railroad bridge matter will be settled, at present at least.
This morning President Reilley, of the North Pelham trustees, stated that it had reached him that the Pelham Heights people believed that he was holding up the alterations on the bridge by railroad company for certain personal reasons. As he is president of the village, they believe that he intends to use his office accordingly.
Mr. Reilley said this morning that he had no personal reasons at all. He said that he was working for the interests of the village entirely and not to serve his own ends. Mr. Reilley showed this morning the map of the original survey of the village of North Pelham, as made by William Bryson, of New Rochelle, dated August 4, 1851. In this map, the line of the westerly side of Fifth avenue meets exactly the line on the westerly side of Wolf's lane. The building of the westerly abutment of the bridge has completely destroyed this line. Mr. Reilley said this morning that what he was working for, was to get the line of the street now to correspond with the line of the original survey of the old village of Pelhamville."
Source: PELHAM DIFFICULTIES -- A Settlement Said to Be Assured for Present at Least, The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], May 26, 1906, p. 1, col. 1.
"VICINITY NEWS.
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NORTH PELHAM.
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IMPORTANT ACTION
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Taken by Board of Trustees on Friday Night Last.
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Two important actions were taken by the board of trustees at its regular meeting Friday night. One was the appointment of Village Attorney George P. Breckenridge, as counsel, for the village in its case with the New York, New Haven & Hartford railroad company relative to the Fifth avenue bridge matter. The other action was the appointment of Charles Hemingway an inspector of the new culvert now being built in place of High Commissioner Vincent Barker, who resigned.
The appointment of Mr. Breckenridge as counsel in the railroad case was made after some discussion. Mr. Algie was in favor of retaining Ben. L. Fairchild as counsel as he had thus far conducted the case. He said 'What is the use of paying out $500 for counsel fees for this bridge when we can have it done cheaper?' Mr. Algie asked Mr. Breckenridge if he thought he could take care of the case for less than that sum. Mr. Breckenridge was of the opinion that he could. Mr. Algie asked President Reilley if there had been a joint committee meeting between the villages of North Pelham and Pelham Heights on the subject and Mr. Reilley replied that he had met both Mr. Jacques, president of the village of Pelham, and Mr. Fairchild. He said, 'Mr. Jacques was first in favor of removing the western abutment, then Mr. Fairchild talked him out of it.' Mr. Reilly [sic] was of the opinion that it would be to the interest of North Pelham to change the counsel, as he thought that the present counsel would favor the interests of Pelham Heights.
'Well,' said Mr. Breckenridge,' if I'm going to be village counsel I might as well be counsel for everything concerning the village.' Mr. Algie did not see any use of having two attorneys. The following motion was finally passed:
'Resolved, That George P. Breckenridge be substituted as village counsel in place of Ben. L. Fairchild as attorney in the New York, New Haven & Hartford railroad company in the matter of changing the abutment of the Fifth avenue bridge."
The resolution was moved by Trustee Barker and seconded by Trustee Algie and unanimously passed. In seconding the motion Mr. Algie said, 'I'll second the motion, but it will cost us more after we get through with it than we think for.' Mr. Breckenridge replied, 'I think Mr. Algie, that it will cost you less than you think for.'
Several bills were ordered paid, among them being that of K. S. Durham, which was laid over at the last regular meeting and also two of the Pelham Register bills, laid over. Both of these provided considerable discussion and opened the way for heated debate at the last regular meeting.
The street commissioner, Vincent Barker, was directed to take charge of the sprinkling of the streets and have better service gives the village.
It was moved by Mr. Algie that $3 be allowed for the publishing of the completion of the assessment roll and $6.50 for notices about Grievance Day.
It was moved by Trustee Barber that Charles Hemingway be appointed as inspector of culvert to fill a vacancy caused by the resignation of Vincent Barker and that he be directed to have the contract. The said inspector's services not to exceed $25."
Source: VICINITY NEWS -- NORTH PELHAM -- IMPORTANT ACTION -- Taken by Board of Trustees on Friday Night Last, The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], Jun. 4, 1906, p. 6, cols. 1-2.
"PAINTED THE WORD 'GOOD' ON A BRIDGE
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Now North Pelham and Pelham Village Trustees Would Like to Know Significance
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IS ON EAST ABUTMENT AT FIFTH AVE. STRUCTURE
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North Pelham, June 13. -- Some individual has painted upon the eastern abutment of the Fifth avenue railroad bridge the word 'good' in big, black letters. The word itself is suggestive of the present complications now existing between the North Pelham and Pelham village trustees relative to the widening of the street under the railroad bridge. It will be remembered that the Pelham Heights trustees are in favor of changing the eastern abutment while the North Pelham trustees say, 'leave the eastern abutment alone: the western abutment is the one which should be changed and straightened.'
