The Story of Mary Blizzard, a Pelham Squatter on an Island in Eastchester Creek

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In about 1867, Mary A. Blizzard took over a tiny little island in Eastchester Creek.  She didn't own the one-acre island and made no pretense to try to gain title to the land.  She simply began building on the island adjacent to Pelham Bridge.  No one seemed to object.  She built several buildings including a hotel and connected buildings on the southern end of the island and a boat-house on the northern end.

The little hotel and boathouse became a destination for anglers and sporting types who came to Pelham, usually from New York City, to fish and hunt.  As the years passed, Mary Blizzard continued to improve the island, the hotel, and the boathouse.  

Members of the Blizzard family owned a good deal of land in the region from today's Westchester Square through much of the Pelham Bay area.  Indeed, David Blizzard operated a hotel built on pilings adjacent to Pelham Bridge during the 1870s.  Known colloquially as "Blizzard's," the establishment became known as the Grand View Hotel.  It seems likely that the hotel Mary A. Blizzard and Blizzard's (aka the Grand View Hotel) were one and the same, but extensive research efforts have not yet resolved this issue which remains confused because there were a surprisingly large number of hotels situated at the Pelham Bridge during the late 19th century.

Another important clue that suggests the two may have been one and the same is the following.  Mary A. Blizzard was an aunt of a man well known to readers of the Historic Pelham Blog:  William John "Jack" Elliott.  Jack Elliott managed the Grand View Hotel at Pelham Bridge for a time.  To learn more about Jack Elliott and the Grand View Hotel at Pelham Bridge, see:

Tue., Aug. 02, 2016:  More Research Regarding the 19th Century Grand View Hotel at Pelham Bridge.

Thu., Jan. 21, 2016:  Research Regarding David Blizzard's 19th Century Grand View Hotel at Pelham Bridge. 

Fri., Jul. 29, 2016: Shooting Death at the Grand View Hotel at Pelham Bridge in 1892.

In the 1880s, of course, New York City began assembling the lands necessary to form Pelham Bay Park.  Among those lands was the tiny little island on which Mary Blizzard's hotel and boathouse stood.

Because Mary Blizzard could not establish title to the island, the Commissioner of Estimate charged with valuing such properties and awarding the fair value for the properties taken by New York City to the properties' owners valued the island and its buildings but awarded the estimated amount to "unknown persons."  The Commissioner of Estimate valued the land of the island at $5,000 and the buildings that stood on the island at $8,350 for a total of $13,350 (about $450,000 in today's dollars).  Mary A. Blizzard immediately filed a petition seeking an award of the $13,350.

A referee heard the matter and concluded that Mary's possession of the property for more than twenty years constituted sufficient evidence that she was the rightful owner for purposes of receiving the money.  Mary Blizzard then petitioned the New York Supreme Court, General Term in the First Department seeking a confirmation of the referee's report in her favor.

The Court denied the petition, thereby ruling in favor of New York City.  The Court found that Mary Blizzard was a mere "squatter" whose use of the island failed to rise to the level necessary to establish the requirements of "adverse possession" under New York law -- a doctrine whereby someone who takes possession of another's real estate and claims title to the real estate exclusive of the right of any other actually takes title to the property after the passage of a sufficient period of time.  The Court ruled "It appears from the evidence taken in this proceeding that the taking of possession by the petitioner was not, in its commencement, hostile to the true title, and it does not appear when the petitioner commenced to claim title to the premium exclusive of any other right, if she ever did so; and as under no circumstances can possession be deemed adverse until this condition of affairs is made to appear, it is not in proof that there was any adverse possession of the petitioner for 20 years."

Mary Blizzard and her lawyer immediately turned to the State of New York where they were able to obtain special legislation entitled "AN ACT for the relief of Mary A. Blizzard" passed by the State Legislature and signed into law by the Governor on May 2, 1892.  The act required the Comptroller of the City of New York to advertise for seven weeks seeking to have anyone else who claimed and could prove title to the little island to come forward and so prove or the money would be paid to Mary Blizzard.

Eventually Mary Blizzard received substantial compensation not only for her little island and hotel, but also for other properties she owned that were taken by New York City as part of the creation of Pelham Bay Park.  Mary Blizzard became a wealthy woman with an estate worth $110,000 at the time of her death in July, 1912 (about $2.84 million in today's dollars).

Mary's story did not end with her death.  Mary left her entire estate to her "favorite nephew," Jack Elliott.  Jack went on one of the greatest benders ever seen in the history of Pelham -- indeed, a bender that may have killed him!  

Despite his past, by 1912 Jack Elliott was known as a responsible family man -- married with two sons.  When he received the fruits of his aunt's estate he took off, leaving his wife and sons behind.  He spent profligately.  He moved from roadhouse to roadhouse buying drinks for all and leaving tips of hundreds of dollars for barkeeps, cabbies, and others everywhere he went.  In only two months, Jack Elliott spent $75,000 (about $1.93 million in today's dollars).  Within a short time thereafter, Elliott spent $90,000 of the money left to him by his aunt.  Elliott was known to pick up a $150 bar tab for his pals, toss a $500 bill at the bar tender, then walk out without waiting for change.

Elliott's wife and sons, of course, were aghast and resorted to the courts.  They filed every conceivable claim they could muster against Jack Elliott.  They charged him with "abandonment, non-support, insanity, and everything else they could think of."  However, first they had to serve Jack Elliott with process.

Eventually, they used an army of process servers to present Jack Elliott with legal papers.  Elliott slipped out the back doors of many roadhouses avoiding such process servers.  By attaching various bank accounts, the family was able to slow Elliott's spending, but he maintained so many accounts that they could not stop his reckless ways.  


