Historic Pelham

Presenting the rich history of Pelham, NY in Westchester County: current historical research, descriptions of how to research Pelham history online and genealogy discussions of Pelham families.

Wednesday, July 04, 2018

The Village of North Pelham's Grand Fourth of July Celebration in 1907



"The celebration of Fourth of July of the year 1907,
will long be remembered by the residents of the town
of Pelham as the greatest in its history."

-- The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], July 5, 1907.

Each Fourth of July, Pelhamites are among patriotic Americans who celebrate the adoption of the Declaration of Independence by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776.  The holiday actually is not a celebration of the "signing" of the Declaration of Independence.  Nearly a month passed before the actual signing of the document by most delegates. (New York delegates did not even give their assent to the Declaration until July 9.) It then took nearly two weeks for the Declaration to be "engrossed" -- i.e. written clearly and carefully on parchment.  Most delegates signed the engrossed Declaration on August 2, 1776, but five delegates did not sign until much later.  Additionally, two other delegates -- John Dickinson and Robert R. Livingston -- never signed it at all.

Pelham has a long and rich tradition of grand Fourth of July celebrations.  Indeed, I have written about a number of such notable celebrations.  See, e.g.:

Tue., Jul. 04, 2017:  Pelham's Fourth of July Celebration in 1877.

Mon., Jul. 04, 2016 19th:  Century Fourth of July Celebrations in the Town of Pelham.

Fri., Jul. 04, 2014:  A History of Grand "Small-Town" Fourth of July Celebrations in Pelham.

Clearly the Fourth of July celebration in Pelham in 1907 was very special.  Indeed, it was a monumental spectacle that lasted the entire day and attracted "An Immense Crowd" that enjoyed a grand parade, oratory, music, and athletic games.  The athletic games alone attracted a crowd of two thousand spectators.  There was an official program for the celebration.  At least one local family had its photograph taken, dated, and placed on a Real Photo Postcard to commemorate the celebration.  And, as indicated above, one local newspaper reported the next day:  "The celebration of Fourth of July of the year 1907, will long be remembered by the residents of the town of Pelham as the greatest in its history."

Today, one hundred eleven years later and long after all who witnessed the celebration are dead and gone, Pelham "remembers" that long ago celebration.  Indeed, today's Historic Pelham Blog article documents a little of the celebration and transcribes a newspaper article that detailed the events of that day and the winners, results, and prizes awarded in the many athletic contests held that day.



Cover of the Program for the July 4, 1907 Celebration. Source:  Original
Held in Private Collection, But Image Provided to The Office of The
Historian of The Town of Pelham.  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

Although a committee of local citizens oversaw preparations for the big celebration in 1907, virtually the entire town was involved in the process.  The celebration began on Thursday, July 4, 1907 precisely at sunrise (4:29 a.m. that day since the concept of switching the clock back and forth due to daylight savings time did not gain widespread adoption in the U.S. until about the time of World War I).  At sunrise, a "salute committee" consisting of Paul W. Porter and H. Elliott Coe fire a 21-gun salute from a large mortar positioned in front of the North Pelham schoolhouse -- a forerunner to today's Hutchinson Elementary School that once stood on the same location.  The cannonading awoke Pelham residents, many of whom immediately stopped outside with their own firearms "of various kinds" and began firing to start the celebration.  

After breakfast, marchers planning to participate in a grand parade began to gather at Fourth Street (today's Lincoln Avenue) and Eighth Avenue.  At 10:00 a.m., the parade stepped off, headed to the North Pelham School grounds for formal ceremonies.  The order of the parade was as follows:

John T. Logan, marshal
Eisenberg Band of the Bronx
Chief Walter G. Barker of the Pelham Fire Department
Assistant Chief L. J. Buchanan of the Pelham Fire Department
Relief Hook and Ladder Company, No. 1 (in command of Foreman Kneeland Durham and Assistant Foreman Andrew Heisser)
Tuckahoe Fife and Drum Corps
Union Corners Hose Company (in command of Foreman Archer)
Fire Apparatus
Automobile containing Supervisor Louis C. Young, Ex-Village Trustee David B. Algie, and Town Clerk Harry A. Anderson
Automobile containing President Jacques of the village of Pelham and Trustee M. B. Nesbitto
Automobile containing Village Trustee Walter C. Morrissey of North Pelham, Town Assessors Barker and Kennedy, and Ex-Village Attorney Henry L. Rupert
Old Hose Reel from the Wartburg school, decorated with flags and bunting, drawn by ten boys;
Wartburg Band and Drum Corps
Wartburg Military Brigade
Company A. U. B. B. A., Eighth Provisional Regiment (Acting Colonel Clarence McDonald, commanding)
Company I. of the Seventh Regiment, U. B. B. A. (in command of Captain Forbes)
Company K, Seventh Regiment (in command of Sergeant Schottle, with Acting Colonel F. D. Dressoir commanding both companies)

The steep slopes of the hills on which the North Pelham School was built served as a "natural grand stand" protected from the sun by large, beautiful trees.  "Many hundreds" of spectators gathered on the slopes to watch the parade pass in advance of the formal ceremonies.

