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.

Thursday, January 18, 2018

Early Fatal Automobile Accident in Pelham Manor in 1909


It truly is difficult to imagine how profoundly different parts of Pelham are today from what they were like barely a century ago.  Take Pelhamdale Avenue between Shore Road and Boston Post Road for example.

 In 1909, the roadway was a dark, desolate, and lonely stretch.  There were virtually no homes between a cluster near Christ Church all the way to the New Haven Branch Line railroad overpass where a few homes stood on Manor Circle adjacent to the railroad tracks and Pelham Manor Depot.  Old growth woods lined both sides of the roadway.  With no streetlights, the towering trees made the roadway exceedingly dark at night.  In addition, with virtually no homes yet built along either side of the road, the ground on each side had not been leveled and embankments stood along the roadway.

 Along that dark roadway at about 1:00 a.m. on September 6, 1909, Mount Vernon resident William Hobby was driving home from an evening of work.  In his car were three fellow musicians.  Indeed, the entire group of men were all talented and well-trained musicians who played music for churches and a temple in the region.  The group had finished performing at an event at the famed Bay View Hotel on City island that night.

 The Bay View Hotel, City Island, Circa 1904. Source:  Image from
Post Card Postmarked in 1904.  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.


The tiny little automobile had a rumble seat.  William Hobby was driving.  Joseph Eisinger, 63 years old, of 522 West 112th Street in New York City, was in the passenger seat next to William Hobby.  Henry Claussen, aged 54, of 319 East 87th Street in New York City was in the rumble seat in the rear.  It appears that the fourth musician, 27-year-old Sidney B. Chase of 22 North Fourth Avenue in Mount Vernon was crouched on the floor of the car, likely beneath Eisinger's feet.

1909 Advertisement Depicting Example of Automobile with
Front Driver and Passenger Seats and a Rumble Seat in the
Rear.  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

As the car bounced along Pelhamdale Avenue headed westward toward Boston Post Road something terrible happened.  Precisely what happened was disputed thereafter.  According to the driver, William Hobby, about 300 feet east of the New Haven Branch Line railroad overpass above Pelhamdale Avenue, a tire on the vehicle suddenly exploded.  As the car veered out of control, the steering mechanism "became disarranged."  Hobby lost control and the automobile veered off the roadway into an embankment with a large rock.  When the vehicle struck the rock, it nearly stopped, throwing all four men out of the car.  Once the men hit the ground, the vehicle chugged along and scraped several trees along the embankment until it stopped.

 Fortuitously, Pelham Manor Police Officer James Butler, in his third year with the force, was nearby and heard the crash.  He hustled to the scene and found the wrecked vehicle and four men lying on the ground.  He contacted headquarters for assistance.  

 A local physician was called to the scene.  Joseph Eisinger and Henry Claussen were badly injured.  The other two men were bruised and banged up, but not seriously injured.  Eisinger was in critical condition with a fractured skull.  The police contacted a local garage to arrange for an automobile to take Eisinger and Claussen to Mount Vernon Hospital.  On the way, Joseph Eisinger died in the car.  Claussen survived.

The automobile was just coming into its own in Pelham in 1909.  Though there had been other automobile accidents in the town before that time, this one was notable not only due to the fatality, but also because the men were such well known musicians.  Sadly, this would not be the last fatal automobile accident in our little town.  Many since have followed.

*          *          *          *          *

"MAN WAS KILLED IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT AT PELHAM MANOR EARLY YESTERDAY
-----
Car Operated by William Hobby Goes Over Embankment in Dark Road and Joseph Eisinger, of New York, Dies From His Injuries on Way to the Hospital
-----
Henry Clausen Also Hurt -- Owner and Other Occupants Escape With Bruises -- Car Wrecked -- Were on Their Way Home From City Island
-----

A fatality attended an automobile accident about 1 o'clock yesterday morning in Pelham Manor, when the car owned and driven by William Hobby, of this city, and containing, besides Mr. Hobby, Sidney B. Chase, aged 27, of 22 North Fourth avenue; Joseph Eisinger, aged 63, of 522 West 112th street, and Henry Claussen, aged 54, of 319 East 87th street, New York, struck a rock and ran up an embankment on the north side of Pehamdale avenue about 300 feet east of the bridge of the Harlem River division of the New Haven road.