Finally, the army of process servers closed in on William John "Jack" Elliott.  According to one account, the process servers "established a line across Westchester County, particularly over the Pelham Parkway.  Guards were doubled and the party began to close in."  

The process servers, however, never got to Jack Elliott.  One fine morning they tracked the happy fellow to a roadhouse known as Bradley's only to learn that Jack Elliott had dropped dead of "apoplexy" (i.e., a stroke) at the age of 50.  Jack Elliott's days of profligate spending were over.  
     

Detail from Engraving Published in 1884 Showing Pelham Bridge. Structures

in the Background May Possibly Include Blizzard's Grand View Hotel, But This

Is Not Known With Certainty. Source: "PELHAM PARK, NEW YORK. --

DRAWN BY CHARLES GRAHAM.", Harper's Weekly, Vol. XXVIII, No. 1442,

1884, pp. 514 & 521. NOTE: Click on Image to Enlarge.

*          *          *          *          *

"In re MAYOR, ETC., OF CITY OF NEW YORK.
In re BLIZZARD.
(Supreme Court, General Term, First Department.  February 18, 1892.)

ADVERSE POSSESSION -- RIGHTS OF SQUATTER.

A woman, finding a small island in Westchester creek [sic], near New York city, unoccupied, entered thereon without claim or color of title, record or otherwise, erected buildings thereon, and remained in possession for 20 years.  Held that, being a mere squatter, she could not obtain title by adverse possession.

Proceedings by the mayor, alderman, and commonalty of the city of New York to acquire lands under Laws N. Y. 1884, c. 512.  Mary A. Blizzard filed a petition therein, claiming a portion of moneys awarded by the commissioner of estimate to unknown persons.  Petitioner moves to confirm the report of a referee in her favor.  Denied.

Argued before VAN BRUNT, P. J., and BARRETT, J.

W. R. Lambertson, for petitioner.  C. D. Allendorf, for the city.

VAN BRUNT, P. J.  The commissioners of estimate, by their report in this proceeding, awarded the sum of $13,350 to unknown owners for parcel 691, in Pelham Bay park.  Of this, $5,000 was made for the land, and the balance, $8,350, for the buildings.  The petitioner claims to have been the owner of parcel 691 at the time of the confirmation, and of the report of the commissioners in said proceedings, and the referee has so found.  Her claim of ownership is not based upon any record title to said premises, but is founded wholly upon possession and occupancy of said property for a period of more than 20 years.  The parcel stands in an island in Westchester creek [sic], and is divided into two parts, which may be described as the northerly and southerly parts of the island, the dividing line being a public highway extending the whole length of the island, upon each side of which highway there is and was at the time the claimant went into possession a substantial stone wall or fence.  The petitioner went into possession of the southerly portion of the island more than 20 years prior to the confirmation of the report, and erected an hotel and buildings connected therewith, and has ever since remained in possession thereof.  Her entry does not seem to have been under any claim of title, and her occupation has been that of a squatter.  It is true that upon her examination she stated that she took possession of this property, claiming title thereto.  But it is apparent from her cross-examination that she made no claim of title at the time of her entry; but, to use her own language, she 'just squatted there, as it were.'  It further appeared that she had no record title to said premises, either by way of deed, grant, devise, or writing of any kind.  Her only acts of ownership in respect to the northerly portion of the island consisted in building a boat-house, and planting oysters and clams in the waters adjacent to the island.  Upon these facts the referee reported that the petitioner was entitled to the award made for the island in question.  In this, we think, he clearly erred.  It is plain that whatever the possession of the petitioner was, it was not under any claim of title, nor does it appear that she ever asserted ownership except by being in possession.  Under the definition of adverse possession, such possession, to be adverse, must be under claim of title; and naked possession, unaccompanied by such claim, can never ripen into a good title.  It necessarily follows that, where possession is under a claim of title, it must be made under some distinct claim of title, and not by a mere general assertion of ownership, without reference to any source from which such ownership can arise.  In other words, a mere squatter can never obtain title by adverse possession.  In order that possession of land shall be adverse, it must be shown that the land is held in hostility to the true owner's claim of title thereto.  It appears from the evidence taken in this proceeding that the taking of possession by the petitioner was not, in its commencement, hostile to the true title, and it does not appear when the petitioner commenced to claim title to the premium exclusive of any other right, if she ever did so; and as under no circumstances can possession be deemed adverse until this condition of affairs is made to appear, it is not in proof that there was any adverse possession of the petitioner for 20 years.  In view of the conclusion at which we have arrived in regard to the main question involved, it is not necessary to discuss the distinction between the nature of the possession of the northerly and southerly half of the island.  Upon the whole case we think that the claim of the petitioner is defective in establishing a right to the moneys which have been awarded for the taking of the premises in question."

Source:  In re Blizzard, 18 N.Y. Supp. 82-84 (Gen. Term, 1st Dep't, Feb. 18, 1892).  

"CHAP. 430.

AN ACT for the relief of Mary A. Blizzard.

APPROVED by the Governor May 2, 1892.  Passed, three-fifths being present.

The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:

Advertising for claimants to awards.

SECTION 1.  The comptroller of the city of New York is hereby directed to advertise once in each week for seven successive weeks, as soon as practicable after the passage of this act, in a daily newspaper published in the said city for claimants to the awards now in his custody made for the parcel known as parcel number six hundred and ninety-one, Pelham Bay Park, made to 'unknown owners,' by the commissioners of estimated appointed under and pursuant to the provisions of chapter five hundred and twenty-two of the laws of eighteen hundred and eighty-four.

Payment of amount to M. A. Blizzard

[SECTION] 2.  If no other claimant shall appeal and prove title to the said awards to the satisfaction of the said comptroller within three months after the first publication of said notice, then the said comptroller is hereby authorized and directed to pay over the amount of said awards to Mary A. Blizzard of the town of Pelham, the present occupant of the said premises.