This location proved to be a popular location from which to view Fourth of July parades in the Village of North Pelham.  For example, the photograph immediately below shows North Pelham's Fourth of July celebration in 1910 and is believed to be taken at the North Pelham schoolhouse area.



Village of North Pelham Parade, July 4, 1910. Photo Taken by T. K.
Reynolds of 1014 Hoe Avenue, The Bronx.  Note the Spectators Watching
From the Natural Slopes.  Source: Office of The Historian of The Town
of Pelham.  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

From 2:00 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. that day, two bands gave concerts.  Afterward, the Town Supervisor, Louis C. Young, introduced the keynote speaker:  Walter M. Chandler.  

Walter Marion Chandler of New York City was an attorney and a well-known author and lecturer who later became a member of Congress.  His speech that day focused on the greatness of America and the genius of those who participated in the U.S. constitutional convention held in Philadelphia in 1787.  

Later in the afternoon, two thousand spectators watched a host of athletic games for young men and women focused mostly on track and field events but also including such fun events as sack races, three-legged races, potato races, and the like.  A host of gold and silver awards including gold coins, gold and sterling watches, and other treasures were awarded to the winners of the various events.  

The day ended with a beautiful fireworks show witnessed by all of Pelham.  Pelham, it seems, celebrated the nation's birth with a celebration that was the "greatest in its history" on that Fourth of July in 1907.

Happy Fourth of July!






Obverse and Reverse of Post Card Showing Pelham Family on
July 4, 1907.  Source:  From the Author's Collection.  The Obverse
is Marked "JULY 4th 1907"  The Reverse States:  "Dear Sophia &
Family  Here is our little Family.  How do you like it?  To [sic] bad You
did not come for the 4th.  I had asked you to come when you were
here last tie.  Love from Marie."  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

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"PELHAM HAPPY OVER SUCCESS OF YESTERDAY
-----
Celebration of the Fourth Attracted An Immense Crowd To That Place
-----
PARADE, ORATORY, MUSIC AND ATHLETIC GAMES THE PROGRAM
-----

North Pelham, July 5. -- The celebration of Fourth of July of the year 1907, will long be remembered by the residents of the town of Pelham as the greatest in its history.  Ideal summer weather, a fine procession, oratory, music, athletic events, a first class pyrotechnical display in the evening, combined with the enthusiasm and hospitality of the residents, made the event the event a memorable one.

The town was in gala attire, the various residences being decorated with flags, bunting and lanterns.  The demonstration was conducted with great smoothness and success.

The celebrating began at sunrise, when a salute of 21 guns was fired from a large mortar in front of the North Pelham school house.  The cannonading awoke the residents who immediately joined with the salute committee in ushering in the glorious day with a discharge of firearms of various kinds.  The salute committee consisted of Paul W. Porter and H. Elliott Coe.

The parade formed shortly after 10 o'clock at the corner of Fourth street and Eighth avenue and moved in the following order:  John T. Logan, marshal; Eisenberg band of the Bronx; Chief Walter G. Barker of the Pelham fire department and Assistant Chief L. J. Buchanan; Relief Hook and Ladder Company, No. 1, in command of Foreman Kneeland Durham and Assistant Foreman Andrew Heisser; Tuckahoe fife and drum corps; Union Corners Hose Company, in command of Foreman Archer; apparatus; automobile containing Supervisor Louis C. Young, ex-Village Trustee David B. Algie, Town Clerk Harry A. Anderson; automobile containing President Jacques of the village of Pelham and Trustee M. B. Nesbitto; automobile containing Village Trustee Walter C. Morrissey of North Pelham, Town Assessors Barker and Kennedy, ex-Village Attorney Henry L. Rupert.

Old hose reel from the Watburg school, decorated with flags and bunting, drawn by ten boys; Wartburg band and drum corps; Wartburg Military Brigade; Company A. U. B. B. A., Eighth Provisional Regiment, Acting Colonel Clarence McDonald, commanding; Company I. of the Seventh 
-----
(Continued on Sixth Page.)

PELHAM HAPPY OVER SUCCESS
-----
(Continued From Page One.)
-----

Regiment, U. B. B. A., in command of Captain Forbes; and Company K, Seventh Regiment, in command of Sergeant Schottle, with Acting Colonel F. D. Dressoir commanding both companies.

