Origins of Ship Repair and Shipbuilding on City Island in the Town of Pelham

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Even before the Revolutionary War, people such as Benjamin Palmer recognized that the island known today as City Island was ideally situated to attract and service vessels sailing to and from nearby New York City.  Indeed, Palmer devised a grandiose plan to rename the island (then known as Minneford Island) as "City Island" and to develop it as a deep water harbor town intended to rival, and compete with, New York City's port of New York Harbor.  That plan, of course, ended ignominiously with the onset of the Revolutionary War.

Nevertheless, during the nineteenth century, City Island became an important ship repair, shipbuilding, and yachting center.  Famed City Island resident George Washington Horton seems to have played an instrumental role in the birth of the ship repair and shipbuilding industry on the island.

During the mid-1850s, George Washington Horton and members of his family owned a large swath of City Island including a tract at the foot of the eastern end of what is known today as "Pilot Street."  Horton was a maritime entrepreneur, of sorts, involved in a host of money-making ventures on the island.  

In 1856, Horton or members of his family apparently sensed an entrepreneurial opportunity to repair and service the many local sloops, skiffs, ships, boats, and all manner of local vessels that frequented the island not far from the notoriously-treacherous rocks of Hell Gate.  They arranged for a New Rochelle man named Underhill, under the supervision of George Washington Horton, Jr., to construct and oversee a short marine railway at the east foot of what was known then as Pilot Avenue (today's Pilot Street). Typically, at the time, a "marine railway" was a railway with a rolling cradle for hauling ships out of water onto land and returning them into the water. 

The marine railway was intended to permit short-hauling, servicing, and maintenance of local water craft -- or vessels from elsewhere that suffered distress locally. Underhill, however, seems to have operated this early shipyard (or simple marine railway) for only a brief time since a man named Samuel Hart replaced Underhill within a short time. Significantly, it now seems, Samuel Hart was from Northport, Long Island, New York. 

According to City Island shipyard specialist Tom Nye of UK Sailmakers LLC at 175 City Island Avenue in City Island, Bronx, New York: 

"Hart at that time operated a shipyard in the Northport area and was in the middle of a lease dispute with the town of Huntington and during the long litigation found the opportunity to take over the railway at City Island. Sam Hart along with another Northport shipbuilder James Ketcham ran a small business advertising for the repairing, painting, cleaning, caulking, and building of vessels of a limited size on their railway." 

Source:  Nye, Tom, Subject Re: RONDEL PAINTING: City Island, email from Tom Nye to Jorge Santiago, Oct. 23, 2013, 9:48:37 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time (copy in files of the author). 

Thereafter, Samuel Hart (according to an account published in 1900) began to do a "large business in repairing vessels injured by striking the rocks in Hell Gate or getting ashore around Hart's Island."  

At about this time, or at least by 1859, David Carll and his brother, Jesse, were operating a shipyard in Northport. (According to a letter written by David Carll in 1875, he began working as a shipbuilder in 1854, although it is not yet known by this author if he began his work at that time with his brother in Northport.)  Be it sibling rivalry, business differences or something else, in 1859 David Carll decided to leave the shipyard in Northport and explore an opportunity with two friends on City Island: Samuel Hart and Northport shipbuilder James Ketcham who were operating the marine railway and tiny shipyard at the foot of Pilot Avenue. Id. 

That year, David Carll built the 37-foot sloop Bell for James Sackett using the Pilot Street railway on City Island. Shortly afterward, Carll bought the business and established David Carll's Shipyard. Id. David Carll remained partners with his brother, Jesse, in the Northport shipyard venture until the pair settled on a buyout of David's interest in 1865. Id.  For more about the early success of the David Carll shipyard, see Mon., Nov. 16, 2015:  David Carll's Shipyard in the Town of Pelham on City Island.

"View of City Island" by Frederick Rondel, 1872. Oil on Canvas

Painting, 20.25 inches x 30 inches. This Painting Depicts the

Marine Railway at David Carll's Shipyard in 1872. NOTE:  Click

on Image to Enlarge.

Given City Island's strategic location, it should come as no surprise that the island was used for ship repair many years before the first marine railway was established on the island in the 1850s.  Indeed, as early as 1821, a sloop from Newport, Rhode Island was hauled out at City Island for repairs.  So far, this is the earliest reference to City Island ship repair or shipbuilding research has revealed to this author.  The brief reference is quoted in full immediately below:

"MARINE LIST. . . .

The sloop Agent, Blisen, from Newport, hauled ashore yesterday at City Island, to stop a leak. . . ."

Source:  MARINE LIST, The Evening Post [NY, NY], Feb. 14, 1821, No. 5818, p. 3, col. 1 (Note:  Paid subscription required to access via this link). 

In short, Pelham's long tradition of ship repair and shipbuilding is nearly two centuries old -- at least!

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Significant Engraving of the Launch of Astor's Schooner, The Ambassadress, in Pelham in 1877

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In 1877, David Carll built a schooner named the Ambassadress for William Backhouse Astor, Jr., a yachtsman, businessman, and racehorse breeder, at Carll's Shipyard on City Island in the Town of Pelham.  At the time, Astor was the patriarch of the male line of American Astors.  I have mentioned before the launch of the Ambassadress.  See Mon., Nov. 16, 2015:  David Carll's Shipyard in the Town of Pelham on City Island. 