Now this word 'good' may mean two things, as some of the people see it. In the first place, to the Pelham Heights trustees and supporters, it may mean that it will be a 'good' thing to change the eastern abutment according to their plan. To the North Pelham trustees the word may signify that it will be a 'good' thing for all concerned and especially those residing in North Pelham, to leave the eastern abutment alone; also that it will be a 'good' thing for the Pelham Heights trustees not to interfere with the wishes of the 'village blacksmith' who is president of the village.
President Reilley was interviewed this morning about the significance of the word and he said that he could not account for the act of the person who painted it on the stones of the abutment. He was taken by surprise and at first could not believe that anyone would resort to such vandalism, especially in the quiet village of North Pelham.
It is believed that the person who painted the word might have had in mind the present difficulty between the two boards of trustees, and endeavoring to play a joke on both boards, decided to paint the word on the abutment where everyone can see it."
Source: PAINTED THE WORD 'GOOD' ON A BRIDGE -- Now North Pelham and Pelham Village Trustees Would Like to Know Significance -- IS ON EAST ABUTMENT AT FIFTH AVE. STRUCTURE, The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], Jun. 13, 1906, Whole No. 4341, p. 1, col. 4.
"UNCERTAIN AS TO REMOVING OF ABUTMENT
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North Pelham and Pelham Heights Await Decision About Bridge
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ONE SAYS FOR THE EAST THE OTHER IS FOR WEST
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North Pelham, June 16. -- The question as to which abutment of the Fifth avenue railroad bridge is the proper one to remove in order that the street underneath may be altered to the proper width of 50 feet, is being discussed and considered by a number of citizens, both in North Pelham and Pelham Heights.
President Reilley of North Pelham, is still of the opinion that he is right in the matter and that the western abutment is the one that should be altered. Mr. Reilley argues that when the bridge was built, the line of the street was destroyed according to the old plans of the village. It is his purpose to have the street straightened now as it should be, and in order to accomplish this the western abutment would have to be changed.
A prominent taxpayer and contractor in North Pelham said this morning, that in his opinion the reason why the railroad company expressed a desire to widen the street by changing the eastern abutment was because of a quantity of rock near the western abutment which would have to be blasted away before the abutment could be changed, so that the former width of the street could be obtained.
The matter is now in the hands of Attorney Breckenridge, counsel for the village of North Pelham, and the results of his investigation will be awaited with interest."
Source: UNCERTAIN AS TO REMOVING OF ABUTMENT -- North Pelham and Pelham Heights Await Decision About Bridge -- ONE SAYS FOR THE EAST THE OTHER IS FOR WEST, The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], Jun. 16, 1906, Whole No. 4344, p. 1, col. 4.
"Events in North Pelham.
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ATTORNEY SUBSTITUTED.
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Mr. Breckenridge Takes Place of Mr. Fairchild in Case.
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Village of North Pelham against the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad Company. Justice Keogh directs that George P. Breckenridge be substituted as attorney for the plaintiff in place of Ben L. Fairchild.' The foregoing is the first official announcement of the fact that Mr. Breckenridge is now the counsel for the village in the matter of the railroad bridge in North Pelham. It was one of the decisions handed down by Supreme Court Judge Keogh filed in the Westchester county clerk's office yesterday morning and made public last night.
This decision of the court was announced by Mr. Breckenridge himself at the last regular meeting of the board, but there was no official announcement. It recalls the action of the trustees at the meeting in June, when Mr. Breckenridge was unanimously appointed village counsel in the railroad matter in place of Mr. Fairchild. At that meeting one of the trustees was fearful that Mr. Breckenridge was unanimously appointed village counsel in the railroad matter in place of Mr. Fairchild. At that meeting one of the trustees was fearful that Mr. Breckenridge could not conduct the case for less than $500. This trustee was in favor of retaining Mr. Fairchild. At this meeting the trustee asked Mr. Breckenridge if he thought he could take care of the case for less than the above sum, and the lawyer replied that he thought that he could. Mr. Reilley also at this meeting came out frankly with the statement that in his opinion it would be for the interests of the village to change cousel, as he thought that Mr. Fairchild would favor the interests of Pelham Heights.
