When Were the First Municipal Street Lights Installed in North Pelham?

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In early 1896, the citizens of the area we know today as Pelham Heights stole a march on the rest of Pelhamville and were able to have their neighborhood incorporated as the first village in the section known as Pelhamville.  Worse yet, to the consternation of the vast majority of Pelhamville residents, Pelham Heights incorporated using the name "Village of Pelham."  See Mon., Mar. 28, 2016:  Pelham Heights Really Pulled a Fast One on Pelhamville in 1896 -- Again! 

The remainder of Pelhamville kicked into high gear and promptly arranged a vote to incorporate as the "Village of North Pelham."  That vote, as well as an election to designate the first village officials, was held on August 25, 1896.  See Mon., Oct. 27, 2014:  Pelhamville Votes to Incorporate as the Village of North Pelham in 1896.

The proposal to incorporate passed by the slimmest of margins.  It passed by only two votes out of the 132 votes cast.  In addition, Pelhamville voters elected local grocer Jacob Heisser as the first President of the Village (the position now known as Mayor of the Village).

One of the very first official acts -- if not the first official act -- of the new Heisser administration in the new Village of North Pelham was to install municipal street lamps along village roads that were not yet even paved.  

The settlements of Pelham Manor and Pelhamville, before the incorporation of any villages, had improvement associations funded by local private dues.  Both improvement associations hung kerosene lanterns in strategic locations in the settlements during the 1880s.  Pelham Manor residents hired a lamp lighter who wandered about and lit the lamps at dusk, then extinguished them late in the evening.  Pelhamville, however, handled the matter differently.  It placed lanterns in places where at least two families resided nearby and agreed to fill, light, and maintain the lanterns.  In both settlements the lanterns, however, were few and far between and did little to light the way of Pelham travelers.

On August 27, 1896, only two days after the vote to incorporate and the associated election, the new Village of North Pelham began the installation of new open-flame municipal street lamps.  The village installed 71 so-called "naphtha flare" street lamps.

During the 1890s, Naphtha lamps were becoming popular and were being installed as street lamps across the region.  Communities such as Jamaica, Queens were installing the lamps a hundred or so at a time.  The new Village of North Pelham adopted the trend.

Naphtha is a colorless petroleum distillate that, typically, is an intermediate product between gasoline and benzine.  It is highly volatile and can be used as a solvent, a fuel, and the like.  Although research, so far, has revealed no record of the source of the naphtha used by North Pelham in its street lights, one source was its creation as a by-product when gas is produced from coal.  Gas was produced near Pelham and used in the new Village of North Pelham at the time.

There were a host of different types of naphtha flare lamps.  The precise model installed on the streets of the new Village of North Pelham on August 27, 1896 is, at least for now, lost to history.  There are common characteristics of such lamps, however, that provide a sense of what the first street lights in North Pelham were like.

Typically, naphtha flare lamps were gravity fed and had no wicks.  The liquid fuel fed from a small tank through a tube with a tap to a preheated burner.  When the tap was opened, the liquid fed to the burner where it evaporated.  The evaporating gas would light and burn as an open flame.  

Preheating the burner of the lamp so that the liquid fuel would begin to evaporate for ignition typically was a difficult task.  Depending on the model of the lamp, there could be a small metallic cup beneath the burner to hold a small fuel that could be ignited and burner beneath the burner for a time to preheat it until it grew hot enough to evaporate the liquid naphtha allowed to drip to the burner.

Naphtha flare lamps were notoriously hazardous.  There are many news accounts during the 1890s describing explosions of such lamps when the fuel tanks became overheated or were ignited in some fashion.  Additionally, if the flame of such a lamp was blown out by the wind, for example, the liquid would continue to drip from the tank and collect as a puddle below before evaporating.  That puddle, of course, could ignite as well.  

The lamps came with varying-sized fuel tanks.  Of course, larger tanks when full, would light longer than those with smaller tanks.  Some of the more common models could burn for as long as seven hours.  

Nevertheless, the need for street lights in the growing Village of North Pelham was undeniable in the latter half of 1896.  Despite the risk, the new village purchased and installed 71 of the lamps.  Progress continued its inevitable march through Pelham.

1905 Newspaper Advertisement for One Type of Naphtha Flare Lamp,

a Wells Lamp Known, Colloquially, as the Hydra Head.  NOTE:

Click on Image to Enlarge.

Example of a Wells No. 14 Naphtha Flare Lamp Lit.

NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

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Below is the text of a newspaper article on which today's Historic Pelham article is based.  The text is followed by a citation and link to its source.

"THE OLD DAYS

Back In 1896

Ran across a small bundle of the Pelham Press for the last six months of 1896.  In opening one a circular advertising a New York City evening paper fell out.  Before a law was passed making it a misdemeanor to insert circulars in newspapers without authority, it was the custom of chiseling merchants to have cheap circulars printed advertising their wares and for a nominal sum the newsdealer would insert one in Each paper sold or delivered.  Some big New York merchants had whole sections resembling a newspaper printed and many readers thought it was actually a section of the paper they bought.  Rival newspapers would print a circular criticising their opponent and have the newsdealer insert one in every one of the rival's papers.

*     *     *     *

It Was Pelhamville Then

The edition of Wednesday, August 25 says 'Next Saturday is election and every respecting resident of Pelhamville should vote for the incorporation of the place as a village to be known as North Pelham.  It will bring modern improvements.'

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No Free Rides

Also in the same edition:  'Constable Paul Sparks was arrested in Mount Vernon last week for riding on a car without paying his fare.  He thought his badge was a pass but the conductor thought different.  The case came up before Judge William H. Bard who discharged him.

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Interesting Note

In the same issue we are told 'Today is the 84th birthday anniversary of Mrs. Henry Ward Beecher.  She was for many years famous chiefly as the wife of America's great orator-clergyman.  Of late years, however, she has won for herself a modicum of literary reputation as a writer on household articles.'

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Railroad Burglars in 1896

From the Sept. 1st:  'Div. Sup. Shepard of the New Haven road telegraphed Saturday night that a gang of burglars were coming down the tracks.  Constables E. L. Lyon, Bruce T. Dick and R. H. Marks stayed in the station all night but the burglars did not show up.  They did try to break into the Rye station but were fired on by the constables there.'

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Garden Work Fatal

From the same copy:  'George J. Pearson, aged 76, one of the oldest residents of Pelham, was stricken with paralysis while working in his garden last Wednesday and died Sunday.  The funeral was held yesterday.

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Who Remembers the Postmistress

Also:  'Miss Madge Collins, sister of Mrs. Katherine I. Merritt the local postmistress, and George Edward Meyers of Mount Vernon, were married last Thursday in Newark, N. J.  They came immediately to North Pelham to the home of the bride's sister, Mrs. A. B. Beckwith of Third avenue where a reception was held.'

*     *     *     *

And Then Came The Light

'Incorporation' won and Jacob Heisser, the grocer, was elected first village president.  It will be a short term as all regular village elections will take place in March.  Two days after the election seventy-one street lamps were installed.  Each had a naphtha tank on top holding sufficient fuel to keep the light going all night.

*     *     *     *

The Voice in the Presses

The August 26th copy has a two column illustrated article on the last page telling of the new 'Marvel of the Age,' 'The Linotype eclipses all modern inventions' and tells of the revolution in the art of type setting."

Source:  THE OLD DAYS, The Pelham Sun, Jun. 26, 1942, Vol. 32, No. 12, p. 8, cols. 4-6.  

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The Bitter Battle Over the Incorporation of the Village of North Pelham in 1896 Continued After The Vote to Incorporate

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One of the two or three most bitter political battles ever fought in the Town of Pelham was the "Bitter Fight" among competing factions over whether to incorporate the settlement of Pelhamville as the Village of North Pelham in 1896.  I have written before about this seminal political battle that left residents' feelings quite raw some fifty years later.  See, e.g.:

Tue., Mar. 17, 2015:  Recollections of the "Bitter Fight" To Incorporate the Village of North Pelham Published Fifty Years Later.

Mon., Oct. 27, 2014:  Pelhamville Votes to Incorporate as the Village of North Pelham in 1896.  

Tue., Jul. 01, 2014:  Why Do We Call It the Village of Pelham Instead of Pelhamville? Because We Were Duped!

Fri., Apr. 15, 2005:  How Pelhamville "Lost" Its Name! 

During the mid-1890s, many residents of Pelhamville looked longingly toward their neighbor to the south, the Village of Pelham Manor that had been incorporated in 1891.  Through taxes and issuance of bonds, the Village of Pelham Manor was engaged in a host of infrastructure improvements including road improvements, sidewalks, and even sewers.  

A large group of Pelhamville residents banded together and formed a "club" named the "Citizens' League."  The initial purpose of the Citizen's League was to support an initiative to incorporate the settlement of Pelhamville as another village within the Town of Pelham.  Almost immediately, a group of Pelhamville residents who opposed incorporation formed the "People's Party" to oppose incorporation.  Members of the People's Party were so upset with the notion of incorporation that they proposed, instead, that Pelhamville should be annexed by the City of Mount Vernon.  Members of the People's Party grew to hate members of the Citizens' League and vice versa.  

The Citizens' League, led by Otto E. Stroetzel, a local merchant and resident of Chester Park, argued that major infrastructure improvements could be funded with little or no increase in taxes by incorporating a village that then could issue bonds.  They argued that the sale of bonds would immediately fund major improvements while the combined repayment of the amortized principal with the annual interest service would lead to sufficiently-low taxes so that Pelhamville residents would feel little economic impact.  

In contrast, the People's Party, led by Pelhamville resident , argued that taxes would skyrocket and that excessive debt would choke growth of the little settlement.  They argued that if the area were annexed by Mount Vernon, the tax burden would be spread across a much larger tax base and, thus, would permit the funding of needed infrastructure improvements with much lower tax rates.

Pelhamville residents were bitterly divided.  On Saturday, August 29, 1896, a referendum on the proposal was held.  A total of 132 Pelhamville residents cast ballots.  Once counted, there were 67 ballots cast in favor of incorporation and 65 against.  Had only a single voter in favor of incorporation decided, instead, to vote against the measure, the vote would have resulted in a tie.  

An election to install village officers for the newly-incorporated Village of North Pelham was scheduled for about four weeks later.  Feelings remained so raw, however, that the Citizen's League and the People's Party continued to battle and ran two slates of candidates against each other in the election.  To make matters worse, there were initial allegations that changes in certain election laws implemented by New York State earlier in the year (1896) meant that the referendum should not have been held under an older law implemented in 1894.  According to members of the People's Party, the old law allowed any resident of majority age to vote in such a referendum but, under the new law, only taxpayers could vote.  That meant, according to the People's Party, that about fifty of the 132 ballots cast in the referendum were invalid.  The People's Party began consultations with a local lawyer to invalidate the results of the vote.  

On September 26, 1896, residents of the newly-incorporated Village of North Pelham gathered to cast ballots for officers of the new village.  The officers would serve for about six months until new elections could be held during the ordinary election cycle in March 1897.  The Citizen's League offered a slate of candidates led by Jacob Heisser for President of the new Village.  The People's party offered a slate of candidates led by Daniel Kennedy for President.  One hundred twenty five votes were cast.  What followed is nearly unbelievable.  According to one account:

"After the polls closed the tellers proceeded to count the ballots.  There were 125 votes cast.  On the first count the tellers elected Daniel J. Kennedy as President by one majority.  The tellers were requested to count the ballots again.  They did so, and found that Daniel Kennedy and Jacob Heiser [sic] were tied for President.  The ballots were counted again, and the tellers declared that Heiser was elected by one majority.  George H. McGalliard and Louis O. Young were elected trustees by one majority.  Baltis F. Crowell and Alexander Anderson, both seeking the treasureship, were tied.  The People's party will take the matter to the courts to try and have a new election held."  (See full text of article below.)

Citizen's League member and pro-incorporation Pelhamite Jacob Heisser was declared the victor and served as the first President of the new Village.  Though somewhat unclear, it appears that the People's Party filed no lawsuits, apparently because the new 1896 election law was deemed not to apply to a referendum of the sort conducted for Village incorporation.  Nevertheless, feelings continued to run high as the two opposing camps hurtled toward the new elections in the spring.    


In early March, 1897, the two opposing camps each held nominating conventions for the election.  It seems that by that time, passions had moderated and tempers had cooled somewhat.  There are indications that residents of North Pelham and members of the People's Party had settled into the notion that the decision to incorporate as a village would not be reversed.  Thus, the two opposing camps began to battle over other issues like which infrastructure improvements should be made first and whether the voters should be consulted before undertaking some of those improvements.  According to one account:


"The nominations of the Citizen's Party were made first, at a convention held Thursday evening at the Fourth avenue Parish House.  The nominees chosen are:  Jacob Heisser, president; Otto Stroetzel, trustee for two years; Thomas R. Schott, treasurer; William Edinger, collector.  Mr. Heisser and Mr. Edinger have served the village faithfully and conscientiously during their first term and this will probably secure for them a re-election.  Mr. Stroetzel, to whose indefatigabe efforts incorporation is largely due, possesses all the qualifications for an efficient trustee.  School Trustee Scott would make an excellent village treasurer.  Several resolutions were adopted at the meeting to the effect that the party favors the sewering and macadamizing of Fifth avenue and Fourth street from throughout their entire extent as the first step towards improvements and also such other improvements as the taxpayers desire.

The Peoples party held its convention on Saturday evening in the Town Hall.  The following were the candidates chosen:  Michael J. Lynch, president; Daniel J. Kennedy, trustee; Baltis F. Crewell, treasurer; John T. Logan, collector.  The chief points of the platform adopted are as follows:  That the party disapproves each resolution of the platform of the Citizens' party.  That the first improvement should be the establishing of a general grade in the village.  The next step should be to properly grade and repair each and every road in the village.  That laying of sidewalks is favored if the same are voted by a majority of the tax payers."  (See entire article quoted below.)


On Tuesday, March 16, 1897, voters gathered again to select from the candidates presented by the two opposing camps.  A total of 128 ballots were cast.  In contrast to the election held the previous September, this election resulted in a complete victory for the People's Party.  The results were described as follows:


"The following are the candidates and the number of votes received by each:  for president -- Michael J. Lynch 66, Jacob Heisser 55; for trustee -- Daniel J. Kennedy 70, Otto E. Stroetzel 51; for treasurer -- Baltis F. Crewell 67, Thomas R. Scott 54; for collector -- John T. Logan 62, William Edinger 61."  (See text of entire article included below).


The Citizen's League and the People's Party were becoming interwoven within the fabric of the politics of the newly-incorporated Village of North Pelham.  Incorporation, it turned out, was the right decision for the little settlement of Pelhamville.

Map of Pelhamville Published in 1868. Source: Beers, F.W.,

Atlas of New York and Vicinity from Actual Surveys By and

Under the Direction of F.W. Beers, Assisted By A.B. Prindle

& Others, pg. 36 (NY, NY: Beers, Ellis & Soule, 1868) (Detail

from Page 36 Map Entitled "Town of New Rochelle, Westchester

Co., N.Y. (With) Pelhamville").  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

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Transcribe below is the text of a host of additional articles touching on the topic of today's posting to the Historic Pelham Blog.  Each is followed by a citation and link to its source.

"PELHAM AND WOODLAWN.
-----
Pelham. . . . 
-----

THE PROPOSED INCORPORATION

CHESTER PARK, July 13th, 1896.

To the Editor of The Chronicle:

Dear Sir: -- Permit me to thank the people of Pelhamville and the Chronicle through the columns of your most estimable journal for the interest taken and the valuable support given me in my struggle to incorporate Pelhamville and that part of Chester Park belonging to the Town of Pelham.  There can be no doubt at all as to the result, now that every body has come to understand that there will be no assessments levied for improvements; that, after bonding the new village, the tax rate will be hardly any higher, and that there will be no expensive officials to pay.  The election for or against incorporation will take place on Saturday, August 29th, between 10 A.M. and three P.M., the election for village officers three weeks later, on Saturday September 19th.  Contrary to the belief of some of the taxpayers, the law provides that every voter shall take part in these elections, and not only taxpayers.

The survey and map have been ordered and will be ready for examination in about eight or ten days; the census has been taken, and according to law notices will be posted that this census, mmp and verbal description are open to public inspection at a place yet to be designated.

Permit me to say furthermore that, while our committee is sure of victory, it does not intend to go to sleep, knowing very well that we have a small but very determined minority to overcome.  While we respect the opposition of those whose opposition is based on honest conviction, and have no respect for those who oppose incorporation for selfish reasons, we intend to fight them all, tooth and nail, until the end is accomplished.

Very respectfully yours,

OTTO E. STROETZEL.

PELHAM, N.Y., July 13th, 1896.

Editor of The Chronicle:

It is to be hoped that the vigorous attempt now being made by Mr. Stroetzel and his colleagues to accomplish the incorporation of Pelhamville (as it is still familiarly called) will be staunchly backed up.  It was evident at the mass meeting, held last week, that there was an undercurrent of opposition, but after listening to the statements there made, it is difficult to see on what possible grounds this opposition is based.

Even supposing the improvements so badly needed had to be paid for by a small addition to the tax rate, the benefits reaped in an increased value of land for residential purposes, would make it a splendid business bargain.  But, on the contrary, it was clearly shown by reference to Pelham Manor, that a thoroughly general and efficient system of improvements in roads, sidewalks, lights, &c., could be had and paid for by a bond issue, the yearly interest charge for which would be less than is now paid for the spasmodically poor attempts of the past few years.

Surely, if the issue is studied fairly and thoughtfully, every resident, be he owner or renter, trademan or wage earner, must feel that the argument for incorporation is all one way.

With the village incorporated and improvements made, outsiders will be attracted and instead of being  kind of 'Sleepy Hollow' this place will take that position in the rank of suburban residential places, which its beautiful natural advantages fully entitle it to.  And the undoubted pecuniary gain to property owners accruing, should make them a solid unit in the endeavors now being made to bring it about.

Yours obediently, 

SUBURBAN."

Source:  PELHAM AND WOODLAWN -- Pelham, The Chronicle [Mount Vernon, NY], Jul. 17, 1896, p. 3, col. 3.  

"PELHAM AND WOODLAWN
-----
Pelham.
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The Incorporation Committee has issued  circular entitled 'Why should you vote for incorporation of North Pelham?'  It is an excellent treatise on the matter of incorporation and plainly foretells the benefits and advantages to be derived from such an incorporation.  In it the question of how to secure improvements, such as good roads, sidewalks, drainage, sanitation and lighting, is asked, and is answered in the following extract:

'First -- You can get greater improvements under present conditions by simply increasing your tax levy.  But the burden of immediate payment would make this course unjust and intolerable.

'Second -- You can get them by annexation to Mount Vernon.  But the system of assessments for improvements in vogue there would be as burdensome.  Undoubtedly, great advantages would follow annexation, but how about immediate benefit?  Would you not be somewhat in the position of the residents in the districts recently annexed to New York, who have immediate taxation with remote benefits?

'Third -- You can have village incorporation as now advocated.  After incorporation as now advocated.  After incorporation you can raise by the issue of bonds, sufficient funds to make all necessary improvements, such as roads, sidewalks, etc., at once, under your own direction, and therefore, exactly as you wish them done.  The yearly interest charge on bonds will be less than we now pay for repairs.  Therefore, you should vote for incorporation.'

The election is held next Saturday from 10 A.M. to 3 P.M."

Source:  PELHAM AND WOODLAWN -- Pelham, The Chronicle [Mt. Vernon, NY], Aug. 21, 1896, No. 1755, p. 3, col. 3.  

"PELHAM AND WOODLAWN
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Pelham.
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INCORPORATION VICTORIOUS.
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It Was a Close Vote, But It Means That North Pelham Will Soon be a Village.
-----

It is now North Pelham.  Saturday the question of local incorporation was decided in the affirmative by the small majority of two votes.  132 ballots were cast, 67 being for and 65 against.  The election was conducted by Supervisor Shinn and Town Clerk Caffrey, the polls being open from ten in the morning until three in the afternoon.

During that time both the incorporators and the anti-incorporators worked hard in bringing out the voters.  Many business men staid [sic] home all day in order to vote and help their side to win.  In the afternoon the contest became exceedingly interesting and the outcome was awaited with eagerness and ill forbodings.  When the votes were counted however there was a loud hurrah by the victors.

Mr. Otto E. Stroetzel, President of the Citizen's League, who instituted the movement, and the committee in charge, deserve special praise for their untiring and successful efforts.

The election of officers will be held sometime before the 18th inst.  The complement of officers consists of a president, three trustees, a treasurer and a clerk, the last of which is appointed.  For the office of president, the names of Mr. O. E. Stroetzel and Dr. Charles A. Barker have been mentioned, but no caucuses have been held yet to nominate tickets of which there will be at least two. . . . 

Since Saturday evening a beautiful American flag has been floating from the tower of MMr. Stroetzel's handsome home in Chester Park, to commemorate the incorporation victory."

Source:  PELHAM AND WOODLAWN -- Pelham -- INCORPORATION VICTORIOUS -- It Was a Close Vote, But It Means That North Pelham Will Soon be a Village, The Chronicle [Mount Vernon, NY], Sep. 4, 1896, p. 3, col. 3.  

"WESTCHESTER COUNTY.
-----
A Village Election.

To-day an election of officers for the newly incorporated village of North Pelham is being held in the town hall at that place.  There are two tickets in the field, one comprising those who favor incorporation, and known as the citizens' party candidates, and the other is called the People's ticket and was organized by the anti-incorporation voters.  As both parties have nominated prominent men an exciting contest is generally looked for."

Source:  WESTCHESTER COUNTY -- A Village Election, The Evening Post [NY, NY], Sep. 26, 1896, p. 20, col. 6.  

"THE COUNTY. . . . 

TO-DAY'S ELECTION IN NORTH PELHAM. -- The recently incorporated village of North Pelham will have its first election of officers, this afernoon.  There are two tickets in the field -- one supported by those who favored incorporation, and the other by those who were opposed to it."

Source:  THE COUNTY, The Statesman [Yonkers, NY], Sep. 26, 1896, Vol. XIII, No. 3945,  p. 4, col. 4.  

"COUNTING IN NORTH PELHAM.
-----
With 125 Ballots Cast the Tellers Can't Decide the Election.

MOUNT VERNON, N. Y., Sept. 26. -- The first election of village officers in the town [sic] of North Pelham ws held to-day in the Town Hall, and it created great excitement.

A month ago the citizens held an election and voted for incorporation of the town [sic] of North Pelham by two majority.  The citizens in favor of annexation formed a league which they called the People's party.  Those in favor of incorporation formed a club which they named the Citizens' League.  To-day both leagues had tickets in the field.  The polls opened at 9 A.M. and closed at 4 P.M.  After the polls closed the tellers proceeded to count the ballots.  There were 125 votes cast.  On the first count the tellers elected Daniel J. Kennedy as President by one majority.

The tellers were requested to count the ballots again.  They did so, and found that Daniel Kennedy and Jacob Heiser were tied for President.  The ballots were counted again, and the tellers declared that Heiser was elected by one majority.  George H. McGalliard and Louis O. Young were elected trustees by one majority.  Baltis F. Crowell and Alexander Anderson, both seeking the treasureship, were tied.  The People's party will take the matter to the courts to try and have a new election held."

Source:  COUNTING IN NORTH PELHAM -- With 125 Ballots Cast the Tellers Can't Decide the Election, The Sun [NY, NY], Sep. 27, 1896, Vol. LXIV, No. 27, p. 9, col. 2.

"PELHAM AND WOODLAWN.
-----
Pelham. . . . 

Those who were opposed to incorporation have engaged S. J. Stilwell as counsel to have the election declared void on the ground that it is illegal, having been conducted under the laws of 1894 instead of 1896.  The difference between these laws is that in the latter one, only taxpayers are qualified to vote while formerly all residents were entitled to cast a ballot.  The anti-incorporators were defeated in the first village election, they electing only one trustee and a treasurer.  They are therefore rather disgruntled and desire to upset the whole thing.  The prime movers in the matter are ex-Judge Vincent Barker, defeated candidate for village trustee, Justice F. M. Lyon, Town Clerk Caffrey and others.  Those who uphold incorporation claim upon legal advice that the election will stand."

Source:  PELHAM AND WOODLAWN -- Pelham, The Chronicle [Mt. Vernon, NY], Nov. 13, 1896, No. 1767, p. 3, col. 3.  

"NEW ROCHELLE. . . .

The faction which was opposed to the incorporation of the village of North Pelham is making arrangements to have the recent election of village trustees set aside.  It is alleged that over fifty persons voted who were not taxpayers.  The proposition for incorporation was carried by a plurality of one vote."

Source:  NEW ROCHELLE,   N.Y. Tribune, Jan. 23, 1897, Vol. LVI, No. 18332, p. 10, col. 6. 

"THE COUNTY. . . . 

NOT SETTLED YET. -- The North Pelham village incorporation election is not settled yet.  The faction which was opposed to the measure is taking steps to have the election set aside, on the ground that over 50 persons who cast votes were not taxpayers.  The measure was carried by a plurality of only one vote."

Source:  THE COUNTY, The Yonkers Statesman [Yonkers, NY], Jan. 23, 1897, Vol. XIV, No. 4044,  p. 4, col. 4.  

"PELHAM AND WOODLAWN.
-----
PELHAM. . . . 

The Approaching Election.

The second election of the Village of North Pelham will be held on Tuesday next at the Town Hall, the polls being open from 1 P. M. until sunset.  The candidates for the four offices which will be vacant were not nominated until the latter part of last week.  They are given below.

The nominations of the Citizen's Party were made first, at a convention held Thursday evening at the Fourth avenue Parish House.  The nominees chosen are:  Jacob Heisser, president; Otto Stroetzel, trustee for two years; Thomas R. Schott, treasurer; William Edinger, collector.  Mr. Heisser and Mr. Edinger have served the village faithfully and conscientiously during their first term and this will probably secure for them a re-election.  Mr. Stroetzel, to whose indefatigabe efforts incorporation is largely due, possesses all the qualifications for an efficient trustee.  School Trustee Scott would make an excellent village treasurer.  Several resolutions were adopted at the meeting to the effect that the party favors the sewering and macadamizing of Fifth avenue and Fourth street from throughout their entire extent as the first step towards improvements and also such other improvements as the taxpayers desire.

The Peoples party held its convention on Saturday evening in the Town Hall.  The following were the candidates chosen:  Michael J. Lynch, president; Daniel J. Kennedy, trustee; Baltis F. Crewell, treasurer; John T. Logan, collector.  The chief points of the platform adopted are as follows:  That the party disapproves each resolution of the platform of the Citizens' party.  That the first improvement should be the establishing of a general grade in the village.  The next step should be to properly grade and repair each and every road in the village.  That laying of sidewalks is favored if the same are voted by a majority of the tax payers.

Mr. Lynch is at present one of the Town Commissioners of Highways with which office he has been connected for a number of years.  Mr. Kennedy who was defeated for president last year by one vote, will undoubtedly make a strong run.  Mr. Crewell has very ably looked after the duties of the treasurer since his election.  Mr. Logan, who was defeated for collector last year, has been renominated."


Source:  PELHAM AND WOODLAWN . . . The Approaching Election, The Chronicle [Mount Vernon, NY]., Mar. 12, 1897, p. 3, col. 3.  


"PELHAM AND WOODLAWN.
-----
People's Ticket Victorious.


The election of the Village of North Pelham on Tuesday was a complete victory for the People's Party, its full ticket being chosen.


The polls opened at one o'clock and closed at 6:04 P.M.  The total vote cast was 128.  The election was conducted by Trustees McGalliard and Young and Village Clerk Case.  The balloting was done in a quiet and orderly manner.


The following are the candidates and the number of votes received by each:  for president -- Michael J. Lynch 66, Jacob Heisser 55; for trustee -- Daniel J. Kennedy 70, Otto E. Stroetzel 51; for treasurer -- Baltis F. Crewell 67, Thomas R. Scott 54; for collector -- John T. Logan 62, William Edinger 61.


The entire vote -- 128, exceeded that of last year by three."


Source:  PELHAM AND WOODLAWN -- People's Ticket Victorious, The Chronicle [Mount Vernon, NY], Mar. 19, 1897, p. 3, col. 3. 

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Recollections of the "Bitter Fight" To Incorporate the Village of North Pelham Published Fifty Years Later

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In 1896, the decision by residents of the tiny area known as The Heights to obtain special legislation to permit them to incorporate as the "Village of Pelham" brought about bitter feelings and prompted the section north of the New Haven Line railroad tracks to propose incorporation as the "Village of North Pelham."  That proposal, in turn, prompted its own "bitter fight" between the community's "old-timers" who did not want to incorporate and pay higher taxes and the community's new-comers who wanted to incorporate to facilitated paved roadways, sidewalks, street lamps and other such municipal benefits.

Feelings were so bitter that even fifty years later, when writing about the events in 1896, one of the area's oldest residents wrote about the events and emphasized that feelings ran high at the time.  The recollections of that resident, J. Gardner Minard, appeared in an article published in The Daily Argus of Mount Vernon, New York published on February 28, 1946.  I have transcribed the text of the article below followed by a citation to its source.

I have written about these events on numerous occasions in the past.  To learn more, see:  

Fri., Apr. 15, 2005:  How Pelhamville "Lost" Its Name!  

Tue., Jul. 01, 2014:  Why Do We Call It the Village of Pelham Instead of Pelhamville? Because We Were Duped!

"J. Gardner Minard Recalls Bitter Fight Over Incorporation Of Village In 1896

NORTH PELHAM -- With this village planning a mammoth celebration in August, on the 50th anniversary of its incorporation as a village, J. Gardner Minard, one of the oldest residents of Pelham recalled today the community's early days.  At that time Mr. Minard established and edited the Pelham Press, a weekly paper in Pelhamville. 

'Pelham Manor was the only incorporated village in the town at that time and it contained less than half its present area.'  Mr. Minard reminisced.  'Otto Stroetzel, a resident of Chester Park, enlisted my services in advocating incorporation of the section of the town north of the New Haven tracks as a village.

'This met with vigorous opposition from many old timers in Pelhamville, but the opposition was swept aside when the section south of the tracks, north of Colonial Avenue and between the village of New Rochelle and the City of Mount Vernon was incorporated as the Village of Pelham that Spring.

'Pelhamville residents were enraged as the names of the Post Office and railroad station were changed from Pelhamville to Pelham beginning July 1, 1896.  There was nothing now to be done but incporporate Pelhamville as North Pelham that Summer.  At that time there was less than 100 feet of paved sidewalk north of the New Haven tracks and no paved streets, no street lamps and no police force outside of the five town constables.

It created a curious situation, since the Pelham Post Office and Fire Department were -- and still are -- located in North Pelham.  The Fire District was created under the town laws and existed before the two villages were incorporated.'

In 1898 Mr. Minard suspended publication of his weekly to fight in the Spanish American War."

Source:  J. Gardner Minard Recalls Bitter Fight Over Incorporation Of Village In 1896, The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], Feb. 28, 1946, p. 13, cols. 1-3.

Map of Pelhamville Published in 1868.

Source: Beers, F.W., Atlas of New York and Vicinity

from Actual Surveys By and Under the Direction of

F.W. Beers, Assisted By A.B. Prindle & Others,

pg. 36 (NY, NY: Beers, Ellis & Soule, 1868) (Detail

from Page 36 Map Entitled "Town of New Rochelle,

Westchester Co., N.Y. (With) Pelhamville).

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Pelhamville Votes to Incorporate as the Village of North Pelham in 1896

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Today we take the incorporation of our modern villages situated within the Town of Pelham for granted.  On Saturday, August 29, 1896, however, incorporation of the tiny settlement of Pelhamville as the new Village of North Pelham was not "taken for granted."  Indeed, a very hotly-contested referendum to decide the matter was underway that day.  Incorporation was not assured although those who favored incorporation believed they held the majority on the eve of the election.  

Residents of the settlement of Pelhamville were pitted against one another in an emotional debate over what would be best for the locals.  Most residents of Pelham at the time believed that it would simply be a matter of time before the adjacent behemoth of New York City would annex the area and swallow up all of Pelham, Mount Vernon, and surrounding areas.  Proponents of incorporation argued that incurring a bonded indebtedness of $50,000 would require very little taxation of local residents to service the debt and New York City would be obligated by law to take over the bonded indebtedness when annexation finally came.  They argued that with $50,000 from the issuance of bonds, the new Village of North Pelham could fund massive infrastructure improvements while raising little in the way of new taxes.

Those against incorporation argued that the area had been improved successfully over the previous four decades without incorporation and without the need for raising large sums in the form of increased taxes.  They cautioned against incurring debt and reminded that there was no assurance Pelham would ever be annexed by New York City.  They raised questions over the calculations used to suggest that tax increases would be de minimus and suggested that the cost of conducting a Village Government would be much higher than proponents of incorporation suggested.  

