The Estate and Home of W. T. Grant that Became the Grounds of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Pelham Manor

Archive of the Historic Pelham Web Site.
Home Page of the Historic Pelham Blog.
Order a Copy of "The Haunted History of Pelham, New York"
Order a Copy of "Thomas Pell and the Legend of the Pell Treaty Oak."

William Thomas Grant, Jr. was the founder and Chairman of W. T. Grant Co.,  one of the most successful retail chains in the United States for many decades. William T. Grant’s success enabled him to build a lovely estate on the north side of Boston Post Road where Our Lady of the Perpetual Help stands today. 

In the early years of his company, Grant worked long hours and opened stores in the northeast. He handled his own buying for the stores and negotiated leases for each store that he opened. Within ten years, he had opened thirty-six stores. By 1918 he raised the 25-cent price limit on the retail chain’s merchandise to $1. 

By about this time, W.T. Grant and his wife, Lena Blanche Brownell Grant (whom he married in 1907), were residents of Pelham Manor where they lived thereafter for many years. The couple, who adopted two children, built a lovely estate on the north side of Boston Post Road. The estate consisted of about six acres of property on which stood a large Manor House and two smaller houses. Records in the possession of the Library of Congress indicate that work on the estate continued for many years and that the beautifully-landscaped grounds were designed by “Lundquist, L., landscape architect.” The architect of the home was the noted Howard Major.

I have written a number of times about W. T. Grant and his company. See, e.g.:  

William Thomas Grant Jr. and His Estate in Pelham Manor, The Pelham Weekly, Vol. XIII, No. 33, Aug. 20, 2004, p. 6, col. 1.

Mon., Apr. 02, 2018:  Pelhamite William T. Grant, Founder of Grant's Dime Stores, Donated Land for Our Lady of Perpetual Help - St. Catharine Parish in 1939.

W.T. Grant lived an exemplary life in Pelham as one of its leading citizens. He served as president of Pelham’s Men’s Club, an important civic and social organization. He was a member of the original board of directors of The Pelham Sun Publishing Company established in 1919 (only a few years after The Pelham Sun first began printing). He continued as a member of the board of directors until 1925. He also provided much needed financial support for Pelham’s Boy Scout program in its early years. 

William T. Grant, Jr.

NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

In about 1937, St. Catharine’s Parish served Catholics throughout the entire Town of Pelham and was experiencing a “rising number of standees at all Masses”. Grant, a Protestant, offered to give his estate to the Archdiocese of New York. According to a history of the church, the initial offer was refused because the diocesan office already had arranged an option on a piece of property at Hazen Street and the Esplanade for a proposed new parish. But, “[d]uring ensuing meetings with the village board of Pelham Manor, the idea met strong opposition, zoning permission was not granted, and eventually the option was dropped.” 

St. Catharine’s arranged an intermediary to approach W.T. Grant about his previously offered gift. The approach was successful and on May 27, 1939 a portion of the estate containing the Manor House and the land on which it stood was deeded for $1.00 to St. Catharine’s Parish as the gift of “Wm. T. and Beth B. Grant”. Approvals and legal technicalities required months of effort, but on December 8, 1939, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, at 11:00 a.m., worshipers celebrated the first Mass in a tiny chapel created within the Manor House. William and Beth Grant deeded a gift of the remainder of the estate on December 31, 1940. 

W.T. Grant served as President of his company until 1924. Thereafter he served as chairman of the board. After the company went public in 1928 he controlled about 25 percent of the stock. In 1966 he retired as chairman at the age of 90, but remained as honorary chairman until his death on August 6, 1972. 

Only three years later, W.T. Grant Co. declared bankruptcy – the largest retailing bankruptcy in history up to that point.

The home that William T. Grant built in Pelham Manor in 1918 and 1919 was rather fascinating.  The architect, Howard Major, was inspired to design the home after seeing former slave quarters while visiting historic manor homes in Maryland.  Yet, the large estate home evoked an English cottage.  It was a low, unimposing structure with six bedrooms and servants' quarters on the second floor.  Great care was taken to preserve foliage and shrubbery on the estate grounds as the home was built to give the home an immediate country estate feel without the need for extensive additional plantings on the grounds.

The seemingly modest exterior belied a grand and elegant interior.  As one article about the home published shortly after it was built stated:

"With the simple exterior one is not quite prepared for the elegance of the interior, suggestive as it is of the best English and Italian decorative periods.  One enters a formal hall with the stair hall opening off, floors of which are black and white marble squares laid diamond wise.  This feature gives not only a feeling of palatial beauty but one of cool refreshment as well.  The walls of the halls and of most of the rooms are of rough finished plaster in a soft gray and the wood trim is painted a Colonial white.  The woodwork in the small hall, from which the staircase rises, is pure Colonial, with charmingly proportioned doors and a panelled archway between the top of which is ceiled, as are the sides."

Images of the home are maintained in the collections of the Library of Congress and are included immediately below.  Today's Historic Pelham article also transcribes the text of an article about the W. T. Grant home shortly after it was built with three images of the home that appeared with the article.  The text is followed by a citation and link to the source.

William T. Grant Home on Boston Post Road in

Pelham Manor in an Undated Photograph.

NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

Estate Fountain on Grounds of the William T. Grant Home

on Boston Post Road in Pelham Manor in an Undated Photograph.

NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

*           *          *           *          *

"W. T. GRANT'S HOME at PELHAM, N. Y., VIEWED FROM ITS

INFORMAL GARDENS.  HOWARD MAJOR - ARCHITECT."

