Formation of the City Island Beldonites Baseball Club in June 1884

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I long have researched the history of baseball in the Town of Pelham. For references to the many previous postings and articles I have written about the subject, see the end of this posting, below.  Today's posting to the Historic Pelham Blog transcribes a newspaper column published on June 14, 1884 referencing the formation of the Beldonites Baseball Club in June 1884.

"CITY ISLAND.

--Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Leviness gave a tin wedding last week.  Many invitations were issued and numerous fortunate ones responded.  The presents were many and in accord with the occasion. 

--Three men, one of whom is a negro, are staying at Bob Brown's hotel, and it is rumored about that they are Tom Kean, Jack Dempsey, and 'Black Star.' pugilists training for prize fights.

--The new side walk to the M.E. church is being laid.  It is a great convenience even now, but when the muddy weather comes people will appreciate the work of the ladies, who have raised the money to pay for this improvement.

--Many complaints are heard about the entertainment at Capt. Josh's place last Saturday night.  Music, dancing and singing were continued until a very late hour to the discomfort of many of the neighbors. 

--A certain young man has been generously giving out his checks drawn on a Tarrytown bank, and to the dismay of many people here these checks have been returned, not honored, and notices of protest have startled some of the business people.  No more checks of this kind are being received.

--A B. B. club has been organized on City Island, styling themselves the 'Beldonites.'  The club are about with a subscription list to obtain the necessary means to procure uniforms, and the gentleman after whom the club was named headed the list with $20.  It is expected the club will prove worthy of the name it bears.

--On Wednesday next, the 18th inst., Miss Susie D. Carll, eldest daughter of Mr. David Carll and Mr. George Rich, will be married at Mr. Carll's residence.  A large number of invitations have been issued, and many of the rooms at Von Leihn's Hotel have been engaged for the accomodation of guests coming from a distance.  The wedding will doubtless be the most [illegible] and largely attended of [illegible] has taken place here."

Source:  City Island, The New Rochelle Pioneer, Jun. 14, 1884, p. ?, col. 4 (no page number printed on newspaper page).

Thursday, April 15, 2010:  Account of Baseball Game Played in Pelham on June 9, 1884:  The Country Club Beat the Knickerbockers, 42 to 22.

Tuesday, March 9, 2010:  Earliest Reference Yet to Organized Baseball Played in Pelham.

Tuesday, February 16, 2010:  Photograph of Only Known 19th Century Women's Baseball Team in Pelham, New York.

Thursday, January 28, 2010:  News About Pelham Manor and Pelhamville in 1895 - Lighting Districts, Gas for the Village, Baseball and More.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009:  Baseball Games Played by the City Island Beldenites and the City Island Rivals in 1884. 

Monday, December 14, 2009:  Baseball Games Played by the City Island Shamrocks in 1889. 

Friday, December 11, 2009:  Earliest Reference Yet to Baseball Played in Pelham. 

Thursday, December 10, 2009:  More 19th Century Baseball and Firefighting References.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009:  City Island Shamrocks Base Ball Club Changed its Name to the Minnefords in 1888.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009:  Even More Early References to Baseball Played in Pelham.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009:  Yet Another Reference to Early Baseball in Pelham.

Monday, November 23, 2009:  Additional Brief Accounts of Baseball Played in Pelham in the 19th Century.

Friday, November 20, 2009:  More Accounts of Early Baseball Played in Pelham.

Friday, November 13, 2009:  1894 Account of Developments in Pelham Including a Reference to a Baseball Game Played that Year.

Thursday, November 12, 2009:  More Early References to Baseball Played in Pelham.

Wednesday, September 30, 2009:  Score of June 1, 1887 Baseball Game Between the Country Club and The Knickerbocker Club.

Friday, March 20, 2009:  Another Reference to 19th Century Baseball in Pelham.

Tuesday, March 4, 2008:  Another Brief Reference to 19th Century Baseball in Pelham.

