Christmas Day Celebrations in the Town of Pelham in 1885

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The Town of Pelham, in 1885, was a very different place.  The entire population of the Town was about 3,000 people with most of the population living on City Island.  There were other population concentrations including Bartow (near the old Bartow Station along the Branch Line), Pelham Manor and Prospect Hill, and Pelhamville.  Unpaved country lanes criss-crossed the Town and horse-drawn transportation was the order of the day.

One thing about the Pelham of yore and the Pelham of today remains the same, however.  Much of Pelham experienced the joy of Christmas through the eyes of its youngsters and celebrated the holiday accordingly.  Interestingly, the tiny little settlement of Bartow (also known as "Bartow-on-the-Sound" and the tiny little Town Hall  built by Pelham at Bartow played important roles in the joyous Christmas celebration held in Pelham in 1885, one hundred thirty years ago today.

In 1885, Pelham's Town Hall was a tiny little brick building with a bell tower located on today’s Shore Road near the site of Pelham Bit Stables / Bronx Equestrian Center in Pelham Bay Park. I have written about that beautiful little Town Hall that was razed during the 1950s on previous occasions.  See: 

Wed., Dec. 03, 2014:  Pelham Proposed To Build A Town Hall and Post Office in 1857. 

Tue., May 11, 2010:  Mystery Solved - Pelham Town Hall That Once Stood On Shore Road Was Used as a School. 

Mon., Mar. 13, 2006:  Two Photographs of Pelham's Town Hall That Once Stood On Shore Road. 

Bell, Blake A., Pelham's First Town Hall on Shore Road in Pelham Manor, The Pelham Weekly, Vol. XIII, No. 35, Sept. 3, 2004, p. 8, col. 1. 

Undated Photograph Showing Pelham Town Hall on Shore Road.

Detail from 1868 Beer's Map of Town of Pelham with Red

Circle Indicating Location of Pelham Town Hall.  NOTE:

Click Image to Enlarge.

Christmas in 1885 also was on a Friday.  Although Pelhamites throughout the Town celebrated with family in their homes early in the day, later in the day a festive shooting match was held at Bartow, a site that is an abandoned ghost town today with no structures remaining except the decrepit remnants of a later-built Bartow Station along the Branch Line tracks that once ran through the center of the settlement.  While a Christmas Day shooting match might strike us, today, as an odd Christmas celebration, the tradition was common in our region during the 19th century.  I have written previously about one such Christmas Day shooting match held in Pelhamville in 1875.  See Tue., Jul. 28, 2009:  Account of Christmas Shooting Matches in 1875 at the Glen-Drake Rifle Range in Pelhamville.  

The shooting match was sponsored by John Secord of Bartow.  Secord was the proprietor of a tiny hotel and restaurant known simply as "John Secord's, Bartow" that was located opposite the railroad depot at Bartow.  John Secord was a local entrepreneur who hustled for business and sponsored a host of events to attract people to his establishment.  He sponsored raffles, pigeon shoots, marksmanship shooting matches, and more.  Secord was an avid fowler himself and competed in many of his own pigeon shoots as well as others held in Eastchester and the surrounding region.  

Some of Secord's pigeon shoots were head-to-head betting matches between gunners who bet up to fifty dollars that they could hit the most of twenty pigeons released for each shooter.  Spectators, of course, wagered heavily on the results as well.  Other of Secord's pigeon shoots were of the "sweepstakes" variety where a large number of gunners paid to enter to compete against one another until a victor was declared.  Once again, spectators wagered heavily on the results.  

Secord's also was used as an occasional meeting place for the Republican Town Committee.  During summers, the facility was a popular stopover for fishermen and sportsmen arriving at Bartow Station on their way to City Island for sport.  

The shooting match held on Christmas Day, 1885 was well-publicized in advance.  Thus, according to a brief account, "the attendance was large."  The results of the match, however, do not seem to have been recorded so that we know them today.

After the Christmas shooting match was over, the Christmas festivities continued.  Pelhamites gathered nearby in the tiny little brick Town Hall building along Shore Road for a special treat.  Two Pelham residents, Michael Hogan and George Rothjen, gave "one of the most enjoyable entertainments given in the town of Pelham" for the benefit of young and old.  They hosted a "Punch and Judy" show in Town Hall.  (Michael Hogan was the Pelham postmaster, at least until his resignation in 1886 when he was replaced by Fred Vickery.)

"Punch and Judy" entertainments have been around for hundreds of years.  The entertainment is a "traditional, popular, and usually very violent puppet show featuring Pulcinella (Mr. Punch) and his wife, Judy.  The performance consists of a sequence of short scenes, each depicting an interaction between two characters, most typically Mr. Punch and one other character (who usually falls victim to Mr. Punch's club). . . . The various episodes of Punch and Judy are performed in the spirit of outrageous comedy -- often provoking shocked laughter -- and are dominated by the anarchic clowning of Mr. Punch."  See "Punch and Judy" in WIKIPEDIA - The Free Encyclopedia (visited Dec. 20, 2015).  

One hundred thirty years ago this evening, George Rothjen performed the Punch and Judy show.  According to one account, "For over one and a half hours he kept not only the children but the older ones, in one continuous roar of laughter.  Such a night!"  

With the end of the Punch and Judy show, however, the festivities were not complete.  After the puppet show, five Pelhamites sang for the crowd (Misses Johntry and Bowton, Mrs. James Bell and Messrs. Hogan and Rothjen).  After the singing performances, attendees were treated to "a fine display of pictures of the polyopticon."  

The polyopticon was a marvelous contraption that was very popular -- particularly with young people -- during the mid-1880s.  It was an early form of overhead projector, capable of projecting images of items onto a screen.  This allowed attendees at "Polyopticon Parties" to bring their own engravings, advertising cards, color images, and the like to see them projected onto a screen either as a simple amusement or as the basis for an associated lecture.  An advertisement for the wondrous contraption published in 1889 read as follows:

"THE POLYOPTICON.
A WONDER CAMERA.

Given as a premium for a club of 15 yearly subscribers at $1.00 each; or, for 10 subscribers and $1.25; or, for 6 subscribers and $2.25 additional.  Sent by express, charges to be paid by the receiver.

This is a wonderful invention whereby views from Newspapers, Magazines and Book illustrations, Portraits, Comic Cuts, Photographs, Chromo Cards, IN ALL THEIR COLORS, Flowers, etc., can be thrown onto a screen in the parlor, enlarged about 400 times.

In the Magic Lantern the display is limited to the glass slides, in the Polyopticon it is practically unlimited, since any small engraving, photograph or drawing may be used.  The instrument serves admirably for parlor use, throwing a disk upon the screen of from four to five feet in diameter.

POLYOPTICON PARTIES

have come to be very popular with the young folks.  Each guest brings a few of the ordinary picture advertising cards and their photographs, or natural flowers -- whereby an entire change of views can be seen every evening, which would be impossible with the Magic Lantern without a great expense in purchasing new slides for each evening.

OVER 300 PICTURES

which if painted on glass for use with a magic lantern would cost $30.00, are given with each Polyopticon, thus affording a lot ready for use including:

Around the World in 80 Sights; Bible Pictures -- Old and New Testament; Ancient and Modern Statues; Portraits of Prominent Persons; Illustrations from Robinson Crusoe; Illustrations of a Temperance Lesson; Over 100 German figures in Procession and Silhouettes.

We have sent out a large number of these instruments, and know they are found to be perfectly satisfactory over time.  We have received letters from all over the country asking if we would recommend it for exhibition purposes in large halls, etc. etc.  We know that by careful selection of pictures and a little practice, it is possible to make a bright picture circle of six feet across on the screen, but we do not advise nor recommend a Polyopticon where a $100 Stereopticon is wanted.

Price $4.25.  Sent by express, charges to be paid by the receiver."

Source:  THE POLYOPTICON [Advertisement], The Ladies' Home Journal, Dec. 1889, p. 13.  

Though the evening's festivities were fabulous that Christmas night many years ago, the people of Pelham still were not finished even after the magical polyopticon show.  After that show, the women of Bartow served attendees with a round of refreshments.  The refreshments, according to one account, "ended a most Merry Christmas for the children of Bartow."

Whether one hundred and thirty years ago or today, the happy sentiment remains!  Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and Happy Holidays, dear Pelham!

Punch and Judy Puppets.

NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

Detail from an Advertisement for a Punch and Judy Show.

NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

Example of a Traditional Punch and Judy Booth.

NOTE:  Click Image to Enlarge.

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Below is the text of a pair of brief references to the Christmas celebration in the Town of Pelham in 1885.  Each is followed by a citation and link to its source.

"PELHAM AND CITY ISLAND. . . . 

There were some fine displays of marksmanship at Secord's Bartow, on Christmas Day.  Plenty of notice had been given, and the attendance was large, which kept John in the best humor all day. . . ."

Source: PELHAM AND CITY ISLAND, The Chronicle [Mount Vernon, NY], Jan. 1, 1886, Vol. XVII, No. 850, p. 3, col. 4.  

"A MERRY CHRISTMAS AT BARTOW.
(COMMUNICATED.)

On Christmas night, at the Town Hall, Bartow, was given one of the most enjoyable entertainments given in the town of Pelham.  Messrs. M. Hogan and George Rothjen, thinking it would be the proper thing to do something for the children's pleasure gave a Punch and Judy show, Mr. Rothjen being the performer, and at this business he is a star.  For over one and a half hours he kept not only the children but the older ones, in one continuous roar of laughter.  Such a night!  There was some very fine singing by the Misses Johntry and Bowton, Mrs. Jas. Bell and Messrs. Hogan and Rothjen, followed by a fine display of pictures of the polyopticon, after which refreshments were served by Mrs. Hogan and Rothjen, and all the ladies of Bartow.  This ended a most Merry Christmas for the children of Bartow."

Source: A MERRY CHRISTMAS AT BARTOW, The Chronicle [Mount Vernon, NY], Jan. 1, 1886, Vol. XVII, No. 850, p. 3, col. 4.  

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I have written before about Christmas celebrations in Pelham.  For a few examples, see:

Thu., Dec. 25, 2014:  Christmas in Pelham in 1926.

Fri., Dec. 25, 2009 1906:  Christmas Day Celebration at Christ Church in Pelham.

Mon., Sep. 21, 2009:  January 1882 Account of the 1881 Christmas Festival Held at the Union Sabbath School in Pelhamville.

Tue., Jul. 28, 2009:  Account of Christmas Shooting Matches in 1875 at the Glen-Drake Rifle Range in Pelhamville. 

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Will of Esaie Guion of the Town of Pelham Made in 1816 and Proved June 2, 1819

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As regular readers of the Historic Pelham Blog now know, I recently have been working to accumulate a large collection of wills and will abstracts for 17th, 18th and early 19th century residents of Pelham. I have been reviewing a publication prepared in 1951 by the New Rochelle Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. That organization prepared and distributed a typewritten manuscript entitled "OLD WILLS OF NEW ROCHELLE Copies of Wills By Citizens of New Rochelle, N. Y. 1784-1830".

The manuscript includes transcriptions of a number of wills of early residents of the Town of Pelham. One such will was that of Esaie Guion of the Town of Pelham prepared on October 19, 1816 and proved on June 2, 1819. The text of that will appears below, followed by a citation to its source.

"ESAIE GUION

Liber I of Wills, page 221. Oct. 19, 1816

I, Esaie Guion, of the Town of Pelham, in the County of Westchester, being infirm in body, but of sound disposing mind and memory yet considering the uncertainty of life am therefore inclined by these presents to settle and adjust my worldly affairs in the following manner, meaning and designing this to be my last will and testament, and First of all I order and direct my Just debts and funeral Expenses to be paid by my Executors here in after named. Secondly, I give the possession use and enjoyment of all my land and buildings thereon situate in the Town of Pelham aforesaid to my stepdaughter, Elizabeth Joye, the daughter of my first wife for and during so long as she shall remain Single and unmarried without commitment of wast, but she is nevertheless to have and take off the Same her reasonable and necessary fire wood during the term aforesaid and I do hereby allow my said stepDaughter to Take and appropriate to her own use all the provision and provender for man and beast growing and being on the premises at the time of my decease. Thirdly: - I do give and bequeath to my said Stepdaughter Elizabeth all the moveables which which [sic] did belong to her Mother also the choice of two cows, one Horse, and two hogs out of my stock, and such farming utensills as she may think proper to take, and as many casks, tubs, Pails and Kellers, as she may want, also six chairs, one Tea Stand and one large Table, six puter Plates, one large Platter, the best builsted chest, one trammel, one pair shovel and tongs, one pair of bellows, two Iron kettles, one Brass Kettle, a half dozen Knives and foks and my warming Pan. Fourthly: - All my moveable Estate not before disposed of I order and direct my Executors to sell as soon as conveniently may be after my decease, and to collect my debts and out of the money arising therefrom and such of my money as then may be in my house I do authorize my Executors to pay to the aforesaid Elizabeth Joye one hundred pounds current money of New York if that sum can be raised, but if not, to be paid when a final division is made, also one sled. Fifthly: - That whenever my said Step daughter Elizabeth Joye shall marry or die whichever may happen first, I do order and direct my Executors or the Survivors or Survivor of them to sell and dispose of all my Real Estate in such manner as they shall Judge most beneficial and advantageous and do empower them to give a good and [Page 105 / Page 106] sufficient Title for the same to the purchaser thereof, and all the money arising of Real and Personal Estate to be given or paid as hereinafter mentioned, that is to say, my God child Esaie, son of Elias Guion, to be an equal Heir with all my brothers and Sisters children, Beginning with Susannahs Soulices children, First, William Landrine, Joshua Soulice, Elizabeth and Susannah, 2ndly, My brother Elias Guion's children Elias Guion, Magdalene and Mary Elizabeth, 3rdly My Brother Benjamin Guion's children Susannah and Phoebe, all the before named My god child, My brothers and Sister's children to them and their Heirs I give and bequeath to them Each an equal dividend or share and share alike, except Susannah, my brother Benjamin's daughter, her portion being to her only, if she is living and shall come forward to receive it her self when a final dividend is made or within two years after she shall receive the same - but if she does not appear within the time aforesaid I order the Same to be given or paid to her sister Phebe the same as her own Legacy and what ever of my wearing apparel remaineth shall be divided between William Landrine, Joshua Soulice and Elias Guion and Lastly I do nominate, constitute and appoint my aforesaid three Nephews, William Landrine, Joshua Soulice and Elias Guion and Elizabeth Joye to be the Executors of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking and disallowing all others by me before this time made. In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand & Seal the Nineteenth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred sixteen. 1816 Signed, sealed, published and declared by the said Esaie Guion as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us the subscribing Witnesses in his presence and in the presence of each other.

Esaie Guion (L.S.)

Laban Russel
Thomas Shute
John Seacord

Proved June 2, 1819 by deposition of Thomas Shute of New Rochelle. Letters Testamentary issued June 2 1819 to Joshua Soulice and Elias Guion two of the Executors named in the will. Recorded in Liber I of Wills page 220.

..........................................

NOTE: Esaie Guion, the maker of the above will, (Liber I, page 221) was the son of Aman Guion and his wife, Elizabeth Samson. He was born August 26, 1736 and bap- [Page 106 / Page 107] tized in the Anglican Church (now Trinity) on September 19, 1736.

In his will Esaie Guion refers to his step-daughter Elizabeth Joye, the child of his first wife; but there is no record of either of his marriages nor is the name of either wife known. His second wife must have died before 1816, when the will of Esaie was made, for she is not mentioned in it.

The baptism record of Elizabeth Joye is found in the records of the Anglican Church as follows:

Baptized 'August 17, 1760, Elizabeth, daughter of James Joye.' The birth date is left blank and the name of the mother is not entered. The sponsors are 'The father and mother.' The entry is in English and the baptism was by the Rev. Mr. Barclay.

A James Joye was one of the witnesses to the will of James Perout, Jr., of New Rochelle, April 9, 1758, and he is given on the proving of the will as a blacksmith.

In the Old Huguenot Burying Ground is a stone marked 'E G 1785'. Presumably, this is the stone for Esaie Guion's wife, and not unlikely her name was Elizabeth. The stone can not be that of Elizabeth Guion, sister of Esaie, for her will is dated 1789. To that will Elizabeth Joye, the daughter, was a witness and proved the will on October 5, 1791.

Esaie Guion is said to have been a collector of cats. At one time he had 21, all told."

Source: ESAIE GUION in OLD WILLS OF NEW ROCHELLE Copies of Wills By Citizens of New Rochelle, N.Y. 1784-1830, pp. 105-07 (New Rochelle, NY: 1951) (typewritten manuscript prepared by New Rochelle Chapter, Daughts of the American Revolution).

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