Source:  PICTURESQUE LINES OF OLD SLAVE QUARTERS

FURNISHED ARCHITECT WITH MOTIF FOR DESIGN OF SUBURBAN

HOME, New York Herald, Jul. 13, 1919, p. 44, cols. 1-8 (NOTE:  Paid

subscription required to access via this link).  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

"ENTRANCE HALL WITH ITS FLOOR of BLACK and WHITE

MARBLE SQUARES LAID DIAMONG WISE."  Source:

PICTURESQUE LINES OF OLD SLAVE QUARTERS FURNISHED

ARCHITECT WITH MOTIF FOR DESIGN OF SUBURBAN HOME,

New York Herald, Jul. 13, 1919, p. 44, cols. 1-8 (NOTE:  Paid

subscription required to access via this link).  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

"AN ADDED TOUCH of PRIVACY is GIVEN the ENTRANCE

by the DORMERS FLANKING IT."  Source:  PICTURESQUE LINES

OF OLD SLAVE QUARTERS FURNISHED ARCHITECT WITH

MOTIF FOR DESIGN OF SUBURBAN HOME, New York Herald,

Jul. 13, 1919, p. 44, cols. 1-8 (NOTE:  Paid subscription required

to access via this link).  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

"PICTURESQUE LINES OF OLD SLAVE QUARTERS FURNISHED ARCHITECT WITH MOTIF FOR DESIGN OF SUBURBAN HOME

Howard Major Received Inspiration for Novel Plan During His Rambles Among Historic Manors in Maryland -- Later Embodied Crude Beauties of Outbuildings in Construction of House for W. T. Grant at Pelham, New York

It is safe to say no architect ever designed a house around such unique a motif as did Howard Major when he planned the long, low, rambling and altogether delightful dwelling for W. T. Grant at Pelham, N. Y.  Hugging the ground closely it stretches out over a hundred feet of pretty country, showing a contour of low gables and simple roof lines, of sturdy chimneys and quaint dormers that manifestly belong to the site.

At first glance the house does not seem to be made up of the various types from which our modern, domestic architecture is drawn, although it suggests the English cottage idea more than any other.  And it is only after Mr. Major -- one of the younger of New York architects, whose work is bound to enhance in value as time goes on, since he builds not for evanescent popularity but honestly with a vision for the future -- tells you how the idea for the Grant home took shape in his mind and gradually grew until it developed into this picturesque and livable home that the layman fully understands the inspiration that suggested it.

It was while visiting friends at Havre de Grace, Md., that Mr. Major, in prowling around among the famous old manors of that historic State, was struck by the exceedingly picturesque quality of the old slave quarters, always an adjunct to the 'big house.'  Invariably of brick and whitewashed with native materials that weathered into soft, mellow tones, these quaint little structures had a character peculiarly their own.  Sometimes they resembled the first Dutch Colonial houses of New Amsterdam and again the main unit had built against it the typical lean-to or additions graded down in size to small sheds.  Generally crude in form and shape, they nevertheless served to emphasize the picturesque character of the whole.

Masonry Haphazard.

As a rule there was a stanch though irregularly built chimney at one or both ends and the haphazard method of masonry added a distinction of its own.  Not only were those quaint little dwellings in harmony with their surroundings but they seemed to form a connecting link with nature and become a part of it, a feature all too often lacking in the fine country estates of to-day.  The more the architect saw of these simple native cottages the more he became imbued with the desire to build a suburban home around the motif.  The opportunity offered itself when a client, W. T. Grant of Pelham, sought his services to design for him a home.  Mr. Grant was delighted with the suggestion and soon the picturesque dwelling was under way.

The site for the new home bore all the evidences of having served for an earlier habitation and it seemed peculiarly suitable for the development of this novel idea.  The aspect of the surrounding country was essentially a domestic one, for the trees -- oak, maple, the elm -- were all native to the vicinity, and there were huge trees of box and giant bushes of lilacs already there that demanded a house of a simple, unpretentious sort.  The way the plan worked out and the manner in which the architect kept it all in 'key' combine to make it one of the most charming and essentially livable houses to be found anywhere.

House Set Close to Ground.

The house, with its delightful planes and roof surfaces, its gables and quaint dormers, is set close to the ground and field stone wall that follows the contour of the land encloses it in an intimate, friendly way that serves to emphasize the sweet, domestic character of the whole.  A flagstone pathway leads up through a country lot to the door and a grass path, rose bordered, offers another method of approach.  Only a little planting has been done, but that is of an effective sort such as the introduction of dwarf and blue spruces and dwarf Norway pines or vines planted in the angle of a gabled wing that climb up to the weathered , shingled roof and form a splash of green against the silvery surface that is as refreshing to the eye as it is picturesque in effect.  

With the simple exterior one is not quite prepared for the elegance of the interior, suggestive as it is of the best English and Italian decorative periods.  One enters a formal hall with the stair hall opening off, floors of which are black and white marble squares laid diamond wise.  This feature gives not only a feeling of palatial beauty but one of cool refreshment as well.  The walls of the halls and of most of the rooms are of rough finished plaster in a soft gray and the wood trim is painted a Colonial white.  The woodwork in the small hall, from which the staircase rises, is pure Colonial, with charmingly proportioned doors and a panelled archway between the top of which is ceiled, as are the sides.

Stairs in Fine Proportion.

The staircase itself is well worthy of comment.  Broken midway by a landing and a sharp turn, it forms a particularly interesting detail.  Slender spindles, delicately carved, are surmounted by a modest mahogany handrail and a crystal ball takes the place of the usual wood newel post.  The stairs are perfectly designed with broad treads and low risers, making the ascent to the upper story a real pleasure by reason of its fine proportions.  A simple crystal chandelier, small and unusual in design, suggests the type of lighting fixture carried out in the main living room on the first floor.

The main floor plan, built on one level, is simple but comprehensive, the living room, dining room and stair hall opening off the main hall.  The enclosed porch, which forms a gabled wing, is reached from the living room.  The service portion has ample space for its own needs.  The second floor contains six bed chambers and an equal number of baths.  The servants' quarters are arranged in the floor of the high portion.

Since Mr. Major is one of the architects who not only design their houses but furnish them as well, his work invariably has a charm of its own, dependent upon his fine decorative taste.  In the past an architect faced the possibility of having his work spoiled by the decorating, but nowadays it has become the custom for him to develop the furnishing to suit the design, and as a result there are far fewer failures to record.  Mr. Major depends more upon composition and arrangement to get his effect than upon the usual 'color schemes' of which we have, unfortunately, heard far too much in the past.

