More on the History of the Pelhamville Improvement Association

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During the early 1880s, there were no villages within the Town of Pelham.  At the time, the Town government was controlled by City Islanders who refused to open the purse strings to fund infrastructure improvements within far-flung hamlets that had sprung up on the mainland including Pelham Manor and Pelhamville.  

The residents of those far-flung hamlets hungered for amenities such as lamp lights, wooden sidewalks, and other such improvements.  Because the hamlets were mere settlements within the Town rather than villages, however, they had no taxing or borrowing authority to raise the funds for such improvements.  Thus, the citizens began to band together into associations that, through dues and fund-raising events, raised money to fund some of the improvements local residents sought.  

Thus, in early 1883, residents of the tiny little hamlet known as Pelhamville began organizing the "Pelhamville Improvement Association."  The organization was Pelhamville's answer to the community improvement efforts of the Pelham Manor Protective Club founded in 1880.  I have written about the Pelhamville Improvement Association on a number of occasions.  For examples, see: 

Thu., Apr. 10, 2014:  The Pelhamville Improvement Association.

Mon., Apr. 19, 2010:  Early Talk of Moving the Pelhamville Train Station from its Original Location. 

Fri., Jan. 29, 2010:  News of Pelham, City Island and Pelhamville Reported on September 5, 1884. 

Thu., Dec. 03, 2009:  Pelham News on May 30, 1884 Including Allegations of Oyster Larceny and Meeting of the Pelhamville Improvement Association.

I also have written about the Pelham Manor Protective Club on a number of occasions.  For examples, see the lengthy bibliography of such articles at the end of today's posting.   

Recent research has revealed additional important information about the Pelhamville Improvement Association.  Today's posting to the Historic Pelham Blog will detail some of this new information.  

It now is clear that residents of Pelhamville began organizing the Pelhamville Improvement Association in early January, 1883.  On January 12, 1883, The Chronicle of Mount Vernon, New York reported that "A village improvement association is about to be organized in Pelhamville."  

The initial purpose of the Pelhamville Improvement Association was to upgrade the type of homes built in the tiny little settlement.  According to one account published in 1883, "the object of [the Pelhamville Improvement Association] is to improve the village by the erection of three or four of a good class of dwelling houses."  The initial plan, it seems, was "to erect three or four houses, which will be offered for sale at their cost price, and as each one is disposed of, another will be erected."  

By the spring of 1884, the association had been successfully organized.  A newspaper report published on May 30 of that year noted that following a previous meeting of those involved with the organization, there was an organizational meeting held on the evening of Monday, May 26, 1884 during which citizens of Pelhamville "complete[d] the organization of a Village Improvement Association and [acted] upon a set of by-laws prepared by a committee appointed at the last meeting, consisting of Messrs. Henderson, Boas, and Delcombie."  

The reference to Delcombie as a member of the committee that drafted by-laws of the association is clearly a reference to Mr. A. P. Delcambie of Pelhamville who served as a local Justice.  John Henderson was an early resident of Pelhamville who was active in the community for many years until moving with his family to New York City in 1895 at about the time the settlement incorporated as the Village of North Pelham.  No record has yet been located of Mr. Boas.  The name Boas is German in origin.  Pelhamville had a large contingent of German settlers at the time.

Among the earliest projects undertaken by the Pelhamville Improvement Association was the purchase and installation of lamps (presumably kerosene lamps) throughout the settlement and the installation of wooden plank sidewalks.  Some lamps and a portion of plank sidewalks had been built by October 31, 1884 when a local newspaper reported that six more lamps were about to be installed and plank sidewalks would be completed "as soon as the obstructions are removed."

Just as the Pelham Manor Protective Club was the forerunner of the Village of Pelham Manor Board of Trustees after that village was incorporated in 1891, the Pelhamville Improvement Association was a forerunner to the Village Board of the Village of North Pelham incorporated in 1895.  Although a variety of references indicate that members of the association met in various private residences, one authority notes that the association "met in Mrs. Gurney's barn, still standing as the garage to 146 Seventh Avenue. The first village meetings were held in this building."  (See below.)

Map of Pelhamville Published in 1868. Source: Beers, F.W.,

Atlas of New York and Vicinity from Actual Surveys By and

Under the Direction of F.W. Beers, Assisted By A.B.

Prindle & Others, pg. 36 (NY, NY: Beers, Ellis & Soule, 1868)

(Detail from Page 36 Map Entitled "Town of New Rochelle,

Westchester Co., N.Y. (With) Pelhamville").

NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

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Below is the text of a number of items relevant to the history of the Pelhamville Improvement Association.  Each is followed by a citation and, where available, a link to its source.

"A forerunner of the Village Board was an Improvement Association, which met in Mrs. Gurney's barn, still standing as the garage to 146 Seventh Avenue. The first village meetings were held in this building." 

Source: Bartlett, Barbara G., et al., A Glance at the Past:  Pelham's Growth From 1775 - 1975, p. 23 (Pelham, NY: Junior League of Pelham, Sep. 1976).

"PELHAMVILLE.

A meeting of the inhabitants of Pelhamville was held at the residence of Mr. Vincent Barker on Monday night last, for the purpose of adopting measures to have the low lands drained.  A committee consisting of Messrs. Wm. H. Sparks, John Case, and Wm. H. Penfield was appointed to take the matter into consideration and properly present the case to the town Board of Health.