This bridge matter has been hanging fire for over a year. It first came up when Ben L. Fairchild served an injunction on the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad Company, restraining them from constructing this new bridge upon which work had already been started until the roadway was widened beneath to the proper width. Operations were suspended for awhile; then work was continued. Finally the railroad company decided to widen the roadway to the proper width by removing the eastern abutment instead of the western abutment. This was considered a poor solution of the problem by many, as the western abutment protrudes upon the sidewalk.
After this meeting, and when the board met again, Mr. Breckenridge informed the trustees, in spite of the fact that he had been appointed, that Mr. Fairchild would not recognize him as his substitute. Mr. Fairchild stated that his attitude would be such until a balance of $50 had been paid on a sum of $125 which he claimed was due him, for services in behalf of the village relative to the action of the village against the New Haven road, in regard to the widening of the roadway beneath the Fifth avenue bridge. Then the board decided that Mr. Breckenridge should get the court's opinion on the matter which was made public officially yesterday in Mr. Breckenridge's favor.
President Reilley stated this morning that in some places the walk beside the western abutment is but twenty inches wide. The plan is to so widen the street underneath and have the abutment removed to such a distance that the western line will be straight with the line of the west side of Fifth avenue. It is planned to move the abutment back ten feet from the curb. At present there is room on the eastern side for a four foot flag walk with space beside."
Source: Events in North Pelham -- ATTORNEY SUBSTITUTED -- Mr. Breckenridge Takes Place of Mr. Fairchild in Case, The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], Nov. 26, 1906, p. 6, cols. 1-3.
"WIDEN PELHAM BRIDGE.
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Trustees Are Determined to Take Some Action.
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North Pelham, Jan. 9. -- The majority of the members of the village board are determined to compel the New York, New Haven and Hartford railroad company to widen the Fifth avenue railroad bridge by removing the western abutment instead of the eastern abutment. This matter has again come before the people as a result of the meeting of the trustees held a fewe days ago when the board examined the bridge in company with the village counsel.
It is an absolute necessity that the western abutment be moved. This, it is understood, the railroad company does not wish to do. Last spring, the village board received word from the railroad company to the effect that they would widen the bridge by changing the eastern abutment if the board would pass a resolution to that effect. But this the board refused to do, as the majority of the members were of the opinion that such an improvement would be no good.
It was noticed by the members, that in some places the width of the sidewalk on the western side is only about eighteen inches. It should be ten feet. It was also discovered that the eastern abutment projects upon the walk on that side.
Attorney Breckenridge was instructed by the board to proceed with the case that will come up in the supreme court in White Plains this month."
Source: WIDEN PELHAM BRIDGE -- Trustees Are Determined to Take Some Action, The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], Jan. 9, 1907, Whole No. 4515, p. 1, col. 1.
"SETTLED THE DISPUTE OVER THE ROADWAY
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North Pelham Will be Happy About Fifth Avenue Widening Per New Map
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HAS BEEN THE SUBJECT OF MANY LITIGATIONS
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North Pelham, May 29. -- It became known yesterday that an important difference relative to the widening of the roadway beneath the Fifth avenue bridge, which for more than two years has existed between the officials of the village of North Pelham and the New York, New Haven and Hartford railroad and which twice resulted in local proceedings being instituted by the village against the company has, after many delays, been at last settled through the filing of a map of survey by Engineer H. Roberts with Village Counsel George P. Breckenridge.
This survey, which was made by Mr. Roberts at the request of the village officials and not by order of the New Haven road, as was at first supposed, shows according to the monument and line of Fifth avenue that the Western abutment of the Fifth avenue railroad bridge does not encroach upon the sidewalk as it was believed it did by the North Pelham board. The survey reveals an entirely different situation. It shows that the Eastern abutment extends eleven feet beyond the sidewalk on that side of the street and that after all that is the abutment that will have to be changed in order that the roadway may be widened.
The difference while it existed caused a number of exciting situations and might have involved the village of North Pelham in heavy legal expenditures. It will be remembered that the widening of the roadway beneath the Fifth avenue bridge has been a point of contention for sometime between the officials of the village of North Pelham and the New Haven road. The first time, legal proceedings were instituted against the railroad the latter finally agreed through its counsel, to widen the roadway by making alterations in the Eastern abutment, the very one which the village board did not want changed and which, after all, will have to be altered according to the map filed by the latest surveyors.