The formal exercises of the day were held on the grounds adjacent to the North Pelham school.  The Sloping banks made a natural grand stand for the people and many hundreds gathered there under the beautiful trees.

From 2 to 2:30 band concerts were given by Eisenberg's and the Wartburg band.  Later Supervisor Louis C. Young introduced the orator of the afternoon, the Hon. Walter M. Chandler, of New York.  Mr. Chandler delivered a stirring speech appropriate to the occasion and was frequently interrupted by applause.  At one point he was stopped when one of the bands suddenly broke in and played 'The Star Spangled Banner.'

Mr. Chandler in his speech first dwelt upon the greatness of this country, and in regard to the constitutional convention which met at Philadelphia in 1787, said:  'It was the ablest body of jurists, legislators, statesmen and patriots that ever convened on the continent of America.  They gave to the world the American constitution, the best and noblest product  of human wisdom, that perfect crystalization of those maxims of liberty and law that in every age have been held to be both generous and just.  They believed and we believe now that they have devised a better form of government than that enjoyed by English men.'

He spoke of the great growth of the republic and of its marvelous achievements since its establishment.  'However,' he said, 'we must not become conceited.  If we want to know what others think of us Americans we must see ourselves as others see us.  The American does not see himself as the foreigner sees him.  The American will not criticize an American.'

After the speech the athletic events were held and were witnessed by about 2,000 persons.

Port Chester sent a number of athletes who carried away many prizes.  The starters for Port Chester were Agnew, Walker, Houghton and Steers.  Agnew captured first in the pole vault and third in the running broad jump.  Walker won first in both the standing and running broad jumps.  Houghton took first in the hundred yard dash and Walker second.  Mount Vernon furnished a star in Robert W. Gilroy, who threw the sixteen pound hammer 100 feet 4 inches.

The starter for North Pelham was Michael O'Flynn.  He captured first in the half and mile runs.  In both runs Penney was second.  Flynn also captured first in the 440-yard dash and Hughes first in the three-legged race.

The one hundred [yard] dash for ladies created much enthusiasm and was won by Miss Grant, of Mount Vernon.  This little girl beat her sister contestants.  At the close of the first heat, when approaching the tape, she looked back and saw the girl behind her gaining.  She made a dash for the tape that occasioned much cheering.

Miss Lillian Young won the cross country run for girls in great style.  She ran a quarter in 1:26.

The winners of the various events were as follows:

One hundred dash, first heat -- Lagg, first; Wilber, second; time, 11 1/5 seconds.  Second heat, won by Walker of Port Chester; Hubbard of Mount Vernon, second; time 11 1/5.  Third heat, won by Hughes, of Mount Vernon; Monroe, of Port Chester; second; time, 11 1/5 seconds.  Fourth heat, won by Brown, of Port Chester; Godfrey of North Pelham, second; Bacon being disqualified for starting before the shot of the pistol; time, 11 seconds.  Semi-finals, won by Flynn; Hubbard, second; Godfrey, third; time 11 flat.  Finals, won by Houghton, of Port Chester; Walker of Port Chester, second, and Flynn, of North Pelham, third.  Time, 10 4/5 seconds.  Prizes, sterling silver watch, silver brush and stick pin.

Boys' relay race -- Won by Monroe's team; time, 5:21.  The runners were Smith, Lowe, Cole and Monroe.  Prizes, four sterling silver cups.

Sack race -- Won by Bert Glover; Miller, second; prize, ink stand.

Special relay race between runners from the Companies I and K of the Boys' Brigade from St. Ann's church.  New York, and runners from Port Chester.  Won by J. O'Toole, of Port Chester.  Time, 4:11.  Prize, five dollar gold piece.

Ladies' 100 yard race -- First heat, won by Nellie Whalen; Miss Sullivan, second; time, 16 seconds.  Second heat, won by Miss Grant, of Mount Vernon; :Miss Fistere, of North Pelham, second; time, 14 2/5 seconds.  Finals, won by Miss Grant, of Mount Vernon; Miss Whalen, of Pelham, second; and Miss Fistere, third; time, 14 4/5 seconds.  Prize, gold watch.

Half mile run -- Won by M. O'Flynn; Pinney, second; time, 2:22.  Prizes, cup presented by J. F. Curnen, stickpin and knife.

Mile run -- Won by Flynn, of North Pelham; Pinney, second; Godfrey, third; time 5:36 2/5.  Prizes, silver loving cup, offered by Pelham club, and gold medal, cup for second place and match box for third place.

Cross-country run for girls -- Won by Lillian Young, of North Pelham; time, 1:26.  Prize, gold bracelet.