The Ambassadress, according to one prominent account published in a major New York City newspaper, was a yacht considered to be "THE FINEST IN THE WORLD" and "A Floating Palace that will cost a Quarter of a Million."  See THE FINEST IN THE WORLD -- FULL DESCRIPTION OF MR. WILLIAM ASTOR'S NEW YACHT -- A Floating Palace that will Cost a Quarter of a Million -- The Largest and Strongest of the Yachts -- A Boat for Winter and Racing, The Sun [NY, NY], Jul. 20, 1877, p. 3, col. 3.  The amount of $250,000.00 in 1877 would be approximately the equivalent of $8,240,000.00 in today's dollars   Indeed, should there be any doubt that commissions such as Astor's raised David Carll's profile as a master builder, one need only read an account of the launch of the Ambassadress from David Carll's shipyard on September 22, 1877.  According to that account, "about a thousand spectators" from New York City and "all parts of Westchester County" viewed the launch.  Additionally, according to the same account, "In the offing the Atalanta, and many other vessels, were lying, gaily dressed off with bunting, in honor of the occasion."  See SPORTS ON THE WATER -- THE AMBASSADRESS -- MR. WILLIAM ASTOR'S NEW SCHOONER YACHT SUCCESSFULLY FLOATED -- A DESCRIPTION OF THE VESSEL, ETC., The Spirit of the Times, Sep. 29, 1877, p. 232, col. 1 (full article quoted below with a fascinating account of how the massiver "Schooner Yacht" was launched).  

Today's posting to the Historic Pelham Blog publishes an image of a wood-cut engraving published in 1877 depicting the launch of the Ambassadress at David Carll's Shipyard on City Island in the Town of Pelham.  The engraving is a fascinating record of the event and the shipyard described in the article that is quoted in full at the end of today's posting.

"NEW YORK. -- LAUNCH OF WILLIAM B. ASTOR'S YACHT

'AMBASSADRESS,' AT CITY ISLAND, SEPTEMBER 22D."
NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

The engraving shows the large crowd of spectators who were on hand that day.  Spectators can be seen in the foreground, lining the shore in front of the yacht, lining the shore behind the yacht, and thronging the deck of the ship.  The engraving seems to show the yacht "securely fixed in her cradle."  Some of the shipyard's gin poles and other features are visible in the image.  

In the distance on the shore beyond the stern of the yacht is a large structure that may well be the William Belden mansion on Belden Point, though commentary below is welcome regarding what the structure may be.   

*          *          *          *          *

"SPORTS ON THE WATER.
-----
THE AMBASSADRESS.
-----
MR. WILLIAM ASTOR'S NEW SCHOONER YACHT SUCCESSFULLY FLOATED -- A DESCRIPTION OF THE VESSEL, ETC.

The new schooner yacht, which has been built for Mr. William Astor by Mr. David Carll, of City Island, has been named the Ambassadress and was successfully launched last Saturday morning, in the presence of about a thousand spectators, who had ridden in from all parts of Westchester County, and also from this city, to see the show.  The yacht was sent off the way 'all atsunto,' topmasts fidded, jibboom sent out, and boom and gaffs in place.  From each truck, long lines of streamers depended, a large burgee with the full name 'Ambassadress' in it floating from the main, while the pennant of the New York Yacht Club overtopped all others at the fore.  Her decks were crowded with visitors all the morning, a large majority of them being women.  Just before the launch, however, most of these were sent ashore, the tide, being a scant one, rendering it necessary to get rid of all superfluous weight.  In the offing the Atalanta, and many other vessels, were lying, gaily dressed off with bunting, in honor of the occasion.  At 11:15 the work of wedging up began, and the yacht was soon securely fixed in her cradle.  Then the blocks on which her keel had rested since it was laid were split out and removed, and she hung altogether by her bilges.  The sliding ways were bolted securely to the standing or ground ways, and these bolts were now -- the bilge shores having been knocked away -- the only impediment to the yachts motion.  A couple of cross-cut saws were now brought into operation, and the sliding ways were cut through, just below these bolts.  The incline of the ways was very great, much more than is usual, and the instant the ways were cut through the yacht started, and with great rapidity slide down the incline.  As her stern took the water it buried itself deeply for an instant, and, then, as for her whole length she left the smoking ways, she became water bound, and her stern rose buoyantly from its submersion, and she floated from off her cradle as beautiful a yacht as has yet been built.  The successful launch was greeted with the cheers of the assembled spectators, and by the music of the City Island band, which had been engaged to do honor to the occasion.  The yacht was at once towed to the wharf, where, after taking on board a second anchor and chain, she was hauled off into the stream ,and anchored near by the Atalanta.  A select party of invited guests then adjourned to the house of Captain S. W. Freestone, who is to command the new yacht, where an elegant collation had been provided, and where success to the Ambassadress, her owner, and captain, was drank with all the honors.  The new yacht is, Mr. Carll says, as near like the Atalanta in model as it was possible to build her, that model having been copied closely in the model from which the Ambassadress was built.  She is, of course, very much larger, being 148 ft. long, 29 ft. beam, and 12 ft. 3 in. deep, her carpenter's measurement being 468 tons.  She is constructed throughout of the very best materials, her frame being composed of white oak, live oak, chestnut, hackmatock, and Long Island locust, the timbers being of extra size, and closer together than is usual in pleasure crafts.  Her deck beams are kneed to the frames with hanging and bosom knees.  She is ceiled throughout with yellow pine, three inches in thickness, her outside planking being oak, of the same thickness.  The keelson is of a novel pattern, patented by Mr. Carll, with especial reference to centre-board boats, whereby much extra strength is attained.  The trunk from this up is of the utmost solidity and strength.  Her centre-board is 26 ft. 3 in. long, 13 ft. 8 in. wide, and 6 in. thick.  Thirty tons of iron ballast has been fitted to her floors, and she is to have sixty tons in addition, and is expected to draw about 11 ft. of water with centre-board up.  She has a deck of white pine, flush fore and aft, with bulwarks 30 in. high.  For her whole length amidships is a course of mahogany skylights of extra size.  The partners are of oak, with mast collars of mahogany.  Her masts are 91 ft. and 93 ft., of which 12 ft. is below the deck, and 11 ft. taken off for mast-head.  The topmasts are 61 ft. and 58 ft., 11 ft. of which is in the doubling of the masts.  Her present main boom is 73 ft., with 40 ft. gaff, but she has another boom for her racing rig, which is 82 ft. long, with 45 ft. gaff.  The foreboom is 37 ft. 6 in., with gaff 34 ft. 3 in.  The squaresail yard is 64 ft., bowsprit 28 ft., outboard jibboom 64 ft. 3 in., the keel coming to the knight-heads and fitted with patent fid for reefing.  The standing rigging is of 8 1/2 in. hemp, four shroud, three of which are ratted down.

