Christ Church Will Celebrate the 175th Anniversary of its September 15, 1843 Consecration This Sunday

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This Sunday, October 6, 2018, the Parishioners of The Parish of Christ The Redeemer will celebrate the 175th anniversary of the consecration of Christ Church on September 15, 1843.  The Town Board of the Town of Pelham, and many others, have extended to Christ Church and its Parishioners heartfelt congratulations and thanks for all the church, its clergy and staff, and its members have done for the benefit of the Town during the last 175 years.  The Town has issued a Proclamation (image and text below) designating Sunday as "Christ Church Day" and has forwarded a letter (text below) for inclusion in the program for the event.

Today's Historic Pelham article addresses the consecration of the Church on September 15, 1843 and documents the invitation issued by Christ Church to its celebration as well as the Town of Pelham's Proclamation and letter of congratulations directed to the Parishioners of The Parish of Christ The Redeemer.  

I have written extensively about the founding of Christ Church as well as its consecration on September 15, 1843.  See, e.g., Thu., Oct. 15, 2015:  The Creation of Christ Church and its Consecration on September 15, 1843.  See also Tue., Oct. 20, 2015:  Address Delivered by Reverend Robert Bolton on April 28, 1843 at the Laying of the Foundation Stone of Christ Church.  

The original sanctuary structure of Christ Church was built between April 28, 1843, when its cornerstone was laid, and September 15, 1843 when the completed church building was consecrated.  Immediately below is an image of the Church as it first appeared shortly after its construction.

Christ Church, Shortly After It Was Constructed, as Depicted

in the 1848 First Edition of Bolton's History of Westchester County,

Volume 1.  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

On Friday, September 15, 1843, a divine service was held in the newly-completed Christ Church.  During that service, The Rev. Robert Bolton's "Instrument of Donation" donating the land on which the new church sat was read to those gathered to worship by order of Bishop Benjamin Tredwell Onderdonk.  The consecration of the new church followed immediately.  See:  Bolton, Jr., Robert, History of the Protestant Episcopal Church, in the County of Westchester, From Its Foundation, A.D. 1693, to A.D. 1853, pp. 695-696 (NY, NY: Stanford & Swords, 1855).

A brief account of the consecration of the new church that day appeared in the September 23, 1843 issue of The Churchman.  The account provides a fascinating glimpse of that day 175 years ago.  It stated:

"Episcopal Acts

Friday, Sept. 15, consecrated Christ Church, Pelham, an edifice erected on his own premises by the Rev. Robert Bolton, Rector of St. Paul's Church, East Chester.  The instrument of Donation and Request for Consecration by the Rev. Robert Bolton were presented by him to the Bishop, and read by the Rev. Thomas W. Colt D. D., Rector of Trinity Church, New Rochelle.

The sentence of consecration was read by the Rev. Thomas Harris; and the Morning Prayer by the Rev. James Milner, D. D., Rector of St. George's Church New York, assisted by the Rev. William Powell, Rector of St. Peter's Church, Westchester, who read the Lessons.

The sermon was preached by the Bishop who administered Holy Communion.  Eight of the Clergy were present."

Seventy-five years ago on October 31, 1843, Christ Church celebrated the centennial of this consecration.  An account of that centennial celebration appeared in the November 4, 1943 issue of The Pelham Sun and is quoted in its entirety at the close of this article (with a citation and link to its source).

"Christ Church" by William Rickarby Miller (1818-1893).

Watercolor on Paper, Ca. 1856.  Note the Addition of the

Covered Front Entrance.  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

The Town Board of Pelham, on behalf of the citizens of the Town, has joined with many others to congratulate Christ Church on its 175th anniversary.  Town Supervisor Peter M. DiPaola, Jr. sent the following letter for inclusion in the program for the joyous event:

"September 26, 2018

The Parishioners of The Parish of Christ The Redeemer

Christ Church

1415 Pelhamdale Avenue

Pelham, New York 10803

   Re:       175^th Anniversary of the Consecration of Christ Church on September 15, 1843

On behalf of the Town Board and residents of the Town of Pelham, I wish to extend hearty and heart-felt congratulations to the parishioners of The Parish of Christ The Redeemer on the 175^th anniversary of the consecration of Christ Church on September 15, 1843.  All of Pelham has great pride in the central role Christ Church, its founders, and its parishioners have played in the success of the Town during the last 175 years.

