Revenge is a Dish Best Served Cold: Don't Mess With a Pelham Fireman

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It was 1914.  The First Fire District had just purchased a new "automobile fire truck."  Pelham volunteer firefighter Hans Gruber was appointed by the Fire Commissioners as driver and caretaker of the new fire engine.  One day in autumn, Gruber drove the new fire truck through Pelham Heights.

Frances Van Schaick lived in Pelham Heights at 116 Corlies Avenue.  She did not like the new "automobile fire truck."  She did not like it at all.  In fact, the exhaust it belched and the noise it made as it rumbled over the roads of the Heights bothered her so much that she filed a civil action against poor Hans Gruber and had a summons served on him to appear in village court to answer her lawsuit alleging he disturbed her with the vehicle.

Hans Gruber, it seems, did not like being hauled into court for doing his job driving the fire truck.  He did not like it at all.

Frances Van Schaick, it seems, must have been a rather difficult lady.  Shortly before filing her action against Hans Gruber, she had been in a dispute with a local taxicab operator and refused to pay the fare.  The taxicab operator filed his own civil action in village court against Mrs. Van Schaick seeking payment of the disputed fare.  Justice Stires authorized a summons directing Mrs. Van Schaick to appear at a civil trial to answer the claim and gave the summons to Constable King to serve on Frances Van Schaick.

Constable King did not know Mrs. Van Schaick.  As fate would have it, the day before the annual firemen's inspection, Constable King asked his friend, Hans Gruber, if he happened to know Frances Van Schaick.  As one news report put it, at that moment, Gruber "saw his opportunity to 'get even'' with Mrs. Van Schaick.  He hatched an elaborate plan with Constable King to achieve his revenge.

The following day, Pelham firemen gathered in the evening for their 21st annual parade and inspection.  Among those marching in the parade with the firemen were the Town Constables, including Constable King.  Tucked inside Constable King's pocket was the summons requiring Mrs. Van Schaick's appearance in court to answer the civil claim filed by the taxicab operator seeking payment of his fare.  Hans Gruber was in the driver's seat of the new "automobile fire truck."

Hans Gruber had made sure that the firemen's parade would include a march along Corlies Avenue where Frances Van Schaick lived.  As the parade passed 116 Corlies Avenue, there stood Mrs. Van Schaick in her front yard, cheering the parade!  The moment the new "automobile fire truck" passed the home, Hans Gruber turned the vehicle's searchlight onto Mrs. Van Schaick and held it steady, lighting up the cheering woman in front of the parade marchers.

Gruber had plotted with Constable King to train the spotlight on Mrs. Van Schaick if she was found outside so that the Constable would know who she was and could serve her with the summons for the taxi fare case.  While Gruber kept the searchlight on Mrs. Van Schaick (and while the entire parade procession watched), Constable King left the parade line, served a surprised Mrs. Van Schaick with the summons in the bright glare of the searchlight, and returned to the parade ranks as the parade continued.

According to one account, when Frances Van Schaick appeared in court pursuant to the summons, she "spent most of the evening protesting against the manner in which she was served" so that the trial had to be rescheduled for the following week!

116 Corlies Avenue Where Hans Gruber Turned the Fire

Truck Searchlight on Mrs. Frances Van Schaick During

the Annual Firemen's Inspection Parade in 1914.  NOTE:

Click on Image to Enlarge.

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Below is the text of a news article on which today's Historic Pelham article is based, followed by a citation and link to its source.

"North Pelham
-----
Revenge Is Sweet.

It will be remembered that Mrs. Frances Van Schaick, of 116 Corlies avenue, summoned Hans Gruber to court several weeks ago because he was operating the new automobile fire truck in the Heights.  At a civil trial Friday evening it was learned that Hans Gruber had evened up the score.  Constable King had been given a summons by Justice Stires to serve upon Mrs. Van Schaick in a civil action brought by John Cammerano to recover for taxicab hire.  Constable King did not know who Mrs. Van Schaick was and asked Hans Gruber the day before the firemen's annual inspection.  Gruber then saw his opportunity to 'get even for his arrest [sic].  He arranged with Constable King that when the firemen's parade passed rs. Van Schaick's house that the searchlight would be played upon her if she happened to be in view.  The parade passed the house and there stood Mrs. Van Schaick cheering the firemen.  Hans Gruber from the automobile engine seat turned the searchlight upon Mrs. Van Schaick and held it there.  Constable King left the line and served the paper and then returned to the ranks.  Friday evening, when the case was called, Mrs. Van Schaick spent most of the evening protesting against the manner in which she was served.  The case will be tried next Friday evening by Justice Stires."