Dining Room Elegant but Simple.

Elegant simplicity prevails in the huge living room, lighted by four windows, which, furnished in Italian style with a predominance of green in the upholstery, harmonizes well with the gray rough plaster walls.  William Odom collected the furniture for this room while travelling abroad, and it includes some rare tapestries, furniture and draperies.  A number of fine canvases cover the walls, one of which is used as an over-mantel.  Mr. Major himself discovered some wonderful Italian polychrome sidelights, which he has used to good effect against the plain wall surfaces.

No room in the house is more effective than the Georgia dining room, which is panelled from floor to ceiling and painted in soft green, which has been rubbed down to a dull antique finish.  Against this background Mr. Major has placed the most delightful of furnishings in the shape of gilt consols used as side tables, a set of black and gold chairs, an ancient gilt mirror, an over mantel painted with gay flowers on a black background, and other similar fittings.  It is at once both simple and luxurious, and satisfies the taste for the elegant and refined without introducing anything obtrusive either in color or design.

Faithful devotion to an idea is one of Mr. Major's particular characteristics.  He believes, above all, in building honestly and well and in undertaking no more than he can personally carry out.  

'I never take more work,' he says 'than can be done under my direct supervision.  It must bear the imprint of my own taste and skill and so I never turn work over to others to execute for me.'

Just at present the architect is engaged on a $250,000 job at Southampton, L. I., besides the remodelling of a town house in the Empire period and several other contracts in the suburbs.  As to the continued high cost of building construction Mr. Major believes there is little if any chance of its coming down for some time to come.

'I believe we will see the present high rates for both labor and materials maintained for the next seven or eight years,' remarked Mr. Major in this connection.  'It looks to me as though the present inflated values will continue, but I don't believe that will have any effect in restricting building operations.

'There is an immense amount of work going on now and there is every reason to believe it will keep on, for in the majority of instances the incomes have increased with the high cost of living and so the people who want new homes will have them just the same.  The tendency to drop to normal will be gradual and it will be a number of years before this really happens, according to my judgment.'"

Source:  PICTURESQUE LINES OF OLD SLAVE QUARTERS FURNISHED ARCHITECT WITH MOTIF FOR DESIGN OF SUBURBAN HOME, New York Herald, Jul. 13, 1919, p. 44, cols. 1-8 (NOTE:  Paid subscription required to access via this link).

Archive of the Historic Pelham Web Site.
Home Page of the Historic Pelham Blog.
Order a Copy of "The Haunted History of Pelham, New York"
Order a Copy of "Thomas Pell and the Legend of the Pell Treaty Oak."

1856 Notice Regarding Sale of James Hay's Lands in Pelham and Eastchester

Archive of the Historic Pelham Web Site.
Home Page of the Historic Pelham Blog.
Order a Copy of "Thomas Pell and the Legend of the Pell Treaty Oak."

There is a lovely historic home located at 45 Iden Avenue in the Village of Pelham Manor.  It is known as "Pelhamdale."  Portions of the home including the rear basement with entrance and massive fireplace are believed to pre-date the Revolutionary War.  The home once was owned by American Patriot David Jones Pell.  The structure is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The home has been significantly altered since the eighteenth century.

The home, known also as the Old Pell Place and the Old Pell Home is located today on a triangular tract bounded by Carol Place, Iden Avenue, and the Hutchinson River Parkway.  The plot on which the home sits was part of a large 18th and 19th century farm that once was bounded by today's Colonial Avenue (the Old Boston Post Road), the Lane that became known as Wolf's Lane, today's Boston Post Road, and the Hutchinson River.  

Col. Philip Pell III (1753-1811) owned an adjacent farm, the farmhouse of which once stood at the intersection of today's Cliff and Colonial Avenues.  Col. Pell was a son of Philip Pell II who, in turn, was son of Philip Pell who was a son of Thomas Pell (so-called Third Lord of the Manor of Pellham).  The original farm cottage that forms a portion of today's "Pelhamdale" at 45 Iden Avenue was built by Philip Pell II around 1750-60.

Philip Pell II was the father of Col. Philip Pell III (often referenced, oddly, as Philip Pell, Jr.) and David Jones Pell.  Both the sons were American Patriots.  After the death of the elder Pell, his son David Jones Pell became owner of "Pelhamdale."  David Jones Pell's brother, Philip Pell III, built his adjacent farm and farmhouse.  That farm included the land on which today's Pelham Memorial High School stands.  A memorial marker and date stone of the home built by Col. Philip Pell III stand next to the front entrance of the high school.

After the death of David Jones Pell in 1823, Pell's widow sold the farm to James Hay who owned it until his own death in the 1850s.  Hay extensively expanded and renovated the home, giving it an appearance similar to the home's appearance today.  Apparently during the expansion of the home, James Hay embedded in the north wall of the home a large block of sandstone on which is carved in relief the Hay family coat-of-arms.

James Hay assembled extensive plots of land in the Towns of Pelham and Eastchester.  He died intestate (without a will) before disposing of those properties.  After his death, Hay's wife was appointed an Administratrix of his estate (together with a group of Administrators).  Mrs. Hay and the Administrators worked for years to try to sell all of the land Hay owned, holding multiple estate auctions between 1856 and at least 1860.

Today's Historic Pelham article transcribes notice of one such public auction published on August 1, 1856.  The notice indicated that on September 3, 1856, the estate would attempt to auction six parcels of land in Pelham and Eastchester including much of the Pelhamdale farm.  The notice, transcribed below, provides interesting insight into the holdings of James Hay, a wealthy 19th century Pelhamite. 

View of Pelhamdale from Iden Avenue on September 3, 2014.

Source: "Pelhamdale" in Wikipedia -- The Free Encyclopedia (visited

May 7, 2016). NOTE: Click on Image to Enlarge.