Founder and first Rector of Christ Church, The Rev. Robert Bolton, and his family had a profoundly positive influence on our town.  That influence began even before the Boltons moved to Pelham in about 1837 to live in the home known as the “Rose Cottage” that still stands at 11 Priory Lane before before they built Bolton Priory (beginning the following year) and Christ Church (in 1843).  Indeed, in about 1836, when the Bolton Family lived on the Pond Field Farm in the settlement of East Chester, no church stood within Pelham’s borders.  Town residents flocked to The Rev. Robert Bolton when he served as Rector of St. Paul’s Church in East Chester before he and his family built Christ Church with their own hands, hewing local native stones, felling trees, carving furnishings and embellishments and, in the case of artisan brothers John Jay and William Bolton, hand-casting heavenly-glorious stained glass windows for the new Church. 

While at East Chester, Rev. Bolton learned how residents of the Town of Pelham hungered for a place of worship.  He and his family satiated that hunger with a glorious church that remains among the most beautiful in the nation and that quickly became part of the fabric of Pelham.

The Reverend Robert Bolton’s words spoken over the cornerstone of Christ Church as it was laid on April 28, 1843 have rung true for more than 175 years:

“we can earnestly implore & can fervently hope for the divine blessing on our undertaking & we can & do entreat your prayers for us that the word of the Lord may here have free course & be glorified & that so there may ever be 'glory to God in the highest, on earth peace & good will toward men.’”

May those words ring just as true, and continue to inspire pride such as that all of Pelham feels today for Christ Church and The Parish of Christ The Redeemer, 175 years from now on September 15, 2193 A.D.  Congratulations, with thanks for all the Church has done for Pelham.

Sincerely,

___________________

Peter D. DiPaola, Jr.

Town Supervisor, Pelham, New York"

Additionally, the Town Board of Pelham has issued a Proclamation designating Sunday, October 6, 2018 as "Christ Church Day."  An image of the Proclamation as well as a transcription of its text (to facilitate search) appear immediately below.

NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

"TOWN OF PELHAM, N. Y.

Proclamation

WHEREAS Founder and first Rector of Christ Church the Rev. Robert, and his family had a profoundly positive influence on our Town.  That influence began even before the Boltons moved to Pelham in about 1837 to live in the home known as 'Rose Cottage' that still stands at 11 Priory Lane before they built Bolton Priory; and

WHEREAS No church stood within the Pelham borders so Town residents flocked to the Rev. Robert Bolton when he served as Rector of St. Paul's Church in East Chester.  While there Rev. Bolton learned how residents of the Town of Pelham hungered for a place to worship so he and his family built the Christ Church with their own hands; and 

WHEREAS The Bolton Family built a glorious church that remains among the most beautiful in the nation and that quickly became part of the fabric of Pelham; and 

THEREFORE Town Supervisor Peter DiPaola; Deputy Town Supervisor Daniel McLaughlin, Councilwoman Rae Szymanski, Councilman Blake Bell and Councilman Timothy Case congratulate the parishioners of The Parish of Christ of Christ the Redeemer on the 175th anniversary of the consecration of Christ Church on September 15, 1843 and do hereby proclaim October 6, 2018

Christ Church Day

Given Under My Hand and Seal the Sixth Day of October 2018

Peter M. DiPaola, Jr."

Christ Church prepared a lovely invitation to its celebration for distribution to Parishioners and others.  The various pages of the invitation, the front and back of the RSVP card and the front of the RSVP envelope appear immediately below.  Following all the invitation images, a transcription of the text appears merely to facilitate search.

Invitation, Page 01.

NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

Invitation, Page 02.

NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

Invitation, Page 03.

NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

Invitation, Page 04.

NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

RSVP Card, Obverse.

NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

RSVP Card, Reverse.

NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

RSVP Envelope, Obverse.

NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

Invitation, Page 01:

[Image of Parish of Christ the Redeemer Banner]

"-----

PARISH OF CHRIST THE REDEEMER

PELHAM, NY

-----

175TH

ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

-----"

Invitation, Page 02:

[Image of "Christ Church" Painting by William Rickarby Miller]

Built in 1843 of native granite, Christ Church was the culmination of the dedicated efforts of its first rector, The Rev. Robert Bolton.  Two of the Bolton sons, William and John, became the premier stained glass artisans of their time and created many of the stained glass windows in the church, including The Adoration of the Magi, which is the first figured stained glass window made in America.

Two of the Bolton daughters established missions that became Grace Church, City Island, and the Church of the Redeemer in North Pelham.  The Rev. Cornelius Bolton, fourth son of the Rev. Robert Bolton, served as the Rector of the Church of the Redeemer for twenty-five years, starting in 1881.  In 1972, after prayerful consideration by both congregations and both vestries, a decision was made to become the united Parish of Christ the Redeemer Christ Church was selected as the house of worship and the property of the Church of the Redeemer was turned over to the Town of Pelham to be used for a municipal hall, a center for senior citizens and a child care facility.

Banner Photo Credit:  Lily Moureaux Somssen" 

Invitation, Page 03:

"The Rector & Vestry of The Parish of Christ the Redeemer

Invite you to Celebrate 175 Years with Dinner & Dancing

Saturday, October 6, 2018 6:30 pm

New York Athletic Club

Travers Island

Pelham Manor, NY  10803

RSVP by September 28

Cocktail Attire"

Invitation, Page 04:

"175th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION COMMITTEE

Claire Allen & Cherrie Greenhalgh

CO-CHAIRS

Jennifer Alleyne

Cathie Arquilla

Angela Barone

Kari Black

Allison Bodenmann

Jeff Bodenmann

Rosemarie Carver

Marie Dumas

Michael Fawcett

John Felicetti

Charlette Finch

Etta Cumbs

John Hastings

Margo Hastings

Jeffrey Hoffman

Carol Ipsen

Erik Ipsen

Missy Kisob

Courtney McGrory

Michael Moynihan

Sandra Rivera

Melissa Roddy

Janet Salvatore

Siggy Sessa

Lily Moureaux Somssen

Ann Sorice

Ann Swanson

Kristin Van Ogtrop

Margaret Young

Barbara Zambelli

THE PARISH OF CHRIST THE REDEEMER

The Rev. Matthew Hoxsie Mead

RECTOR

The Rev. Canon Susan Harriss

PRIEST ASSOCIATE

The Rev. Deacon Katie Lawrence

DEACON

Jeffrey Hoffman

ORGANIST & CHOIRMASTER

Marie Main

PARISH ADMINISTRATOR

Walter Roberts

VERGER & SEXTON

Ed Blue

SEXTON

VESTRY

Jeff Bodenmann SENIOR WARDEN

Carol Ispen [sic] JUNIOR WARDEN

Anne Calder TREASURER

Jackie Vigil CLERK

Angela Barone

Curtis Chase

Alice Dean

John Fox

Etta Cumbs

Amy Heese

Jack Kaufmann

Gavin Leckie

Colette Phipps

HOULIHAN LAWRENCE

ARTHUR L. SCINTA

PROUD SPONSOR OF THE INVITATION FOR THE EVENT"

RSVP CARD, Obverse.

"PARISH OF CHRIST THE REDEEMER

175th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

10.6.2018

TICKETS (Deadline for Journal listing is September 21)

Table for 10 $5000/Table (Journal Listing)

Bolton Benefactor $500/Ticket (Journal Listing)

Divine Duo $275 for Two Tickets

Stylish Single $150 for One Ticket

For more information, please call 914.738.5515 or email marie@christchurchpelham.org

JOURNAL OPPORTUNITIES (Closing date for Journal ads is September 21)

Full-page color Ad 6"w x 9"h $750

Full page B/W Ad 6"w x 9"h $500

Half-page B/W Ad 6"w x 4.5"h $250

Quarter Page B/W Ad (business card size) $100

For more information on the Journal, please e-mail Missy Kisob at kisob@msn.com

All net proceeds from the 175th Anniversary Celebration of the Parish of Christ the Redeemer will be directed to the 175th Anniversary Capital Campaign."

