1877 Advertisement for Colonel Delancey Kane's Pelham Coach Known as the "Tally Ho"

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In 1876 a horse-drawn road coach known as “The Pelham Coach” (also known, informally, as the "Tally Ho!") began running between New York City’s Hotel Brunswick and the “Pelham Manor” of yore.  This road coach was not a simple hired coach that ferried passengers from New York City in the days before Henry Ford mass produced his Model T.  Rather, this road coach was driven by Colonel Delancey Kane, one of the so-called “millionaire coachmen,” who engaged in a sport known as “public coaching” or “road coaching” as it sometimes was called.  The purpose of the sport was to rush the carriage between designated points on a specified schedule, with quick changes of horses at strategic points along the way, and to maintain that schedule rigorously.

Colonel Delancey Kane became quite famous for his handling of The Pelham Coach, a bright canary yellow coach that was cheered along its route from the Hotel Brunswick in New York City to Pelham Bridge in the Town of Pelham. The iconic image included at the end of today's Historic Pelham article appeared on song sheets, in etchings and engravings distributed throughout the United States.  It shows The Pelham Coach.

Colonel Kane changed the terminus of the Tally Ho! a number of times.  In various years the coach traveled to the Lorillard cottage (Arcularius Hotel) at Pelham Bridge, the Pelham Bridge Hotel, the Huguenot House in New Rochelle, and a number of other locations in the region.  The coach route always, however, either terminated at Pelham Bridge or continued through Pelham along Shore Road past the settlement of Bartow and Bolton Priory on its way to New Rochelle.

A fascinating advertisement for the Tally Ho!  appeared in the June 9, 1877 issue of The Spirit of the Times, a sporting magazine of the day.  An image of the advertisement (and a transcription to facilitate search) appear below.  The advertisement provides a detailed time table showing the route of the coach, locations of horse changes, and the exact fares from each location during the second coaching season of the Tally Ho!

The advertisement shows that there was an "office" located within the Hotel Brunswick in Manhattan where seats on the coach could be arranged.  The coveted box seat atop the coach cost an extra fifty cents each way.  

The advertisement further reveals that passengers were permitted luggage up to fifty pounds for free. The coach also carried parcels "at moderate rates" between stops and would pick up and "set down" passengers "wherever hailed, except between the Brunswick and Fifty-ninth Street."
The changes of horses during the rides were always among the most exciting parts of each trip.  As the time table makes clear, during the 1877 coaching season which began May 1, changes of horses took place at Mott Haven, Union Port, and Pelham Bridge.  Such changes were necessary to ensure that the four horses that pulled the coach would not be overworked as they raced their portions of the two-hour twenty mile trip from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon to New Rochelle each morning and from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. back to the Hotel Brunswick each afternoon (except Sundays).

Passengers either brought picnics for the trip or enjoyed sumptuous repasts at a local hotel at the terminus.  During the 1877 coaching season the coach took passengers to the Huguenot House where they could enjoy a lovely lunch before departing for New York City promptly at 2:00 p.m.

Below are an image and transcription of the text of the 1877 advertisement for the Tally Ho!  They are followed by a citation and link to their source.

"NEW YORK

AND

NEW ROCHELLE

VIA PELHAM.

COMMENCING MAY 1.

-----

The 'Tally Ho!' Coach leaves the Brunswick, New York, at 10 A. M., and the Huguenot New Rochelle, at 2 P. M., daily (Sundays excepted).

TIME TABLE AND FARES.

Fares.	Down.		Time.		Fares.	Up.		Time.
	LEAVING New York	…..	A.M. 10.00			LEAVING New Rochelle	…..	P.M. 2.00
$	ARRIVE AT	…..			$	ARRIVE AT	…..
0.50	Harlem	…..	10.33			Neptune House	…..	2.10
0.50	*Mott Haven	…..	10.36		0.25	Bolton Priory	…..	2.15
0.75	Fox’s Corner	…..	10.58		0.25	Bartow	…..	2.26
1.00	*Union Port	…..	11.08		0.50	*Pelham Bridge	…..	2.30
1.00	Westchester	…..	11.15		0.75	Westchester	…..	2.45
1.50	*Pelham Bridge	…..	11.30		0.75	*Union Port	…..	2.58
1.75	Bartow	…..	11.36		1.00	Fox’s Corner	…..	3.00
1.75	Bolton Priory	…..	11.45		1.25	*Mott Haven	…..	3.18
2.00	Neptune House	…..	11.50		1.50	Harlem	…..	3.25
2.00	Huguenot House	…..	12.00		2.00	Hotel Brunswick	…..	4.00

 *Change Horses.