Monday, November 26, 2007: Box Score of a Baseball Game Played on Travers Island in Pelham Manor in July 1896.

Wednesday, November 21, 2007: Baseball on Travers Island During the Summer of 1897.

Friday, July 20, 2007: Account of Early Baseball in Pelham: Pelham vs. the New York Athletic Club on Travers Island in 1897

Friday, November 10, 2006: The Location of Another Early Baseball Field in Pelham

Monday, October 9, 2006: Reminiscences of Val Miller Shed Light on Late 19th Century Baseball in Pelham and the Early Development of the Village of North Pelham

Thursday, March 23, 2006: Baseball Fields Opened on the Grounds of the Westchester Country Club in Pelham on April 4, 1884

Tuesday, January 31, 2006: Another Account of Baseball Played in Pelham in the 1880s Is Uncovered

Thursday, October 6, 2005: Does This Photograph Show Members of the "Pelham Manor Junior Base Ball Team"?

Thursday, September 15, 2005: Newspaper Item Published in 1942 Sheds Light on Baseball in 19th Century Pelham

Thursday, February 10, 2005: New Discoveries Regarding Baseball in 19th Century Pelham

Bell, Blake A., Baseball in Late 19th Century Pelham, The Pelham Weekly, Vol. XIII, No. 17, Apr. 23, 2004, p. 8, col. 2.

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site
Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/.
Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings.

Yet Another Reference to Early Baseball in Pelham

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site
Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/.
Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings.

For the last several days I have been posting references to early instances of baseball being played in Pelham.  Today I transcribe an article that appeared in the August 23, 1884 issue of the New Rochelle Pioneer.  The article details news about Pelham and City Island.  It includes a reference to a baseball game scheduled later the same day, another game played on Thursday, August 21, 1884 and yet another played on Saturday, August 16, 1884.

"PELHAM AND CITY ISLAND.

--Mr. Higbee, of Pelham, is absent on a vacation.

--The Muffers will play a game of ball with the Pelhamville nine to-day.

--Rev. C. Winter Bolton supplies Mr. Higbee's pulpit in the Priory church, during the rector's absence.

  Mr. Von Leihn is constructing a large sewer from his hotel to the water.

--Business on the Island is improving somewhat, and people are getting more hopeful.

--The Beldonites went to Mamaroneck on Thursday [August 21, 1884], and played a game of ball with the club of that place.  The Mamaroneck nine was defeated by a score of 31 to 19.

--The steamer Joshua Leviness has been taken from Hawkin's ways, and is to be taken to New York city for sale.  If not sold, she is to be used as a freight boat running up the Sound. 

--The game of ball between the Muffers and the picked nine at Willetts Point was completed last Saturday and was won by the Willett's Point nine by a score of 28 to 22.

--The sociable at Flynn's Pavilion Wednesday night was a grand success.  The attendance was large and quite select, and although the evening was excessively warm those who attended seemed to enjoy themselves thoroughly.

--An infant a few days old was found on the shore near Belden's Point on Monday.  It was wrapped in a New York World of August 14, and put in a segar box.  It is generally believed that it was thrown from some passing boat and drifted upon the shore.  Coroner Hyler held an inquest on Monday, and a verdict in accordance with the above statement was rendered.

--The Hudson Hose Company from Yonkers, visited the Island on Thursday, and were the guests of Capt. Stringham.  He served a chowder in his usual handsome manner, and they got outside of it with neatness and dispatch.  They enjoyed themselves in a royal manner, each one seemed bound to have the best possible time, and to assist the others to do the same.  They went home in the evening, and will be remembered here as gentlemen whose acquaintance is courted.

--Mr. Dayton seems to be unable to agree with his tenant, Mr. Newton.  It seems that Dayton leased his house to Mr. Newton for a stated sum, and was to receive half the fruit on the place, and in the absence of Mrs. Newton, it is claimed he helped himself to both halves.  Mr. Newton did not like this, and upon his return refused to permit Mr. Dayton to take away any more of the fruit, and Mr. Dayton served a dispossess warrant upon Mr. Newton claiming that he has failed to comply with the contract under which he went into possession.  He is not expected to accomplish much in this way, and nearly all who know of the circumstances denounce him for his actions in the matter.