A village improvement association is about to be organized in Pelhamville, the object of which is to improve the village, by the erection of a good class of dwelling houses.  It is proposed to erect three or four houses, which will be offered for sale at their cost price, and as each one is disposed of, another will be erected.  If the project goes through, we see no reason why Pelhamville may not become a thriving little village.

The annual meeting of the Pelham Manor Protective Club, was held at the residence of Mr. George H. Reynolds, New Year's day.  A large number of gentlemen residing at the Manor were present, besides many invited guests.  After business matters relating to the Club were finished, a beautiful repast by the generous host was fully enjoyed.  The Protective Club is a live organization, accomplishing the purpose for which it was organized, and doing much to promote good order in the Manor, and helping to make it one of the most desirable country resorts adjoining New York city. -- Pioneer."

Source:  LOCAL NEWS -- PELHAMVILLE, The Chronicle [Mount Vernon, NY], Jan. 12, 1883, Vol. XIV, No. 695, p. 3, cols. 1-2.  

"VICINITY NOTES. . . . 

A Village Improvement Association is about to be organized in Pelhamville, the object of which is to improve the village by the erection of three or four of a good class of dwelling houses, which will be offered for sale at their cost price, and as each one is disposed of another will be erected.  A good project."

Source:  VICINITY NOTES, Eastern State Journal [White Plains, NY], Feb. 2, 1883, Vol. XXXVIII, No. 43, p. 3, col. 4.

"VICINITY NOTES. . . .

VILLAGE IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION. -- A meeting of citizens of Pelhamville was held Monday evening to complete the organization of a Village Improvement Association and to act upon a set of by-laws prepared by a committee appointed at the last meeting, consisting of Messrs. Henderson, Boas, and Delcombie."

Source:  VICINITY NOTES -- VILLAGE IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION, Eastern State Journal [White Plains, NY], May 30, 1884, Vol. XL, No. 8, p. 3, col. 4.  

"PELHAMVILLE.

A special meeting of the Pelhamville Improvement Association, will be held on Saturday evening, Nov. 1st, at the residence of Mr. W. H. Penfield.

The Cleveland and Hendricks Club, of Pelhamville, will parade on Friday night, in Mount Vernon, under the command of Capt. A. P. Delcambie, of the 8th Regt., New York, N.G.

The petition of Mr. Delcambie, which has been in circulation some time, to obtain the signatures of the residents, of the town of Pelham, for the purpose of having the New Haven Railroad Co. place and maintain safety bars at the Pelhamville Railroad crossing being considered one of the most dangerous on the road.

The Pelhamville Improvement Association intend, during the coming month, to place six more lamps around the village and also to finish the remainder of plank walk as soon as the obstructions are removed."

Source:  PELHAMVILLE, The Chronicle [Mount Vernon, NY], Oct. 31, 1884, Vol. XVI, No. 789, p. 3, col. 4.   

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As noted above, in addition to articles about the Pelhamville Improvement Association, I also have written extensively about the Pelham Manor Protective Club and its activities on many occasions.  For examples, see:  

Mon., Jan. 25, 2016:  Brief Newspaper Account of the Organization of the Pelham Manor Protective Club in 1880.

Mon., Sep. 15, 2014:  1884 Gunfight in Pelham Manor Pits Local Residents Against Pelham Manor Depot Burglars.

Thu., Jan. 21, 2010:  Another Brief Account of the January 1, 1883 Annual Meeting of the Pelham Manor Protective Club.

Mon., Nov. 16, 2009:  1882 Article About the Pelham Manor Protective Club.

Thu., Sep. 24, 2009:  Brief Newspaper Account of the January 1, 1883 Annual Meeting of the Pelham Manor Protective Club. 

Fri., Apr. 3, 2009:  Biography and Photograph of Henry Beidleman Bascom Stapler, an Active Member of the Pelham Manor Protective Club in its Latter Years. 

Fri., Nov. 16, 2007:  Photograph and Biography of William E. Barnett, a Founding Member of the Pelham Manor Protective Club. 

Thu., Feb. 15, 2007:  Text of January 1, 1885 Annual Report of the Pelham Manor Protective Club. Wednesday, 

Wed., Feb. 15, 2006:  The First Lawsuit Ever Filed Against Pelham Manor?

Thu., Feb. 02, 2006:  January 2, 1888: The Day Residents of Pelham Manor Decided to Incorporate a Village.

Wed., Jan. 25, 2006:  The Pelham Manor Protective Club Flexed its Muscles in the 1886 Town Elections. 

Tue., Jan. 24, 2006:  1890 Circular of The Pelham Manor Protective Club on Lamp Lighting. 

Mon., Jan. 23, 2006: The Beginnings of Organized Fire Fighting in Pelham Manor?

Tue., Mar. 29, 2005:  The Earliest Telephone in Pelham Manor?

Tue., Mar. 01, 2005:  The "Outrage" of June 10, 1882 -- A Sad Mystery Solved.

Wed., Feb. 23, 2005:  The Westchester County Historical Society Acquires Records of The Pelham Manor Protective Club from Dealer in Tarrytown, NY. 

The Pelham Manor Protective Club Founded in 1881, The Pelham Weekly, Vol. XIII, No. 24, June 11, 2004, p. 12, col. 1.

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