Mr. Eisinger was thrown out and struck on his head, sustaining a fractured skull.  He died shortly afterward while being hurried to the Mount Vernon hospital in an automobile.  Claussen and Chase were also thrown out, but were not severely injured.  Claussen received a scalp wound and a contusion of the back and was taken to the Mount Vernon hospital.  Dr. Woodruff, who attended him, stated this morning that he was not seriously hurt and did not show signs at present of being internally injured.  Mr. Hobby suffered some bruises and is confined to his home today, it is reported.  

Both Hobby and Chase had remarkable escapes from being severely injured.  Erroneous reports appeared in the New York papers that Mr. Hobby was thrown forty feet out of the car.  This is not so.  According to the statements of the Pelham Manor police, Mr. Hobby, who was driving the car, was thrown only a few feet after it ran up the embankment.

Mr. Hobby and the three men, who are musicians, were returning from the Bay View hotel at City Island.  Eisinger and Claussen are violinists.  They were driving along Pelhamdale avenue, which is one of the darkest thoroughfares in the town of Pelham on account of the woods, when, as they reached a point about 300 feet east of the railroad bridge, a tire exploded, according to Mr. Hobby's statement at the time.  At the same time the steering gear of the machine became disarranged.  Mr. Hobby lost control of the car and it shot up an embankment on the north side of the road.  It first struck a rock, which caused it to stop so suddenly that all of the occupants were hurled out.  Officer Butler, of the Pelham Manor police force, heard the crash of the car as it struck the rock and then ground along into some of the small trees, situated along the embankment.  

When the policeman reached the scene, he saw four men lying on the ground.  Shortly after his arrival he saw one man, who later proved to be Eisinger, lying about 20 feet in front of the car on the road.  Near him was Claussen.  About that time Chase raised himself from the ground and exclaimed 'I am lucky that I was not killed.'  Shortly afterward Mr. Hobby revived.

Officer Butler notified police headquarters of the accident, and Dr. Washburn of Pelham Manor, 
-----
(Continued on Page Six).
-----

MAN WAS
-----
(Continued From Page One.)
-----

was summoned.  He examined Eisinger and Claussen and found that the former was in a critical condition and ordered that they be removed to the hospital at once.

An automobile was secured from Reynold's garage and the two injured men, in company with Dr. Washburn, were hurried to the Mount Vernon hospital.  On the way to that instituion Eisinger died and was later removed to Van Arsdale's morgue.

After the injured men had been taken away, Chief Marks ordered Officer Butler to place Mr. Hobby under arrest, and he was brought to police headquarters.  Coroner Boedecker was notified of the accident and went to police headquarters in Pelham Manor.  When asked as to what caused the accident, Mr. Hobby told the coroner that one of his tires blew out, as far as he knew, and that he consequently lost control of the car.  The coroner released him under $5,000 bail to appear for examination at the inquest which will be held next Monday evening at 8 o'clock.

Coroner Boedecker said this morning that there was no evidence to show that any of the tires on the car blew out.  As far as could be ascertained, it appeared as if the machine suddenly left the road and struck a rock.  The coroner also said this morning that in view of the fact that an external examination failed to show the extent of Eisinger's injuries and what caused his death, he directed that an autopsy be performed.

This was done yesterday afternoon by Dr. Washburn, of Pelham Manor, and Dr. Knapp, of Mount Vernon, and showed that Eisinger's skull had been fractured and that death had been caused by cerebral hemorrhage and shock.

Another version this morning is that Hobby and Eisinger were sitting in the front seat and Chase on the floor of the car.  In the rumble seat in back was Claussen.

Yesterday morning Chief Marks, Coroner Boedecker and two experts went to the scene of the accident and examined the car.  They found the two front wheels smashed, the spokes of one of them being torn out.  The axle was also bent.  The car was brought to this city in the afternoon.  

Chief Marks declared this morning that the car was so badly wrecked that it must have been travelling [sic] faster than twelve miles, although Mr. Hobby said that the machine was not going faster than that.