Box Seat, 50 cents Extra each way.
Distance 20 Miles.  Time 2 Hours.

Passengers' luggage up to 50 lbs., free.  Parcels carried at moderate rates and punctually delivered.  This coach stops to pick up and set down passengers wherever hailed, except between the Brunswick and Fifty-ninth Street.

N. B. -- Passengers cautioned to be on time.

Seats secured and all information given in Office, Hotel Brunswick."

Source:  NEW YORK AND NEW ROCHELLE VIA PELHAM COMMENCING MAY 1, The Spirit of the Times, Jun. 9, 1877, p. 510, col. 3.

Colonel Delancey Astor Kane and The Pelham Coach

During a "Coaching to Pelham" Excursion.

NOTE: Click on Image to Enlarge.

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Below is a list of articles and blog postings that I previously have posted regarding the subject of "Coaching to Pelham."  

Bell, Blake A., Col. Delancey Kane and "The Pelham Coach" (Sep. 2003).

Thu., Jul. 28, 2016:  The Chicago Tribune Lampooned Coaching to Pelham in 1884.

Wed., Jul. 30, 2014:  Yet Another Attempt in 1894 to Resurrect the Glory Days of Coaching to Pelham.  

Tue., Jul. 29, 2014:  Wonderful Description of Coaching to Pelham on the Tally-Ho's First Trip of the Season on May 1, 1882.

Wed., Apr. 14, 2010:  Col. Delancey Kane Changes the Timing and Route of The Pelham Coach in 1876.

Tue., Sep. 08, 2009:  1877 Advertisement with Timetable for the Tally Ho Coach to Pelham.

Mon., Mar. 23, 2009:  The Greyhound and the Tantivy-- The Four-in-Hand Coaches that Succeeded Col. Delancey Kane's "Tally-Ho" to Pelham.

Fri., Jan. 16, 2009: The Final Trip of the First Season of Col. Delancey Kane's "New-Rochelle and Pelham Four-in-Hand Coach Line" in 1876.

Thu., Jan. 15, 2009:  The First Trip of Col. Delancey Kane's "New-Rochelle and Pelham Four-in-Hand Coach Line" on May 1, 1876.

Thu., Mar. 06, 2008:  Auctioning the Tantivy's Horses at the Close of the 1886 Coaching Season.

Wed., Mar. 05, 2008:  Coaching to Pelham: The Tantivy Has an Accident on its Way to Pelham in 1886.  

Thu., Jan. 24, 2008:  An Account of the First Trip of Colonel Delancey Kane's Tally-Ho to Open the 1880 Coaching Season.

Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2008: Brief "History of Coaching" Published in 1891 Shows Ties of Sport to Pelham, New York

Thursday, August 3, 2006: Images of Colonel Delancey Kane and His "Pelham Coach" Published in 1878.

Wednesday, September 28, 2005: Taunting the Tantivy Coach on its Way to Pelham: 1886.

Wednesday, July 27, 2005: 1882 Engraving Shows Opening of Coaching Season From Hotel Brunswick to Pelham Bridge.

Thu., Jun. 09, 2005:  Coaching to Pelham: Colonel Delancey Astor Kane Did Not Operate the Only Coach to Pelham.

Fri., Feb. 11, 2005:  Col. Delancey Kane's "Pelham Coach", Also Known as The Tally-Ho, Is Located.

Bell, Blake A., Col. Delancey Kane and "The Pelham Coach", The Pelham Weekly, Vol. XII, No. 38, Sept. 26, 2003, p. 1, col. 1.

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1851 Advertisement Offering Farm and Mansion Known as Pelhamdale for Lease

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

One of the two oldest homes in the Town of Pelham is the beautiful historic home known as "Pelhamdale" that stands at 45 Iden Avenue in the Village of Pelham Manor.  The home, expanded and changed on numerous occasions during the last 265 or so years, includes an original section believed to have been built in about the early 1750s by Philip Pell II at about the time of his marriage to Gloriana Tredwell.  The home is one of two pre-Revolutionary War structures that still stand in Pelham, the other believed to be a portion of the Kemble House located at 145 Shore Road in Pelham Manor.  Pelhamdale is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  

View of Pelhamdale from Iden Avenue on September 3, 2014.

