More About Martin J. Condon and the Mansion He Built in the Village of Pelham Manor

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Though the Town of Pelham has been the home of some of the grandest mansions of their time in the United States, the largest and grandest ever built in Pelham was the one built by Martin J. Condon on Boston Post Road in the Village of Pelham Manor.  For nearly four decades, Martin J. Condon served as president of the American Snuff Company and also served as Mayor of Knoxville, Tennessee.  

Condon actually created two vast fortunes because, after creating his first fortune, he was adjudged a bankrupt in August 1912.  Consequently, he lost his lovely residence in Pelham Manor.  That massive home was purchased by R. Clifford Black who lived in the home with his wife until his death.  The massive empty mansion was economically unfeasible due to property taxes during the Depression years, so the structure was razed. 

I have written about Martin J. Condon and his palatial Pelham residence before.  See: 

Thu., Jan. 29, 2015:  R. Clifford Black of Black, Starr & Frost Bought the Martin J. Condon Mansion in 1913.

Tue., Sep. 16, 2014:  More Images of the Pelham Manor Residence of Martin J. Condon of the American Snuff Company.

Fri., Dec. 23, 2005:  The Pelham Manor Residence of Martin J. Condon of the American Snuff Company. (This posting includes a detail from a 1908 map showing where the mansion was located.)  

Fri., Jun. 23, 2006:  More About Martin J. Condon of the American Snuff Company Who Owned an Estate in Pelham Manor.

Today's posting to the Historic Pelham Blog provides an image of a rare post card depicting the Condon estate after it was purchased by R. Clifford Black.  Additionally, the posting includes below two photographs made available by Mr. Jim Tumblin, an author who recently published an excellent article on the life of Martin J. Condon (see below).

"RESIDENCE OF R. CLIFFORD BLACK, Pelham Manor, N.Y."

Undated Post Card View of the Mansion Built for Martin J.

Condon of the American Snuff Company after the Estate was

Acquired by R. Clifford Black in 1913.  NOTE:  Click to Enlarge.

Author Jim Tumblin recently published an excellent article on the life of Martin J. Condon and graciously forwarded two images of Martin J. Condon.  Immediately below is a citation and link to Mr. Tumblin's article:

Tumblin, Jim, History and Mysteries:  Martin J. Condon (1858-1940), Shopper News (Feb. 10, 2015) (available at http://shoppernewsnow.com/featured-content/martin-j-condon-1858-1940/ and visited on Mar. 3, 2015).

Martin J. Condon in an Undated Photograph Located in the

University of Tennessee Special Collections in File Containing

Information About University of Tennessee Football Coach

Robert R. Neyland.  Image Courtesy of Jim Tumblin.

Image of Portrait of Martin J. Condon from City of Knoxville

Biographical Information of Knoxville Mayors.  Image Courtesy

of Jim Tumblin.

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R. Clifford Black of Black, Starr & Frost Bought the Martin J. Condon Mansion in 1913

Archive of the Historic Pelham Web Site.

Home Page of the Historic Pelham Blog.

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One of the nation's most famous nineteenth century financiers and industrialists once lived in the Village of Pelham Manor in a mansion that rivaled the finest palatial residences in the nation.  His name was Martin J. Condon. 

For nearly four decades, Martin J. Condon served as president of the American Snuff Company.  Condon actually created two vast fortunes because, after creating his first fortune, he was adjudged a bankrupt in August 1912.  Consequently, he lost his lovely residence in Pelham Manor.  That massive home was razed during the Depression years. 

I have written about Martin J. Condon and his palatial Pelham residence before.  See: 

Tue., Sep. 16, 2014:  More Images of the Pelham Manor Residence of Martin J. Condon of the American Snuff Company.

Fri., Dec. 23, 2005:  The Pelham Manor Residence of Martin J. Condon of the American Snuff Company. (This posting includes a detail from a 1908 map showing where the mansion was located.)  

Fri., Jun. 23, 2006:  More About Martin J. Condon of the American Snuff Company Who Owned an Estate in Pelham Manor.

At the time of Martin J. Condon's bankruptcy, the bankruptcy receiver was Payson Mc L. Merrill of 481 5th Avenue in New York City.  The bankruptcy receiver was charged with responsibility for sale of Condon's assets including the massive mansion in Pelham Manor that cost more than $250,000 to construct (about $6 million in 2014 dollars).

R. Clifford Black, a member of famed Fifth Avenue jeweler Black Starr & Frost lived in Pelham Manor at the time.  Black acquired the Condon Mansion from the bankruptcy receiver for an undisclosed amount.  I have written about R. Clifford Black and other members of the Black family on a number of occasions.  See:

Fri., Aug. 01, 2014:  Obituary and Photograph of R. Clifford Black, a Prominent Pelham Manor Resident in the Early 20th Century.

Wed., Jun. 27, 2007:  Dissolution of Firm of Black, Starr & Frost and Reconstitution of the Firm as Corporation After Robert Clifford Black's Death. 

Thu., Sep. 28, 2006:  A Brief Biography of Mary Grace Witherbee Black of Pelham Manor. 

Tue., Apr. 11, 2006:  April 20, 1875 Marriage Certificate of Robert C. Black and Mary Grace Witherbee Black. 

Thu., Feb. 9, 2006:  Cortlandt W. Starr of Black Starr & Frost. 