440 Yard dash -- Won by Flynn; Lambert, second; C. Godfrey, third; time, 59 1/5 seconds.  Prizes, silver cup, presented by Trustee Walter C. Morissey, soap dish and silver tray.

Three-legged race -- First heat, won by Flynn and Hughes; Glover and Foster, second, Second heat, won by Godfrey and Penfield; Brown and Houghton, second.  Finals, won by Flynn and Hughes; Penfield and Glover, second.  Prizes, two stickpins, Time, 14 seconds.

Special 440 yard dash, open to everybody -- Won by W. West, of Port Chester; time, 57 4/5.  Prize, five dollar gold piece, presented by John Young.

Potato race - Won by Miller.  Prize, chain.

Fat men's race -- Won by Brady; time, 10 flat.  Prize, silver watch.

Wheelbarrow race -- Won by Godfrey; Ryan second and Hamilton third.

Standing broad jump -- Won by Walker, of Port Chester; distance, 10 feet 3 1/2 inches; Brady, of New Rochelle, second, 9 feet 5 inches.  Prizes, loving cup and knife.

Running broad jump -- Won by Walker, 20 feet 4 inches; Brady, second, 18 feet 10 inches; and Agnew third, 18 feet 1 inches.  Prizes, two cups, presented by William Edinger, and stickpin.

Running high jump -- Won by Brady, of Port Chester, 5 feet 1 inch.  Prize, stickpin.

Shoe race -- Won by W. Glover; L. J. Lowry, second; Miss Belle Fistere, third.  Prize, sterling silver knife.

Pole vault -- Won by Agnew, of Port Chester; Brady, second.  Distance 91.0 niches99 1/2 inches.  Prizes, sterling silver military brushes and comb.

Putting shot -- Won by Lambert, of North Pelham, 35 feet 8 inches; Gilroy, of Mount Vernon, second, 33 feet 6 inches; Rubin, 31 feet 10 inches, third.  Prizes, gold link cuff buttons and silver brush.

Sixteen pound hammer throw -- Won by Gilroy, of Mount Vernon, 100 feet 4 inches; Walker, of Port Chester, second, 87 feet 5 inches; Flynn, North Pelham, third, 83 feet.  Prizes, sterling silver cup, link buttons and match box.

The following were the judges:  Dr. T. Barker, Nicholas Walsh, Walter C. Morrissey and W. L. Jacques; starter, C. A. Hill; referee, J. Burke; clerk of course, A. Beecher; announcer, D. J. Mead.

The committee was John H. Young, Gardiner Minard and Michael G. O'Flynn."

Source:  PELHAM HAPPY OVER SUCCESS OF YESTERDAY -- Celebration of the Fourth Attracted An Immense Crowd To That Place -- PARADE, ORATORY, MUSIC AND ATHLETIC GAMES THE PROGRAM, The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], Jul. 5, 1907, No. 4663, p. 1, col. 4 & p. 6, cols. 3-4.  


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Monday, March 19, 2018

More on Philip Gargan, Long-Time Pelham Manor Police Chief


Philip Gargan was appointed as a Patrolman to the Pelham Manor Police Department on July 8, 1907.  He rose through the ranks to become Chief of the force and had a long and successful career as Pelham Manor Police Chief.  

I have written before about Police Chief Gargan.  See Wed., May 04, 2005:  Philip Gargan, Chief of Police of Pelham Manor, New York.  


Philip Gargan in About 1925. Source: French, Alvah P., ed., History
of Westchester County New York, Vol. V, pp. 53-54 (NY, NY & Chicago,
IL: Lewis Historical Publishing Co. 1925). NOTE: Click on Image to Enlarge.

On July 8, 1927, Philip Gargan celebrated his twentieth anniversary with the Pelham Manor Police Department.  The local newspaper, The Pelham Sun, ran an article on Philip Gargan and his two decades of service.  The article sheds interesting light on the early history of the Pelham Manor Police Department and is reproduced in its entirety immediately below, followed by a citation and link to its source.

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"Chief Of Police, To Complete 20 Years Of Service
-----
Philip Gargan Joined Pelham Manor Police Force July 8, 1907; Has Made Enviable Record
-----
Efficient Police Protection of Village Due to Gargan's Diligent Service
-----

On July 8, Chief of Police Philip Gargan will complete his twentieth year of service as a member of the police department of the Village of Pelham Manor.  The active head of Pelham Manor's peace officers has risen from the ranks to a position where he is recognized as one of the most efficient directors of public safety in the state of New York.  Diligent student of police methods and an able leader of men Chief Gargan has organized a police department that has kept crime at a minimum and provided efficient protection to lives and property in the village.