Source:  North Pelham -- Revenge Is Sweet, The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], Oct. 12, 1914, p. 11, col. 2.

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Below is a list of prior Historic Pelham Blog postings that touch on firefighting and the history of firefighting units within the Town of Pelham.

Thu., Jan. 19, 2017:  Revenge is a Dish Best Served Cold:  Don't Mess With a Pelham Fireman.

Thu., Jan. 12, 2017:  Six of Pelham's Earliest Firefighters Marched in the 36th Annual Fire Inspection Parade in 1930.

Tue., Dec. 06, 2016:  An Account of the Tragic Vaughan Livery Stable Fire in Pelhamville in 1907.

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

Tue., Oct. 04, 2016:  Harry R. King, Fire Chief of the First Fire District From 1911 to 1913.

Wed., Jun. 15, 2016:  Organized Volunteer Fire Fighting in Pelhamville Began as Early as 1885.

Tue., Jun. 14, 2016:  The First Annual Inspection of Pelhamville Fire Fighting Units in 1894.

Tue., Jun. 07, 2016:  When Did Pelham's Minneford Engine Company Acquire its First Fire-Fighting Steam Engine?

Mon., May 16, 2016:  Fatal Fire in 1902 at One Fifth Avenue Burned Down the Post Office and Pharmacy.

Fri., Apr. 29, 2016:  Famous Meyers Mansion in Pelham Manor Burned Down in 1897.

Thu., Apr. 28, 2016:  Pelham Manor Dutifully Extinguished a Fire That Nearly Burned Down its Hated Wooden Train Station in 1896.

Mon., Jan. 04, 2016:  Pelham Manor Voters Voted to Disband the Pelham Manor Fire Department in 1928.  

Mon., Dec. 14, 2015:  Early History of the Village of Pelham Manor Fire Department.

Fri., Dec. 11, 2015:  Evidence of An Early Independent Firefighting Unit in Pelham Named "Indians."

Thu., Dec. 10, 2015:  Grand Fire-Fighting Competition and Parade Held in the Town of Pelham in 1891.

Wed., Dec. 09, 2015:  Pelham's Minneford Engine Company Built a New Fire House on City Island in 1894.

Mon., Dec. 07, 2015:  The Code Used on the City Island Fire Bell in the Late 19th Century Used for Fire Alarms.

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

Fri., Nov. 20, 2015:  Account of 1894 Fire in One of Pelham's Earliest Newspapers.

Wed., Sep. 30, 2015:  Was it Arson that Destroyed the Prospect Hill School at Jackson and Plymouth Avenues in 1917?

Thu., Sep. 17, 2015:  An Account of the February 28, 1925 Fire at Pelhamdale, A Home on the National Register of Historic Places.


Fri., Jun. 12, 2015:  The Tumultuous Reign of Pelham Manor Fire Chief J. Louis Cunningham in the Early 1900s.

Tue., Jun. 09, 2015:  Reminiscences of Firemen Who Served From 1893 Until 1923 in North Pelham.

Wed., Jun. 03, 2015:  The Bell in Firemen's Memorial Park at First Street and Wolfs Lane.

Tue., Jun. 02, 2015:  Important Early Images of the Pelham Fire Department.

Fri., May 22, 2015:  History of Pelham's Beloved "Nott Steamer" Known as "Jim Reilly's Boiler."

Thu., Mar. 26, 2015:  Fire Destroyed the Old Pelham Manor Post Office in 1945.

Fri., Mar. 20, 2015:  Fire in 1932 Devastated the Bolton Priory in Pelham Manor.

Tue., Feb. 17, 2015:  More on the Early History of Organized Firefighting in the Settlement of Pelhamville.

Mon., Feb. 16, 2015: The Great Furniture Fight of 1896: Company of Pelhamville Firemen Resigned En Masse.

Thu., Feb. 12, 2015: Rare 19th Century Image of Pelhamville Firemen Who Served in Relief Hook and Ladder Company No. 1.

Fri., Dec. 12, 2014: Parade and Housewarming Hosted by Pelhamville Fire Department in 1894.

Thu., Dec. 11, 2014:  Pelhamville's First Attempt to Create a Fire Department in 1893 Failed Due to a Legal Technicality.

Thu., Jul. 24, 2014: Dedication of the New Fire Headquarters in the Village of Pelham on December 29, 1927.

Wed., Jul. 02, 2014: Election Shenanigans Involving Fire Commissioner Election in 1898.


Thu., Apr. 24, 2014: Information About the History of Fire Departments in the Town of Pelham Published in 1927.

Thu., Jan. 30, 2014:  The Night Pelham's Town Hall Burned.

Fri., Jan. 24, 2014: Early Days of Organized Fire Fighting in Today's Village of Pelham.