--A short distance above Hell Gate the steamer Pilgrim of the Fall River Line on her trip from Fall River collided with a three-masted schooner Thursday morning.  There was no panic on either vessel.  The schooner was in tow of a tug, which sheered off as she approached the steamer, but the tide catching the schooner on her bow made her swing in and strike the Pilgrim about forty or fifty feet from the bow of the port side, and as she scraped along the steamer's guard, which is of iron, she cut her main rigging, causing the mainmast and maintopmast to tumble over the side.  She was towed to this place and after proper repairs have been made she will proceed on her voyage.  the name of the schooner is the Dick Williams.  She is loaded with coal and bound from Hoboken to New Bedford." 

Source:  Pelham and City Island, The New Rochelle Pioneer, Aug. 23, 1884, p. 2, col. 6.


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Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/.
Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings

Additional Brief Accounts of Baseball Played in Pelham in the 19th Century

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site
Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/.
Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings.

I continue to document every reference I find about baseball played in Pelham during the 19th century.  For some of the prior postings, see:

Friday, November 20, 2009: 

Thursday, November 12, 2009:  More Early References to Baseball Played in Pelham.

Wednesday, September 30, 2009:  Score of June 1, 1887 Baseball Game Between the Country Club and The Knickerbocker Club.

Friday, March 20, 2009:  Another Reference to 19th Century Baseball in Pelham.

Monday, November 26, 2007: Box Score of a Baseball Game Played on Travers Island in Pelham Manor in July 1896.

Wednesday, November 21, 2007: Baseball on Travers Island During the Summer of 1897.

Friday, July 20, 2007: Account of Early Baseball in Pelham: Pelham vs. the New York Athletic Club on Travers Island in 1897

Friday, November 10, 2006: The Location of Another Early Baseball Field in Pelham

Monday, October 9, 2006: Reminiscences of Val Miller Shed Light on Late 19th Century Baseball in Pelham and the Early Development of the Village of North Pelham

Thursday, March 23, 2006: Baseball Fields Opened on the Grounds of the Westchester Country Club in Pelham on April 4, 1884

Tuesday, January 31, 2006: Another Account of Baseball Played in Pelham in the 1880s Is Uncovered

Thursday, October 6, 2005: Does This Photograph Show Members of the "Pelham Manor Junior Base Ball Team"?

Thursday, September 15, 2005: Newspaper Item Published in 1942 Sheds Light on Baseball in 19th Century Pelham

Thursday, February 10, 2005: New Discoveries Regarding Baseball in 19th Century Pelham

Bell, Blake A., Baseball in Late 19th Century Pelham, The Pelham Weekly, Vol. XIII, No. 17, Apr. 23, 2004, p. 8, col. 2.

I have located some other brief references that reflect baseball teams that played on City Island in Pelham and some of the games they played in 1884.  The full article containing the references is transcribed below:

"PELHAM AND CITY ISLAND.

--William E. Lowndes will represent this town in the Grand Jury at White Plains, Sept. 15.

--Charles Price had a dispute with Joseph Schowsboe a few days agao and he struck him with an oar.  Price was arrested.

--The game of ball between the Muffers [of City Island] and Pelhamville nine played last Saturday [August 23, 1884] resulted in a victory for the Muffers by a score of 42 to 11.

--The excursion of Grace church and Sunday School takes place today.  They will go to Alpine Grove and with bright weather all will be pleased with their day's recreation.

--Norma Leviness, daughter of Mr. Charles Leviness, died on Monday last, Agu. 25, in the eighteenth year of her age, after a lingering illness.  The funeral took place on Wednesday.