Possessed of the happy faculty of being able to quickly size up a criminal, Chief Gargan has in many instances landed in his net desperate criminals, although outwardly holding only the slenderest evidence against them.  A systematized checkup on all the citizens of the village and strangers is kept through the diligent service of the chief of police who is on the job twenty four hours of the day.  His wartime military service with the 69th infantry has served him well in his departmental duties.

A native of Ireland, Philip Gargan was born in King's Court, County Cavan.  He left his home at the age of 15 and came to America.

July 8, 1907, he was appointed a patrolman on the Pelham Manor police force.  Those were the days when police officers boasted the four quart helmets and the heavy harness belts.  The village offices which housed everything from the office of the Village President to the ever too crowded lock-up were located in a one room wooden building situated at the corner of Pelhamdale avenue and Black street.

(Continued on page 4)

Chief Of Police To Complete 20 Years Of Service
-----
(Continued from page 1)

It was here that the police shared quarters with the fire department.

As today the village speed laws proved too great a temptation for vehicles on the highway but then the offenders were mainly drivers of horse drawn vehicles or bicycles.  The method of rounding up these offenders of the eight mile per hour speed ordinance is interesting.  Two officers would station themselves at distant points along the Boston road or the Shore road, and the vehicles would be timed for their speed between the officers' stations.  This method would usually result in much arguing, but Chief Gargan has assured the writer that sometimes they would be able to impose a fine.

In 1916 Gargan left under leave of absence with the 69th during the Mexican border trouble.  He resumed his duties again and remained with the department until the call to colors came in 1917.  A brilliant war record is credited to Sergeant Philip Gargan, and he saw many months of fighting in France.

On his return in 1919 he was appointed chief of the department and has held that post ever since.  He is known to everyone in the village and is also known among criminals as a bad man to fool with.  

He has made two visits to his old home in Ireland within the last four years.  His eighty-year-old mother is still living and looking forward to a visit from her son next year."

Source:  Chief Of Police, To Complete 20 Years Of Service -- Philip Gargan Joined Pelham Manor Police Force July 8, 1907; Has Made Enviable Record -- Efficient Police Protection of Village Due to Gargan's Diligent Service, The Pelham Sun, Jun. 17, 1927, Vol. 18, No. 17, p. 1, col. 4 & p. 4, col. 4.

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Friday, December 15, 2017

Pelham Breathed a Sigh of Relief as Prospect of a Summer "Ice Famine" Eased in 1907


It was an age in which electric refrigerators were not in widespread use in Pelham.  Instead, nearly every home and many businesses used the ubiquitous "ice box" -- typically a wooden box with interior insulation where blocks of ice could be stored to cool the interior (and food items stored there) while dripping water from the melting ice drained into a pan below to be removed by the owner as necessary.

Horse-drawn ice trucks delivered ice to Pelham homes throughout the year.  Delivery drivers would grab the ice from the truck with giant ice block tongs.  They then would hold the tongs by the handle and swing the ice block secured in the tongs along their sides or throw everything over their shoulders as they carried it into the home and placed it in the ice box.


Ice Block Tongs

Before modern ice manufacturing complexes dotted the Pelham region, much of the ice had to be harvested from local bodies of water and stored in ice houses for months on end until the ice could be delivered to local homeowners.  In such circumstances, a warm winter raised the prospect of a local "ice famine" during which the price of ice trucked from distant climes skyrocketed.  

Pelham and the surrounding region suffered such an ice famine during the summer of 1906.  The winter of 1905/1906 was so warm that ice was not widely harvested by ice companies in the region.  Throughout the Summer of 1906, ice was hard to come by and was far more expensive than normal.  Pelhamites resolved to build their own personal ice houses and lay in their own ice the following winter to avoid predatory pricing in the future.  Human nature being what it is, however, few kept their resolutions.  A local newspaper reported:

"During the famine of last summer, much was said about individuals erecting their own ice houses and securing a supply during the winter but if any such enterprises have been formed and carried out little has been heard of them, so it is supposed that nothing has been done." 


In late 1906 and early 1907, matters began to look grim again.  The weather stayed warm through mid-January.  Pelhamites began to fear another "ice famine" that would drive up ice prices locally, especially during the upcoming summer months.

As the weather remained warm in early January, 1907, Pelhamites were worrying.  Then, in mid-January, the weather turned.  Bitter cold blew over Pelham and ice began to appear on Pelham Reservoir.  For the next two weeks, the bitter cold did its work as the ice on the reservoir began to thicken.