Release of city from liability.  Suits, etc., against city barred

[SECTION] 3.  Upon the completion of the advertising, as herein provided for, and upon the expiration of the said limitation, and upon the payment of the said awards to Mary A. Blizzard, the mayor, aldermen, and commonalty of the city of New York shall be forever released and discharged from any liability to any person or persons whomsoever for the said award or any part thereof, and any suit, action or special proceeding which may thereafter be brought against the said mayor, aldermen and commonalty of the city of New York to recover the said awards or any part thereof shall be deemed to be barred by the limitations of this act.

[Section] 4.  This act shall take effect immediately."

Source:  CHAP. 430 -- AN ACT for the relief of Mary A. Blizzard, The General Statutes of the State of New York for the Year 1892, p. 1035 (Albany, NY:  Weed, Parsons and Co., 1892).  

"A WOMAN SQUATTER.
-----
She Occupies an Island, Builds a Hotel and Tries to Sell the Property.

Mrs. Mary A. Blizzard is in a fair way to acquire property rather easily obtained.  More than twenty-five years ago she squatted on an island in Eastchester Creek, about an acre in area.  This land is now in Pelham Bay Park.  She built a hotel there valued at $8,350, the surrounding land being set down as worth $5,000.  When the city took possession of the Pelham Bay Park property Mrs. Blizzard put in a claim for payment of $13,350, but as she could give no title, the city refused to settle with her.  She brought suit in the courts, relying on her undisputed possession of over twenty years, but the general term decided against her.  A bill was passed by the last Legislature for Mrs. Blizzard's relief.  Under it the comptroller will advertise for owners.  If no one but Mrs. Blizzard appears her claim will be paid."

Source:  A WOMAN SQUATTER -- She Occupies an Island, Builds a Hotel and Tries to Sell the Property, The Hartford Courant [Hartford, CT], May 6, 1892, p. 7, cols. 1-2. 

"SUDDENLY RICH, SPENT $75,000 IN 2 MONTHS
-----
Widow Appointed Executrix of $25,000 Estate 'Jack' Elliott Left.
-----

In an effort to save for his family the remainder of the estate of William J. Elliott, better known as 'Jack' Elliott, who spent $75,000 in two months, his widow was appointed executrix yesterday.  Elliott reduced a fortune of $100,000 to $25,000 by lavish spending.  

Elliott died suddenly of apoplexy on Friday last in a roadhouse in Port Chester just before a warrant was to be served on him for abandonment.  He was buried the Sunday following in the Blizzard homestead, Pelham Bay.  Other legal proceedings having failed to check Elliott in his mania for throwing away money, his wife had decided to have him arrested for abandonment in hope of having him removed to a sanatorium.

Until last July, when Elliott's aunt, Mary Blizzard, died, he was a model as a family man.  He, his wife and two sons lived happily in the Pelham Bay homestead.  By the death of his aunt he inherited the greater part of her fortune.  Then came a whirlwind change in Elliott's life.

Frequented by Astor.

Six or seven years ago 'Jack' Elliott owned and conducted the Pelham Bay Park Hotel, a roadhouse frequented by Colonel John Jacob Astor and others who figured in finance and society.  He made hundreds of friends.

About April, 1912, Elliott's aunt was awarded $75,000 from the city for Pelham Bay property.  She died in July.

On August 1 Elliott got $40,000 in cash, part being the city's award money and part from his aunt.  In less than fifteen days this money was nearly all gone.  He is said to have spent $500 a night, his wine bill for a week running over $1,000.  At different times he drew on his inheritance liberally.

Elliott's relatives and friends became alarmed.  Bennett E. Siegelstein, attorney, in No. 90 Nassau street, formerly Assemblyman from the old Eighth district, was engaged by Mrs. Elliott to see what could be done.  Three writs of attachment failed of their purpose.

Entertained the 'Boys.'

Elliott disappeared from his home, but his sons found he was living in the Colonial Hotel, Eighth avenue and 125th street.  Automobile trips from the hotel to roadhouses were features of entertainment for the boys as he called his friends.

In September, Siegelstein got a writ for the appointment of a receiver and an injunction to tie up the property Elliott kept him busy trying to find him.

Elliott deposited in the Nassau Trust Company on August 9 $26,000, but by the time the lawyer could get an attachment against the bank $14,000 had been drawn and spent by Elliott.

Elliott's widow was Sarah E. Doherty.  She was wealthy in her own right."

Source:  SUDDENLY RICH, SPENT $75,000 IN 2 MONTHS -- Widow Appointed Executrix of $25,000 Estate "Jack" Elliott Left, N.Y. Press, Sep. 25, 1912, p. 7, col. 5.  

"SPENT $90,000 IN TEN MONTHS, THEN HE DIED.
-----
Jack Elliott Didn't Go Near White Light District With His Roll.  --  Windfall From His Aunt.
-----

How to spend $90,000 in New York City in ten months and not go near Broadway and Forty-second street was told in detail last Tuesday about the time letters of administration in the estate of William J. Elliott were awarded to Sarah E. Elliott, the widow.

Elliott, universally known as Jack, was the man who did the spending.  He dropped dead at Bradley's roadhouse, Port Chester, September 20.

Bennett E. Siegelstein, attorney for the estate, told the story after the letters had been awarded.  He undid a large bundle of papers and pointed to about five check books which had been reduced almost to the covers.

'Those check books and the balanced bank books tell the story of how Jack Elliott spent $90,000 in this short space of time,' he said, 'and they show that out of $110,000 cash a year ago not more than $15,000 remains.  It also shows that at the moment he dropped dead he was just drawing another check for $500, which had become his average daily expenditure.'

