News of Pelham, City Island and Pelhamville Reported on September 5, 1884

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The September 5, 1884 issue of The Chronicle, published in Mount Vernon, New York, included news columns reporting on developments in Pelham and City Island and in Pelhamville.  The two news columns are transcribed below, each followed by a citation to its source.

"PELHAM AND CITY ISLAND

Mr. William Vickery, accompanied by Mr. John Bowman, went to Mattewan, back of Newburgh, last Tuesday.  Mr. Vickery is in poor health, and thinks a change of air will do him good.

The third annual summer-nights hop of the Bartow Association, will take place at Secord's pavilion, on Tuesday evening, the 23rd inst.  The names of the officers of the association, Mr. M. Hogan being president, should be quite a sufficient guarantee that this will be a recherche affair.

John A. Reiley, a compositor on the New York Star, while walking along the old Boston road through Pelham Manor, on Tuesday last, was overcome with the heat when opposite the residence of Mr. James Morgan.  Reiley was picked up unconscious and cared for by Mr. Morgan.  He recovered consciousness in about two hours, when he was taken to the depot and put on board a train for New York.

The disaffection produced in the Democratic ranks on City Island, last spring, appears to be having an effect now.  The two factions, although pronouncing themselves solid for Cleveland and Hendricks, will not unite in the organization of a club.  Several attempts have been made, but with no result.  If the City Island democrats do not hurry up, Bartow will capture the honors, for a club is to be organized there the latter part of this month.

Mr. John B. Colford is making haste slowly with the preparations of the Country Club's race-course, near Bartow.  Fences have been removed in some instances, and raised in others; hedges and ditches are being prepared and the grand stand is nearly completed.  There seems to be, at present, no doubt but that everything will be in readiness by the time fixed for the opening of the races, October 1st next.  The members of the Country Club will soon return from their summer tours, after which polo will be the attraction every Monday and Saturday.  The indications are that this place will be exceedingly attractive this fall.

A party of about 35, who left City Island with the Trinity M.E. Church excursionists, on the 3rd inst., had quite an experience before they got back to their homes.  While sight seeing at Coney Island it did not occur to them to consult their timepieces; the consequence was that when they arrived at Locust Grove, where they were to take the boat for home, they were left, by just five minutes.  Thinking that with steam and horsecars, they could overtake the boat at Pike street, New York, the attempt was made, but proved a failure.  The elevated and Harlem River Branch roads brought them finally to Bartow where another disappointment was in store.  There was only one stage at the depot, and the majority of the party had to tramp through the dust and over stones and hillocks, to City Island."

Source:  Pelham and City Island, The Chronicle [Mount Vernon, NY], Sep. 5, 1884, p. ?, col. 2 (no page number or issue date is printed on the single newspaper page that is available, but textual references strongly suggest the page was published on Sep. 5, 1884).

"PELHAMVILLE

Mr. William Braidwood, Jr., is about to erect a house in Pelhamville.

A sidewalk is to be laid from the railroad depot to the school.  It was begun yesterday.

Through the energy of Mr. Delcombie, four more lamps are to be added to those already erected.

Mr. Henderson has purchased a lot from Mr. George Pearson, and commenced the erection of a house thereon. 

Four new houses in addition to those now in course of erection, are to be constructed next spring. 

Mrs. O'Maley has sold several acres of land, to two gentlemen from New York, and they contemplate putting up several dwellings.

Mr. I.C. Hill has sold his house and lot, to Mr. Buxton, of Stamford, and has commenced the erection of a house, on Third avenue, corner Second street.  The new building will be 22x23 feet, with six-foot extension.

Colonel Richard Lathers has generously agreed to donate to the Pelhamville Improvement Association, a sufficient number of shade trees to set out along all the streets and avenues, where needed.

On Tuesday evening next, a concert will be given, in the Union Chapel, Pelhamville, for the benefit of the Church of the Redeemer of that place.  Admission, 35 cents.  A quartette of young ladies known as the Meiggs Quartette, will sing, as will also Mrs. Abbott the soprano and Prof. C. L. Praeger will play the zither.  The milke train will stop at Pelhamville on that evening.

Since the erection of street lamps in Pelhamville, the place has taken quite a boom.  Other improvements are making daily, and to the Pelhamville Improvement Association should the credit be given.  A few live men in any community can start a boom, and once started it will keep going.  This place has now got a boom and will undoubtedly keep on untill [sic] it ranks favorably with its sister villages."

Source:  Pelhamville, The Chronicle [Mount Vernon, NY], Sep. 5, 1884, p. ?, col. 5 (no page number or issue date is printed on the single newspaper page that is available, but textual references strongly suggest the page was published on Sep. 5, 1884).

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News About Pelham Manor and Pelhamville in 1895 - Lighting Districts, Gas for the Village, Baseball and More

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On May 23, 1895, a newspaper published in Mount Vernon, The Chronicle, published one of its regular news columns on "Our Nearby Neighbors" reporting developments in Pelhamville and Pelham Manor.  I have reviewed many, many such news reports.  This particular column contains a number of interesting reports of historical interest juxtaposed with gossip tidbits of interest to neighbors in the tiny community at the time, so I have transcribed it in its entirety.

"Pelhamville.

The Chronicle may be obtained in Pelhamville and vicinity from Master Fred L. Anderson who will deliver it at residence.