By Saturday, February 2, the ice was thick enough to permit men from the local ice house onto it to begin harvesting reservoir ice as quickly as possible before the weather warmed and the ice began to disappear.  For the next 48 hours there was a flurry of activity on the reservoir ice as 75 men sawed, cut, and harvested ice to be carried to the two nearby ice houses where it would be packed amidst hay and sawdust to serve as insulation to slow the melting of the ice during the remainder of the year.  Ice wagons would then deliver the reservoir ice throughout the year to nearby homes and businesses for use in their "ice boxes."

The Herculean work was extraordinarily successful.  By early Monday, February 4, about 2,000 tons of ice were harvested and stored into the ice houses.  A local newspaper reported that day as follows:  "As matters stand today, already more ice has been harvested in this section than was obtained last year and another forty-eight hours will see capacity storage reached with the expected prospect that the companies and dealers will be in a position to meet the usual summer demands as well as in normal years and much better than last season."  The paper further reported, with a sense of relief:  "that there will be plenty of ice this summer is good news as it means beyond a doubt that the price will be less than last year.  Advices from the north state that the ice cutting and harvesting is also proceeding there and that the supply will be far in advance of last year."

Pelham, it seems, had avoided another dreaded "ice famine." 

 

Ice Box

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"NO ICE FAMINE IN THIS CITY NEXT SUMMER
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Prospects Are Good For Big Supply --- Harvesting Going on Night and Day
-----
FORCE OF 75 MEN AT WORK SINCE SATURDAY MORNING
-----

There should be no ice famine in Mount Vernon this summer.  Sufficient cold weather has been endured within the last two weeks to form good quality ice.  Saturday and last night and all day yesterday a force of 75 men were at work cutting and harvesting ice on the reservoir at North Pelham and at noon today it was announced that one of the two big houses had been filled and that the work would proceed tonight and and tomorrow and until such a time as the entire crop was packed away into the houses.  About 2,000 tons are in now.  As matters stand today, already more ice has been harvested in this section than was obtained last year and another forty-eight hours will see capacity storage reached with the expected prospect that the companies and dealers will be in a position to meet the usual summer demands as well as in normal years and much better than last season.  

The prospect of an ice famine here this summer seemed to be almost assured in the early part of January and speculation was rife as to what high prices the commodity would attain in the hot season, but this is all changed now and the reports are that Mount Vernon consumers will not have to be warned to cut down their supply, neither will they have to join the millionaire class to buy it.  Nothing has as yet been heard from the independent dealers, but it is safe to say that wherever an ice field exists in this locality, the commodity will be harvested and stored to provide for the regular demand.

During the famine of last summer, much was said about individuals erecting their own ice houses and securing a supply during the winter but if any such enterprises have been formed and carried out little has been heard of them, so it is supposed that nothing has been done.  But that there will be plenty of ice this summer is good news as it means beyond a doubt that the price will be less than last year.  Advices from the north state that the ice cutting and harvesting is also proceeding there and that the supply will be far in advance of last year."

Source:   NO ICE FAMINE IN THIS CITY NEXT SUMMER -- Prospects Are Good For Big Supply --- Harvesting Going on Night and Day -- FORCE OF 75 MEN AT WORK SINCE SATURDAY MORNING, The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], Feb. 4, 1907, No. 4537, p. 1, col. 3.  

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Thursday, November 02, 2017

Sanborn Map Company Opened a Map School in Pelham Before Opening its New Map Factory in 1906


Nestled in the northern reaches of the Town of Pelham adjacent to the beautiful residential neighborhood known as Chester Park with its lovely central green is a building known as the Sanborn Map Building.  The Sanborn Map Building was built in 1906. In it the Sanborn Map Company produced maps for insurance company customers for many decades. 

The company's predecessor, founded by D. A. Sanborn in 1866, gained national recognition in the 19th century for its incredibly detailed fire insurance maps. The "Sanborn Map and Publishing Company, Limited" was established at the office of the Continental Insurance Company in New York in 1876.

By the early 20th century the company had changed its name to the Sanborn Map Company and had decided to build a massive "map factory" in the Village of North Pelham adjacent to Chester Park.  Construction began in 1906.  

The story of the Sanborn Map Building in Pelham has been told before.  See, e.g.:

Tue., Mar. 14, 2017:  The Sanborn Map Company Water Tower in North Pelham.

Mon., Nov. 28, 2005:  The Historic Sanborn Map Building In The Village of Pelham.

Bell, Blake A., The Sanborn Map Company and its Pelham Headquarters, The Pelham Weekly, Vol. XV, Issue 14, Apr. 7, 2006, p. 10, col. 1.

Though many in Pelham know the story of the Sanborn Map Building, few know that before the building was built in 1906, the Sanborn Map Company operated a map-making school in a building owned by Philip Godfrey located on Fourth Avenue near Second Street.