Then Mr. Siegelstein illuminated his subject, Jack Elliott, about 50 years of age, was a member of the Blizzard family, which owned much of Pelham Bay  conjointly with the Doherty family.  He married Sarah E. Doherty nearly thirty years ago.  Elliott for years ran the Pelham Bay roadhouse, known to automobilists and drivers.  He was a steady family man.

Elliott had two sons, David, now 25, and Julian J., 20 years old.  The sole living representative of the old Blizzard family up to April of this year was Miss Mary A. Blizzard, and Jack Elliott was her favorite nephew.

When the city took part of the property for Westchester Square and then took some more for the bridge she got about $110,000 in cash, leaving more to come.

Miss Blizzard turned this money over to Jack, and when she died in April her will left everything to him.  At the time he got the money Elliott was living with his family in the old Doherty homestead up on the bay.  He started out to drink wine and to have all his friends and neighbors drink with him.

The family remonstrated and Elliott left home.  They complained, and he got a revolver threatening to use it on anyone who tried to stop him.  Inside of three months he was going strong and at the end of six months he was the most popular man from Port Chester to 125th street.  He had wine before he got up for breakfast, between meals and at all meals.  Also every one who came near him had it.

One night he went into the Colonial, according to Mr. Siegelstein, and ordered wine for everybody.  The bill ws $150.  He tossed over a $500 bill and walked out without waiting for change.  He had a regular arrangement with the taxicab men, who would charge him $25 for going from the Colonial to a Pelham Bay roadhouse.  His usual procedure was to tell the chauffeur to keep the change out of a $100 bill.

Elliott, it is said, met some Italian labors one day working on a new building.  He got their dinner buckets and filled them with champagne by permission of the owners.  The Contractor had his bricks laid to grand opera the rest of the day, and the inspector condemned the job at that.

His family got after the man in real earnest about the end of July.  They went to court and Mr. Siegelstein got an order to show cause why he should not be restrained from spending his money.  They wanted him locked up for observation.  A process server could not get within half a mile of him.  A process server would come in the front door and Elliott would take a taxicab from the back door to go whizzing to the next roadhouse.

The sons who led in the search came upon their father one day and tried to get him to go with them.  They were holding him by conversation until an officer could arrive.  He gave them $1,500 and told them to buy a motorboat, then vanished.  A process server chased the man down to a house in East Eighty-fourth street owned by the estate, but not yet turned into money.  The process server was greeted by a dog which bit him.  While the process server was attending to the dog, Elliott was flying uptown in a convenient taxi.

Then the family got real busy.  They got a summons, a warrant, an injunction, a mandamus and a few other writs in the hope of getting the man on something.  They charged him with abandonment, non-support, insanity, and everything else they could think of.  The company of process servers did not fare any better than the original scouts.  They were always close on the trail, but the man was ahead of them.

Finally they established a line across Westchester County, particularly over the Pelham Parkway.  Guards were doubled and the party began to close in.  They arrived at Bradley's that morning of the 20th to find the search ended.  The doctors said that apoplexy had ended the man's career.

Nobody seems to have been particularly hurt by the man's weird career of prodigality.  The estate is still large in property.  The city still owes $15,000 and Mrs. Elliott has the Doherty estate in addition."

Source:  SPENT $90,000 IN TEN MONTHS, THEN HE DIED -- Jack Elliott Didn't Go Near White Light District With His Roll  --  Windfall From His Aunt, Dobbs Ferry Register [Dobbs Ferry, NY], Sep. 27, 1912, Vol. XXX, No. 39, p. 5, col. 3.  

"Spent $75,000 In Two Months.

New York, Oct. 15.  --  In an effort to save for his family the remainder of the estate of William J. Elliott, better known as 'Jack' Elliott, who spent $75,000 in two months, his widow was appointed executrix.  Elliott reduced a fortune of $100,000 to $25,000 by lavish spending.

Elliott died suddenly of apoplexy in a roadhouse in Port Chester just before a warrant was to be served on him for abandonment.  He was buried the Sunday following in the Blizzard homestead, Pelham Bay.  Other legal proceedings having failed to check Elliott in his mania for throwing away money, his wife had decided to have him arrested for abandonment in hope of having him removed to a sanatorium.

Until last July, when Elliott's aunt, Mary Blizzard, died, he was a model as a family man.  He, his wife, and two sons lived happily in the Pelham Bay homestead.  By the death of his aunt, he inherited the greater part of her fortune.  Then came a whirlwind change in Elliott's life."

Source:  Spent $75,000 In Two Months, Journal and Republican and Lowville Times [Lowville, NY], Oct. 17, 1912, Vol. 53, No. 49, Sec. 2, p. 9, col. 2.

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Mammy Goose of Goose Island, An Epic Pelham Character

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One of the most eccentric characters ever to live in Pelham, NY may have been Abigail Tice who became known as "Mammy Goose."  I have written extensively about Mammy Goose for more than a decade.  See, e.g.:

Thu., Mar. 10, 2005:  "Mammy Goose" of Goose Island. 

Tue., Apr. 25, 2006:  More About "Mammy Goose" of Goose Island.

Tue., May 05, 2015:  More About the History of Goose Island, Once the Home of Mammy Goose.

Mammy Goose lived on "Goose Island" in the middle of East Chester Creek near Pelham Bridge and the railroad bridge adjacent to it.  According to legend, Goose Island was so named because an unbelievably large flock of wild geese landed on the little island in about 1810 and made it their annual resting place thereafter. It was only about an acre and a half in size. 

According to news accounts, Mrs. Tice was the daughter of a Philadelphia sea captain who, as a young girl, eloped with a stone mason named William Tice.  William and Abigail Tice moved to Mount Vernon, NY in about 1840.  Mr. Tice began working for Captain Joshua Leviness of City Island. 