--The Beldonites went to New Rochelle and played a game of ball with the men of that place on Thursday, which resulted in a victory for New Rochelle by a score of 36 to 17.

--Work in the shipyards appears to be improving here a little.  Von Liehn continues to be busy in his hotel business and the number of summer boarders does not seem to lessen to any material extent.

--The school election in Pelhamville district passed off very quietly and resulted in the re-election of Mr. William Barry and of Mr. E. H. Gurney in place of Jacob Heisser whose term expired.

--Capt. Stringham appears to be doing his full share of the business on the Island.  The best evidence of his success is that those who visit his place once, never go elsewhere when similar services are required.

--Prof. Munroe is at Pelhamville in charge of a class of about forty students from the School of Mines in New York city.  They will spend about six weeks in studying and exercising in practical surveying.

--A large number of picnic parties have visited the Island and Flynn's pavilion this week.  All seem to enjoy themselves here thoroughly and as they all bring a little money with them, of course they are made welcome.

--Las Sunday a party visited a liquor saloon near the middle of the Island and greatly annoyed the people living in that vicinity and those passing the place.  When spoken to about it the proprietor thought the party a little lively but the neighbors think that they were decidedly noisy and offensive in their actions.

--Capt. Josh appears to have been in a pugnacious mood on Thursday and vented his spleen on an unfortunate boatman.  The boat man was seen falling, or being thrown, out of a second story windo and shortly after the Captain pursued him along the street at a break neck pace.  The boatman escaped with the loss of his hat and with clothing badly torn and extremely happy that nothing worse befell him.

--Plans for a new steam yacht, 180 feet long, 28 feet wide and 12 feet deep, are now making for Mr. P. Lorillard, it is said.  The new yacht is intended for service on Long Island Sound, Hudson river and other like inland waters, and she will lack nothing in her construction that money can procure and which may tend to produce a high rate of speed.  The model, plans, &c., are now in progress at City Island, from which locality so many fast and handsome steam crafts have been turned out lately.

--Many of the church people here are greatly indignant at the appearance of the lager beer wagon of Louis Diehl upon the streets on Sunday.  Almost every Sabbath this wagon can be seen going its rounds just as people are returning from church and an effort is to be made to put a stop to it.  They do not understand how this man can sell beer which a local grocer cannot do so, and they will doubtless have the Sunday law applied and ask for the confiscation of all the beer in the wagon.  One application will probably effect a cure.

--The Sunday school connected with the Trinity M. E. church will go on an excursion next Wednesday, September 3, in Locust Grove, L.I.  The propellor 'Capt. John,' of New Rochelle, has been engaged and will leave City Island at 9 A.M. and will leave Locust Grove at 4 P.M.  Locust Grove is close to Coney Island and doubtless many of the excursionists will visit this famous summer resort and be glad of an opportunity of reaching there so comfortably and so reasonably.  The tickets are only 50 cents.

--The Muffers will play the nine from Willet's Point, a game of ball on the Island to-day. . . . "

Source:  Pelham and City Island, New Rochelle Pioneer, Aug. 30, 1884, p. 2, col. 6.

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site
Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/.
Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings.

More Accounts of Early Baseball Played in Pelham

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site
Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/.
Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings.

I continue to document every reference I find about baseball played in Pelham during the 19th century.  For some of the prior postings, see:

Thursday, November 12, 2009:  More Early References to Baseball Played in Pelham.

Wednesday, September 30, 2009:  Score of June 1, 1887 Baseball Game Between the Country Club and The Knickerbocker Club.

Friday, March 20, 2009:  Another Reference to 19th Century Baseball in Pelham.

Monday, November 26, 2007: Box Score of a Baseball Game Played on Travers Island in Pelham Manor in July 1896.

Wednesday, November 21, 2007: Baseball on Travers Island During the Summer of 1897.