It appears that the Sanborn Map Company hoped to hit the ground running in Pelham.  Thus, months before it opened its new map factory next to Chester Park, it decided to open a map-making school to train those scheduled to work in the factory how to craft insurance maps like those sold by the company.  

The company arranged to use the second and third floors of a newly-constructed building on Fourth Avenue owned by Philip Godfrey.  The structure was located on the southeast corner of the intersection of Fourth Avenue and Second Street.  (The structure no longer exists.  It was in an area now covered by the parking lot behind De Cicco and Son's Market.)  Philip Godfrey was a notable resident of the Village of North Pelham who served as a member of the Relief Hook and Ladder Company of the First Fire District for about thirty years.
Sanborn Map workers reported for training at the makeshift school on Tuesday, May 1, 1906.  A local newspaper reported breathlessly as follows:  "The opening of this school simply means the beginning of a new era for North Pelham and will doubtless mean much to the village."

The makeshift school seems only to have operated for a few months until completion of the Sanborn Map Building in 1906 and and the opening of the new building in early 1907.



Sanborn Map Building in 2003.  Photograph by the Author.
NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.



Detail of 1908 Map Showing Location of "P. Godfrey" Building.
Source: Fairchild, John F., "City of Mount Vernon and Town of Pelham" in
Atlas of the City of Mount Vernon and the Town of Pelham Second Edition
Compiled from Official Records, Personal Surveys, and other Private Plans
and Surveys, Plate 27 (Mount Vernon, NY: John F. Fairchild, 1908).
NOTE: Click on Image to Enlarge.

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"MAP FACTORY'S SCHOOL IS AT NORTH PELHAM
-----
Sanborn Company Will Open a Course of Instruction for Workmen
-----
QUARTERS IN NEW HOUSE NOW ON FOURTH AVENUE
-----

North Pelham, April 30. -- It was learned this morning that the Sanborne [sic] Map Factory will establish a school in North Pelham, in which instruction will be given the employees in map making.  This will be somewhat of a novel departure, and will probably interest a good many people.

The school will be established on the second and third floors of the three story building erected by Philip Godfrey on Fourth avenue near Second street.  The school will be opened Tuesday morning, at which time the first group of men to be employed by the factory will report for instruction.

The idea of the Sanborne [sic] Map company to take these rooms is to break the men in who are to enter the employ of the factory.  The rooms will be properly fitted with tables and the necessary paraphernalia.  It could not be ascertained today, the nature of the work that these men are to learn, but it probably is some of the most important to be done by the factory.

The opening of this school simply means the beginning of a new era for North Pelham and will doubtless mean much to the village."

Source:  MAP FACTORY'S SCHOOL IS AT NORTH PELHAM -- Sanborn Company Will Open a Course of Instruction for Workmen -- QUARTERS IN NEW HOUSE NOW ON FOURTH AVENUE, Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], Apr. 30, 1906, No. 4304, p. 1, col. 2.


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Monday, October 23, 2017

North Pelham Officials Sued the Railroad in 1907 to Compel it to Change the Name of the Railroad Station


A recent Historic Pelham article detailed efforts by Village of North Pelham officials in 1906 to resurrect the long and bitter fight with the Village of Pelham (Pelham Heights) over naming the Pelham Train Station.  See Thu., Oct. 5, 2017:  North Pelham Officials Wouldn't Let it Go:  1906 Resurrection of the Fight Over Naming the Train Station.  It had been more than a decade since Pelham Heights pulled a fast one and incorporated as the "Village of Pelham" while successfully having the name of the local train station changed from "Pelhamville Station" to "Pelham Station."  Yet, in 1906, the newly-elected President of the Village of North Pelham, Honest Jim Reilley, decided to pursue the matter again.

As noted at the conclusion of the recent article, Jim Reilley's efforts were rebuffed.  Yet, as the article concluded:

"President Reilley of the North Pelham Board was not finished.  The next morning he told a reporter that he was going to "compel" the railroad to change the station name.  He further said "We expected this action of the company, but the matter has not been dropped by any means." 

Though research has not yet revealed any further efforts by North Pelham officials to compel the railroad to change the name, clearly the effort eventually failed.  Today (and ever since 1896), the station is (and has been) known as the "Pelham Station."

Research now has revealed what followed.  True to his word, Honest Jim Reilley sought to compel the railroad to change the name of the station to "North Pelham Station."  He had the Village of North Pelham seek injunctive relief against the railroad to force it to change the name of the station.  It took nearly a year to resolve the legal claims that are the subject of today's Historic Pelham article.