RSVP Card, Reverse.

"PARISH OF CHRIST THE REDEEMER

RSVP by September 28

175th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

10.6.2018

PLEASE COMPLETE ALL FIELDS

Name (as you would like it in all printed materials)

Company (optional)

Address

City/State/Zip

Phone

email

Donation - I / We cannot attend, but would like to donate $___

Enclosed is my check in the amount of $___ (payable to Christ Church)

Contributions & Journal ads are fully tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

$125 per ticket and $1250 table is non-deductible."

RSVP Envelope, Obverse:

"CHRIST CHURCH

THE PARISH OF CHRIST THE REDEEMER

1415 Pelhamdale Avenue

Pelham, NY  10803"

*           *          *          *          *

"100th Anniversary Was Observed At Christ Church, Sunday, Oct. 31

-----

Rev. H. Bonnell Spencer O. H. C., Preached Sermon at Service Marking Centennial of Completion of Church and its Consecration in 1843.

-----

The 100th Anniversary of the completion of Christ Church Pelham Manor, and its formal consecration in 1843, was observed by the parish on the dedication festival of Christ, the King, Sunday, Oct. 31st.  Rev. Thomas Taggard and the Rev. Joseph Barnes Williams are the clergy of the church.

The choral celebration of the Holy Eucharist marked a solemn and joyful thanksgiving offered by the whole parish for the blessings of the century of its life just completed, and a humble re-dedication of effort to carry on the fine application of Christian ideals and life which were exemplified in the lives of the founder of the parish, the Rev. Robert Bolton and his family.

The anniversary sermon on this occasion was delivered by the Rev. H. Bonnell Spencer, Order of the Holy Cross.  Father Spencer is well known in Pelham because of the ten-day preaching mission which he conducted at Christ Church in December, 1940, in association with the Rev. Alan Whittemore, Superior of the Order of the Holy Cross.  

On Oct. 31st, there were the usual 8:15 a.m. and 9:15 a.m. celebrations of the Holy Eucharist, with parish breakfast and Church School.  At 11:15 a.m. the combined choirs led the procession.

A century-old account of the consecration of the church has been found in 'The Churchman' of Sept. 23, 1843 under the heading 'Episcopal Acts' as follows:

'Friday, Sept. 15, consecrated Christ Church, Pelham, an edifice erected on his own premises by the Rev. Robert Bolton, Rector of St. Paul's Church, East Chester.  The instrument of Donation and Request for Consecration by the Rev. Robert Bolton were presented by him to the Bishop, and read by the Rev. Thomas W. Colt D. D., Rector of Trinity Church, New Rochelle.

'The sentence of consecration was read by the Rev. Thomas Harris; and the Morning Prayer by the Rev. James Milner, D. D., Rector of St. George's Church New York, assisted by the Rev. William Powell, Rector of St. Peter's Church, Westchester, who read the Lessons.

'The sermon was preached by the Bishop who administered Holy Communion.  Eight of the Clergy were present.'

The bishop of the diocese at that time was the Right Reverend Treadwell Onderdonk.

In connection with the centennial celebration a Parish History has been compiled by a committee of laymen of the parish, under the leadership of Edward F. Hudson, James Edgar Morris and Edwin O. Perrin.  The book is profusely illustrated and is dedicated to Miss Arabella Jay Bolton who is now, and has been all her life, an active member of the parish.  Copies of the History may be secured from Mrs. William N. Hurlbut or at the church office.

Services this week have included a celebration of the Holy Eucharist at 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. on Monday Nov. 1 which was All Saints Day."

Source:  100th Anniversary Was Observed At Christ Church, Sunday, Oct. 31 -- Rev. H. Bonnell Spencer O. H. C., Preached Sermon at Service Marking Centennial of Completion of Church and its Consecration in 1843, The Pelham Sun, Nov. 4, 1943, Vol. 33, No. 31, p. 7, cols. 1-2.

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1922 Cornerstone Laying of Today's Community Church of the Pelhams in Pelhamwood

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It was a ceremony rich with tradition held on what was once the site of the "Old Frog Pond" at the corner of today's Washington and Highbrook Avenues.  The objective was to lay the cornerstone of the Congregational Christian Church, known today as the Community Church of the Pelhams located in Pelhamwood.

The ceremony was held on June 11, 1922.  The lovely half-timbered church was partially built when a large crowd gathered on a hot day to celebrate the event.  

The cornerstone used was not freshly-hewn.  Rather, it once had served as the cornerstone of another significant building.  It was the original corner stone of the Trinity Congregational Church built at 176th Street and Washington Avenue in New York City.  The stone was saved after that church building was "given up for public school purposes, on account of the tremendous change in the character of the population surrounding the church building."  

Even more interestingly, the original contents of the cornerstone laid in 1887 were kept within the stone.  The church added additional contents to the stone related to the Pelham Church.

I have written before about the history of today's Community Church of the Pelhams.  The Church is located at 448 Washington Avenue in a lovely part of Pelham known as Pelhamwood.  Originally part of the Congregational Christian Churches, it is now part of The United Church of Christ that was created in 1957 when the Congregational Christian Churches merged with the Evangelical and Reformed Churches.  For more about the history of the church, see, e.g.:

Tue., Mar. 04, 2014:  Information About the Earliest Years of Today's Community Church of the Pelhams.

Sat., Jan. 25, 2014:  Putting the Finishing Touches on the Lovely New Church in Pelhamwood in 1923.

Today's Historic Pelham Blog article transcribes an article that described the events of the day during the cornerstone laying ceremony.  It also includes immediately below a depiction of the church building as it originally was planned that was published with the article.

"To be new church at Pelhamwood; cornerstone laid yesterday."

Depiction of Today's Community Church of the Pelhams as it

was Originally Planned.  Source:  CORNER STONE OF PELHAM

CHURCH LAID YESTERDAY, The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY],

Jun. 12, 1922, No. 9921, p. 7, cols. 3-4.  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

*          *          *          *          *

"CORNER STONE OF PELHAM CHURCH LAID YESTERDAY
-----

Pelham, June 12. -- The cornerstone of the new Congregational church of the Pelhams was laid successfully yesterday.  The corner of Washington and Highbrook avenues, Pelhamwood, witnessed a unique gathering.  On the site of the old frog pond there is arising a beautiful gothic stone and one-half timbered church edifice.  A splendid audience, despite the heat of the day and the gathering clouds at sunset, witnessed the dignified and highly edifying and inspirational ceremony of the laying of the corner stone of the progressive new liberal church of which the Rev. Dr. Wm. Milton Hess is pastor.

The day was a red letter day in the young history of the new church.  

The out-door service began with the singing of the fine old Pilgrim Father hymn, 'O God, Beneath Thy Guiding Hand, Our Exiled Fathers Crossed the Sea.'  This was followed by the innovation [sic] by Rev. Ralph L. Peterson of the Bedford Park Congregational church, New York city.  Selections from the scriptures were read by Rev. Chas. Francis Potter, who lives in Pelham and who is building a new liberal church on 110th street, New York city.  A solo was next splendidly rendered by Mrs. Habert Smith, of Spokane, Wash.

Mr. Walter E. Hallett, of Bronxville, the deputy comptroller of the Bank for Savings, and a former president of the board of trustees of the Trinity Congregational church, New York city, read an interesting historical record of the church.  He spoke of the wonderfully equipped church plant at 176th street and Washington avenue, New York city, that had to be given up for public school purposes, on account of the tremendous change in the character of the population surrounding the church building.  He spoke very highly of Dr. Hess as minister and church builder.

He was followed by Mr. John Oscar Ball, president of the board of trustees of the new church.  Mr. Ball resides in Pelhamwood, and he bespoke much interest in the new church.  Its progressiveness greatly appealed to him, he said.  He prophesied the church would fill a greatly needed want.  He was enthusiastic about its future; also highly complimenting Dr. Hess.