Below the decks there is the usual sail room over the transom, with two large rooms at the foot of the companion-way, one of which is for the captain, and the other is to be used for charts, signals, etc.  At the foot of the stairs is a small after cabin, or reading room, which is to be most luxuriously fitted up as a lounging place.  Its size is 11 ft. wide by 7 ft. long.  It will be separated from the main saloon by a bulkhead.  The main saloon is 21 ft. fore and aft, and goes nearly the whole width of the yacht, being 23 ft. wide.  In the centre of its length, on each side is to be a wide mirror extending from deck to deck, and having lounges and lockers forward and abaft of it.  The forward bulkhead will have a secretary on one side and a plate locker on the other; the mainmast coming down in the centre will be appropriately cased and ornamented.  Forward of this main saloon is a suite of rooms for Mr. Astor and his family; they are three in number, and open into each other, with bathroom, etc., forward of them.  All that art can do to adorn these rooms will be done.  They are lighted and ventilated by a skylight, which extends for their whole length.

On the port side of the centre-board trunk is a passage-way about 2 1/2 ft. wide, into which all the port state-rooms open; they are three in number, and there is beside a pantry and wash-room.  Forward of these is a kitchen, which is large, extending the whole width of the yacht, and about 10 ft. fore and aft.  Off from this are bread lockers, ice houses, rooms for the petty officers, etc., and forward of these, the forecastle, fitted in hard woods, and having ample accommodation for fourteen men.  Below the cabin floors are the water tanks and ballast, with lots of room to spare on account of her great depth.  It is hard to say, previous to a trial, whether a yacht is going to be fast or slow, so much depends upon trim and the placing and staying of the masts, but, judging of the Ambassadress simply from her appearance upon the ways and afloat, it would be safe to say that she will be a powerful but not an extremely fast yacht.  Probably, like the old Alarm, she might enter for the June regatta of the club for a dozen years in succession, and never take a prize, unless, like the Atalanta, she won it by a 'fluke.'  The latter yacht has been much over-estimated, so far as speed is concerned, by both her owner and her builder.  She has won the only two races in which she has been entered, but in both instances her success was due altogether to chance.  Like her, the new boat will be fast, but not the fastest of the fleet.  She is too full forward, and too lean aft.  She will, however, be an admirable sea boat, and one of the most comfortable crusing yachts afloat.  She will be at once fitted for sea, her owner intending to visit Florida in her during the coming winter.  Next spring, when the season opens, she will race with all comers."

Source:  SPORTS ON THE WATER -- THE AMBASSADRESS -- MR. WILLIAM ASTOR'S NEW SCHOONER YACHT SUCCESSFULLY FLOATED -- A DESCRIPTION OF THE VESSEL, ETC., The Spirit of the Times, Sep. 29, 1877, p. 232, col. 1.


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Stories of City Island Bridge Published in 1892

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Efforts have been underway for a number of years to design a replacement for the City Island Bridge opened in 1901 that currently connects City Island with the mainland.  The current City Island Bridge was erected in 1898 at a cost of $200,000 and opened to the public July 4, 1901.

Until annexation by New York City in the mid-1890's, City Island and today's Pelham Bay Park on the mainland were part of the Town of Pelham.  The New York State Legislature in 1804 authorized construction of a bridge to connect City Island to the mainland.  Although a subscription drive to fund construction began, the initiative failed.  The planned bridge was not constructed.  It was not until December 1, 1873 that a toll bridge erected by a stock company opened to the public.  It was one thousand feet long with a draw of one hundred and twenty feet.  The turntable draw was salvaged from the Harlem Bridge at Third Avenue (also known at the time as Coles Bridge) and was used on the new City Island Bridge. It had to be cranked by hand to open and close.  In addition, a large part of the materials used in construction of the bridge came from the old United States frigate North Carolina, which had been decommissioned and subsequently sold at auction in 1860.  According to one account:

"When the old United States line of battle ship North Carolina was sold at public auction in 1860, Mr. Carll purchased her, and from the live oak timbers in the old bulk he laid the foundation of the large fortune which he afterward amassed.  From these timbers he built the schooner yacht Resolute for Mr. A. S. Hatch and the Atlanta for Mr. William Astor.  In addition to these vessels he also found timber enough to build the bridge from City Island to Pelham on the main land."