*          *          *          *          *

"WESTCHESTER COUNTY SURROGATE COURT. -- In the matter of the application of the Administrators, &c., of JAMES HAY, deceased, for authority to sell the real estate of intestate, &c.

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to an order of the Surrogate of Westchester County, made in the above matter on the 10th day of September, 1855, that the undersigned, the Administratrix and Administrators of James Hay, late of the town of Pelham, said in county, deceased, intestate, will sell at public vendue, on the premises, in the towns of Pelham and East Chester, is said County of Westchester, on the third day of September next, at 12 o'clock at noon of that day, the following pieces or parcels of land, situate in the said county of Westchester:

PARCEL 1 -- All that certain piece or parcel of land situate in the town of East Chester, country of Westchester, and State of New York, bounded as follows:  Beginning at a corner of a stone wall now or late of Stephen Jones, thence running northerly with the line of the land of said Jones to the centre of a ditch adjoining the salt meadow now of James Hay, formerly of one Stephen S. Pell; thence easterly with said ditch to East Chester Creek, (so called); thence with said creek to the salt meadow land now (or late) of Isaac Sherwood; thence westerly with said meadow land of said Sherwood to the place of beginning -- containing two acres, be the same more or less -- being one of the pieces or parcels of land which were conveyed by John W. Fowt, of East Chester, and Susan C. his wife, to Alfred H. Duncombe, by deed dated the 20th day of March, 1846, recorded in Westchester County Clerk's Office, in Liber 115 of Deeds, page 214, &c.

PARCEL 2 -- All that certain piece or parcel of salt meadow land situate lying and being in the town of East Chester, in said county of Westchester, bounded northerly by salt meadow land late of Gloriansen Franklin (now of Alfred H. Duncombe); easterly by East Chester Creek; southerly by land of heirs of Philip Pell, deceased; and westerly by land of heirs of widow Roberts -- containing five acres, three roods, and eight perches, be the same more or less -- being the same premises conveyed to the said James Hay, deceased, by Isaac Sherwood and Harriet his wife, by deed bearing date 7th of May, 1850.

PARCEL 3 -- All those certain six lots of land in the town of Pelham, said county of Westchester, known as lots Nos. 8, 156, 170, 212, 286, and 381, on a map entitled 'Map of Pelhamville, Westchester County, New York,' dated August 4th, 1851, surveyed by William Bryson, and filed in Westchester County Clerk's Office, bounded and containing, according to said map as follows:  North lot number 8 -- bounded north by lot No. 91, seventy-five feet; south-east by land of said James Hay, one hundred and fifteen feet; south by lot No. 74, twenty-five feet; and west by lot No. 75, one hundred feet.  Middle lot No. 8 -- Bounded north by lot No. 52, about ninety feet; south-east by land of said James Hay, one hundred and twenty feet; south by lot No. 33, twenty-two feet; west by lot No. 34, one hundred feet.  South lot No. 8 -- Bounded north by lot No. 33, sixty-five feet; south-east by land of said James Hay, one hundred and twenty feet; and west by Fifth avenue, about one hundred feet.  Lot No. 156 -- Bounded north by Fourth street; east by First avenue, three hundred feet; south by lot marked L; and west by Hutchinson's River.  Lot No. 170 -- Bounded north by lot No. 172, one hundred feet; east by Eight avenue, one hundred feet; south by lot No. 142, one hundred feet; and west by lot No. 169, one hundred feet.  Lot No. 212 -- Bounded north by lot No. 234, one hundred feet; east by lot No. 213, one hundred feet; south by lot No. 208, one hundred feet; and west by Third avenue, one hundred feet.  Lot No. 286 -- Bounded north by lot No. 293, one hundred feet; east by Second avenue, one hundred feet; south by lot No. 264, one hundred feet; and west by lot No. 267, one hundred feet.  And lot No. 331 -- Bounded on the North by lot No. 384, one hundred feet; on the est by lot 380, one hundred feet; on the south by lot No. 364, one hundred feet; and on the wet in front by River place, one hundred feet.

PARCEL 4 -- All that certain piece, parcel, or tract of land situate lying an being in the township of Pelham, in the said county of Westchester, being part of the farm late of David J. Pell, deceased, bounded and described as follows, to wit:  Beginning at a stone set at the end of the salt meadow adjoining the easterly side of the East Chester Creek on said farm late of David J. Pell, deceased, marked X; from thence running in a line easterly, as said fence now stands, until it comes to the westerly side of the road ledaing through the farm last mentioned from the Old Boston Post Road to the New Turnpike Road leading to Boston; from thence running northerly five feet, or thereabouts to a stone set in the ground against a stone fence marked X; from thence running in line easterly to the line fence between the said farm of David J. Pell, deceased, and the farm late of Philip Pell, deceased, at a stone set in the ground, marked X; from thence running in a line northerly along the fence last mentioned till it comes to the Old Boston Post Road, above mentioned, to a stone set in the ground marked X; from thence westerly by and with the said road till it comes to the bridge commonly called Pell's Bridge; from thence southerly by and with Hutchinson's River, or East Chester Creek, to the place of beginning -- containing ninety acres, be the same more or less.  Also, all that other piece, parcel or tract of land, or salt medow, lying and being in the town of East Chester, in the said county, bounded as follows:  On the North by the Old Boston Post Road; westerly by the land of Jesse Lyon; south by the land of widow Franklin, deceased; east by East Chester Creek -- containing about seven acres, be the same more or less.

PARCEL 5 -- All that certain dwelling house and lot of land situate in the town of East Chester, in said county of Westchester, known and described as follows, to wit:  Bounded on the west and north by the Old Boston Post Road, leading from East Chester aforesaid to New Rochelle; easterly by a salt meadow belonging to James Hay; southerly by land of Stephen Jones; and containing in the above bounds about six and a half acres, be the same more or less -- being the same premises conveyed to the said James Hay, deceased, by George Faile, Administrator, &c., of Abraham Simmonds, deceased, by deed bearing date the 19th day of January, 1836.

