The Beginnings of the Pelham Home Defense League of North Pelham During World War I
Despite, or perhaps due to, American neutrality during the early part of World War I, by early April, 1917, German U-Boats had sunk seven U.S. merchant ships. Like the rest of the nation, all of Pelham knew that neutrality no longer was possible.
On the evening of Tuesday, April 3, 1917 -- only days before the United States declared war on Germany -- a meeting was held at the Highbrook Avenue School (a predecessor to today's Colonial Avenue Elementary School). The purpose of the meeting was to organize a "Home Defense League," a forerunner to the Civil Defense efforts of World War II and the subsequent Cold War.
Seventy-seven local residents enrolled in the Pelham home Defense League during that April 3rd meeting. The patriotic enrollees resolved to meet eight days later on Wednesday, April 11, 1917 for organizational purposes.
On the following day (Wednesday, April 4 -- two days before the U.S. declared war -- the Board of Trustees of the Village of North Pelham got involved. Several residents involved with the initial organization of the Pelham Home Defense League approached the Board with a proposed plan for the establishment of the organization.
At the request of the organizers, and to give the imprimatur of local government involvement and support, the Board of North Pelham appointed six local residents to an "Executive Committee" to oversee the new organization. Every appointee had military experience. There were two from Pelhamwood, three from "North Pelham," and one from Chester Park. The members were: M. J. Wheeler, and Mr. Bacon of Pelhamwood; D. McLoughran, Captain A. P. Delcambre and Mr. Connacher of North Pelham; and A. M. Bienus, of Chester Park.
The purpose of the Executive Committee was to "make arrangements for the organization" of the Home Defense League and to prepare "a call" to be distributed immediately to residents throughout the Village of North Pelham to join and support the league, the purpose of which was "to arrange for drills and other training for the protection of life and property in this village in event of emergency."
As always in times of national crisis in America, Pelhamites were somber, serious, and dedicated. No Pelham resident was permitted to join the Home Defense League without first taking a constitutional oath. Applications for membership including the oath were prepared and distributed by Monday, April 9, 1917. That night, organizers held a meeting in the Town Hall that stands today at 34 Fifth Avenue to receive signed applications and oaths from those intending to join the Pelham Home Defense League.
During the Town Hall meeting on Monday, April 9, 1917, "About fifty residents" appeared at Town Hall and enrolled in the Pelham Home Defense League. Hoping for more, however, organizers returned to Pelham Town Hall every evening that week to enroll others in the league.
By Thursday, April 12, "about 75" residents had enrolled as members of the Pelham Home Defense League. The goal, however, was to enroll one hundred residents.
Within days, it seems, the initiative took off. By April 14, the league had 80 members. Only three days later, however, membership in the Pelham Home Defense League had doubled to 150 members. With 150 members, it was time.
The new Pelham Home Defense League scheduled its first "meeting and drill" session on Thursday, April 26, 1917. Pelhamwood resident, Captain Baker of the United States Army, addressed members on their duties before drills. Thereafter, Sergeant Heller of nearby Fort Slocum took charge of the men and "put them through their first drills."
There were about a hundred members of the Home Defense League at the Thursday evening "meeting and drill." Although initially scheduled at Firemen's Hall, the session was held at Town Hall from 8:00 p.m. until 10:30 p.m. Sergeant Keller of Fort Slocum put the Pelham men through "a series of drills" that night. That same night it was announced that the league would hold regular meetings each Tuesday and Thursday evening at 8:00 p.m. at Town Hall "until further notice."
The Town of Pelham was beginning to mobilize for War on its home front. The beginnings included the organization of the Pelham Home Defense League.
1917 World War I U.S. Army Recruitment Poster
With Depiction of Uncle Sam Painted by James Montgomery
Flagg Born in Pelham Manor. NOTE: Click on Image to Enlarge.
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Below is the text of a number of news articles regarding the initial formation of the Home Defense League of Pelham at the outset of World War I. Each is followed by a citation and link to its source.
"PELHAM HEIGHTS
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77 Enrolled
An enrollment of 77 residents resulted in a meeting which was held Tuesday evening at the Highbrook avenue school by the local residents for the purpose of organizing a home defense league. The meeting adjourned to meet again on Wednesday, evening of next week."
Source: PELHAM HEIGHTS -- 77 Enrolled, The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], Apr. 5, 1917, p. 9, col. 4.
"HAPPENINGS IN NORTH PELHAM
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AT BOARD OF TRUSTEES
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Lively Meeting Was Held on Wednesday Evening. . . .
Home Defense League.
The village board Wednesday evening adopted the plan submitted by a number of citizens for the organization of a Home Defense league, altho subjected to some minor changes. The board appointed the following to serve on the executive committee: M. J. Wheeler, and Mr. Bacon of Pelhamwood; D. Mc. Loughran, Captain A. P. Delcambre and Mr. Connacher, of North Pelham, and A. M. Bienus, of Chester Park. This committee will make arrangements for the organization and has prepared a call which will be distributed today among the residents of the village. The plan is to arrange for drills and other training for the protection of life and property in this village in event of emergency. The executive board is made up of members with military experience and they ask the co-operation of every resident. . . ."
Source: HAPPENINGS IN NORTH PELHAM -- AT BOARD OF TRUSTEES -- Lively Meeting Was Held on Wednesday Evening, The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], Apr. 6, 1917, p. 6, col. 2.
"HAPPENINGS IN NORTH PELHAM
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Application for League.