Source:  Recent Deaths, The New Town Register [New Town, NY], Jan. 3, 1889, p.?, col. 4 (page number not printed on newspaper page).

Today's posting to the Historic Pelham Blog transcribes an interesting series of stories published in 1892 about the old City Island Bridge that the current bridge replaced.  More importantly, reproduced below is a series of sketches of various views of the old City Island Bridge that appeared with the published account in 1892. 

"CITY ISLAND BRIDGE"

Source:  RIBS OF A BATTLE-SHIP,

The World [The Evening World, NY, NY],

Aug. 23, 1892, Last Edition, p. 2, cols. 7-8.



"RIBS OF A BATTLE-SHIP
-----
Now the Bridge Between City Island and the Mainland.
-----
How One of Uncle Sam's Old Cruisers Met an Inglorious End.
-----
Story of a Tar Who Lives at City Island to Be Near His Old Love.
-----

Walking along Pelham Park, from Bartow towards the Long Island Sound, you suddenly come upon a long, homely, old-fashioned bridge, built somewhat after the pattern of Julius Caesar's bridge across the Rhine.  It is the connecting link between the mainland and City Island where so many of America's fastest yachts are constructed.

There is nothing on the bridge to excite either the wonder or admiration of a beholder until he is made acquainted with its history.

Often things of no intrinsic value gain great importance from their connection with 'auld lang syne,' and rocking chairs and kettles which, from a modern practical point of view would at once be relegated to the department of useless junk, are cherished and admired for that something which is above and beyond them -- their history.  

And so also fares this bridge.

Who would heed or bestow a second glance upon its stout and seemingly commonplace planks, or its twenty-four invasive but rude stanchions -- twelve on each side -- unless he knew that these planks at one time constituted the deck and these stanchions the ribs of the erstwhile majestic but long since dismantled battle-ship of the line North Carolina?

And though the wood -- hard, seasoned oak -- has been battered by many a year of rain and hail and tempest, it is to this day as hard and firm as if it had grown in some Titanic forest where each tree was destined for eternity.

The North Carolina in her day was one of the greatest and most formidable ships of Uncle Sam's spunky little navy, but she has become such a vague tradition even with old-time tars that they remember only that she was a sister-ship of the New Hampshire, the Vermont and the Delaware, carrying seventy-four guts and having a speed that put the best of England's cruisers to the blush.  This, of course, was way back in the twenties.

An enterprising Yankee contractor of City Island was the lucky bidder to whom this great hulk of wood and iron was 'knocked down' at auction for the merest song in 1865.

At that time a clamor was raised for a bridge across the narrow channel between the Westchester coast and City Island, and the purchaser of the North Carolina bid much lower for the contract than any of his competitors.

By 1868 the bridge was completed and had a draw made from the metal of the old Harlem Bridge -- another piece of historic junk that this contractor bought [sic] in for almost nothing.

The draw is turned by hand, and the men who attend to this duty are indifferent to or ignorant of the traditions which cling to each plank of the turning-table.  

Mitchel Miller, once a 'tar' on the old ship, but now a waiter in a clambake establishment on the City Island side of the bridge, has determined to spend his life beside his old love, and he is one of the few persons in that locality to whom the bridge is something more than a bridge.  

'I shipped before the mast on the old North Carolina,' said he to an EVENING WORLD reporter, 'and served on her for a long time.  And whenever I look out over the bridge it seems to me as if I stood by the grave of a dear old friend.'

The 'tar' then spun many a yarn of mingled pathos and humor, but how much of these tales was reliable could not be measured after he said that he had one day while fishing from the bridge caught several sea-dogs and a shark.

'Sharks,' said he, 'abound in these parts, and I was not very much surprised when I landed one.  But I never dreamed of meeting sea-dogs here, although I often heard them bark at night.  They never show themselves by day.'

'How is it you caught one then?' he was asked.  

Jack Tar was puzzled but for a moment, and then replied:  'You see I fishing at night.'

There was another war vessel taken apart in City Island many years ago.  It was the Morning Star which served for a long time as a school-ship.  A cabin of this ship is still shown in one of the houses near the bridge, and serves as a dining-room."  

Source:  RIBS OF A BATTLE-SHIP, The World [The Evening World, NY, NY], Aug. 23, 1892, Last Edition, p. 2, cols. 7-8.

"ON THE BRIDGE LOOKING TOWARDS PELHAM PARK."

Source: RIBS OF A BATTLE-SHIP,

The World [The Evening World, NY, NY],

Aug. 23, 1892, Last Edition, p. 2, cols. 7-8.