In 1907, the Village of North Pelham already was in the midst of a nasty lawsuit against the New Haven Railroad trying to force it to move the west abutment of the Fifth Avenue Railroad Bridge rather than the east abutment.  See Fri., Oct. 06, 2017:  Early History of the Wolfs Lane Railroad Bridge on the New Haven Line in Pelham.  On March 25, 1907, Village President James Reilley and the Village Board instructed the Village Attorney, George P. Breckenridge, "to take steps to have the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad company change the name of the passenger station from Pelham to North Pelham."

It appears that Breckenridge used the lawsuit against the Railroad pending before New York Supreme Court Justice as the vehicle to assert an additional claim for injunctive relief against the railroad.  The parties battled the matter for nearly the next year.

In mid-January, 1908, Justice Tompkins denied the Village of North Pelham's claim for injunctive relief.  A local newspaper reported the matter succinctly:

"The decision of Justice Tompkins brings to an end the efforts of the board of trustees to have the name of this passenger station changed.  The matter has been in the courts for nearly two years.

Shortly after President Reilly took office he suggested that the name of the station should be changed from that of Pelham to North Pelham, on the ground that the station was nearer the dividing line of North Pelham than that of Pelham on the opposite tracks.  President Reilley also argued that the existence of North Pelham as a village was not designated on the railroad map.  For that reason, if for no other, he thought that the name should be changed.  He was upheld in his contention by the other trustees and Village Counsel Breckenridge was instructed to proceed legally."

This time the matter was laid to rest.  Research has revealed no further efforts by North Pelham to rewrite history and change the name of the train station to "North Pelham Station."



*          *          *          *          *

"VILLAGE APPOINTMENTS
-----
Made at the Session of the Board of Trustees Last Night.

The annual meeting of the village trustees was held last night in the village hall, at which time the village clerk, village constables, highway commissioner and the village counsel were appointed for the year.  Incidentally, this was the first meeting of the new board after election and had to be held at the time specified according to law.  There is always great interest manifested in this meeting held after election in view of the appointments made.

James W. Caffrey was appointed clerk and will begin his sixth consecutive term in that office.  The following were appointed constables:  Eugene L. Lyon, William Robinson, John Costello, Joseph Burke and Walter King.  Vincent Barker was re-appointed highway commissioner, and George P. Breckenridge, village counsel.  The first Friday in each month was designated as the regular meeting night of the board which is the same night as that of the old board.  The Mount Vernon Trust company was designated as the depository of the village funds.

The village counsel was instructed to take steps to have the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad company change the name of the passenger station from Pelham to North Pelham.  It was also resolved that the clerk should instruct the Westchester Lighting company to install another light in Chester Park.  No further business the meeting adjourned.  After the meeting the ballot box matter was made known to the board."

Source:  VILLAGE APPOINTMENTS -- Made at the Session of the Board of Trustees Last Night, The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], Mar. 26, 1907, p. 3, col. 2.  

"NORTH PELHAM
-----
Want Name Changed.

A well known resident of this village stated yesterday to the Argus man that the majority of the residents want the name of the passenger station changed from Pelham to North Pelham.  It will be remembered that at the annual meeting of the board last Monday night Counsel George P. Breckenridge was instructed to take steps to have the name of the station changed.  According to the railroad law, it seems that the station should be named after the village in which it is located.  If this is so, there is no denying the fact that the name of the passenger station should be North Pelham instead of Pelham.  This resident said it is not a very pleasant thing to feel that the village in which one lives, and which has a passenger station, is not listed in the New York, New Haven and Hartford time table.  Under existing conditions this person believed that it should be so listed and that it was an injustice to the residents of the village to have the passenger station known as Pelham instead of North Pelham."

Source:  NORTH PELHAM -- Want Name Changed, The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], Mar. 30, 1907, p. 4, col. 5

"NOT TO CHANGE STATION NAME
-----

North Pelham, Jan. 15. -- The name of the passenger station located at Pelham on the New Haven road, will not be designated as North Pelham, for Supreme Court Justice Tompkins has denied a motion made by Village Counsel George P. Breckenridge to compel the road to change the name of the station from Pelham to that of North Pelham.

The decision of Justice Tompkins brings to an end the efforts of the board of trustees to have the name of this passenger station changed.  The matter has been in the courts for nearly two years.

Shortly after President Reilly took office he suggested that the name of the station should be changed from that of Pelham to North Pelham, on the ground that the station was nearer the dividing line of North Pelham than that of Pelham on the opposite tracks.  President Reilley also argued that the existence of North Pelham as a village was not designated on the railroad map.  For that reason, if for no other, he thought that the name should be changed.  He was upheld in his contention by the other trustees and Village Counsel Breckenridge was instructed to proceed legally."

Source:  NOT TO CHANGE STATION NAME, The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], Jan. 15, 1908, p. 5, col. 4

Archive of the Historic Pelham Web Site.

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