In 1843, William and Abigail visited Goose Island. It was "a lonely, barren spot and hadn't even a good reputation."  Even so, according to one account, "it pleased Mrs. Tice and she said to her husband, "Here I'm going to make my home."   

Although the record is unclear, newspaper accounts suggest that Abigail Tice was able to convince the Town of Eastchester, which owned Goose Island at the time, to lease the island to her for $1 a year during her life, plus the payment of property taxes on the island.  After her death Eastchester claimed that despite the arrangement, Mammy Goose never paid the rent or taxes and the Town never levied the taxes.  Some news reports, however, claimed that she dutifully paid both each year. 

In any event, Captain Joshua Leviness of City Island provided materials for William and Abigail to build a comfortable house on the tiny little island.  William worked hard to clear the island of trees, stumps and stones, then fenced it and planted numerous fruit trees. Sadly though, during the 1850s William Tice died. Abigail buried him near their little house on the island. 

To support herself, Mrs. Tice began hosting fishing parties that visited the area.  After her husband's death, as her reputation for hosting local fishermen with broiled clams and beer grew, she became known as "Mammy Goose."  According to an account published in 1885: "The island became a favorite resort for fishing parties. 'Mammy Goose' was . . . adept at broiling clams, and kept a good brew of beer always on tap. She dressed more like a man than a woman, and on fine days was to be seen raking oysters or 'treading out' clams.  On such occasions she always wore trousers." The Owner of Goose Island - Death of the Odd Old Woman Who Presided Over That Desolate Place, N.Y. Times, Mar. 28, 1885, p. 8 (see below). 

Mammy Goose seemed to have a kind heart.  After her husband died, she welcomed an old fellow to the island who "inducted himself into the position of general superintendent". His name was Oglesby Stinnard.  News accounts spell his name in countless ways, but family genealogists have established that his name was, indeed, Oglesby Stinnard.  He seems to have been a rather sad character.  According to one account: "His work consisted generally of getting drunk as early in the day as possible and of remaining so as late as could be managed. One day last Summer [in 1884] he fell out of his boat while fishing for tomcods. His heels caught in the rowlocks, and he was almost drowned when he was pulled out by a fellow-fisherman. Not many days afterward Stannerd walked into deep water and sank to the bottom. He was drunk at the time. He was dead when brought to shore."  Mammy Goose, who claimed she was not married to Mr. Stannerd, buried him on the island near her husband's grave. 

Captain Leviness kept a close watch on Mammy Goose and helped her fill her basic needs by supplying her "few wants."  When she grew too old to take care of herself, he arranged to bring her as a guest to a hotel he owned on City Island. Although he planned to open a small shop for her to oversee during the summer of 1885, Mammy Goose died in her room at the hotel on Thursday, March 26, 1885.  People believed her to be about 92 since she always said she was born in 1793. Only two days before her death, Mammy Goose made a will. In it she gave everything she owned -- including Goose Island despite accounts that she only leased it during her life -- to her beloved friend, Captain Joshua Leviness.

Captain Leviness wasted no time.  Within days of Mammy Goose's death he began building a dock on the island.  Reports indicate he planned to create a hotel there as well in order to develop a "resort" for fishing enthusiasts and summer visitors.

The Town of Eastchester, however, would have none of it.  The Town hired a lawyer who filed an ejectment action against Leviness.  The litigation dragged for at least two years.  Though research has not yet revealed the outcome of the lawsuit, clearly Joshua Leviness had the last laugh.  At about this time Goose Island became part of Pelham Bay Park and New York City took ownership.  The City's Park Board issued a license to Joshua Leviness and, later, his son, George, authorizing the "letting [of] boats and selling refreshments" on the island.  The arrangement continued well into the mid-1890s.  

Detail from Map Published in 1893 Showing Goose Island on Left Near

Branch Line Railroad Tracks Crossing Eastchester Bay. Source: "Towns

of Westchester and Pelham (With) Villages of Westchester and Unionport

(With) Village of Pelhamville" in Atlas of Westchester County, New York

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

Topographical Engineer from Original Surveys and Official Records, pg. 3

(NY, NY: Julius Bien & Co., 1893).  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

Google Maps Satellite Image Showing Goose Island in Upper Left

Corner, Near Railroad Bridge Across Eastchester Bay.  NOTE:  Click

on Image to Enlarge.

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"TOWN OFFICERS ACCOUNT.

During the greater part of last week the Board of Town Officers acting as a board of audit were engaged in auditing, the Supervisor's, Road Commissioners', Trustees of Public Lands', Excise Commissioners' and Overseers of the Poor accounts. . . . 

The property known as Goose Island was also referred to in their report as having been originally leased to Mrs. Stinard during her natural life in consideration that she should pay the taxes on the same which she had failed to do, and that the Receiver of Taxes had never made a levy.  They recommended that the receiver cause a levy to be made for this years taxes.

That there should be a revenue from that pleasant little spot, Goose Island, there can be no question, and when a lease was given to Mrs. Stinard, some specified sum of money should have been named as the yearly rental, and that amount ought to have been collected or else she should have been compelled to vacate for a more profitable tenant, but why Goose Island should be assessed as taxable property, sold, and the town take leases of the same, any more than the town dock, or any other town property, we are certainly at a loss to know.  We certainly can see no reason why any of property owned or held by the town as town lands should be assessed. . . ."

Source:  TOWN OFFICERS ACCOUNT, The Chronicle [Mount Vernon, NY], Mar. 28, 1884, Vol. XV, No. 758, p. 1, col. 6.  