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1873 County Board of Supervisors Resolutions Authorizing Construction of Bridge Over the Hutchinson River on Boston Post Road

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Recently I ran across the records of the Westchester County Board of Supervisors reflecting their work in 1873 to authorize the Towns of Pelham and Eastchester to issue bonds and to construct a bridge across Eastchester creek (where it crosses Boston Post Road), partly in Pelham and partly in the then-adjoining Town of Eastchester.  These records reflect an important effort to improve the infrastructure to improve the Web of roadways that then was beginning to connect New York City with the Town of Pelham (and with surrounding communities). 

Detail from 1881 Bromley Map Showing at Bottom, Center,

The Bridge Over the Hutchinson River Authorized in 1873.

The material is quoted immediately below, followed by citations to the source.

"Friday, January 16, 1874 . . . . . 

Mr. Hyatt presented the following application of the town officers of Pelham, for authority to borrow money upon the credit of said town.

TOWN OF PELHAM,
Westchester County.  

Whereas, At a meeting of the Commissioners of Highways, the Town Clerk and Justices of the Peace of said town, held December 27, 1873, all of the said officers being duly notified to attend said meeting, and a majority thereof having so attended; it was,

Resolved, That the Supervisor of said town, for and with the consent of the Commissioners of Highways, Town Clerk and Justices of the Peace aforesaid, be authorized to borrow the sum of $3,000 for and upon the credit of said town, to build a bridge across Eastchester creek, partly in said town of Pelham, and partly in the adjoining town of Eastchester in said County, and to petition the Board of Supervisors of said County to prescribe the form of obligation to be issued for such loan, and the time and place of payment.  And that the said Board of Supervisors shall impose upon the taxable property of the said town of Pelham, sufficient tax to pay said principal and interest of such obligation according to the terms and conditions thereof, pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 855, Laws of New York, 1869.  

JEROME BELL,

Town Clerk.

WM. H. SPARKS,
THEODORE PERESSONI,
DAVID CARLL,
JOSEPH LYON, 

Justices of Peace.

JOHN BAXTER,
ELISHA BOOTH,
THOMAS HEWITT,

Commissioners of Highways.

I hereby certify that the foregoing resolution was unanimously adopted at a meeting of the Board of Town officers and commissioners of highways of the town of Pelham, held December 27, 1873.

JEROME BELL,

Chief Clerk.

Referred to the Judiciary Committee.

Mr. PEMBERTON presented the following application of the town officers of Eastchester for authority to borrow money on the credit of said town.

TOWN OF EASTCHESTER,
Westchester County.

Whereas, At a meeting of the Commissioners of Highways, the Town Clerk and Justices of the Peace of said town, duly held at the Town Clerk's Office in said town, on the 26th of December, 1873, all of the said officers being duly notified to attend said meeting, and a majority thereof having so attended; it was

Resolved, That the Supervisor of said town, by and with the consent of the Commissioners of Highways, Town Clerk, and Justices of the Peace aforesaid, be, authorized to borrow the sum of $3,000 for and upon the credit of said town, to build a bridge across Eastchester creek, partly in said town, and partly in the adjoining town of Pelham in said county.  And to petition the Board of Supervisors of said County, to prescribe the form of obligation to be issued for such loan, and the time and place of payment; and that the said Board of Supervisors shall impose upon the taxable property of the said town of Eastchester sufficient tax to pay said principal and interest of such obligation according to the terms and conditions thereof, pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 855, of the laws of the State of New York, 1869.

ADAM PALM JR., 
ROBERT WILKEY,
ISAAC RICHARDS,

Commissioners of Highways.

ROBERT W. EDWARDS,
ROBERT D. COOPER,
JOHN STEVENS,
SAMUEL FEE.

Justices of the Peace.

ROBERT W. FOSTER,

Town Clerk.

Referred to the Judiciary Committee."

Source:  Johnson, Charles E., Clerk, Proceedings of the Board of Supervisors of the County of Westchester For the Year 1873, pp. 482-85 (NY, NY:  James Sutton & Co. 1874).


"2 O'CLOCK, P.M. [Friday, January 16, 1874]

The Board re-assembled.

Present -- F.M. CARPENTER, Chairman, and a quorum of members.

Mr. HUNT, from the Judiciary Committee, to which was referred the application of the town officers of Eastchester, for authority to borrow money on the credit of said town, presented the following report thereon:

To the Board of Supervisors:

The Judiciary Committee, to whom was referred the application of the Justices of the Peace, Town Clerk, and Commissioners of Highways of the town of Eastchester, praying for authority to borrow on the credit of said town, the sum of $3,000, for the purpose of building a bridge over Eastchester creek, partly in the town of Eastchester, and partly in the town of Pelham, respectfully report in favor of granting the sum, and recommend the adoption of the following resolution:

Resolved, That the Supervisor of the town of Eastchester be and he hereby is authorized with the consent of the Justices of the Peace, Town Clerk, and Commissioners of Highways of said town, to borrow on the credit of said town, the sum of $3,000, for the purpose of building a bridge across Eastchester creek (where it crosses Boston Post Road), partly in said town and partly in the adjoining town of Pelham, in said county, and the abutments and draw to said bridge in said county.  That the bonds or obligations to be required to secure such loan shall be executed by the Supervisor and Town Clerk of said town, under the seal of said town, and shall be of the denomination of $500 each, and bear interest respectively at the rate of seven per cent. per annum; that $1,000 of said principal sum shall be made payable on the first day of February, 1875, and the further sum of $1,000 on the first day of February in each and every year thereafter, until the whole principal shall be paid, with interest thereon, payable semi-annually on the 1st days of February and August in each year after the dates of said bonds.