Friday, July 20, 2007: Account of Early Baseball in Pelham: Pelham vs. the New York Athletic Club on Travers Island in 1897

Friday, November 10, 2006: The Location of Another Early Baseball Field in Pelham

Monday, October 9, 2006: Reminiscences of Val Miller Shed Light on Late 19th Century Baseball in Pelham and the Early Development of the Village of North Pelham

Thursday, March 23, 2006: Baseball Fields Opened on the Grounds of the Westchester Country Club in Pelham on April 4, 1884

Tuesday, January 31, 2006: Another Account of Baseball Played in Pelham in the 1880s Is Uncovered

Thursday, October 6, 2005: Does This Photograph Show Members of the "Pelham Manor Junior Base Ball Team"?

Thursday, September 15, 2005: Newspaper Item Published in 1942 Sheds Light on Baseball in 19th Century Pelham

Thursday, February 10, 2005: New Discoveries Regarding Baseball in 19th Century Pelham

Bell, Blake A., Baseball in Late 19th Century Pelham, The Pelham Weekly, Vol. XIII, No. 17, Apr. 23, 2004, p. 8, col. 2.

I have located some other brief references that reflect baseball teams that played on City Island in Pelham and some of the games they played in 1884.  The full article containing the references is transcribed below:

"PELHAM AND CITY ISLAND.

--Mr. C.S. has our thanks.

--A game of polo was played by the Country Club at Bartow, on Thursday. 

--Mr. S.D. Horton is building a new house on the lower end of City Island.

--Jenkins & Cameron, auctioneers, sell the propellor, 'Joshua Leviness,' at City Island to-day.

--Mr. Godirey, who received a severe hurt by having a heavy log fall on his foot, is improving nicely.

--Supervisor Hyatt slipped from his wagon the other day and hurt his arm badly.

--Mr. Jas. D. Bell has commenced the erection of a house on his premises on Main street.  Mr. J. Kenney being the builder.

--The work at the shipyards is very slack.  There is a little prospect of work at Carll's yard, a three master being in contemplation, but at the other yards little other than repairing is looked forward to at present.

--The base ball club, Beldonites, send a challenge to any junior B. B. club in Westchester Co. to play a game of base ball for a Snyder dead ball and bat on their grounds at City Island.  All communications to be sent to Mr. George Boster, City Island.

--A coaching party consisting of Mr. and Mrs. William Belden, Prof. Doremus, Messrs. Clark, Bell and Woodruff, drove recently to Dover, N.J.  The stylish four-in-hand was driven by Mr. Belden.  The party started for the Delaware Water Gap, via Lake Hopatcong and Schooley's Mountain, where they spent a short time, and then proceeded to the handsome summer residence of Mr. Beldon at City Island.

--A match game of ball was played between the Rivals of City Island and the Muffers of the same place, resulting in a victory for the latter, by a score of 13 to 4.  The Muffers challenge any club to play them in a match game for a Peck & Snyder dead ball.  All correspondence to be addressed to John Brady, City Island, N.Y.

--A fight occured on the steamboat dock at City Island, on Saturday between James Brown and Oliver Ayres.  Brown gave Ayres a black eye and knocked out one of his teeth for which Ayres had him summoned before Justice Martinson on Monday at seven o'clock.  The Judge fined Brown ten dollars or ten days in the County Jail.  The fine was paid by his brother.

A race for cabin sloops came off at City Island on Saturday, for a pennant given by Eugene Reed.  They were to sail six miles to the windward and return.  There were four entries, viz:  Katie Wood, Florence, Carrie and the Wm. H. Lockwood.  The Carrie broker her mast and withdrew.  The Florence carried away her jib traveler, and thus disabled her for the race.  The race was won by the Lockwood, time, two hours, twelve minutes.  It was well contested from the beginning."

Source:  Pelham and City Island, The New Rochelle Pioneer [New Rochelle, NY], Jul. 25?, 1884, p. ?, col. 5 (date and page number cut off at top, but text references make clear the date is very shortly after July 24, 1884).

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site
Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/.
Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings.