Today's Historic Pelham article transcribes a fascinating real estate "puff piece" published in 1906 touting the Town of Pelham. The article is significant because it purports to tell a number of stories about the earliest days of the Pelhamville settlement in the early 1850s that do not seem to be available elsewhere and, in fact, are new to this author.
For example, the most fascinating assertion contained in the article is one this author has never seen before. According to the article, about three years after the New York and New Haven Railroad line began running through Pelham in 1848 -- and likely about the time the settlement of Pelhamville was first being laid out in 1851 -- "a substantial two-story building was erected" on the lot known today as One Wolfs Lane where the Pelham National Bank Building stands. According to the account, that two-story building was "presented to the railroad company on condition that they stop their trains there, which they did."
This brief assertion seems to be one of the few references indicating roughly when the first Pelham Train Station was built. It is not known with certainty whether the image below depicts that first station or some subsequent replacement, but the image -- which is known to depict the Pelham Train Station that stood on the same spot in late 1885 -- may be considered a two-story structure and likely is, in fact, the original station that was replaced after a fire in the mid-1890s with today's Pelham Train Station.
Image From the January 16, 1886 Issue of Scientific American that
Featured a Cover Story About the Pelhamville Train Wreck
Entitled "A Remarkable Railroad Accident." This is One of the
Only Known Images of What May Be the Original Pelhamville Train
Station Built in About 1851. NOTE: Click on Images to Enlarge.
Another brief story told about the early days of Pelhamville that is new to this author includes an assertion that the entire settlement was a haven for moonshiners -- long before the area became a thorn in the side of Prohibition enforcement agents during the 1920s and early 1930s. According to the article:
"It is said that at one time in the early history of Pelhamville nearly every house in the old village sold rum privately. This will probably be denied by the descendants of those who lived here at that time, but the information came from a pretty good source. There were two or three 'moonshiners,' so called, in the village, and a brewery which was operated by a good old Dutchman by the name of Bigerchinsky, or something like that. This brewery was located in the basement of a barn which was situated near where the pumping station at the reservoir is now located. The old house in which the Dutchman lived is now standing, but the barn is extinct. Ale was manufactured there.
There are interesting stories told concerning the old 'moonshine' establishments of the early fifties. . . . There was one in the northeast part of the village, somewhere in the vicinity of what is now Ninth avenue, and another in a house not far from where the North Pelham postoffice now stands. It is said that the proprietors of this place had a very narrow escape from arrest one night. The detectives were on their way to execute the law upon the heads of the owners when the latter got wind of what was going to happen and made good their escape. When the detectives arrived, 'it was all over but the shouting,' and that was done by some of the villagers and not the detectives. No one, of course, knew anything about the establishment and the detectives went away without their offenders."
The article includes a surprising number of rare and unusual photographs of Pelhamites and Pelham locations, though the quality of the images is not the best. Those are reproduced below.
"RESIDENCE OF GEO. B. BRIDGMAN, NORTH PELHAM."
"R. H. MARKS,
Chief of Police."
"JACOB HEISSER,
Village President, North Pelham, 1896."
"ST. CATHERINE'S CHURCH, NORTH PELHAM."
"UNION FREE SCHOOL OF DISTRICT NO. 1, TOWN OF PELHAM."
This is a Predecessor of Today's Hutchinson Elementary School. It
Was the Third School on the Site and Stood from 1900 Until 1910.
"RESIDENCE OF JOHN H. YOUNG, NORTH PELHAM."
"JOHN CASE, Oldest Resident Member of Original
Association, Established Pelhamville."
"THE OLD WOLF HOMESTEAD, NORTH PELHAM."
"CHURCH OF THE REDEEMER, (Episcopal,) NORTH PELHAM."
"A VIEW IN PELHAM HEIGHTS."
* * * * *
"TOWN OF PELHAM INTERESTING, IMPORTANT, VALUABLE AND UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION ABOUT THE VILLAGES OF PELHAM, NORTH PELHAM, PELHAM HEIGHTS AND PELHAM MANOR
Lying snugly between the flourishing cities of New Rochelle and Mount Vernon, on the New York, New Haven and Hartford railroad, and covering an area of 2 1/2 square miles, is situated the hustling little town of Pelham divided into the villages of Pelham Manor, Pelham Heights [sic], Pelham and North Pelham. Pelham Manor is strictly a residential village; Pelham Heights, which is a part of the village of Pelham, is also made up of residences; the original village of Pelham has within its midst a few stores, while the village of North Pelham has has a good business section.
The settlement of the town of Pelham, so history says, dates back to the times when the Huguenots were having their troubles in France and leaving that country in large numbers. It is recorded that a number of these Huguenots came to that part of this country known now as New Rochelle and Pelham and settled here.