PARCEL 6 -- All the right, title, and interest which the said intestate, at the time of his decease, had in and to the following premises, viz:  All that certain piece, parcel, tract, or farm of land situate in the town of Pelham aforesaid, and bounded northerly by the Old Boston Post Road; westerly by land of Francis Secor and the said James Hay; southerly by the East Chester turnpike road; and easterly by land of Henry Grenzebeck [sic] -- containing about one hundred and fourteen acres of land -- subject to the privilege heretofore conveyed to Daniel Sherwood, of taking from the spring of water on the above described premises, (opposite the dwelling house,) for the necessary use of the said Daniel Sherwood, so far as the said privilege is conveyed to the said Sherwood, in a certain deed to him from Robert S. Hart, Master in Chancery -- being the same premises conveyed to the said James Hay, deceased, by Mary Pell, by deed bearing date the 9th day of January, 1846. -- Dated July 16, 1856.

REBECCA HAY, Administratrix,
WILLIAM S. POPHAM,              }
SAMUEL T. CAREY,                  }     Administrators of James Hay, deceased.
SAMUEL E. LYON,                    }

ROBERT COCHRAN, Proctor for Petitioners.     10w7"

Source:  WESTCHESTER COUNTY SURROGATE COURT. -- In the matter of the application of the Administrators, &c., of JAMES HAY, deceased, for authority to sell the real estate of intestate, &c. [Legal Notice], Eastern State Journal [White Plains, NY], Aug. 1, 1856, Vol. XII, No. 12, p. 4, col. 6.

*          *          *          *          *

I have written about James Hay and his lovely historic home known as "Pelhamdale" (and "Pelham Dale") on numerous occasions.  For a few of many examples, see:

Wed., Nov. 30, 2016:  Article on the History of Pelhamdale Published in 1925 After Tragic Fire.

Thu., Nov. 03, 2016:  1860 Auction Offering Pelhamdale Lots from the Estate of James Hay.

Thu., Oct. 20, 2016:  Fears in 1934 and 1935 that the Historic Home Known as Pelhamdale Would Be Razed.

Fri, May 13, 2016 1851:  Advertisement Offering Farm and Mansion Known as Pelhamdale for Lease.

Fri., Sep. 04, 2015:  Sale of the Pre-Revolutionary War Home Known as Pelhamdale in 1948.

Tue., Jun. 24, 2014:  Story of Pelhamdale, the Old Stone House by the Bridge, Once Owned by David J. Pell.

Thu., Jan. 03, 2008:  Charges in 1808 Against Lieutenant-Colonel David J. Pell of Pelham that He "Indulges in Inebriety and Habitual Drunkeness." 

Thu., Oct. 26, 2006:  Genealogical Data Regarding David Jones Pell of the Manor of Pelham, Revolutionary War Officer. 

Mon., Oct 15, 2007:  Town Proclamation Recognizes Celebration of the 250th Anniversary of Pelhamdale at 45 Iden Avenue. 

Wed., Nov. 02, 2005:  Engraving by P.M. Pirnie Showing Pelhamdale in 1861. 

Thu., Oct. 13, 2005:  Two More Pelham Ghost Stories. 

Mon., Sep. 19, 2005:  The Long-Hidden Pastoral Mural Uncovered in Pelhamdale, a Pre-Revolutionary War Home. 

Mon., Apr. 11, 2005:  More From the William R. Montgomery Glass Negative Collection (includes photograph of fire at Pelhamdale on February 28, 1925). 

Tue., Mar. 22, 2005:  The 1790 U.S. Census Information for the Township of Pelham.

Archive of the Historic Pelham Web Site.
Home Page of the Historic Pelham Blog
Order a Copy of "Thomas Pell and the Legend of the Pell Treaty Oak."

Edgewood, a Grand 19th Century Estate Owned by Frederick Prime Overlooking Long Island Sound

Archive of the Historic Pelham Web Site.

Home Page of the Historic Pelham Blog.

Order a Copy of "Thomas Pell and the Legend of the Pell Treaty Oak."

For several years I have noticed numerous references to an estate owned by Frederick Prime that once overlooked Long Island Sound supposedly in Pelham.  The references always have puzzled me for I had never run across Frederick Prime in Town of Pelham records and I was aware of no substantial estate on Pelham's shores that belonged to anyone named Frederick Prime. 

I even learned of a lovely painting by noted artist Rickarby Miller purporting to show "Edgewood" as it appeared in 1855.  The painting seemed to confirm that the home that stood on the estate was, indeed, a substantial one.  

"Edgewood, Pelham" by Rickarby Miller, 1855.

Original Held in Private Collection.

Edgewood, in short, remained a Pelham mystery -- at least to me -- for several years.  

Recently, I ran across yet another reference to Edgewood indicating that it was an estate in Pelham that existed as early as 1852.  I finally could not take it anymore.  I threw myself into the task of solving the mystery and started where I should have begun long ago -- poring over old maps of the area.

I could find no maps of the Town of Pelham from 1853 through 1893 that referenced either an estate known as Edgewood or a property owned by anyone with the last name Prime.  It was time to expand the search.

Soon the mystery was solved.  As I should have anticipated, an early map of New Rochelle published in 1868 revealed that Frederick Prime owned a substantial estate overlooking Long Island Sound at a location just across Pelham's border with New Rochelle near Shore Road.  A detail from the map appears immediately below.

Detail from 1868 Map Reflecting Estate of "Fred. Prime"
Source:  F.W. Beers, Atlas of New York and Vicinity from
Actual Surveys by and Under the Direction of F.W. Beers,
Assisted by A.B. Prindle & Others, p. 36 "Town of New Rochelle,
Westchester Co, N.Y. (with) Pelhamville" (NY, NY:  Beers, Ellis,
& Soule, 1868).  Note:  The New Rochelle / Pelham
Border Later Was Moved Even Closer to Prime's Estate.

Today's Historic Pelham Blog posting provides information about Frederick Prime and his estate, Edgewood.  Additionally, at the end of today's posting, I have included transcriptions of numerous sources to facilitate future research and full text search.

Frederick I. Prime was born in New York City on October 30, 1807.  He was the youngest son of Nathaniel Prime.  He was baptized at Grace Church, February 27, 1811.

Frederick Prime's Father, Wall Street Banker Nathaniel Prime

Nathaniel Prime was a successful and wealthy banker who founded the then well-known banking firm of Prime, Ward & King.  Nathaniel Prime found a business in 1796 known as "Nathaniel Prime, Stock and Commission Broker, No. 42 Wall street."  His business grew and, in 1808, he took in Samuel Ward as a partner, changing the name of the firm to Prime & Ward.  In 1816, the partnership accepted Joseph Sands as a partner and became known as Prime, Ward & Sands, still doing business at No. 42 Wall Street until 1825 when the building was demolished to make way for a grand marble building to house the expanded firm.  That same year, James G. King was made a partner and the firm became Prime, Ward, Sands, King & Co.  Sands left the firm in 1826 and it became Prime, Ward, King & Co.

There is an apocryphal story about Wall Street banker Nathaniel Prime.  It was related in a book published in 1870 as follows:

"Old Nat Prime was an extraordinary man -- stout, thick, short, and heavy in person, yet he was a wonderfully shrewd calculator.  It was stated that the original head of this firm was in early life a coachman to the rich William Gray, an eminent merchant in Boston.  Mr. Gray loaned him a small sum of money with which to commence the brokerage business in a very small way.  The ex-coachman shaved notes, and got bravely ahead.  He was invited to a dinner party, where there were several gentlemen, and one a planter of wealth from Georgia.  The conversation turned upon the best mode of investing money.  Mr. Prime took a part in this conversation, and after giving his financial views, added:  'If I had $5000, I could invest it to-morrow in a manner that would enable me to double the sum inside of a year.'

'What security can you give me, Mr. Prime, if I lend you the sum named?' asked the Georgian planter.

'The word of an honest man,' said Mr. Prime.

'You shall have the money on that security alone,' said the Georgian.  He gave Mr. Prime $5000 the next day.  The broker did double the sum, and within a year returned the $5000, with interest, to the generous and confiding lender.  But there is a sequel to that, not so pleasant to narrate.  Some years after the $5000 transaction, the Georgian planter became embarrassed.  His plantation and slaves were mortgaged, and he was unable to pay the interest and prevent a foreclosure and sale.  He could not raise the money.  In this emergency he thought of Mr. Prime, who had meanwhile become the great Wall street banker.  He went to him, and recalled himself to the memory of Mr. Prime, and then stated his desperate circumstances.  'I need,' he added, 'about the same amount I once loaned you.'

'What security can you give?' asked Prime.

'The word of an honest man,' replied the Georgian.

'That will not pass in Wall street,' said Prime, and he refused to make the loan, and the planter became a beggar in consequence."

Source:  Barrett, Walter [pseudonym for Joseph Alfred Scoville], The Old Merchants of New York City, Vol. I, pp. 11-12 (NY, NY:  M. Doolady, 1870).

By 1830 or so, Nathaniel Prime was among the five richest men in New York with most believing that his fortune was second only to that of john Jacob Astor.  

In 1832, Nathaniel Prime retired from the banking firm he had founded.  Though it seemed that Nathaniel Prime had it all and would live his years in luxury on his country estate at Hurlgate, looks were deceiving.  As one source recounts:

"All seemed fair in the future for old Mr. Prime.  Vast wealth, excellent sons, daughters all well married, he had nothing else to do but live and enjoy himself.  Did he do so?  No. The strange fancy seized upon his mind, that he was becoming poor -- that his destiny was to die in the almshouse.  Under this singular monomania, and hallucination of mind, he cut his throat with a razor, and died on the instant."

Source:  Barrett, Walter [pseudonym for Joseph Alfred Scoville], The Old Merchants of New York City, Vol. I, p. 12 (NY, NY:  M. Doolady, 1870).

Nathaniel Prime.

Source:  Prime, Temple, The Family of Prime of

Rowley, Mass. with Notes on the Families of Platts

and Jewett, Opposite p. 4 (2d Edition, NY, NY:  1897).

Frederick I. Prime, a Son of Nathaniel Prime and Owner of Edgewood

Frederick I. Prime attended Yale, studied law and was admitted to the bar of the State of New York as a young man.  He married his first wife, Mary Rutherfurd Jay, and entered practice with her father, his new father-in-law, Peter A. Jay who served as Recorder of New York City.   

Frederick and Mary Prime had three children before Mary died on September 9, 1835.  (She is buried in the Jay Graveyard in Rye, New York.)  Their children were Mary Rutherford Prime, born in New York on August 24, 1830; Harriet Prime, born in New York on September 11, 1832; and Helen Jay Prime, born in New York on August 22, 1835.  Frederick Prime's wife, Mary Prime, died only eighteen days after the couple's third child was born.  

After the death of his wife, Mary, Frederick Prime married Lydia Hare in Providence, Rhode Island, on August 15, 1838.  Lydia was a daughter of Harriet Clark Hare and Dr. Robert Hare, of Philadelphia.  Dr. Hare was a well-known chemist and Professor at the University of Pennsylvania.  

Frederick I. Prime and his second wife, Lydia Hare Prime, had one child:  Frederick Prime, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania March 1, 1846.  For more on Frederick I. Prime, his wives and family, see  Prime, Temple, The Family of Prime of Rowley, Mass. with Notes on the Families of Platts and Jewett, pp. 23-24 & pp. 12-22 (2d Edition, NY, NY:  1897).