The dead man was a musician of note, being organist of St. Aloysiuis Church, West 132nd street and of Temple Beth-El, Jersey City.  He was a composer of church music as well.  He was born in Copenhagen.  In 1846, and studied music at Leipsic [sic], Prague and Copenhagen, before going to New York in 1867.  He was organist in St. Jerome's church in the Bronx for twenty years and at St. Lawrence's church for ten years.  His Easter compositions are in use in the large churches thoughout the country.  He is survived by a widow and five children.

The body was taken to Mr. Eisinger's late home, in New York, last evening, and the funeral services will be held tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock."

Source:   MAN WAS KILLED IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT AT PELHAM MANOR EARLY YESTERDAY -- Car Operated by William Hobby Goes Over Embankment in Dark Road and Joseph Eisinger, of New York, Dies From His Injuries on Way to the Hospital -- Henry Clausen Also Hurt -- Owner and Other Occupants Escape With Bruises -- Car Wrecked -- Were on Their Way Home From City Island, The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], Sep. 7, 1909, No. 6026, p. 1, cols. 1-2 & p. 6, col. 4.
*          *          *          *          *
I have written before about the early days of automobiles in Pelham.  For a few examples, see:








Archive of the Historic Pelham Web Site.

Labels: , , , , , , , , ,

posted by Blake A. Bell @ 4:49 AM 0 comments

Monday, January 23, 2017

Pelham's Bay View Hotel In 1885


The 1870s and the 1880s were the Golden Age of summer resorts in the Town of Pelham with most facilities located in the Pelham Bridge and City Island area of the Town.  One of several spectacular summer resorts at the time was the Bay View Hotel, occasionally referenced as the "Bay View House" and "Von Liehn's Bay View Hotel."  I have written before about Pelham's Bay View Hotel.  See, e.g., Fri., Jan. 23, 2015:  The Bay View Hotel on City Island, a Pelham Landmark for Many Years.

 In 1885, the New Rochelle Pioneer published a brief, but detailed and significant description of the Bay View Hotel.  The description sheds important light on the hotel and its services in 1885.  For example, the article states "A large hall, or ball room was built last year, and is beautifully fitted up."  The "hall," built in early 1884, became an important City Island social center that is referenced in countless news stories as "Von Liehn's Hall" and "Von Liehn's Pavilion."  

 As such references suggest, the proprietor of the Bay View Hotel was Carsten Von Liehn.  Von Liehn was born in 1839 in the Kingdom of Hanover part of today's Lower Saxony in Germany.  He became a naturalized U.S. citizen on January 11, 1866.  Even that early he was listed as a restauranteur by profession.  By the 1880s he had become one of the Town of Pelham's most successful hoteliers and summer resort operators. 

The Bay View Hotel, City Island, Circa 1904.
Source:  Image from Post Card Postmarked
in 1904.  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.


Detail from Map of City Island Published in 1899 Showing
Bay View Hotel Complex in Block Bounded to the North
Bridge Street and to the West by Today's City Island
Avenue. Source: Board of Public Improvements Topographical
Etc, in City Island, Borough of the Bronx (1899) (Available via Lionel
Pincus and Princess Firyal Map Division, The New York Public Library).
NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

 Von Liehn operated the Bay View Hotel, a hotel and a summer resort boarding house that overlooked City Island Bridge.  It faced what was then Pelham Bay, hence the name "Bay View Hotel."  Additionally, the northeasterly and easterly sides of the hotel had beautiful uninterrupted views of Long Island Sound.  

 In 1885, the Bay View Hotel could accommodate up to 200 guests.  It had a large dining hall and a kitchen with the capacity to supply four hundred meals.  The dining room was immediately above the kitchen, so a large dumb waiter connected the two.  Von Liehn's Hall, a large ballroom built in early 1884, was an important part of the facility.  It attracted large gatherings including dances, masquerade balls, and the like.  

 Given the nature of transportation at the time, the hotel complex included a large stable and barn "for the convenience of guests."  A large tree-lined lawn provided a "cool retreat for ladies and children" on hot summer days.  The complex included a long, sloping, and rocky beach that -- at the time -- Von Liehn was trying to clean up and convert to a lovely sandy beach.  The beach area included bath houses to facilitate swimming, bathing, and water sports including boating and fishing.    