"DEATH OF AN OLD SWIMMER.  --  Coroner Tice, on Tuesday, held an inquest over the body of Oglesby Stinard, aged 70, who for a good many years, had lived at Goose Island, at the mouth of Hutchinson Creek.  The old man had been accidently [sic] drowned in sight of his home.  He was a little under the influence of liquor, and had made the boast that he could swim from the Island to Eastchester, a distance of two miles.  He was considered an expert swimmer, and having plunged into the water from his float almost immediately sunk [sic].  He was very soon brought to land, but too late to save his life.  The verdict was in accordance with those facts.  Some of the villagers consider this a temperance sermon, while others contend it was just the reverse -- to much water instead of liquor."

Source:  DEATH OF AN OLD SWIMMER, The Yonkers Statesman, Aug. 20, 1884, Vol. I, No. 238, p. 1, col. 4.  

"DEATH OF AN ODD OLD WOMAN.  --  Mrs. Abigail Tice, otherwise known as 'Mammy Goose,' the proprietress of Goose Island, so called because a flock of geese made it a resting-place nearly a century ago, died on Thursday last.  The island is located in Eastchester Creek, near Bartow.  Mr. and Mrs. Tice became residents of Mount Vernon 45 years ago.  Three years later they paid Goose Island a visit, and Mrs. Tice determined to make it her home.  Her husband was employed at the time by Joshua Leviness, of City Island.  They built quite a comfortable house, planted fruit trees and fenced it in.  Thirty years ago Mr. Tice died, and was buried near the house.  After his death his widow was given the name of 'Mammy Goose.'  The island became a favorite resort for fishing parties.  Last fall she left the island, as she had no one to assist her in taking care of the property, and went to live in Leviness's Hotel, and it was there she died, from lingering consumption.  She was conscious to the last moment.  She always said she was born in 1793.  On the Tuesday night previous to her death she made a will, and bequeathed her island, on which she had always paid taxes, and all her other effects to Capt. Leviness."

Source:  DEATH OF AN ODD OLD WOMAN, The Yonkers Statesman, Mar. 30, 1885, Vol. II, No. 424, p. 1, col. 4.

"THE DEMISE OF 'MAMMY GOOSE'

Goose Island, situated in Eastchester Creek, a few hundred yards from Bartow, is said to have been so called because a flock of wild geese saw fit to make it a resting place about 75 years ago.  It belongs to the town of Eastchester and contains about an acre and a half of ground, and is notable as the residence of Abigail Tice, otherwise 'Mammy Goose,' who died on Thursday of last week, at the residence of Capt. Josh. Leviness, City Island.  Forty five years ago Mrs. Tice and her husband became residents of Mount Vernon.  At that time she was a plump, good looking middle-age woman.  She was a daughter of a Philadelphia sea Captain, and had, when a girl, run off and married William Tice, a fascinating stone mason.  Forty-two years ago she and her husband paid Goose Island a visit.  It was then a lonely, barren spot and hadn't even a good reputation.  But it pleased Mrs. Tice and she said to her husband, 'Here I'm going to make my home.'

Tice was employed at the time by Capt. Josh. Leviness, of City Island.  The latter furnished the materials and Tice built a comfortable house.  He cleared the island of stumps and stones, planted it with fruit trees, and fenced it in.  He died 30 years ago and was buried near his house.  After his death his widow was given the title of 'Mammy Goose.'  The island became a favorite resort for fishing parties.  'Mammy Goose' was an adept at broiling clams.  On fine days she could be seen raking oysters or 'treading out' clams.  On such occasions she always wore trousers.  Some years after the death of her husband, Oakley Stinnerd took up his abode on the island, and inducted himself into the position of general superintendent.  His work consisted generally of getting drunk as early in the day as possible and of remaining so as late as could be managed.

One day last summer, while in a state of intoxication, he fell out of his boat but was rescued, and a second time he fell out and was again rescued and taken home, but, after being safely landed, he persistently jumped in the water and after swimming a few feet, sank and before he could be rescued the third time drowned.  His body was also buried on the island.  Mrs. Tice stated that she was not married to Stinnard.

During her residence on Goose Island, Mrs. Tice found a firm friend in Capt. Leviness.  He supplied her few wants and intended to present her with a small shop on City Island next summer.  Last Fall she left her island, as she had no one to assist her, and became a guest at the Captain's hotel.  The physician who attended her attributed her death to lingering consumption.  She was conscious to the last moment.  Mrs. Tice always said she was born in 1793.  On Tuesday night she made a will, and she bequeathed her island, as she always called it, and all her other belongings to Capt. Leviness."

Source:  THE DEMISE OF "MAMMY GOOSE," The Chronicle [Mount Vernon, NY], Apr. 3, 1885, Vol. XVI, No. 811, p. 1, cols. 5-6.

"COUNTY ITEMS. . . .

--  Mrs. Abigail Tice late of City Island, who for 42 years had resided on Goose Island, and who was better known as 'Mammy Goose' died last week from consumption.  She was born in 1793.  On Thursday of last week she made her will and gave the spot to Capt. Joshua Leviness, who had befriended her in her old age and at whose house she died. . . ."

Source:  COUNTY ITEMS, Supplement to Eastern State Journal, Apr. 10, 1885, p. 1, col. 4.

"PELHAM AND CITY ISLAND. . .

--  Capt. Josh Leviness is building a dock on Goose Island and intends to open a summer resort there.  He claims to own the Island under the will of Mrs. Tice, otherwise known as Mrs. Stinard, who lived there for nearly forty years.  She recently died at the residence of the Captain, City Island. . . ."

Source:  PELHAM AND CITY ISLAND, New Rochelle Pioneer, Apr. 25, 1885, p. 3, col. 6.  

"PELHAM AND CITY ISLAND. . . .