Brief addresses followed by Dr. James Robert Smith, secretary Congregational church building society, who promised the financial aid of this society later on; by Rev. Ernest M. Holliday, general secretary, Congregational church extension boards, and by Rev. Dr. Chas. W. Shelton, secretary Congregational church extension society.

The Rev. Dr. Wm. Milton Hess then announced the contents of the box in the corner stone.  The old contents, put in when Rev. Dr. Lyman Abbott officiated at the laying of the corner stone originally in 1887 in New York city, and the new contents concerning the removal to Pelhamwood, were interestingly described.  Following a greeting by Walter A. Vonderlieth, of the Pelhamwood association and a trustee of North Pelham, the corner stone was laid by Rev. Dr. Wm. E. Stevens, 33d Mason, past grand master and chaplain of the grand lodge of Masons, state of New York.

A hymn was sung before and after he officiated.

The prayer was offered by Rev. Dr. Charles H. Richards, former secretary and now editorial secretary of the Congregational church building society.

Just as the corner stone was laid and after the congregation had gotten into the lower hall of the church building, the terrific wind and rain storm burst, reminding one of the Prophet Elijah's experience in King's 1:18.  God was in the 'Still Small Voice' of conscience as the Rev. Dr. Newell Dwight Hillis, of Henry Ward Beecher's Plymouth church, Brooklyn, held the audience spell-bound for another half hour.  

It was a magnificent oration, and it was most fittingly given by Dr. Hillis, the successor of Dr. Lyman Abbott, who made the chief speech at the laying of the identical corner stone, 35 years ago, at 176th street and Washington avenue, New York city.

A splendid God-filled letter from Miss Villa Faulkner Page, leader of the fellowship of the life more abundant of Brooklyn and Manhattan, was next read.  This was followed by a brief greeting from Mary E. T. Chapin, of New York city, of the International New Thought society.  Mrs. Chapin was much appreciated.

The doxology was followed by the benediction given by Rev. Carl S. Weist, of the First Congregational church of Mount Vernon.  

The whole affair was a brilliant success, and many favorable comments were made by those who were fortunate enough to witness the event."

Source:  CORNER STONE OF PELHAM CHURCH LAID YESTERDAY, The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], Jun. 12, 1922, No. 9921, p. 7, cols. 3-4.

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Laying of the Cornerstone of Pelham's New High School in 1909, Now Known as Siwanoy Elementary School

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Not long after the turn of the Twentieth Century, the population of the Town of Pelham began to explode.  In 1900, the population of the Town was 1,571.  In 1905, the population had reached 1,841.  By 1910, the population had grown to 2,998 -- nearly doubling over a ten-year period.  With the expanded population came expanded needs for young scholars in the Town. 

Pelham, however, did not have its own high school.  The Pelham public school system offered only eight grades of study.  It sent its young scholars who wished to continue their education to the high schools of other communities such as Mount Vernon and New Rochelle.  The time was ripe.  The need was great.  The citizens of Pelham and their Board of Education stepped up and created the "Pelham High School, and Siwanoy Grammar School."  The school building they built we know today as Siwanoy Elementary School located at 489 Siwanoy Place in the Village of Pelham Manor.

Undated Postcard View of Pelham High School with Notation: "Pelham

High School, Pelham, N.Y."  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

I have written rather extensively before about the history of Pelham's new high school and grade school opened in 1911.  See Mon., Mar. 10, 2014:  Dedication of Pelham's New High School in 1911, Now Known as Siwanoy Elementary School.  Today's Historic Pelham article, however, focuses on the laying of the cornerstone in 1909.

The cornerstone of the new High School was laid on Saturday, October 23, 1909 during an elaborate and well-attended ceremony centered around placing a copper box time capsule to be opened by future generations of Pelhamites.