The present village board would not adhere to any such plan and President Reilley was firm in his belief that the Western abutment should be removed. The board then instructed Attorney Breckenridge to proceed against the New Haven road with a view of compelling them, through the courts, to widen the roadway as desired by the North Pelham officials. It was supposed that the matter would come up in January, but there were delays. Finally it was decided to have a survey made and the result came as a great surprise to the local officials. It could not be believed that the Western abutment did not encroach upon the sidewalk but the map of the surveyors proved the accuracy of their work.
It appears that the Western abutment of this bridge encroaches upon the sidewalk, but it is said the deception is due to the fact that Wolf's lane curves to the West considerably. The board of trustees, now that the facts are presented, are perfect willing to accept the situation as it is and have the Eastern abutment changed."
Source: SETTLED THE DISPUTE OVER THE ROADWAY -- North Pelham Will be Happy About Fifth Avenue Widening Per New Map -- HAS BEEN THE SUBJECT OF MANY LITIGATIONS, The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], May 29, 1907, Whole No. 4634, p. 1, col. 5.
"NORTH PELHAM ITEMS OF INTEREST
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HAD OPPOSITION.
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Arguments In Matter of Railroad Making Repairs Here.
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It became known yesterday that Counsel George P. Breckenridge, of the village of North Pelham met with opposition from Ben L. Fairchild, of the village of Pelham, in the supreme court at White Plains recently, in the former's efforts to compel the New Haven road, when it widens the roadway underneath the Fifth avenue bridge, to repair the roadbed, put the same in good condition and to lay the sidewalks under the bridge adjacent to both the eastern and the western abutments.
Attorney Breckenridge presented a brief showing why the railroad should attend to the matter and why the village of North Pelham should not be expected to do the work. He contended that as long as the railroad company was responsible for the present condition of the bridge abutments in the village, the municipalities were not responsible for the streets, and that inasmuch as the railroad would have to tear up the street, it would have to place the same in condition, as a result of its work.
Mr. Fairchild, who is the attorney for the village of Pelham, presented a brief, showing why the railroad should not do this work.
It will be remembered that not long ago engineers surveyed the street adjacent to the bridge and it was ascertained that the western abutment was all right and would not have to be changed. Now Mr. Breckenridge is working hard to save the village of North Pelham from extra expense by having the railroad do the work, which he believes it should do.
Mr. Breckenridge is awaiting the decision of the court on the matter. Of course if it is favorable, the railroad will have to repair the street and lay the sidewalks; otherwise the two villages will have to do the work, as a part of the bridge is in the village of North Pelham and the rest in the village of Pelham."
Source: NORTH PELHAM ITEMS OF INTEREST -- HAD OPPOSITION -- Arguments In Matter of Railroad Making Repairs Here, The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], Jul. 3, 1907, p. 6, col. 3.
"Local Jottings.
Edward McArdle leaves Monday for Larchmont, where he will engage in the horse clipping business.
Smith Brothers, who were awarded the contract for laying the fifteen hundred feet of sidewalk in the village, by the trustees at the last special meeting, expect to begin work within a few days.
The American Ice Company are unloading their ice houses in the village in view of the fact that the foundation of the buildings is said to be weak and unable to stand the strain of so many tons of ice.
A new roof is being put on the residence of Village Clerk James Caffrey, on Fourth street and Second avenue.
The village officials have not as yet received word from Village Counsel George P. Breckenridge as to the decision of the courts whether or not the village of North Pelham will have to repair the roadway and relay the flagging beneath the Fifth avenue bridge after the roadway is widened by the New Haven road by changing the eastern abutment, as it was stated that it would do, in the Argus weeks ago. Village Counsel Breckenridge has argued that in view of the fact that the railroad company was responsible for conditions which make it necessary to widen the roadway, it should be required to replace the highway in as good a condition as it found it previous to the work. Village Counsel Fairchild, of Pelham, had a different opinion on the matter than Mr. Breckenridge, and argued that if the railroad widens the roadway the village should repair the roadway."
Source: Local Jottings, The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], Aug. 1, 1907, p. 3, col. 1.
"NORTH PELHAM ITEMS OF INTEREST
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Nothing Done As Yet.
