Louis Charles Epple and His Florist Business in the Village of North 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."

Recently members of the "Remembering North Pelham, NY Facebook page debated the origins of an image depicted in a "Real Photo Post Card" (RPPC) printed on AZO paper that is being auctioned on eBay.  The post card, the obverse and reverse of which are shown immediately below, is entitled "L. EPPLE NORTH PELHAM N.Y." and shows what appear to be greenhouses adjacent to a lovely shingled cottage with a Ford Model T flatbed truck in front of the cottage.

"L. EPPLE NORTH PELHAM N.Y." Obverse of

Real Photo Post Card Printed on AZO Paper

on Unspecified Date Between 1904 and 1918.

NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

Reverse of the Post Card.  NOTE:  the Stamp

Box Indicating It Was Printed on AZO Paper.

That Stamp Box Has Four Diamonds -- One at

Each Corner -- Signifying the RPPC Was Printed

Between 1904 and 1918.  NOTE:  Click

on Image to Enlarge.

The post card depicts the florist business of Louis Charles Epple in about 1915.  He and his wife resided in the shingled cottage adjacent to the greenhouses.  According to an obituary of Epple and an article about a fire on the site, the business was located at Seventh Street near Fifth Avenue in the Village of North Pelham for many years.  A review of period maps shows that the facility was located on the northeast corner of the intersection of 7th Street and Fifth Avenue, across the street from the Smith Brothers excavation contracting business that once stood adjacent to the Sanborn Map Company building that still stands.

Detail from 1914 Bromley Map Showing Epple

Home and Florist Facility in Lower Right Corner.

Source:  "Mount Vernon & Pelham" in Bromley,

G. W., Atlas of Westchester County, N. Y. Pocket,

Desk and Automobile Edition, Vol. I, p. 121

(NY, NY:  G. W. Bromley & Co. 1914).

NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

By 1928, Epple seems to have retired from the business and built a small apartment house that he owned and in which he resided at 717 Pelhamdale Avenue (upper Pelhamdale adjacent to Chester Park).  Epple seems to have leased the greenhouses at Seventh Street near Fifth Avenue to a business known as the "Pelham Floral Co."

On Saturday, August 25, 1928, an arsonist's fire destroyed the vacant shingled cottage adjacent to the greenhouses.  A brief news article about the fire suggested that it was one of a handful of recent fires of "incendiary" origins.

Louis Charles Epple was born on July 4, 1866, in Geneva Switzerland and came to America as a young man.  He was a florist by profession.  He settled in Pelham in about 1890 and developed a nursery and florist's business at Seventh Street near Fifth avenue.  

Epple served as a member off the Volunteer Fire Department of the First Fire District from its inception until the time of his death, a period of 53 years ago.  He had served as assistant chief of the department and was treasurer of the Pelham Fireman's Association for 11 years.  For half a century he was a member of Liberty Engine and Hose Company, No. 1.  Epple was one of a well-known trio of volunteer firemen, known as The Three Musketeers.  The other two were Philip Godfrey of Relief Hook & Ladder Co., No. 1, and William Dollny, of the same company who served as treasurer of the First District for many years and is now custodian of the Town Hall.  This trio was important to the early development of modern firefighting in North Pelham.

Epple retired about 1928 or so and built an apartment house on the brow of the hill at Pelhamdale Avenue north (717 Pelhamdale Avenue), where he lived.  He was a resident of Pelham for 55 years.  His wife, the former Louise Gauthier, died in 1931.  

Epple died in his home at 717 Pelhamdale Avenue on Monday, June 25, 1945.  He was survived by one daughter, Mrs. Florence Waser, who also resided in the apartments at 717 Pelhamdale Avenue, and by two brothers, Ernest Epple of Yonkers and Frederick Epple of Ridgewood, New Jersey.

*          *          *          *          *

"Vacant House Is Destroyed By Fire
-----
Blaze In House Adjoining Greenhouses Believed To Have Been Of Incendiary Origin
-----

Another fire believed to be of incendiary origin destroyed an unoccupied house in North Pelham early Saturday.  Half filled bottles of benzine and other peculiarities about the blaze lend color to the belief that the fire was purposely started.  Police have endeavored to determine who turned in the alarm but have been unsuccessful.  The fire destroyed by the house adjoining the green houses of the Pelham Floral Co. on Seventh street.  The building is owned by Louis Epple, who leased it to Pelham Floral Co.

Firemen of the First Fire District answered the alarm.  Chief Joseph Carraher was in command.  At the arrival of the firemen the blaze had gained great headway, despite the efforts of the firemen it was impossible to save the building."

Source:  Vacant House Is Destroyed By Fire -- Blaze In House Adjoining Greenhouses Believed To Have Been Of Incendiary Origin, The Pelham Sun, Aug. 3, 1928, p. 6, col. 1.  

"MRS. LOUIS EPPLE DIES IN NEW YORK
-----

Mrs. Louis Epple, a resident of the Pelhams for 37 years, died at St. Francis Hospital in New York City, Friday following an operation.  An internal hemorrhage caused her death.  Se was 59 years of age.

Funeral services were held Monday morning from the Walter B. Cook Funeral Home in New York and a mass was celebrated at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in that city.

Mr. and Mrs. Epple had made their home in North Pelham for many years, coming here from New York City when this community was known as Pelhamville.

Mr. Epple for many years was engaged in the florist business."

Source:  MRS. LOUIS EPPLE DIES IN NEW YORK, The Pelham Sun, Nov. 13, 1931, Vol. 22, No. 54, p. 4, col. 4.  