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

Wed., May 12, 2010:  Fire Partly Destroyed Pelham Town Hall in 1908.

Fri., Jan. 15, 2010: Photograph of Augustine C. McGuire, President of the Board of Fire Commissioners of the First District Fire Department in 1913.

Thu., Jan. 14, 2010: 1913 Report of the Firemen's Benevolent Association in Pelham.

Thu., Dec. 10, 2009: More 19th Century Baseball and Firefighting References.

Tue., Dec. 08, 2009: The Darling Triplets: Three Brothers Among Pelham's Earliest Firefighters.

Thu., Oct. 08, 2009: Firefighting Units on City Island in Pelham During the Early 1890's.

Fri., Sep. 04, 2009:  1901 Newspaper Article About Fire that Burned New York Athletic Club Clubhouse on Travers Island.

Mon., Aug. 31, 2009: Contest in 1891 To Determine Which Steam Fire Engine Company Could Throw a Stream the Greater Distance.

Fri., Aug. 28, 2009: Reorganization of the Minneford Engine Company on City Island in February, 1891.

Thu., Aug. 06, 2009: Brief History of the Fire Department in the Village of North Pelham Published in 1913.

Wed., Aug. 05, 2009: Pelham Manor Fire Chief Pleads for Taxpayers to Authorize Purchase of Village's First Fire Engine.

Wed., July 15, 2009: Liberty Hose Company Election in 1898.

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

Thu., Jan. 19, 2006: Pelham Manor's Earliest Fire Fighting Equipment.

Wed., Jan. 18, 2006:  Newspaper Report of the Infamous Vaughan's Livery Stable Fire in North Pelham in 1907.

Mon., Oct. 17, 2005:  The Firemen's Memorial of the Pelham Fire Department.

Mon., Aug. 01, 2005: An 1896 Inspection and Drill of the Fire Department in Pelham.

Tue., May 31, 2005:  The June 6, 1940 Fire That Destroyed the George M. Reynolds Mansion (Part I of II).

Wed., Jun. 01, 2005:  The June 6, 1940 Fire That Destroyed the George M. Reynolds Mansion (Part II of II).

Fri., May 06, 2005:  The Great Furniture Battle at Pelhamville's Relief Hook and Ladder Company in 1896.

Archive of the Historic Pelham Web Site.

Home Page of the Historic Pelham Blog.

Order a Copy of "Thomas Pell and the Legend of the Pell Treaty Oak."

The First Annual Inspection of Pelhamville Fire Fighting Units in 1894

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

On the evening of Tuesday, October 16, 1894, two volunteer fire companies that served the little settlement of Pelhamville held their first annual inspection.  Liberty Hose Company No. 1, of Pelhamville, hosted the inspection of its members as well as the members of Ladder Company No. 1, also of Pelhamville.

Such inspections at the time were grand social events and celebrations where the members of the fire companies paraded in their finest uniforms along with grand processions of their spit and polished equipment.  The men and their families gathered for celebrations and dancing as part of the grand spectacle.

Much of Pelhamville helped prepare for the companies' first "annual inspection."  The Liberty Hose Company No. 1 arranged a grand parade that included a variety of local fire units from surrounding communities including:  Protection Engine Company No. 2 of Mount Vernon; Minneford Fire Engine Company No. 1 of City Island; Minneford Hose Company of City Island; Island City Hook and Ladder Company No. 2, also of City Island; Citizens Hose Company of New Rochelle; and, of course, Ladder Company No. 1 of Pelhamville.  Pelhamville homeowners along the parade route illuminated their homes and decorated them "prettily."  

The parade began from Fifth Avenue in front of the little structure used as the firehouse near the location of today's firehouse at 219 Fifth Avenue.  The marchers proceeded south on Fifth Avenue to Third Street where they turned east and marched along Third Street until they reached Seventh Avenue.  There they turned north onto Seventh Avenue and marched to Fourth Street (today's Lincoln Avenue) where they turned west onto Fourth Street (Lincoln Avenue) and marched to Third Avenue.  They turned north on Third Avenue passing the schoolhouse where today's Hutchinson Elementary School stands and continued past Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Streets to "Eighth Street" (a street that does not exist today, but likely was in the area of today's Willow Avenue at the edge of Chester Park.  There the parade turned west and marched along Eighth Street to First Avenue where they turned south on First Avenue and marched back to Fourth Street (Lincoln Avenue).  At Fourth Street they turned east and marched back to Fourth Avenue where they turned south and marched down that avenue until they reached Second Street.  There they turned east, marched a block along Second Street, then turned left on Fifth Avenue heading north back toward the firehouse.  The parade marched up Fifth Avenue past the firehouse and continued beyond Fourth Street (Lincoln Avenue) where the marchers turned around and "countermarched" by marching south again on Fifth Avenue back to the firehouse.  