In spite of the fact that the village board agreed several months ago to have the roadway widened underneath the Fifth avenue bridge by changing the eastern abutment, the New Haven road has done nothing about the matter. Altho it was reported over a month ago that the work would be begun in a few days, the delay is still continued. President Reilley was asked if the railroad was going to remove this eastern abutment so that the bridge could be widened. He stated that he had not been informed by the village counsel that the railroad was taking any steps in the matter. The widening of this bridge has been delayed for years now. When President Reilley first took the office of president, the village board took up the matter of having the western abutment moved. The trustees would not consider the removal of the eastern abutment for the purpose of widening the roadway, as they took the stand that this abutment was all right and did not need changing. However, engineers were secured to survey the west side of Fifth avenue near the bridge, and it was ascertained that the abutment did not project over the line of the sidewalk of Fifth avenue. This fact was called to the attention of the village trustees, and the latter finally admitted that their position was wrong and that after all the eastern abutment should be removed."
Source: NORTH PELHAM ITEMS OF INTEREST -- Nothing Done As Yet, The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], Dec. 12, 1907, p. 3, cols. 1-2.
"NEARBY TOWNS
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At North Pelham
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WIDENING THAT ROADWAY.
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New Haven Road at Last Begins Work at the Bridge.
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Workmen employed by the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad company began Wednesday to make preparations to widen the passageway beneath the Fifth avenue bridge in North Pelham and Pelham. The men were busy removing the bolts from the steel girders in the bridge, and the probability is that in a few days the work will be so far advanced that the North Pelham and Pelham cars will be unable to proceed farther than the bridge, as the wires will be disconnected:
Considerable significance is attached to the fact that the New Haven road has at last begun to make this necessary and long expected improvement. It was over two years ago, when the village authorities of the villages of Pelham and North Pelham had an injunction served on the New Haven road through Attorney Ben L. Fairchild, restraining them from continuing the construction of this new bridge after it was once started, because it built the abutments in such a way that the passageway was declared too narrow for proper traffic.
After the injunction was served, an agreement was reached between the villages and the road, as a result of which the latter was permitted to continue the construction of the bridge on the condition that the company widen the passageway after the bridge was completed.
At a meeting of the village trustees in March, 1906, a communication from Ben L. Fairchild, the attorney for the two villages on the matter, was read, in which he stated that the railroad company had offered to widen the street at the east side, so that it would be fifty feet in width. In the communication at that time, he said, 'I met the engineer of the New Haven Railroad company at the overhead crossing at Wolf's Lane, and after discussing the matter, it was finally decided as the most advantageous way of making the required alterations in the width of the abutment to widen it out entirely on the easterly side, the New Haven road owning the abuting [sic] property on both the north and south sides of the railroad, etc.'
At this meeting, the trustees voted to adopt the plan as suggested by Mr. Fairchild [John Fairchild], the engineer. A plan of the work to be done was presented to the members of the village board.
However, after the exciting election which occurred in that spring, the new board of village trustees refused to abide by the decision in regard to the matter, some of the trustees contending that the westerly abutment was the one that should be removed and changed and not the easterly abutment. In fact, some of the members of the board were of the opinion that because Mr. Fairchild recommended the changing of the easterly abutment that he was favoring the residents of the village of Pelham.
Village Counsel Breckenridge was accordingly instructed to make an investigation and ascertain which abutment was the right one to change. Engineer Roberts, of Pelham Heights, was secured to make a survey, and showed that the westerly abutment was not after all the one to be changed, because it was on a line with the monuments on the westerly side of Fifth avenue. Accordingly, the New Haven company was notified that the authorities of North Pelham were satisfied that the easterly abutment was the one that should be changed.
It is hoped that the work will be pushed with rapidity now after the delay of two and a half years."
Source: NEARBY TOWNS -- At North Pelham -- WIDENING THAT ROADWAY -- New Haven Road at Last Begins Work at the Bridge, The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], Mar. 27, 1908, p. 3, col. 2.
"IN THE VICINITY
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NORTH PELHAM NOTES. . . .
Good progress is being made in the construction of the Fifth avenue bridge since the eastern abutment was moved back. One section is nearly completed."
Source: IN THE VICINITY -- NORTH PELHAM NOTES, The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], Jul. 27, 1908, p. 3, col. 1.
"TOWN MATTERS. . . .
Excellent progress is being made in the construction of the new bridge over Fifth avenue. The alterations demanded by the village boards of North Pelham and Pelham have caused the New Haven road much expense as the eastern abutment not only had to be changed and a new bridge built, but several changes had to be made in the tracks in proximity to the passenger station."
Source: TOWN MATTERS, The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], Aug. 18, 1908, p. 3, col. 2.
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Labels: 1895, 1896, 1906, Feud, North Pelham, Pelham Heights, Pelham Train Station, Pelhamville, Pelhamville Depot, Pelhamville Station, The Heights, Village of North Pelham
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