"Bay View Hotel, CITY ISLAND, N.Y. City."  A Post Card
Image of the Bay View Hotel Postmarked in 1913 After
the Area Including City Island Had Been Annexed From
Pelham by New York City.  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

 *          *          *          *          *

 Below is the text of the brief article about the Bay View Hotel that appeared in the New Rochelle Pioneer.  The text is followed by a citation and link to its source.  

 "Bay View House, City Island.

 This hotel and summer boarding house has advantages that can be surpassed by few hotels in this vicinity.  Its proprietor is Mr. C. Von Liehn.  Situated at the foot of City Island Bridge, it is directly in the road of travel, and stages and other conveyances for the convenience of the public are continually passing.  It faces Pelham Bay, from which it takes its name, 'Bay View House,' having a full view of the surrounding country.  From the north east and easterly side of the hotel there is an uninterrupted view of the Sound.  The hotel has accommodations for nearly 200 guests, the rooms all being well lighted and ventilated.  There is a large dining room directly over the kitchen, a dumb waiter connecting the two.  The kitchen has a capacity for supplying 400 dinners.  A large hall, or ball room was built last year, and is beautifully fitted up.  A barn and stable is connected with the hotel for the convenience of guests.  A lawn, surrounded with trees, affords a pleasant and cool retreat for ladies and children, during the hot days of summer.  In front of this house are a number of bathing houses, and their number is to be increased.  The beach is a gradual slope, and the proprietor intends to have all the rocks and stones cleared away, and a sandy beach made.  Boating and fishing can be indulged in to the heart's content, and for the convenience of his guests, Mr. Von Leihn is having a plank walk, over 200 feet long, run into the water, so that a landing from boats can be made at all times."

 Source:  Bay View House, City Island, New Rochelle Pioneer, Apr. 18, 1885, p. 3, col. 4.  

 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."

Labels: , , , , , , , , , ,

posted by Blake A. Bell @ 4:15 AM 0 comments

Friday, January 23, 2015

The Bay View Hotel on City Island, a Pelham Landmark for Many Years


During the late nineteenth century there was a magnificent hotel named the Bay View Hotel that stood at Bridge Street and City Island Avenue on the former Bowne-King estate.  The hotel was built in the Second Empire style described as "[a]n eclectic architectural style based on French Renaissance and Baroque models."  The style first became popular in the United States in about 1860 and was well-represented in Pelham Manor and on City Island before the island was annexed by New York City during the mid-1890s.  

 As City Island grew into a popular tourist resort and fishing destination during the last quarter of the nineteenth century, the Bay View Hotel provided a beautiful setting for boarders and overnight tourist guests.  During the 1880s, the hotel was known as "Von Liehn's Bay View Hotel."  

The Bay View Hotel, City Island, Circa 1904.
Source:  Image from Post Card Postmarked in 1904.

 The location of the hotel was ideal.  It faced the City Island Bridge on the island side and was a grand sight to behold as visitors to the island crossed the bridge.  Below is a detail from a map of City Island prepared in 1899 showing where the hotel complex was located.  City Island Bridge can be seen extending off into the waters at about the 10 o'clock position in the image on the left side.  

Detail from Map of City Island Published in 1899
Showing Bay View Hotel Complex in Block Bounded
to the North Bridge Street and to the West by Today's
City Island Avenue.  Source:  Board of Public Improvements
Topographical Bureau, Map or Plan Showing a General 
of the Bronx (1899) (Available via Lionel Pincus and Princess
Firyal Map Division, The New York Public Library).

There are many brief accounts published in period newspapers describing outings, celebrations, and gatherings at the Bay View Hotel complex.  One such account is transcribed in its entirety immediately below.

 "THE ANNUAL OUTING OF THE PROTEANS OF FANWOOD.
-----

 The Protean Society had its annual outing last Friday, to City Island.  

 The Society was organized in 1890, and since then has had its outing a week before the close of school, except in 1895 and 1896.  Little interest was manifested in the organization, until last Fall, when it was re-organized, and the following officers elected:  President, Robert H. McVea; Vice-President, Herman F. Beck; Corresponding Secretary, Louis A. Cohen; Recording Secretary, William Konkel; Treasurer, Emil Mayer.