Capt. Josh. Leviness, it is said, is erecting a hotel on Goose Island.  He claims to own the island under the will of 'Mammy Goose,' but he may wake up some fine morning and find his hotel confiscated by the town of Eastchester.  Goose Island is in the town of Eastchester and is a part and parcel of the town property. . . ."

Source:  PELHAM AND CITY ISLAND, SUPPLEMENT [The Chronicle, Mount Vernon, NY], May 1, 1885, p. 1, col. 2.  

"BOARD OF TOWN OFFICERS.

The regular monthly meeting of the Board of Town Officers was held Tuesday afternoon, May 5th.  All the members present. . . . 

One item to be investigated is Goose Island.  This was leased to Mrs. Tice, better known as 'Mammy Goose,' by the Trustees of Public Lands, in 1866, during her natural life for a consideration of one dollar per annum and the payment of the taxes thereon.  Neither provision, we believe, has ever been complied with.

Prior to the death of Mrs. Tice, last Winter, she executed a lease of this Island to Capt Joshua Leviness, of City Island, for a term of 99 years, and the lease, by some mischance, was filed in the town clerk's office of this town. . . ."

Source:  BOARD OF TOWN OFFICERS, The Chronicle [Mount Vernon, NY], May 8, 1885, Vol. XVI, No. 816, p. 1, col. 6.  

"COUNTY ITEMS. . . . 

--  The Trustees of Public Lands have taken the initiatory steps toward getting possession of Goose Island, in the Sound near City Island, now claimed by Joshua Leviness.  They have appointed Norman A. Lawler, of Mount Vernon, counsel, and proceedings will be instituted at once. . . ."

Source:  COUNTY ITEMS, Supplement to Eastern State Journal, Jun. 12, 1885, p. 1, col. 3.

"WESTCHESTER COUNTY. . . . 

Judging from the following paragraph which appeared in last week's Westchester Independent, Eastchester stands a fair chance of some litigation before getting possession of Goose Island.  It says, 'Eastchester wants Goose Island.  The authorities there claim it because some fifty years ago, when the channel was on the east side of the island, in Pelham Bay, it divided Pelham Bay from Eastchester Creek.  Trustee Tremaine of Eastchester was town clerk some fifty years ago, and he executed a life lease to Mrs. Tice.  She was always known as 'Mammy Goose,' and when Tice died in 1851, she shortly married Mr. Stiner.  Last year Stiner was drowned, and then she went to live with Mr. Joshua Leviness, of City Island, to whom she gave a lease of ninety-nine years.  She signed this Will as Mrs. Tice.  The island is about two acres long and one in breadth, and it would make a capital summer resort.  Mr. Leviness claims to own it, and will contest his right in the courts.  As Mr. Leviness has possession and retained counsel, it is reasonable to infer, that he will at least remain this season.  The house on the island is worth $500, and taxes are only about $4.50 per year.'"

Source:  WESTCHESTER COUNTY, The Chronicle [Mount Vernon, NY], Jun. 19, 1885, Vol. XVI, No. 822, p. 3, col. 4.  

"LOCAL NEWS . . .

The town of Eastchester has taken steps to eject Capt. Josh Leviness from Goose Island, and get possession of the property.  The case may be reached on the calendar this week, in the Circuit Court, at White Plains. . . ."

Source:  LOCAL NEWS, The Chronicle [Mount Vernon, NY], Sep. 25, 1885, Vol. XVII, No. 836, p. 3, col. 1.  

"PELHAM AND CITY ISLAND. . . .

The chances are that Capt. Josh Leviness will have to vacate Goose Island, unless he can make satisfactory terms with the Trustees of Public Lands of the town of Eastchester, for its rental. . . ."

Source:  PELHAM AND CITY ISLAND, The Chronicle [Mount Vernon, NY], Sep. 25, 1885, Vol. XVII, No. 836, p. 3, col. 5.

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The Opening of the Hutchinson River Ship Canal in 1895

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Today's Hutchinson River, also known as Eastchester Creek, bears little resemblance to its original, bucolic, unaltered state.  Reservoirs have been created along its length.  Its lower portion has been straightened and dredged to the point that it would be unrecognizable to Pelham residents of the early to mid-19th century.  

During the early and mid-1890s, the merchants of Mount Vernon were clamoring for regular water transport to and from New York City at reasonable freight rates.  Many in the coal, lumber, and stone businesses needed a reliable, cheaper way to move their products to and from New York City.  With such considerations at play, the United States Army Corps of Engineers undertook yet another project to create the "Hutchinson River Ship Canal" so that goods could be moved between docks located in Mount Vernon and the City of New York.

On March 24, 1894, a group of Mount Vernon men formed The New York & Mount Vernon Transportation Company.  The company acquired a packet steamer, The Riverside, and began running "a steady and reliable water service between Mount Vernon and new York."  According to one account, the service rendered:

"an immense saving to the merchants of this city [Mount Vernon], by reason of the low freight rates charged.  This company has a complete set of delivery trucks working in connection with their steamer, The Riverside, and all goods shipped via this line to Mount Vernon are delivered at the very door of the consignee at rates hitherto unknown prior to the establishment of this line.  They also call at any point, residence or store, in Mount Vernon, for freight to be shipped via their line to New York free of charge for cartage."

The Army Corps of Engineers worked to remove boulders and deepen the channel so that there was twelve feet of clearance at high tide.  The work was completed, at an expense of about $1,000,000, by early October, 1895.

On October 3, 1895, Mount Vernon held a ceremony to mark the "formal opening" of the newly-improved Hutchinson River Ship Canal.  The Mount Vernon Board of Trade arranged for its members and "many guests" to gather at the Mount Vernon docks at 9:00 a.m. that day.  Attendees boarded two steamers:  The Riverside and The Golden Rule.  The two steamers steamed down the Hutchinson River into Eastchester Bay and proceeded to Fort Schuyler where they turned about and returned, reaching the Mount Vernon docks at 11:00 a.m.