Thu., Jun. 7, 2005: Obituaries of Robert C. Black and His Wife, Mary Grace Witherbee Black. 

Wed., Apr. 13, 2005: "The Dogwoods" - The Estate of Robert Clifford Black of Pelham Manor.

1912 Real Estate Advertisement Published in Country Life

Depicting the Pelham Manor Mansion of Martin J. Condon

for Sale by the Bankruptcy Receiver.  NOTE:  Click Image to Enlarge.

Today's posting to the Historic Pelham Blog transcribes a brief reference to the purchase of the Condon Mansion by R. Clifford Black in 1913.  The reference appeared in the Real Estate Record and Builders' Guide in 1913.  A full citation to the reference and a link to the digitized version appear immediately below.

"Rural and Suburban. . . . 

PELHAM MANOR, N. Y. -- R. Clifford Black, a member of the firm of Black, Starr & Frost, 48th st. and 5th av., has purchased from Payson Merrill, receiver for Martin J. Condon, Mr. Condon's residence.  The buildings on the property, which consists of about 5 1/2 acres, on the corner of the Esplanade and Boston Post road."

Source:  Rural and Suburban, Real Estate Record and Builders' Guide, Jun. 21, 1913, p. 129, col. 2.  

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More Images of the Pelham Manor Residence of Martin J. Condon of the American Snuff Company

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."

One of the nation's most famous nineteenth century financiers and industrialists once lived in the Village of Pelham Manor in a mansion that rivaled the finest palatial residences in the nation. His name was Martin J. Condon.  For thirty-eight years, he served as president of the American Snuff Company.  Condon actually created two vast fortunes because, after creating his first fortune, he was adjudged a bankrupt in August 1912. Consequently, he lost his lovely residence in Pelham Manor.  That massive home was razed during the Depression years. 

I have written about Martin J. Condon and his palatial Pelham residence before.  See:  

Fri., Dec. 23, 2005:  The Pelham Manor Residence of Martin J. Condon of the American Snuff Company.  (This posting includes a detail from a 1908 map showing where the mansion was located.)

Fri., Jun. 23, 2006:  More About Martin J. Condon of the American Snuff Company Who Owned an Estate in Pelham Manor.

Today's Historic Pelham Blog posting provides additional images of Martin J. Condon's Pelham Manor mansion (as well as a better quality version of an image previously published on the Historic Pelham Blog on December 23, 2005).   

Immediately below is the obverse of what is known as a "Real Photo Post Card" (RPPC) depicting the mansion of Martin J. Condon.  The post card was postmarked on December 22, 1908, four years before Condon declared bankruptcy and was subsequently forced to sell the home.  The mansion is built in the Spanish Renaissance style.  The unusual angle of this photograph shows more of the complex on the right side of the image than many such photographs.

Obverse of Undated Real Photo Post Card Depicting the

Pelham Manor Mansion Built for Martin J. Condon of the

American Snuff Company.

Below is an advertisement published in 1912 in Country Life magazine offering the mansion for sale.  I have published a lower resolution version of this image before.  This higher resolution version is notable because the description of the mansion is legible and provides substantial detail regarding its interior.  I have transcribed the text of the advertisement below the image to facilitate search.

1912 Real Estate Advertisement Published in Country Life

Depicting the Pelham Manor Mansion of Martin J. Condon.

 "PELHAM MANOR, NEW YORK

[Image]

THIS unusually desirably [sic] estate of five and one-half acres in the choicest section of Pelham Manor is offered for sale at less than the original cost of the buildings. It is situated at the southwest corner of the Boston Turnpike and Esplanade, with a frontage of six hundred and fifty feet on the former and of three hundred and eighty-five feet on the latter.

The dwelling, Spanish Renaissance in design, was erected by George Mertz's Sons from plans of Little & O'Connor and has every modern convenience. The house is equipped throughout with an indirect hot water heater system and all bathroom fittings, electrical fixtures, etc. are the finest obtainable. 

The first floor contains large living room 46 x 44, drawing room 33 x 21, billiard room 33 x 21, dining room 33 x 21, breakfast room 25 x 21, two dressing rooms with lavatories, kitchen, laundry, servants' sitting room, pantries and numerous closets. 

ON the second floor are four masters' bedrooms 25 x 21 and two masters' bedrooms each 24 x 14. Each bedroom has its own private bath and unusually spacious closets. There are also two large dressing rooms connecting with two of the larger bedrooms. The servants' rooms, eight in number with two baths, are in a separate wing on the same floor. 

The furniture now in the main rooms of the first floor, most of which was especially designed for the house, as well as furniture for some of the masters' bedrooms, can be secured at a very moderate cost at the option of the purchaser. 

There is a private chapel on the third floor with stained glass windows and decorations from designs by the Church Glass & Decorating Company. 

Surrounding the southerly and easterly sides of the house are numerous porches and terraces. There is a stable, of the same general design as the house, containing four box stalls, accommocations for six automobiles, harness rooms, cleaning rooms, etc.

For Plans and Further Particulars apply to

Tel. 7417 Bryant PAYSON McL. MERRILL 481 5th Ave., N.Y. City

PARSONS, CLOSSON & McILVAINE, Attorneys, 52 William Street, N.Y. City, OR YOUR OWN BROKER" 

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