The said bonds and interest shall be made payable at such place as the Supervisor may designate in the town of Eastchester or in the city of New York, and the consent of the Justices of the Peace, Town Clerk, and Commissioners of Highways of said town to the issuing thereof shall be indorsed on said bonds or obligations, and upon each and every one of them.  

DANIEL HUNT,
G.W. WESLEY, 
E.G. SUTHERLAND, 
A.R. CLARK,

Judiciary Commimttee.

The report was considered and adopted, two-thirds of all the members elected to the Board, including the Supervisor of Eastchester, voting in favor thereof, as follows:

Ayes -- Messrs. Birney, Brown, F. M. Carpenter, Jesse G. Carpenter, Clark, Davids, Dusenberry, Fish, Hoag, Hopkins, Hunt, Hyatt, Lunny, Pemberton, Rockwell, Secor, Sutherland, Tompkins, Wesley, Willets, Willsea -- 21

Mr. HUNT, from the Judiciary Committee, to which was referred the application of the town officers of Pelham to borrow money upon the credit of said town, presented the following report thereon:

To the Board of Supervisors:

The Judiciary Committee, to whom was referred the application of the Justices of the Peace, Town Clerk and Commissioners of Highways of the town of Pelham, praying for authority to borrow on the credit of said town, the sum of $3,000, for the purpose of building a bridge over Eastchester Creek, partly in the town of Eastchester, and partly in the town of Pelham, respectfully report in favor of granting the same, and recommend the adoption of the following resolution:

Resolved, That the Supervisor of the town of Pelham be and he is hereby authorized with the consent of the Justices of the Peace, Town Clerk and Commissioners of Highways of said town, to borrow on the credit of said town, the sum of $3,000, for the purpose of building a bridge across Eastchester Creek (where it crosses the Boston Post Road), partly in the town of Pelham and partly in the adjoining town of Eastchester in said County of Westchester, and the abutments and draw to said bridge.  That the bonds or obligations to be issued to secure such loan shall be executed by the Supervisor and Town Clerk of said town under the seal of said town, and shall be of the denomination of $500 each, and bear interest respectively at the rate of seven per cent. per annum.  That $1,000 of said principal sum shall be made payable on the 1st day of February in each and every year thereafter until the whole principal shall be paid, with interest thereon, payable semi-annually, on the first days of February and August in each year, after the dates of said bonds.  The said bonds and interest shall be made payable at such place as the Supervisor may designate, in the town of Pelham or in the city of New York, and the consent of the Justices of the Peace, Town Clerk and commissioners of highways of said town to the issuing thereof shall be endorsed on said bonds or obligations and upon each and every one of them.

DANIEL HUNT,
G.W. WESLEY,
E.G. SUTHERLAND,
A.R. CLARK.

Judiciary Committee.

The report was considered and adopted, two-thirds of all the members elected to the Board, including the Supervisor of Pelham voting in favor thereof as follows:

Ayes -- Messrs. Birney, Brown, F.M. Carpenter, Jesse G. Carpenter, Clark, Davids, C. R. Dusenberry, Fish, Hoag, Hopkins, Hunt, Hyatt, Lunny, Pemberton, Rockwell, Secor, Sutherland, Tompkins, Wesley, Willets and Willsea -- 21."

Source:  Johnson, Charles E., Clerk, Proceedings of the Board of Supervisors of the County of Westchester For the Year 1873, pp. 495-98 (NY, NY:  James Sutton & Co. 1874). 

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Description of City Island in the Town of Pelham Published in 1868

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Before its annexation by New York City in the mid-1890's, City Island was part of the Town of Pelham.  The area that included City Island, surrounding islands and the mainland adjacent to the area was considered one of the most magnificent and beautiful areas anywhere near New York City.  With the creation of Pelham Bay Park, much of the area has been preserved in a lovely, pristine state.

I have written on many occasions about City Island and various aspects of its history.  I have included a lengthy list of such postings with links at the end of this brief article.  

Today's posting to the Historic Pelham Blog transcribes an article that appeared in the Eastern State Journal on September 18, 1868 describing City Island.  At the time, the bucolic island had a population of about 800 people -- the vast majority of the entire population of the Town of Pelham.

Map of Town of Pelham with Inset of City Island, 1868.

Source:  Beers, F.W., Atlas of New York and Vicinity, p. 35

(NY, NY:  Beers, Ellis & Soule, 1868).

"CITY ISLAND.
-----
ITS RESOURCES - ATTRACTIONS - AND THE NEW BRIDGE.
-----

This neck of land, which projects from the main land at Pelham, is one of the most pleasant and desirable locations of the many which abound on the shores of Westchester County.  There is a population of eight hundred souls, two churches, public schools, one hundred dwellings, three hotels, two shipyards, with railways for hauling out vessels, and all the necessary appliances for building or repairing vessels, of which there is a good deal done.  It was at the yards on the Island that the celebrate yacht, Vesta, was built; and the Henrietta, the property of James Gordon Bennett, Jr., was lengthened previous to her famous ocean race.  It is from this Island, also, that our famous Saddle Rock oysters are brought, and for which the inhabitants of New York and the surrounding country are indebted.  