The ceremony was attended by Town, Village, and School Board officials as well as citizens and students of all three grade schools in Town:  the old Prospect Hill School (a predecessor to today's Prospect Hill Elementary School), the old Pelham Heights School (a predecessor to today's Colonial Elementary School), and the old Hutchinson School (a predecessor to today's Hutchinson Elementary School) began with a prayer led by the Reverend Lewis G. Leary, Ph. D., Pastor of Huguenot Memorial Presbyterian Church.  The school children of Pelham next offered a song and were led by Hutchinson School Principal Isaac C. Hill.  School Board President Robert A. Holmes then introduced Judge Charles G. F. Wahle who delivered the keynote address.  (Seventeen years later Judge Wahle delivered a similar address and helped lay the cornerstone of the new Colonial Elementary School in 1926.)

Luckily, The Daily Argus of Mount Vernon printed the substance of Judge Wahle's keynote address that day.  He outlined briefly the history of educating young scholars in New York from the days of New Amsterdam to the present.  He then turned to the ceremonial copper box time capsule to be placed in the cornerstone.  Significantly, he listed in his remarks the contents of the time capsule.  They are:

"Statistics of the fire department, of the town of Pelham, of the villages of Pelham Manor, North Pelham, and Pelham, of St. Catherine's [sic] Church, the Church of the Redeemer, Huguenot Memorial Church, Congregational Church, the Mothers Club of Pelham, the Pelham Village Club, the police departments of the three villages, copies of the by-laws of the board of education of the Union Free School District, of the town of Pelham, reports and school census of the board of education, the contract for the building, copies of current local papers, copies of current New York papers, copies of New York papers containing accounts of the Hudson-Fulton celebration, Masonic statistics, coins, stamps and copy of the program of exercises."

Upon the laying of the cornerstone, the young students and the audience sang "America."  The ceremony then ended with a benediction by Reverend Leary.

Deep within the cornerstone of today's Siwanoy Elementary School is a blackened copper box that continues to contain these relics of a forward-looking day nearly 110 years ago when much of Pelham gathered to celebrate education and its young people.  God only knows when that box will be opened and its contents unveiled.

*          *          *          *          *

"FRONT ELEVATION

SCHOOL HOUSE.  DISTRICT NUMBER 1 OF THE

TOWN OF PELHAM, N.Y."

Source:  CORNER STONE FOR NEW SCHOOL IN TOWN OF

PELHAM, IS LAID, The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], Oct. 26, 1909,

p. 11, cols. 1-2.  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

"CORNER STONE FOR NEW SCHOOL IN TOWN OF PELHAM, IS LAID.
-----

Pelham Manor, Oct. 26 -- With impressive and interesting exercises the corner stone of the high school building was laid Saturday afternoon the presence of a large gathering of people and pupils from the three schools of the town.  An instructive and inspiring address was delivered by Judge Wahle.

The exercises opened with prayer by the Rev. Lewis G. Leary, Ph. D., after which there was a song by the pupils of the public schools in charge of Principal I. C. Hill.  President Robert A. Holmes, of the board of education, then introduced Judge Wahle.

After referring to the early customs of laying corner stones for institutions Judge Wahle said in part:  'so we have come here this afternoon with our children to set this corner stone realizing the fact that this the corner stone of the public school is the corner stone of our nation.  The beginnings of the free common school reach back to the earliest Colonial times.  In New England, at least, the predominant motive for promoting education was religious rather than political.  The elementary school of that period quickly merged into the academy or secondary school, where the promising lads were prepared for college.  However, the idea, that the early education should be free and in considerable degree compulsory upon all, found early expression.

'The general court of Massachusetts in 1642 enjoined upon town authorities the duty of seeing that all children acquired at least the rudiments of an education.  The order even went so far as to require the removal of children from those parents who persisted in bringing up their offspring in ignorance.  The selectmen of every town were further required to have a vigilant eye over their brethren and neighbors, to see that none of them shall suffer so much barbarism in any of their families, as not to endeavor to teach, by themselves or others, their children and apprentices, so much learning as may enable them perfectly to reach the English tongue and obtain a knowledge of the capital laws; upon penalty of 20 shillings for each neglect therein.  In 1635 Boston made public provision for the support of a school.  In 1638 New Haven set up a school under Ezekiel Cheever, who was paid out of the common stock of the town.  Rhode Island established a public school at Newport in 1640 and Providence one, 20 years later.  In 1633 the first Dutch school master arrived at Manhattan.  By 1650 the 800 inhabitants of New Amsterdam paid their schoolmasters regularly from the public treasury.  The pay was doubtless meagre enough, but the principle of free public education was in active operation.