Despite the celebration, Mount Vernon merchants and members of the Board of Trade were already thinking of the future.  According to one report of the celebration, "the depth of the water is not sufficient to render it as useful as it might be made, it is proposed to ask Congress for another appropriation to deepen the canal to 15 feet at low water.  At the present time there is only 12 feet at high water."

The Riverside, The Mount Vernon Packet Steamer that Celebrated

the Formal Opening of the Hutchinson River Ship Canal on October

3, 1895.  Source:  NEW YORK & MOUNT VERNON TRANSPORTATION

COMPANY -- Mount Vernon's Packet Line, Established March 24, 1894,

Supplement to Mount Vernon Argus, May 30, 1895, p. 5, cols. 3-4.

NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

1895 Advertisement for the New York and Mount

Vernon Transportation Line.  Source:  New York and

Mount Vernon Transportation Line [Advertisement],

The Chronicle [Mount Vernon, NY], Jan. 10, 1895,

p. 4, col. 6.  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

*          *          *          *          *

"DEDICATED TO COMMERCE.
-----
Hutchinson River Ship Canal Thrown Open Formally.

Mount Vernon, N. Y., Oct. 4.  --  The new Hutchinson River Ship Canal, connecting this city with Long Island Sound, was opened yesterday in a formal way by the board of trade of this city.

At 9 a.m. that organization, accompanied by many guests, boarded the steamers Riverside and Golden Rule at this end of the canal and slowly steamed down through the Hutchinson River to Fort Schuyler and returned, reaching here at 11 a.m.

With this simple ceremony, the canal, which has cost $1,000,000, was thrown open to commerce.

The improvements to the Hutchinson River and the construction of the canal has been made exclusively by the United States government."

Source:  DEDICATED TO COMMERCE -- Hutchinson River Ship Canal Thrown Open Formally, The Evening Times [Washington, D.C.], Oct. 4, 1895, p. 3, col. 4 (Note:  Paid subscription required to access via this link).

"THE WEEK. . . .

The new Hutchinson River Ship Canal connecting Mount Vernon, N. Y., with Long Island Sound, was formally opened on October 3.  The canal was constructed by the Government at a cost of $1,000,000.  As it is found that the depth of the water is not sufficient to render it as useful as it might be made, it is proposed to ask Congress for another appropriation to deepen the canal to 15 feet at low water.  At the present time there is only 12 feet at high water."

Source:  THE WEEK, The Iron Age, Oct. 10, 1895, p. 745 (NY, NY:  David Williams, 1895).

"NEW YORK & MOUNT VERNON TRANSPORTATION COMPANY.
Mount Vernon's Packet Line, Established March 24, 1894.

Through the efforts of a number of local capitalists and public spirited citizens, Mount Vernon is now a port of entry, owing to the improvement of Eastchester Creek, and the construction of docks near its head.  

The New York and Mount Vernon Transportation Company have constructed a dock of improved pattern 350 feet in length, fronting directly on South Third avenue, near the Kingsbridge road the dock property occupied by this company being exceptionally well located, and especially well adapted to the needs of the citizens of our city who desire to engage in the coal, lumber, stone and general manufacturing businesses.  It has an available water front of 2,000 feet, together with a frontage on Third avenue of 650 feet, and about 650 feet frontage on the road leading to Lockwood's Bridge, thus enabling the lessees of the property to select sites fronting on the most direct macadamized thoroughfare leading to the heart of the city and fronting in the rear on the water with an established line furnishing direct water service to and from New York City.

Parties are already availing themselves of this opportunity, as is shown by the fact that the David Stevenson Brewing Company has leased a portion of the property, for a term of years, and are erecting a combination refrigerator and warehouse as a central distributing station, for their celebrated ale and beer.

The New York & Mount Vernon Transportation Company began business on March 24, 1894, in the face of numerous difficulties, and have since maintained a steady and reliable water service between Mount Vernon and New York, rendering an immense saving to the merchants of this city, by reason of the low freight rates charged.  This company has a complete set of delivery trucks working in connection with their steamer, The Riverside, and all goods shipped via this line to Mount Vernon are delivered at the very door of the consignee at rates hitherto unknown prior to the establishment of this line.  They also call at any point, residence or store, in Mount Vernon, for freight to be shipped via their line to New York free of charge for cartage.

Their steamer, The Riverside, an illustration of which is here shown, is a staunch, roomy craft of large carrying capacity, and is also adapted for excursion parties.  Thee public are beginning to recognize this fact, and as The Riverside is open for charter during the excursion season, it will become more and more in demand.

Builders and merchants have profited very largely by the establishment of this line, building material of every description and merchandise of all kinds having been transported by this company at a great saving of money, time and trouble.

The importance of having a water front and a prompt, reliable and cheap steamboat service, is inestimable, and our merchants and people generally should liberally patronize this company (a local enterprise, every dollar invested being owned in Mount Vernon), which has made this benefit possible.

It is the determination of the gentlemen interested in this enterprise to continue the development and improvement of this service, and to leave undone nothing that money and push can secure in order to make the service all that their patrons can desire.

The offices of the New York & Mount Vernon Transportation Company are in the Post Office building, in this city, and all communications addressed to them, care Lock Box 90, will receive prompt response."

Source:  NEW YORK & MOUNT VERNON TRANSPORTATION COMPANY -- Mount Vernon's Packet Line, Established March 24, 1894, Supplement to Mount Vernon Argus, May 30, 1895, p. 5, cols. 3-4.  

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