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Miss Edith Ward of Oakland Cal. is the guest of her uncle, Mr. Peter Ward of Chester Park.

The broken windows and door in Mrs. C. W. Meinecke's former home which were recently damaged by her are being replaced with new ones.  Mr. J. K. Archibald of New York City is doing the work. 

Supervisor Dennis Beach has presented the Relief Hook and Ladder Co. with three handsome pictures.  They are prettily framed and adorn the walls of the company's rooms.

Richard Marvel, the infant son of Mr. and Mrs. P. Marvel of Fourth avenue, died last Saturday afternoon of membranous croup.  The funeral services were held last Monday afternoon.

Mr. Caleb Nash formly [formerly] of New Rochelle has rented one of the houses owned by W. H. Bard on Fourth avenue near Fourth street.

A meeting of the residents of Pelhamville was called last Monday night at the Court House for the purpose of forming a lighting district.  The meeting was called to order at about 8:15 by Judge G. L. Karbach.  This gentleman was made chairman and Mr. I. C. Hill acted as secretary.  A vote was taken on the question of whether we should introduce streetlights into the village or not and the result showed a majority in favor of the plan.  A committee was then appointed by the chair to take the necessary steps toward organizing a Lighting District.  The committee consists of Messrs. William H. Sparks, Edward A. Schwartz, Philip Godfrey, O. Stretzel and M. Woods.

Meetings are to be held every Friday night commencing to-morrow evening at the chapel of the of the Church of the Redeemer for the confirmation class.

To-day being Ascension Day services were held in the morning at the Episcopal church.

The base ball nine, William J. Evert Jr. captain has arranged to play with Captain Paulus Taylor's team from Mount Vernon on Decoration Day.  The game will tak place on Brickner's grounds.

It is understood that Chief of the Fire Department, B. P. Crewell has exchanged his residence and grounds on Terrace Hill for Brooklyn property.

Mr. M. F. Brickner and family are now residing in Professor Madorn's house on Second avenue.

The trustees of Pelham Manor have signed a contract with the Eastchester Gas Light Company to furnish their village with gas. 

The people of Pelham Manor who have recently expended about $56,000 for street improvements are now complaining that in return for the amount spent theyy have only about two thirds of their throughfares [sic] improved and that most of these are outlying roads, a number of which lead to Pelhamville.

Mrs. Mary Jessie Meinecke a former resident of this village was sentenced on Tuesday to ten days imprisonment by Justices Hogan, Meade and Martin in the Court of Special Sessions for having on May 2d sent Mrs. Ella Lawless who is employed in Mr. Meinecke's wholesale drug store, a threatening and abusive letter.  Mrs. Meinecke's lawyer pleaded for her four little children and the Court in imposing the sentence said that it took all the circumstances into consideration.  It was just two days after sending this letter that Mrs. Meinecke demolished a number of windows and the front door in her former home in this place.

'Mr. Edwards and family have recently become residents of Pelhamville.  They are ensconced in a 'Bard' cottage on Fourth avenue.

Congressman Ben L. Fairchild had a 'christening' at his home on Pelham Heights last Monday evening.  The ceremony was performed upon his little son who is now known as Master Francis Cromby Fairchild.

The Alpha Social Club met last Friday evening with Mr. Robert Scott on Fifth avenue.  It was the last meeting of the season and the greater part of it was given up to business.

Two may parties are being arranged for, to be held on Decoration Day."

Source:  Our Nearby Neighbors - Pelhamville, The Chronicle [Mount Vernon, NY], May 23, 1895, p. 4, col. 1.

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Pelhamville Rejected Gas Lighting in 1895 Amid Allegations of Questionable Dealings

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In the mid-1890s, efforts were underway to bring gas lines to certain areas of Pelham to permit the installation of gas lights.  At the time, Benjamin Corlies was trying to develop a large tract of land near the new train station that had been built in 1893.  When he tried to arrange for gas lines in the area, he ran into opposition. Charges flew amid allegations of questionable dealings involving Congressman-elect Benjamin Fairchild and James Secor of Pelham who wanted to force the Gas Company to buy a company in which the pair allegedly had an interest. The article below details the incident.

"THEY DON'T WANT LIGHT.
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Eastchester Gas Company Refused Permission to Lay Mains in Pelhamville.

The Eastchester Gas Light Company some while ago made a contract with Mr. Benjamin Corlies, who owns a large tract of land near the Pelhamville depot, which he is improving and laying out into villa plots, to lay a certain amount of supply mains.  The extension was to continue from the city line at Hutchinson's Bridge along the property owned by the Pelhamville Land Company and thence to the property of Mr. Corlies.

Pelhamville not being a city or village its highways are controlled by the Highway Commissioners in the town of Pelham.  Through the road which the company intended to lay its mains is a few hundred feet of gas mains, said to be the property of a company in which Congressman-elect Fairchild is interested, and which he wished to force the local gas company to buy at a high figure.  As the gas company had no use for this high priced plant, it refused to purchase.  Thereupon the Highway Commissioners, at the probable instigation of Messrs. Fairchild and Secor, the latter having some invisible interest in the sale of the old mains, refused to let the company proceed with the laying of its mains.  It is said an action may be brought restraining the Highway Commissioners from interfering with the work. -- Mt. Vernon News."

Source:  They Don't Want Light, New Rochelle Pioneer, Jan. 5, 1895, p. 4, col. 2.

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