The approach to the Island from the main land is from New Rochelle, or Mount Vernon Station, a distance of about four miles, through a magnificent country, studded with some of the most beautiful farms in our State, and forms a most desirable drive of fifteen or twenty minutes, which to those visiting the Island from the city, more especially, is a pleasant relaxation from the heat, dust, and inconvenience of the cars.

Until the present year, the means of access to the Island from the main shore was by a boat or a large barge, which was propelled by means of ropes, stretched from one shore to the other, and by which the boat was drawn forward and back; but the more enterprising and public spirited citizens of the Island have recently formed a stock-company, and have constructed a bridge, of a solid and substantial character, thus affording the islanders and those visiting them a rapid and safe means of transit, and at a small cost -- for of course it is a toll bridge.

The dimentions [sic] of the bridge are a span of one thousand feet, twenty-four feet in width, with a draw of one hundred and twenty-eight feet, leaving a passage-way for vessels of forty-two feet in width.

The directors of the Bridge Company are Messrs. George W. Horton, Stephen D. Horton, David Carll, Joshua Leviness, and Benjamin Hegeman -- names which are a sure guarantee for the proper official management of the Company.  The bridge has been erected at a cost of nearly or quite thirty five-thousand dollars.

After crossing over to the Island you have before you a splendid shell road, running the length of the Island -- to which the famed Coney Island road, that our neighbors of the City of Churches speak so proudly of, will hardly compare, for the making of fast time.

The Island consists of two hundred and seventy acres, is one and a quarter mile long, by from one quarter to a half mile wide; and the soil is said to be rich and productive to a great degree.  The steamboat Meta plies to and from New York city, daily; and the Neversink touches at the Island on Sundays.  To these means of access there is about to be added a railroad from Harlem Bridge to New Rochelle, which will run within three-fourths of a mile from City Island Bridge, and where a depot will be built for passengers vising the Island.

To say of our readers in search of a day's pleasure, or desiring a relaxation from the cares of business, or those fond of the beautiful, the picturesque, and the romantic, we would recommend to them a visit to the shores of City Island, and its hospitable inhabitants, for besides being the principal harbor on Long Island Sound for wind-bound vessels -- as many as one hundred and fifty having been there at one time -- is it not there where you can find good bathing on hard sand -- in salt water!  There are plenty of boats, fish, fishing-tackle, clams, oysters, and many good things to enjoy and consume, which make a trip like this so enjoyable; to say nothing of the bass-fishing and the duck-shooting in the Fall and Winter.

Heretofore the residents owning property on the Island have not been disposed to sell, prefering [sic] to enjoy their inheritances in apparent seclusion; but as several Summer residences have been erected during the present year, a disposition for still further improvement has shown itself, and we learn upon inquiring that some choice building sites will be offered for sale during the coming Spring."

Source:  CITY ISLAND - ITS RESOURCES - ATTRACTIONS - AND THE NEW BRIDGE, Eastern State Journal [White Plains, NY], Vol. XXIV, No. 21, Sep. 18, 1868, p. 2, cols.  4-5.

*          *          *          *          *

Below are links to a host of prior postings that address, in one fashion or another, aspects of the history of City Island.

Mon., Apr. 07, 2014:  History of A Few of the Earliest Public Schools in the Town of Pelham. 

 Tue., Feb. 04, 2014:  Pelham: Once Oyster Capital of the World.

Thu., May 13, 2010:  More on the Early History of the Pelham and City Island Horse Railroad.  

Thu., Apr. 29, 2010:  City Islanders Complain and Force the Operators of Their Horse Railroad to Agree to Replace Antiquated Cars in 1908.  

Wed., Apr. 28, 2010:  Efforts by the Pelham Park Horse Railroad to Expand and Develop a Trolley Car Line on Shore Road in 1897.

 Tue., Apr. 27, 2010:  New York City's Interborough Rapid Transit Company Sued to Foreclose a Mortgage on the Horse Railroad in 1911.  

Mon., Apr. 26, 2010:  Public Service Commission Couldn't Find Marshall's Corners in 1909.  

Fri., Mar. 26, 2010:  Captain Joshua Leviness Defies the New York Legislature and Dredges Oysters with a Steamer in 1878. 

Thu., Mar. 25, 2010:  Discovery of "The Great Oyster Bed" in Long Island Sound in 1859. 

Wed., Mar. 24, 2010:  The Oyster War of 1884 Between Glen Cove and City Island Intensifies.

Tue., Mar. 23, 2010:  Yet Another "Oyster War" in 1884; Glen Cove Officials Feud with City Island and Connecticut Oystermen.

Mon., Mar. 22, 2010:  77-Year Old City Island Oysterman Joshua Leviness Reminisces in Testimony Provided in 1884.

Fri., Mar. 19, 2010:  The New York Legislature Stepped Into the Oyster War on Long Island Sound in 1895.

Thu., Mar. 18, 2010:  1859 Town of Huntington Record Reflecting Dispute with City Island Oystermen.

Wed., Mar. 17, 2010:  Report of September 13, 1884 Tour of Oyster Beds by Captain Joshua Leviness of City Island.