More or less rudimentary beginnings of public education are found in the older colonies as in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and the Carolinas.  In the South, however, the free school idea was not so hospitably received as in New England and in New York.  An oft quoted expression by Governor Berkeley of Virginia may be cited.  When the English commissioners of foreign plantations asked what course was taken in Virginia for instructing the people in the Christian religion, Governor Berkeley replied:  'the same that is taken in England out of towns, every man according to his ability of instructing his children'  He also added:  'I thank God there are no free schools or printing presses, and I hope that we shall not have them, these three hundred years, for learning has brought disobedience and heresy and sects into the world and printing has divulged them and libels against the best of governments; God keep us from both.  So far as Virginia and the remainder of the South was concerned good Governor Berkeley had his wish for it was not until after the Civil War that that section of the United States was supplied with anything like a system of free public schools.

'I mention these facts because you can draw the dividing line between those parts of the country where the public schools were first started in this country and that part where the public schools were not tolerated.

'So we come to this ceremony today.  The box which you see there will vanish.  We are told that in ancient days when the important ceremonies of laying corner stones were held, molten gold and silver were poured upon the boxes containing the valuable records and votive offerings.  So we place in this box our votive offering.  But what you put in their will some day vanish.  The papers will rot; the bronze will tarnish and the gold and silver will blacken.  Future nations will not be able to read what is in there.  But that which we plant in the hearts of our children that to which we make them inheritance, future fathers and mothers yet unborn, that will have its influence in the centuries to come.'

The laying of the corner stone then occurred and Clerk Kneeland S. Durham placed in the opening in the rock the copper box, the inventory of the contents being as follows:  Statistics of the fire department, of the town of Pelham, of the villages of Pelham Manor, North Pelham, and Pelham, of St. Catherine's [sic] Church, the Church of the Redeemer, Huguenot Memorial Church, Congregational Church, the Mothers Club of Pelham, the Pelham Village Club, the police departments of the three villages, copies of the by-laws of the board of education of the Union Free School District, of the town of Pelham, reports and school census of the board of education, the contract for the building, copies of current local papers, copies of current New York papers, copies of New York papers containing accounts of the Hudson-Fulton celebration, Masonic statistics, coins, stamps and copy of the program of exercises.

Following the laying of the corner stone the school pupils and audience sang 'America,' after which the benediction was pronounced by Rev. Leary.

The new high and graded school building will be one of the most attractive structures of its kind in Westchester county when completed.  It will stand on high ground overlooking Witherbee avenue and will be reached by a sloping walk from the street on either side of which will be a beautiful lawn.  The building will be 115 feet long and 60 feet 6 inches in width; two and a half stories high and will contain nine class rooms and an assembly hall which will seat several hundred people.  The main entrance for the public will face the street and there will be entrances for the school children on either side.  The building will be of stone foundation, brick and the roof will be slate with two cupolas.  The structure will be graced with large attractive windows, the upper portions of which will be oval, providing plenty of light for the scholars.

On the platform Saturday were Robert A. Holms, the president of the board of education; Judge Wahle the speaker of the day; the Rev. Mr. Leary, James F. Secor, School Trustee Willard P. Brown; School Trustee Henry L. Rupert; School Trustee H. Elliott Coe; Clerk, Durham and Contractor Dominick Smith, who is erecting the building.

The building committee is composed as follows:  James F. Secor, chairman; Trustees Holmes, Francis, Rupert and Seymour.  The board of education is as follows:  Robert F. Holmes, President; James F. Secor, Lewis W. Francis, Willard P. Brown, Walter A. Seymour, Hugh Herndon, Henry L. Rupert, H. Elliott Coe, Charles T. Johnston."

Source:  CORNER STONE FOR NEW SCHOOL IN TOWN OF PELHAM, IS LAID, The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], Oct. 26, 1909, p. 11, cols. 1-2.

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