The Society was formerly composed of members of the High Class, but now all the cadet officers are members, namely:  Robert H. McVea, Herman F. Beck, Emil Mayer, Louis Cohen, James Avens, William Konkel, Anthony Reiff, Edward Rappholdt, Henry Prinsinzing, Charles Sanford, Henry Muench, James Burke, E. V. Moeslein.  The invited guests were Messrs. W. H. Van Tassell, E. A. Hodgson and A. Capelli.

Principal Currier is counselor of the Society, and its prosperity is owing a great deal to his advice.

It is not for me to go in detail and give a history of the society, but sufficient to say that it seems to have regained its lost energy and has made its presence felt at Fanwood after a lapse of two years. 

The outing this year was to Bay View Hotel, City Island, by a tally-ho drawn by four horses.  The tally-ho arrived on time at the Institution, at 8:30 A. M., but the members were not all ready to start.  Another delay was caused by the non-appearance of the official photographer, Mr. Ranald Douglas, who was prevented from arriving at the scene of starting, to photograph the members in their outing costumes, grey coats and caps and white duck trousers.  So after waiting till twenty minutes to ten for Mr. Douglas, they decided to start.  Just as they left the grounds, Mr. Douglas appeared, but too late.

The route taken this time differs somewhat from the previous outings of the society, although the destination was the same. 

The boys were well provided with fish horns, bugles, bicycle whistles, and other kinds of instruments, and at intervals the noise they made startled the natives on the route, which was across Washington Bridge to University Heights, where a fine view was had of the magnificent new buildings of New York University and 'Ohio Field,' where our foot ball and base ball team have met their rivals for glory.  Of course the party let themselves loose, and gave as a parting the Fanwood yell.  The coach was going at a lively rate of speed.  Soon University Heights was out of view; Morris Heights was next reached, and Berkeley Oval, where our boys past and present have achieved glory, was passed, and although at that early hour deserted, the party again gave another ringing yell which must have been heard for miles aroudn.  The next place of special importance was Fordham, here still stands the house where Edgar Allen Poe lived; also St. John's or Fordham College, whom our boys have time and time again met both on the gridiron and the diamond.  There is still another place that interests the sporting element in Fordham, and that is the fallen champion, Corbett's Hotel.  Bronx Park and Morris Park are passed, so is Westchester, Westchester creek, in short order.  The Catholic Protectory is perhaps the greatest institution of Westchester.  Here are housed over one thousand boys.  Not far off is the Westchester Institution for Catholic Deaf-Mutes. 

Besides these attractions which were passed and noted upon, the scenery all along the route is very beautiful, and would recommend it to the Silent Wheelmen for a run some day this summer.  Pelham Manor has so many shade trees and many desirable lots for sale, that it would be well for the Silent Wheelmen to try and secure land to erect a club house at some future time.  Being in the borough of Bronx, it is a part of the City of New York.

At the End of Pelham Manor is a bridge, and from this bridge City Island is in sight.  The party arrived at the Bay View Hotel at 12 o'clock, and dinner was served at 1.30 P. M. -- and such a dinner it was too.  To say that all dd have good appetites is not doing them justice, so we will draw the curtain here.

After dinner, a trip around the island was had on a Naphtha launch owned by the proprietor of the Bay View Hotel, which took up one hour.

A bowling contest was the next attraction, the bowlers were A. Capelli and Wm. Van Tassell against Robert McVea and E. A. Hodgson.  The former won by th score of 157 to 156.

The boys amused themselves in various other ways.  Some went boating, others fishing, and a few, although the water was rather cold, went in swimming.  Taken all in all they had a very enjoyable time.  Supper was served at half past five, and all I can say in praise of the feast is that it took one hour to get through it.

The return trip was begun at 6.40, and ten minutes after it began to rain, but not very hard.  Despite this the boys kept up their spirits, and their yell and noise was kept up all the way to the Institution, which was made via 155th Street Viaduct.  The party arrived at the Institution at 9 o'clock, all expressing themselves having had a good time.

A. QUAD."

Source:  THE  ANNUAL OUTING OF THE PROTEANS OF FANWOOD, Deaf Mutes' Journal, Jun. 10, 1897, Vol. XXVI, No. , p. 1, cols. 4-5.

Labels: , , , , , , , ,

posted by Blake A. Bell @ 4:46 AM 0 comments