Research has not yet revealed, to this author at least, when Frederick Prime acquired what became the estate known as Edgewood.  It seems clear, however, that at least by 1852, he and his second wife, Lydia Hare Prime, were using the estate as a country home away from their primary residence in New York City.  (A book of poetry written by Lydia Hare Prime that her husband published after her death in her memory included at least one poem indicated as written while at "Edgewood" in "New Rochelle" in "1852.")  

In any event, certainly by the time Rickarby Miller painted the estate as seen from Long Island Sound in 1855 (see image above), Frederick Prime and Lydia Hare Prime were using it part of each year as their summer residence.  Eventually, the estate consisted of forty acres of meadow lands, agricultural fields, and woodland, commanded by a mansion built in the "Swiss style of architecture, large [and] substantially and expensively built of rough-hewn brown stone."  There also were a coach-house and stables built of stone, with flower gardens, kitchen gardens, and two "tenant houses." 

Frederick I. Prime outlived his second wife, too.  Lydia Hare Prime died May 24, 1883, in her 65th year.  Her will, dated July 30, 1859, was proved June 6, 1883 and is on file with the Surrogate's Office of the City of New York, Liber 309, Fol. 491.  She is buried in Beechwood Cemetery, New Rochelle, New York.  Immediately upon his second wife's death, Frederick I. Prime collected poetry that she had been writing since childhood, organized it and published a book of her poetry that he distributed to family and friends.  See F.P., ed. [Prime, Frederick], In Memory of L.H.P. (NY, NY:  Frederick Prime, Jr. 1884).  

Frederick I. Prime died on July 13, 1887.  His will is on file with the Surrogate's Office, City of New York.  He is buried in Beechwood Cemetery, New Rochelle, New York.  

Advertising Indicating Efforts to Sell or to Lease Edgewood

In early 1881, advertisements began to appear in local metropolitan newspapers indicating that Frederick and Lydia Prime were trying to sell or to lease their country estate.  See, e.g., FOR SALE, OR TO LEASE, FOR A TERM OF YEARS [Advertisement], N.Y. Times, Mar. 30, 1881, p. 6, col. 6; COUNTRY REAL ESTATE -- FOR SALE, OR TO LEASE FOR A TERM OF YEARS, The Evening Post [New York, NY], Apr. 8, 1881, 2nd Edition, p. 2, col. 6; FOR SALE OR TO LEASE [Advertisement], The Evening Post [New York, NY], Apr. 8, 1882, 2nd Edition, p. 1, col. 7; FOR SALE OR TO LEASE [Advertisement], The Evening Post [New York, NY], Apr. 13, 1882, 2nd Edition, p. 2, col. 7.  (Examples of such advertisements appears at the end of this posting.)

After the death of Frederick Prime's wife, Lydia, in 1883, it seems that the estate was no longer offered for lease -- only for outright sale.  See FOR SALE -- "EDGEWOOD" [Advertisement], NY Times, May 1, 1885, p. 7, col. 2; FOR SALE -- "EDGEWOOD" [Advertisement], The Evening Post [New York, NY], May 19, 1885, 2nd Edition, p. 2, col. 8.

Confusion Over Whether Edgewood Was in Pelham or New Rochelle

As noted above, over the years I noticed some confusion in various records regarding whether the estate known as "Edgewood" was or was not located in Pelham.  It seems that the confusion may stem from the fact that although the estate was actually located in New Rochelle on Long Island Sound near the border with Pelham, Frederick Prime used a Pelham post-office address.  See, e.g., Swinton, William, History of the Seventh Regiment, National Guard, State of New York, During the War of the Rebellion, p. 191 (NY, NY:  Charles T. Dillingham, 1886) (quoting a letter from Frederick Prime containing the following return address:  "PELHAM POST-OFFICE, WESTCHESTER Co., N. Y., EDGEWOOD" -- see letter quoted in full below).  

*          *          *          *          *

Below are transcriptions of a number of resources related to Edgewood, its owner (Frederick Prime) and Prime's family.

"DEATH OF FREDERICK PRIME.

Frederick Prime, who died at his residence, 13 West Twelfth-street yesterday, was born in this city Oct. 30, 1807, and was the youngest and only surviving son of Nathaniel Prime, the founder of the at one time well known New-York banking frim of Prime, Ward & King.  Mr. Prime attended Yale College, studied law, and in early life practiced his profession with Peter A. Jay, formerly Recorder of this city, whose daughter was his first wife.  He afterward married a daughter of Dr. Robert Hare, of Philadelphia, the well known chemist, surviving her about four years.  Mr. Prime retired from business 25 years ago, and for many years passed the greater part of each year at his country seat, Edgewood, at New-Rochelle, where he took a deep interest in promoting public school affairs.

In politics Mr. Prime was a Republican from the formation of the party, and during the war he was a stanch and active supporter of the Union cause, taking a prominent part in politics in Westchester County.  He had been frequently solicited, but always declined to take office.  He leaves four daughters and one son.  He was the father-in-law of Francis T. Garrettson and of Louis F. Delafield, of this city, and of Dr. Gibbons, of New-Haven."

Source:  DEATH OF FREDERICK PRIME, NY Times, Jul. 14, 1887.

"COLONEL LEFFERTS.

MY DEAR SIR, -- Some threescore young ladies, relatives of the young men of your command, have with their own hands prepared a silk flag, which they very much desire should be presented to the regiment during its absence from our city on its present sacred mission.  I am requested to ask your permission that it may be sent to you (it is a national flag, and perfectly simple, the staff made of lance-wood, with a silver spear-head), in the hope that it may be used on all proper occasions, and not kept merely for parade.  The contributions made by the young ladies exceed the cost of the silk and mounting of the flag, and they request you to receive and dispose of this money for such useful ends as to your individual judgment may deem advisable.

I remain, with respect, yours, &c., 

FREDERICK PRIME

PELHAM POST-OFFICE, WESTCHESTER Co., N. Y.,
EDGEWOOD, May 5, 1861."