The detail below from a map of Pelhamville published the year before in 1893, shows the route of the parade on October 16, 1894.  The green "X" marks roughly where the parade began, proceeding from that green "X" southward down Fifth Avenue to begin.

Detail from Inset Map of Pelhamville Published in 1893,

Marked to Show Route of First Annual Pelhamville

Fire Inspection Parade on October 16, 1894.  Source:

Bien, Julius R., Inset from "Towns of Westchester and Pelham

[with] Villages of Westchester and Unionport [with]

Village of Pelhamville" in Atlas of Westchester County, New

York, Prepared Under the Direction of Joseph R. Bien, E.M.,

Civil and Topographical Engineer from Original Surveys and

Official Records, p. 3 (NY, NY: Julius Bien & Co., 1893).

NOTE: Click on Image to Enlarge.  

At the close of the grand parade, the members of the various fire companies proceeded to the little wooden court house that once stood where today's Town Hall stands on Fifth Avenue for a fine meal hosted by The Liberty Hose Company No. 1 of Pelhamville.  Following dinner, the members of the fire companies and their dates held a grand dance that lasted "well into the midnight hour."

1895 Photograph of Members of Liberty Hose Co. No. 1,

North Pelham, New York.  Most, If Not All of These Men

Likely Participated in the First Annual Inspection on October

16, 1894.  NOTE: Click Image to Enlarge.

1895 Photograph of Members of Relief Hook & Ladder Co. No. 1,

North Pelham, New York.  Most, If Not ll of These Men Likely

Participated in the First Annual Inspection on October 16, 1894.

NOTE: Click Image to Enlarge.

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Below is the text of a newspaper article published on October 18, 1894 that described the first annual inspection held on Tuesday, October 16, 1894.  The text is followed by a citation and link to its source.

"OUR NEARBY NEIGHBORS.
-----
Pelhamville.

The Chronicle may be obtained in Pelhamville and vicinity from Master Fred L. Anderson who will deliver it at residence.

Mr. Charles H. Merritt began his duties as postmaster last Monday.

On Wednesday of last week the floor of a barn situated on the Wartburg Farm fell in, almost instantly killing two cows in the stable below, and seriously injuring some others.  About three hundred barrels of potatoes had been placed on the floor and they apparently proved too great a strain on it.  

Last Thursday was 'harvest day' at the Warburg and many of the friends of the institution came out to celebrate it.  The crops raised this year are certainly excellent.

About two weeks ago it was stated that the Union Railway Company promised to place a waiting car at the Pelhamville terminus.  This has not yet been fulfilled but it is to be hoped that it will soon be, as the convenience will be greatly appreciated in stormy or inclement weather.

Last Monday night was the time fixed for the adjourned trial of John Morrelley vs. John Costello, which took place at the Pelhamville court house.  The defendant was charged by the plaintiff with assault in the third degree.  W. J. Marshall was counselor for the former and S.J. Stillwell for the latter.  The trial was by jury.  After the jurors had convened for about ten minutes they rendered a verdict of not guilty.  The following were the jurors:  Mr. J. Heiser, foreman; Messrs. John F. Fairchild, James Caffery, John Rohrs, P. Farrell, and M. Mulligan.

The first annual inspection of the two local fire companies occurred last Tuesday evening.  They made a very fine appearance.  After the inspection a large parade took place in which the following organizations participated as guests of Liberty Hose Co. No. 1:  Protection Engine Co. No. 2 of Mount Vernon, Minneford Fire Engine Co. No. 1, Minneford Hose Company and Island City Hook and Ladder Co. No. 2 all of City Island, Citizens Hose Co. of New Rochelle and Ladder Co. No. 1 of Pelhamville.  The following was the line of march on which all of the residences were very prettily decorated and illuminated; From Fifth avenue to Third street, to Seventh avenue, to Fourth street, to Third avenue, to Eighth street, to First avenue, to Fourth street, then to Second avenue, to First street, to Third avenue, to Fourth street, to Fourth avenue, to Second street, to Fifth avenue past Fourth street, then countermarch to Fire House.

At the conclusion of the parade all the companies repaired to the Court house where a fine collation had been prepared.

After doing full justice to the good things that were served, dancing was entered into with zeal and the merriment lasted well into the midnight hour.

Liberty Hose Co. deserves praise for the grand success of the event."

Source:  OUR NEARBY NEIGHBORS -- Pelhamville, The Chronicle [Mount Vernon, NY], Oct. 18, 1894, p. 4, col. 1.  

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