Three Important 19th Century Structures That Stood in Pelham

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As in most towns, many storied structures that once stood within the Town of Pelham no longer exist.  Today's posting to the Historic Pelham Blog celebrates three such storied structures that once stood in our town.

The first was the old "Grenzebach Homestead."  It once belonged to Henry Grenzebach and stood on the hill where the chapel of today's Our Lady of Perpetual Help now stands. The main house commanded a large farm with rolling meadows that extended from today's Boston Post Road beyond today's Colonial Avenue, all the way to the new Haven Main Line tracks.  I have written about the storied Grenzebach Homestead before.  See, e.g., Wed., Aug. 02, 2006:  The 19th Century Grenzebach Homestead in Pelham.  

The photograph below shows the Grenzebach Homestead in 1889.  It appeared in the December 16, 1927 issue of The Pelham Sun with a brief caption prepared by then-Town Historian William R. Montgomery.  The text of the caption is transcribed and appears after the photograph and the related image of a painting of the same scene.

The Grenzebach Homestead.

Source:  Montgomery, William R., Do You Remember When - ?,

The Pelham Sun, Dec. 16, 1927, p. 3, cols. 1-2.

The image below shows a detail from an oil painting by former Pelham Town Supervisor John M. Shinn, who served as Town Supervisor from 1895 until 1904, showing the Grenzebach Homestead.  Clearly the painting was created from the photograph above.  The painting is one of a number of paintings by Shinn that hang in Peham Town Hall on Fifth Avenue.

Detail from Painting of Grenzebach Homestead by John Shinn.

Original in Town Hall, Pelham, NY.  Photo by the Author.

"DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN - ?
By William R. Montgomery

THE GRENZEBACH HOMESTEAD

Do you remember the old house that once stood on the Boston Post road at the corner of Fowler avenue, on the site of the residence of Mr. Wm. T. Grant?

It was originally the farm house of the Grenzebach family, who owned a large farm which extended north crossing the old Boston Post road (now known as Colonial avenue) to the New Haven R. R. tracks.  The part of the farm which was north of Colonial avenue is now included in the village of Pelham [i.e., today's Pelham Heights].

The property later was transferred to Robert Mitchell and by him to David I. Carson.  This photograph was taken in 1889 when the place was owned by Mr. Carson.  Afterward it was transferred to Dr. Fowler and about eight years ago it became the property of Mr. Wm. T. Grant, who replaced it with the present building.  [Editor's Note:  William T. Grant was a multi-millionaire who owned the nationwide chain of W. T. Grant's Five and Ten Cent Stores and who built his mansion -- now torn down -- on land owned by today's Our Lady of Perpetual Help].  

We are indebted to Mrs. D. I. Carson of Atlanta, Ga., for the above picture."

Source:  Montgomery, William R., DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN - ?, The Pelham Sun, Dec. 16, 1927, p. 3, cols. 1-2.  

Another storied structure in the 19th century history of Pelham, New York was the grocery built and operated by Loftus Brotherton.  Before the incorporation of the Village of North Pelham in 1896, the area north of the New Haven Main Line railroad tracks was known as Pelhamville. During the 1880s, Loftus Brotherton ran a tiny grocery store located on 5th Avenue near what was then known as 4th Street (today's Lincoln Avenue).  I have written before about Brotherton's Grocery Store.  See, e.g., Fri., Sep. 08, 2006:  An Image of The Brotherton Store in Pelhamville Before It Burned in 1890.  The store burned to the ground in May 1890.  

The photograph below shows Brotherton's Grocery in 1889. The photograph was taken during a gathering of The City Island Social Club at the grocery which was often used as a local gathering place.  The large banner held by the crowd on the left of this photograph is blowing in the wind and, thus, is seen from behind.  It reads "CITY ISLAND SOCIAL CLUB."  The image appeared in the December 16, 1927 issue of The Pelham Sun with a brief caption prepared by then-Town Historian William R. Montgomery.  The text of the caption is transcribed and appears immediately below the photograph.

The Brotherton Store.

Source:  Montgomery, William R., Do You Remember When - ?,

The Pelham Sun, Dec. 16, 1927, p. 3, cols. 1-2.

"The Brotherton Store.

Do you remember the old Pelhamville grocery store that was situated on 5th Avenue near 4th Street, long before the [trolley] car tracks were laid there?  It belonged to Mr. L. Brotherton and was noted for its high grade groceries.  It was well patronized by many families from Mount Vernon, New Rochelle as well as Pelham.  

The City Island Social Club, then a very flourishing organization made Brotherton's store its headquarters.  In May, 1890, the building was destroyed by fire, and the community lost its treasured village flag, which had been placed in the care of Mr. Loftus Brotherton.

We are indebted to Mr. John Rohr for the above picture."  

Source:  Montgomery, William R., DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN - ?, The Pelham Sun, Dec. 16, 1927, p. 3, cols. 1-2.  

A third storied structure in the 19th century history of Pelham, New York was a hotel operated by Fred Case and called, appropriately, "Fred Case's Hotel."  The hotel was located on Fifth Avenue near today's 3rd Street.  I have written before about Fred Case's Hotel.  See, e.g., Mon., Sep. 11, 2006:  An Image of Fred Case's Hotel on Fifth Avenue Near 3rd Street Before it Burned in About May 1892.  The hotel burned to the ground in about May 1892.

The photograph below shows Fred Case's Hotel in an undated image. The image appeared in the December 16, 1927 issue of The Pelham Sun with a brief caption prepared by then-Town Historian William R. Montgomery.  The text of the caption is transcribed and appears immediately below the photograph. 

Fred Case's Hotel.

Source:  Montgomery, William R., Do You Remember When - ?,

The Pelham Sun, Dec. 16, 1927, p. 3, cols. 1-2.

"FRED CASE'S HOTEL.

Do you remember the old hotel that stood on 5th avenue near 3rd street on the site of the Pelnord Apartments?  It was called Fred Case's Hotel and was built about 1852 being destroyed by fire about 1892.  In its early days it was a rendezvous of the old time peddlers and sporting men.  On part of a crusade by the then village of Mount Vernon against loads of peddlers and out of town sportsmen, these people came to Pelhamville, as North Pelham was then called.  I have been informed that it was a common sight to see three or four men leave Fred Case's each evening in hired hacks to canvass nearby places, including Mount Vernon.  Fred Case's hotel was well known throughout the county for the high standard it maintained in both dry and wet goods.  It was at this hotel in October 1855 that Samuel J. Tilden, then a young lawyer made several addresses.  He was running for Attorney General on the ticket of the Liquor Dealers and the Constitutional Rights Party.  

Fred Case's Hotel was likewise noted for its many cock fights which were conducted by the sporting element from the nearby communities.  It was the destruction of this old hotel that stimulated the people of the village of Pelhamville to organize a regular fire department.  

We are indebted to Mr. Frederick Case for the above picture."

Source:  Montgomery, William R., DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN - ?, The Pelham Sun, Dec. 16, 1927, p. 3, cols. 1-2.  

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