Tue., March 16, 2010:  More on 19th Century Oystering in Pelham - Descriptions of Oyster Beds Off Hart Island, City Island and in Pelham Bay Published in 1887.

 Mon., Mar. 15, 2010:  More on 19th Century City Island Oyster Industry - City Island Oystermen Complaint of Pollution.

Fri., Mar. 12, 2010:  Early History of Oystering in the Waters Off City Island in the Town of Pelham.

 Thu., Mar. 11, 2010:  The "Great Oyster War" Between City Island and Tarrytown in 1877 and 1878.

Wed., Mar. 10, 2010:  1899 Article About City Island's New Bridge Describes History of Area and Includes Wonderful Images. 

Fri., Mar. 5, 2010:  Construction of the City Island Horse Railroad in 1887.  

Thu., Mar. 4, 2010:  Beginnings of Horse Railroad - News from Pelham and City Island Published in 1884.

Wed., Mar. 3, 2010:  1879 Advertisement for Robert J. Vickery's City Island Stage Line, A Predecessor to the City Island Horse Railroad.

Tue., Mar. 2, 2010:  1901 Report Indicated that The Flynn Syndicate Planned to Buy the Pelham Bay Park & City Island Horse Car Line.

Mon., Mar. 1, 2010:  Flynn Syndicate Buys the City Island Horse Car Line in 1907 to Incorporate It Into Electric Trolley Line.

Fri., Feb. 26, 2010:  1913 Decision of Public Service Commission to Allow Reorganization of City Island Horse Railroad for Electrification.

Thu., Feb. 25, 2010:  Photograph of Patrick Byrnes and Article About His Retirement of the City Island Horse Car in 1914.  

Wed., Feb. 24, 2010:  Attempted Suicide of City Island's Long-Time Horse Car Driver.

Wed., Feb. 3, 2010:  Early Information Published in 1885 About the Organization of the "City Island Railroad", a Horse Railroad from Bartow Station to City Island.

Tue., Feb. 2, 2010:  Information About the Pelham Park Railroad at its Outset.

Fri., Jan. 22, 2010:  1884 Account of Early Origins of Horse Railroad Between Bartow Station and City Island.
Mon., Jan. 4, 2010:  1888 Local News Account Describes Altercation on the Horse Railroad Running from Bartow Station to City Island.

Thu., Dec. 31, 2009:  1887 Election of the Board of Directors of The City Island and Pelham Park Horse Railroad Company.

Thu., Dec. 31, 2009:  Obituary of David Carll, Master Shipbuilder on City Island in the Town of Pelham. 

Thu., Dec. 3, 2009:  Pelham News on May 30, 1884 Including Allegations of Oyster Larceny and Meeting of the Pelhamville Improvement Association.

Wed., Dec. 2, 2009:  Accident on Horse-Car of the Pelham Park Railroad Line in 1889.

Tue., Dec. 01, 2009:  Brief History of City Island Published in 1901.

Mon., Oct. 05, 2009:  1878 Account of Results of Sloop Race Held Off the Pelham Shores. 

Fri., Sep. 18, 2009:  City Island News Published in January, 1882.   

Mon., Sep. 7, 2009:  More on the Ejectment of Henry Piepgras from Land Beneath the Waters Surrounding City Island. 

Tue., Sep. 1, 2009:  Pelham News on February 29, 1884 Including Talk of Constructing a New Horse Railroad from Bartow to City Island.  

Tue., Aug. 11, 2009:  News of Pelham Manor and City Island Published on July 14, 1882.  

Wed., Jan. 28, 2009:  Biography of Archibald Robertson, Another Resident of City Island When it Was Part of the Town of Pelham.

Fri., Jan. 23, 2009:  Biography of Jacob Smith of City Island, Proprietor of the Macedonian Hotel.

Mon., Jan. 07, 2008:  1878 Article Describing the "Attractions of Little-Known City Island" in the Town of Pelham.  

Wed., Dec. 05, 2007:  Photograph of the Old Wooden City Island Bridge.

 Mon., July 30, 2007: 1885 Report Notes Decline of Oyster Industry Near City Island in the Town of Pelham. 

Fri., Jul. 27, 2007:  Possible Origins of the Oyster Feud Between City Islanders and Huntington, Long Island.

Thu., Jul. 26, 2007:  Pelham's City Island Oystermen Feud with Long Islanders in 1869.

Fri., Apr. 13, 2007:  Oystermen of City Island (When it Was Part of the Town of Pelham) Pioneered Oyster Cultivation.  
Thu., Apr. 12, 2007:  Advertisement Offering Lots on City Island Belonging to Peter Harrison for Sale in 1775. 

Tue., Jan. 30, 2007:  Interesting Advertisement for Sale of Land on City Island in the Town of Pelham in 1800.  

Mon., Jan. 29, 2007:  Palmer Family Offers One Thirtieth of City Island for Sale in 1785. 

Fri., Jan. 26, 2007:  A History of the Early Years of City Island When it Was Part of the Town of Pelham, Published in 1927.

Thu., Jan. 25, 2007:  A Brief Account of the Early History of City Island, Published in 1909.

Mon., Nov. 27, 2006:  The 19th Century Ejectment of Henry Piepgras from Land Beneath the Waters Surrounding City Island.

Mon., Sep. 18, 2006:  A Brief Description of Oystering in Eastchester Bay and at Pelham Published in 1881.  

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