Source:  Swinton, William, History of the Seventh Regiment, National Guard, State of New York, During the War of the Rebellion, p. 191 (NY, NY:  Charles T. Dillingham, 1886).  

"Letters relating to the removal of the Sands remains from Nassau Street to St. Paul's Church, Eastchester, Westchester Co., N. Y.

EDGEWOOD (PELHAM), October 20th 1874.

To RUFUS PRIME, Esq., Huntington, L. I.

I am not certain as to the year the remains were removed from our grandfather's vault in New York to Eastchester, but it was either in 1844 or 1845 *  [Footnote * reads:  'It was in 1845; Rufus Prime assisted at this removal, he was in Europe in 1844, but was in New York during the spring of 1845.'] . . . I find the deed for the vault was given by the Rector of St. Paul's Church, Eastchester, grant to Cornelia Prime; this vault, in which she caused to be placed the remains removed from the vault of her father Comfort Sands, in the Dutch Church in Nassau Street, New York, has no steps or door, but is divided into two parts and covered with heavy marble flags.  The division nearest the church contains the remains, the other division was not used.  The deed is dated ninth of June 1846, the six being written over five erased, but as it is difficult to get instruments signed properly in country church bodies, it is probable it was prepared for 1845, but not executed until next year.

Your brother, 

FREDERICK PRIME.

EDGEWOOD (PELHAM), October 20th, /74.

RUFUS PRIME, Esq.:

Since writing enclosed I find the memorandums respecting an inscription proposed to be placed over the vault containing the remains from Comfort Sands' vault, of which we talked last year.  In one of yours you seem to think the vault was under the Church; this is a mistake; it is very near but on the outside of the south-east wall of the church.  I will put a rough diagram on the back of this.

Your affectionate brother, 

FREDERICK PRIME.

[Diagram shown]

The vault was a square solid wall of masonry, divided by a cross-wall, making as it were two distinct pits; as I was entirely ignorant of what space would be required, when the remains came, one division was found to be twice as large as was necessary -- the covering flags were long, rough, and heavy, each flag long enough, I think, to extend over both divisions from side to side.*  [Footnote * reads as follows:  'The gravestone which was over the vault in Nassau Street is now over this one.']"

Source:  Prime, Temple, Descent of Comfort Sands and of His Children, with Notes on the Families of Ray, Thomas, Guthrie, Alcock, Palgrave, Cornell, Dodge, Hunt, Jessup, pp. 17-18 (NY, NY:  1886).  

1881 Advertisement Seeking to Sell or to Lease Edgewood.

Source:  FOR SALE, OR TO LEASE, FOR A TERM OF YEARS 

[Advertisement], N.Y. Times, Mar. 30, 1881, p. 6, col. 6.

 The text of the advertisement immediately above reads as follows:

"COUNTRY REAL ESTATE.
----------
FOR SALE, OR TO LEASE FOR A TERM OF YEARS -- 'Edgewood,' on Long Island Sound, near New-Rochelle, the country seat of Frederick Prime, Esq., superbly located, commanding most extensive views of water and inland scenery; house, Swiss style of architecture, large substantially and expensively built of rough-hewn brown stone, coach-house and stables of stone, flower and kitchen gardens, two tenant houses; about 40 acres meadow, agricultural, and woodland; suitable as residence for a portion of or throughout the whole, year; nearly equidistant from New-Rochelle Station, on New-York and New-Haven Railroad, and from Pelham Manor Station, on Harlem River Branch Railroad.  If leased, will be leased partly furnished.  Apply to E. H. LUDLOW & CO., No. 3 Pine-st., or F. T. GARRETTSON, counselor, &c., No. 26 Broad-st., New-York City."

For the same advertisement as that quoted immediately above, see COUNTRY REAL ESTATE -- FOR SALE, OR TO LEASE FOR A TERM OF YEARS, The Evening Post [New York, NY], Apr. 8, 1881, 2nd Edition, p. 2, col. 6.  

1882 Advertisement Seeking to Sell or to Lease Edgewood.

Source:  FOR SALE OR TO LEASE [Advertisement],

The Evening Post [New York, NY], Apr. 8, 1882, 2nd Edition, p. 1, col. 7.

The text of the advertisement immediately above reads as follows:

"FOR SALE OR TO LEASE -- FOR A term of years, 'Edgewood,' on Long Island Sound, near New Rochelle, country seat of Frederick Prime, commanding extensive views of water and inland scenery; house large, Swiss style, of rough hewn brown stone; coach-house and stables of stone; two tenant-houses 40 acres; suitable as residence for both Summer and Winter.  Apply to F. T. GARRETTSON, No. 26 Broad Street, New York, or W. LE COUNT, New Rochelle."

For the same advertisement as that quoted immediately above, see FOR SALE OR TO LEASE [Advertisement], The Evening Post [New York, NY], Apr. 13, 1882, 2nd Edition, p. 2, col. 7.  

1885 Advertisement Seeking to Sell Edgewood.

Source:  FOR SALE -- "EDGEWOOD" [Advertisement],

NY Times, May 1, 1885, p. 7, col. 2.

The text of the advertisement immediately above reads as follows:

"FOR SALE--'EDGEWOOD,' ON LONG ISLand Sound, near New-Rochelle, equi-distant from New-Rochelle and Pelham Manor Depots, country seat of Frederick Prime, Esq., commanding extensive views of water and inland scenery; house very spacious; Swiss style; most substantially built of rough-hewn brownstone; coachhouse and stables of stone; 40 acres; suitable for both Summer and Winter residence; terms easy.  Apply to FRANCIS T. GARRETTSON, Counselor, &c., 26 Broad-st., New-York."

For the same advertisement as that quoted immediately above, see FOR SALE -- "EDGEWOOD" [Advertisement], The Evening Post [New York, NY], May 19, 1885, 2nd Edition, p. 2, col. 8.  

Archive of the Historic Pelham Web Site.

Home Page of the Historic Pelham Blog.

Order a Copy of "Thomas Pell and the Legend of the Pell Treaty Oak."