The executive committee of the Home defense league which was appointed Wednesday evening by the village board and consists of Captain Baker and W. J. Wheeler, of Pelhamwood; W. C. Connacher, Captain A. P. Delcambre and Daniel McIvor Loughran, of North Pelham and Anson Blenus, of Chester Park, will distribute during the next few days application blanks for membership including the constitutional oath. The committee expects to have all these distributed by Monday evening when it will hold a meeting at the town hall to receive signed applications. A member of the committee will be present each evening during the coming week at the town hall and will receive applications and furnish whatever further information may be desired."
Source: HAPPENINGS IN NORTH PELHAM -- Application for League, The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], Apr. 7, 1917, p. 9, col. 1.
"HAPPENINGS IN NORTH PELHAM. . .
50 in Defense League.
About fifty residents of this village enrolled Monday evening at the meeting of the executive committee of the Home Defense League at the town hall. Every evening this week members of the committee will be at the town hall to enroll others desiring to join. After the enrollment is completed the committee will announce further arrangements."
Source: HAPPENINGS IN NORTH PELHAM . . . 50 in Defense League, The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], Apr. 11, 1917, p. 11, col. 4.
"HAPPENINGS IN NORTH PELHAM . . .
Defense Club Recruiting.
Residents of this village who have not as yet enrolled with the home defense league are requested to do so at once. Members of the executive committee appointed by the village board will be at the town hall each evening this week to receive enrollments. The organization now has about 75 members and an effort is being made to reach a hundred."
Source: HAPPENINGS IN NORTH PELHAM . . . Defense Club Recruiting, The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], Apr. 12, 1917, p. 9, col. 4.
"HAPPENINGS IN NORTH PELHAM . . .
League Needs Men.
The Men of this village are being urged to enroll with the Home Defense League by the executive committee appointed by the village board. This committee has met every evening at the town hall on Fifth avenue, enrolling about eighty residents. The committee desires a hundred and asks through the Argus that all who have not enrolled to do so this evening when the committee will hold their last enrollment meeting at the town hall."
Source: HAPPENINGS IN NORTH PELHAM . . . League Needs Men, The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], Apr. 14, 1917, p. 9, col. 1.
"HAPPENINGS IN NORTH PELHAM . . .
150 In Defense League.
The Home Defense League of North Pelham has an enrollment of about 150 members and the executive committee in charge of the work is pleased with the response of the villagers. About seventy residents appeared at the town hall where the committee held its last enrollment meeting Saturday evening and signed their application for membership."
Source: HAPPENINGS IN NORTH PELHAM . . . 150 In Defense League, The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], Apr. 17 1917, p. 9, col. 4.
"HAPPENINGS IN NORTH PELHAM
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Defense League to Drill.
The first meeting and drill of the North Pelham Defense league will be held Thursday evening at Firemen's hall. Captain Baker, of the United States Army, a resident of Pelhamwood, will talk to the members on their duties. This instruction is essential to the men as it will help greatly in the drills that follow. After the talk Sergeant Heller, of Fort Slocum, will take charge of the men and put them through their first drills."
Source: HAPPENINGS IN NORTH PELHAM -- Defense League to Drill, The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], Apr. 25, 1917, p. 11, col. 3.
"HAPPENINGS IN NORTH PELHAM . . .
Defense League Drills.
About a hundred members of the Home Defense League met Thursday evening at the town hall where from 8 until 10:30 o'clock they were put through a series of drills by Sergeant Keller, U.S.A., of Fort Slocum. The league will meet each Tuesday and Thursday evening at 8 o'clock at the town hall until further notice. The executive committee announced that all members should appear at the town hall on the evenings mentioned whether notified or not as the cost of preparing notices can in that way be eliminated. Those who have not already become members may do so by applying to the executive committee."
Source: HAPPENINGS IN NORTH PELHAM . . . Defense League Drills, The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], Apr. 28, 1917, p. 13, col. 3.
"NORTH PELHAM. . .
Local Notes. . .
The Home Defense league has changed the drill night from Thursday to Friday owing to the Redmen meeting being held on that evening. The meetings and drills are now held on Tuesday and Friday evenings at 8 o'clock sharp at the town hall. The drills are under the direction of Sergeant Heller, of Fort Slocum."
Source: North Pelham -- Local Notes, The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], May 8, 1917, No. 8362, p. 7, cols. 1-2.
"NORTH PELHAM. . .
Attend Dance Tonight.
The Home Defense League of this village asks everyone to help them buy their equipment. To do this all they have to do is to attend the dance at the Firemen's hall this evening and help make it a success."
Source: NORTH PELHAM -- Attend Dance, The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], Jun. 16, 1917, No. 8395, p. 5, col. 4.
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Below is a list of previous Historic Pelham articles that touch on Pelham history during World War I. Each is followed by a citation to its source.
Fri., Feb. 03, 2017: Barbara Allen Vagliano of Pelham Manor, Among the First American Women Recipients of the French Croix de Guerre During World War I.
Wed., Jan. 25, 2017: Sixteen-Year-Old Pelhamite Nicknamed "The Kid" Received the French Croix de Guerre for Bravery Twice.
Mon., Jan. 02, 2017: Pelham Marches Into World War I in 1917.
Mon., Nov. 14, 2016: James Montgomery Flagg, Who Created the Iconic "I Want You" Uncle Sam, Was Born in Pelham.
Mon., May 30, 2016: The Cannon That Roared: Pelham Sacrifices a Memorial for the Nation’s Sake.
Wed., Sep. 16, 2015: Early History of The Pelham Comfort Society.
Fri., Jul. 17, 2015: 1918 Foreclosure Sale of 100 Lots On Bolton Avenue and Roosevelt Avenue in Pelham Manor.
Wed., Jan. 03, 2007: World War I Memorial Tree Plaques Honoring Pelham Citizens Who Died in World War I.
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."
Labels: 1917, Civil Defense, Home Defense League, World War I
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