Source:  "Pelhamdale" in Wikipedia -- The Free Encyclopedia

(visited May 7, 2016).  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

Today the magnificent home known as Pelhamdale looks much as it did in the mid-nineteenth century when it was owned by James Hay.  It stands on a nearly triangular tract bounded by Iden Avenue, the Hutchinson River Parkway, and the rear boundaries of homes that face Carol Place.  The tract is all that remains of what once was a massive estate that was bounded, roughly, by the old Boston Post Road (today's Colonial Avenue), today's Wolfs Lane, the Hutchinson River, and the Boston Turnpike (today's Boston Post Road.

After the Revolutionary War, one of Philip Pell II's sons, David J. Pell, owned the home and lived there with his wife and family until his death in 1823.  David Pell's widow sold the tract to James Hay who is credited with substantially renovating and expanding the home as well as naming it "Pelhamdale."

The original farmhouse was a single-story dwelling.  After James Hay bought the home, he expanded it substantially.  Today it is a two story, five-bay, stone residence faced in coarse stone with white sandstone Doric columns on the front porch and a plain brick entablature.  It has two separate two-story sets of bay windows that flank the front entrance looking out over today's Iden Avenue.  

In 1851, James Hay decided to offer the estate for lease.  He published at least one advertisement directed to "Farmers, Dairy Men and Market Gardeners" who might be interested in the commercial farming potentials of the large estate offering the farm with its "excellent house" for lease.

The advertisement is significant for several reasons.  First, there has been an ongoing debate for many years over whether the house should properly be referenced as "Pelhamdale" or as "Pelham Dale."  The 1851 advertisement placed by the man credited with giving the home its name references the home as "Pelhamdale," supporting the former position.

Second, the advertisement provides substantive information regarding the nature of the estate in the mid-19th century.  It notes that the estate included three orchards, all containing "grafted fruit of the finest kinds" as well as stabling sufficient to house "one hundred of cattle" -- a tremendously-large capacity for the area.

An image of the advertisement appears immediately below with a citation and link to its source.  It is followed by a transcription of the text of the advertisement to facilitate search.

1851 Advertisement Offering Estate and Mansion Known

as "Pelhamdale" for Lease.  Source:  To Farmers, Dairy

Men and Market Gardeners [Advertisement], Brooklyn

Evening Star, Feb. 6, 1851, p. 2, col. 6 (NOTE:  Paid 

subscription required to access via this link.).  NOTE:

Click on Image to Enlarge.

"To Farmers, Dairy Men and Market Gardeners.

THE subscriber offers to let for a term of years, his Farm at Pelham and East Chester Westchester County, containing from 200 to 250 acres of the best and earliest land for Gardening, Pasturage or Cultivation.  On said Farms are three Orchards, all grafted fruit of the finest kind, excellent house with suitable outbuildings and stabling for one hundred of cattle, and situated only half a mile from the New Haven Railroad depot, and in the immediate vicinity of two populous villages.

For terms apply at the house, Pelhamdale, to 

JAMES HAY, East Chester, N. Y.
j22 4tc*"

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I have written about the lovely historic home known as "Pelhamdale" (and "Pelham Dale") on numerous occasions.  For a few of many examples, see:

Fri., Sep. 04, 2015:  Sale of the Pre-Revolutionary War Home Known as Pelhamdale in 1948.

Tue., Jun. 24, 2014:  Story of Pelhamdale, the Old Stone House by the Bridge, Once Owned by David J. Pell.

Thu., Jan. 03, 2008:  Charges in 1808 Against Lieutenant-Colonel David J. Pell of Pelham that He "Indulges in Inebriety and Habitual Drunkeness." 

Thu., Oct. 26, 2006:  Genealogical Data Regarding David Jones Pell of the Manor of Pelham, Revolutionary War Officer. 

Mon., Oct 15, 2007:  Town Proclamation Recognizes Celebration of the 250th Anniversary of Pelhamdale at 45 Iden Avenue. 

Wed., Nov. 02, 2005:  Engraving by P.M. Pirnie Showing Pelhamdale in 1861. 

Thu., Oct. 13, 2005:  Two More Pelham Ghost Stories. 

Mon., Sep. 19, 2005:  The Long-Hidden Pastoral Mural Uncovered in Pelhamdale, a Pre-Revolutionary War Home. 

Mon., Apr. 11, 2005:  More From the William R. Montgomery Glass Negative Collection (includes photograph of fire at Pelhamdale on February 28, 1925). 

Tue., Mar. 22, 2005:  The 1790 U.S. Census Information for the Township of Pelham.

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