"Yule Tree Fire Does Damage In Epple Home
-----
Smoke Forces Families in Upper Floor To Escape by Ladders
-----

PELHAM -- Pelham Manor and North Pelham vied for 'honors' for the first fire of 1940 last night when the two village departments were called out within a few minutes of each other.

In North Pelham, a Christmas tree fire thought to have been started by a match spark, did approximately $200 damage in the home of Louis Eppel, 717 Pelhamdale Avenue, according to Chief Louis Edinger.

The fire, which occurred at 7:57 P. M., continued for an hour during which time, the Chief reported, several persons on the second floor, although in no danger, were taken down ladders because of the heavy smoke which filled the first floor.  

Damage was confined to the living room, where the window frames and doors were burned.  A blazing couch was thrown out the front window.

The Pelham Manor blaze, which was confined to a chimney in the home of Mrs. Margaret White, 626 Esplanade, occurred at 8:10 P.M.  There was no damage."

Source:  Yule Tree Fire Does Damage In Epple Home -- Smoke Forces Families in Upper Floor To Escape by Ladders, The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], Jan. 2, 1940, p. 10, col. 5.  

"LOUIS C. EPPLE, 79, FIREMAN FOR 53 YEARS, IS DEAD
-----
Had Been Member of Liberty Engine and Hose Co. No. 1 for Many Years His Total Service In the Fire Department Extending for More Than Half a Century.
-----
FIREMEN AND MASONS HONOR HIS WORK AT MEMORIAL RITES
-----
Had Retired from Business as Florist, but Maintained Interest in Fire Department Matters Until Recent Illness.
-----

The oldest volunteer fireman in the Town of Pelham, in point of service, passed away on Monday when Louis Charles Epple, died at his home, 717 Pelhamdale ave- North Pelham following a long illness.

Mr. Epple had been a member off the Volunteer Fire Department of the First Fire District since it was instituted 53 years ago.  He had served as assistant chief of the department and was treasurer of the Pelham Fireman's Association for 11 years.  For half a century he was a member of Liberty Engine and Hose Company, No. 1.

He was one of a well-known trio of volunteer firemen, known as The Three Musketeers.  The other two were Philip Godfrey of Relief Hook & Ladder Co., No. 1, and William Dollny, of the same company who served as treasurer of the First District for many years and is now custodian of the Town Hall.  Mr. Godfrey is hale and hearty and past 80.  The combined years of service given to the fire district by these three men are 148 years.  If Mr. Epple had lived until next November the total ages of the three men would have been 241 years.

Louis Epple was a native of Switzerland.  He was born on July 4th, 1866, in Geneva Switzerland and came to America as a young man.  He was a florist by profession and after settling in Pelham he conducted a nursery and florist's business at Seventh street near Fifth avenue.  He retired about 15 years ago and built an apartment house on the brow of the hill at Pelhamdale avenue North, where he lived.  He was a resident of Pelham for 55 years.  His wife, the former Louise Gauthier, died in 1931.  He is survived by one daughter, Mrs. Florence Waser, who resides at the North Pelham address; two brothers, Ernest of Yonkers and Frederick Epple of Ridgewood, N. J.

The Board of Fire Commissioners have ordereed the firehouse at Fifth avenue draped for thirty days in honor of his memory.

Firemen of the First Fire District conducted memorial services at the George T. Davis Chapel, New Rochelle, on Wednesday evening.  Masonic services, conducted by members of Winyah Lodge F. & A. M. followed.

Funeral services will be held this Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the Davis Chapel.  The Rev. Wallace W. Downes of the Congregational Church of the Pelhams, will officials."

Source:  LOUIS C. EPPLE, 79, FIREMAN FOR 53 YEARS, IS DEAD -- Had Been Member of Liberty Engine and Hose Co. No. 1 for Many Years His Total Service In the Fire Department Extending for More Than Half a Century -- FIREMEN AND MASONS HONOR HIS WORK AT MEMORIAL RITES -- Had Retired from Business as Florist, but Maintained Interest in Fire Department Matters Until Recent Illness, The Pelham Sun, Jun. 28 1945, Vol. 36, No. 11, p. 1, col. 3.  

"Louis Epple's Estate $15,000; Legatees Listed

WHITE PLAINS -- Louis Epple, of 717 Pelhamdale Avenue, North Pelham, who died June 25, left an estate of about $15,000, according to the will filed in Surrogate's Court.

Beneficiaries include two brothers, Ernest Epple of 8 Harding Avenue, Yonkers, and Fred Epple of Ridgewood, N. J., who receive $500 each; two nieces, Lena Conlon and Elizabeth Weingartner, both of the Bronx, $250 each; two grandchildren, Paul R. Waser and Fleuretta L. Waser, and a son-in-law, Robert E. Waser, all of the North Pelham address, $500 each, and a daughter, Florence R. Waser also of the Pelhamdale Avenue address, who is bequeathed the residue.

First Lieutenant Clarence W. Law, of 88 Young Avenue, Pelham, who was killed on Okinawa last April 20, left an estate an estate of $2,000 to his wife, Mrs. Louise R. Law, of the same address.  

Marie Mueller, of 15 Overhill Place, Yonkers, who died May 16, left an estate of $5,500, one-fifth the residue of which went to each of her four daughters and one son; Grace Langeler, of 448 Highbrook Avenue and Gladys Morgan, of 208 Highbrook Avenue, both of Pelham; Elanor Sorensen of the Yonkers address; Helen E. Hardy, of 5 Franklin Lane, Harrison, and George H. Mueller, of 119 Winifred Avenue Yonkers."

Source: Louis Epple's Estate $15,000; Legatees Listed, The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY]. Oct. 12, 1945, p. 10, col. 4.  

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."