Those who believed the majority of voters supported incorporation turned out to be correct -- by the exceptionally-slim margin of two votes out of the total of 132 ballots cast.  The voters of the little settlement of Pelhamville elected to incorporate by a vote of 67 to 65. 

Today's posting to the Historic Pelham Blog transcribes the text of two articles that appeared in a local newspaper.  The first appeared the day before the ballot.  The second appeared the following week. after the election, and announced the results.  These two brief articles shed interesting light on a seminal moment in the history of today's Village of Pelham.

Map of Pelhamville Published in 1868.

Source:  Beers, F.W., Atlas of New York and Vicinity from

Actual Surveys By and Under the Direction of F.W. Beers,

Assisted By A.B. Prindle & Others, pg. 36

(NY, NY: Beers, Ellis & Soule, 1868) (Detail from Page

36 Map Entitled "Town of New Rochelle, Westchester

Co., N.Y. (With) Pelhamville).

"Pelham.
-----
To-Morrow's Incorporation Election.

To-morrow, Saturday, the much talked of matter of incorporating that part of the Town of Pelham formerly known as Pelhamville, into the Village of North Pelham, will be decided by the property owners and residents of the place.  The election will be held at the Town Hall, the polls being open from 10 A. M. to 3 P. M.  While these hours are inconvenient to many, it is probable that there will be a large vote cast.

From present indications it looks as if the question would be decided in the affirmative by a good majority.  The greater number of the citizens concede that incorporation is the only step that can be taken in order to obtain any local improvements, and that action should be taken at once.

Of course, there are some who claim that what was good enough for their fathers and grandfathers before them, is good enough for them, etc., and who fear that they will be unable to meet the increase in their taxes.  It has been clearly demonstrated, however, that there will be only a slight if any increase.  If $50,000 worth of bonds are issued at say 4 per cent, the yearly interest will be $2,000.  The cost of maintaining the government would be but $450; $300 being the clerk's salary, and the treasurer's remuneration, $150.  This would make a total of only $2,450 to be raised each year, and it has been shown that $50,000 will pay for a vast amount of improvements.

If Pelham is annexed to New York city as it probably eventually will be, the place will have all its improvements and the metropolis will have to assume its bonded indebtedness.  If it remains in its present state, and is taken into New York, it will instantly have to bear the increase in taxes, and then wait for years for local improvements, as Woodlawn and the 23rd and 24th Wards have had to do.

------

Editor of Chronicle:

Some of the non-taxpaying officials among those opposed to incorporation are trying to dissuade non-taxpaying voters from voting on this question on the ground that they are no taxpayers, and therefore not interested in the matter.  But mark the inconsistency.  These same non-taxpaying officials have never hesitated for a moment to accept office at the hands of the taxpayers, although they have never contributed one cent of tax to the community to which they owe their very existence.

SUBURBAN.

------

Editor 'Chronicle.'

Dear Sir. -- Before going to the polls to-morrow, we would ask through The Chronicle, why, in these days of progress, when everybody wants improvements, are our non-taxpaying officials so bitterly opposed to incorporation?  We have asked some of our saloon-keepers for information.  They said they did not know.  Do you?  You know, we are so green.

TAXPAYERS."

Source:  Pelham -- To-morrow's Incorporation Election, The Chronicle [Mount Vernon, NY], Aug. 28, 1896, p. 3, col. 3. 

"Pelham.
-----
INCORPORATION VICTORIOUS.
-----
It Was a Close Vote, But It Means That North Pelham Will Soon be a Village.
-----

It is now North Pelham.  Saturday [August 29, 1896] the question of local incorporation was decided in the affirmative by the small majority of two votes.  132 ballots were cast, 67 being for and 65 against.  The election was conducted by Supervisor Shinn and Town Clerk Caffrey, the polls being open from ten in the morning until three in the afternoon.

During that time both the incorporators and the anti-incorporators worked hard in bringing out the voters.  Many business men staid [sic] home all day in order to vote and help their side to win.  In the afternoon the contest became exceedingly interesting and the outcome was awaited with eagerness and ill forbodings [sic].  When the votes were counted however there was a loud hurrah by the victors.  

Mr. Otto E. Stroetzel, President of the Citizen's League, who instituted the movement, and the committee in charge, deserve special praise for their untiring and successful efforts.  

The election of officers will be held sometime before the 18th inst.  The complement of officers consists of a president, three trustees, a treasurer and a clerk, the last of which is appointed.  For the office of president, the names of Mr. O. E. Stroetzel and Dr. Charles A. Barker have been mentioned, but no candidates have been held yet to nominate tickets of which there will be at least two."

Source:  Pelham -- INCORPORATION VICTORIOUS,  The Chronicle [Mount Vernon, NY], Sep. 4, 1896, p. 3, col. 3.  

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