The town of Pelham was named after Lord Pell [sic], who was one of the earliest settlers in Westchester county [sic]. However, he was not the earliest by any means. The following interesting facts are gleaned from 'The Drake Family Pedigree,' so called, by Jacob Bonnet, of New Rochelle, concerning the early settlers of Pelham. The writer says: 'The settlement of New Rochelle dates back to 1689, when some 6,000 acres, previously included in the Manor of Pelham were made over to Jacob Leisler, of New York, in trust for the Huguenots, who then were arriving in large numbers from England. These refugees were a portion of the 50,000 who left France for England in 1687. Four years before the revocation traditions, unsupported, however, by evidencing, tell us that one of King Charles' ships brought out the founders of the town of New Rochelle. And we find that during the year 1690 Leisler was parcelling out the Pelham purchase among the French families who preferred to sustain a new settlement which might possess all possible characteristics of their native land.
'Among the names of those to whom Leisler released portions of the Pelham tract are John Neuville, 200 acres; Alexander Allair, 100 acres; Louis Guion, 136 acres; and John Butiller.'
It will thus be seen that Pelham was settled by Huguenot refugees [sic]. As the years rolled by the settlement gradually grew until there were quite a number of people living here by the time the nineteenth century arrived.
In the section of Westchester county known as Pelham Manor the Huguenots settled. To their memory there now stands the beautiful Presbyterian Church, at the corner of Pelhamdale avenue and the Boston Post road. Pelham Manor boasts of a great many magnificent residences, which are inhabited by wealthy New Yorkers. The streets are broad and lined by stately trees which in the summer are covered with beautiful foliage. There are no public buildings in Pelham Manor [sic]. Everything there reminds one of home. Outside of the residences there are also the fine Manor club house and the elegant school, with dormitories, of Mrs. John Cunningham Hazen, which is one of the most select private schools in the United States.
Pelham Manor was the first of the three villages to be incorporated, the incorporation taking place in the early nineties. The present population in 679, according to the census just taken. The village itself has for the most part grown up during the past twenty years and is now passing through stages of marked development. The past year has seen the erection of several new residences and others are now in the course of construction. The Witherbee Real Estate Improvement Company is building a house which is to be rented by Mr. Holland, of Highbrook avenue. It will be completed in the spring. John Farrington is building a house on Esplanade avenue, between Boston Road and Wolf's Lane. Witherbee Black is completing a house on Esplanade avenue, near Pelham Manor station.
The hilly and swampy land on the corner of Pelhamdale avenue and the Boston Road, opposite the Presbyterian Church is now being graded, and the probability is that it will not be many years before there will be located there handsome residences as well as on the two open places across the street.
Pelham was the second village to be incorporated. At the time of its incorporation, Pelham Heights was a rocky woodland, one section of which every summer was used by the negroes as their camping ground. However, no many years ago its value as a residential section began to be recognized with the result that many beautiful residences now stand where less than ten years ago, nothing but woodland could be seen. Pelham Heights, to use the expression, seems to have 'sprung up in a night.' Not only has its growth been rapid, but the future bids fair to exceed the past. The past year has witnessed the erection of a number of elegant residences and others are now being constructed.
Mrs. E. E. Sinclair is building two houses on Corlies avenue, between First and Second street; Mr. Wormrath is finishing a house on Corlies avenue, between Second street and the Boulevard; Mr. Nesbitt is finishing a new house on the corner of Corlies avenue and Second street, and is about to move into it himself; Mr. White, of Brooklyn, is completing a house on Monterey avenue; Mr. Sneider, of Seigel, Cooper & Co., is erecting a new house on the corner of Second street and Monterey avenue; W. G. Fay, the optician, of New York, is building a house on Monterey avenue, between First and Second streets; William Dette has plans out for the erection of a handsome new house on Witherbee avenue, between Highbrook avenue and Monterey avenue. Mr. Dette is with Crocker Brothers.
Mr. Murphy, the real estate dealer, stated not long ago to an Argus representative that there have been quite a number of purchasers looking around for houses and lots to buy in Pelham Heights and Pelham Manor. That people are anxious to move into these two villages is attested by the fact that Mr. Murphy already has a list of twenty-five applicants for houses to rent. The spring market looks very promising and healthy, and there will probably be considerable building going on before long.
The village of Pelham has one grocery store, which is owned by John Smith; a meat market, of which E. Paustian is the proprietor; a boarding and livery stable, of which R. L. Vaughan is the proprietor, all of which are located side by side on Fifth avenue, south of the railroad bridge. In the same locality is situated Lyon hall, which is the rendezvouse for the people at social gatherings of any performance.
North Pelham was the last village in the town to be incorporated, the incorporation taking place in September, 1896. North Pelham, previous to 1851, wsa made up of a farm, the northern half of which ws owned by John [sic] Wolfe, and the southern half by a Mr. Weeden. Mr. Wolfe's old farmhouse is the building now occupied by H. H. Straehle and used as a barroom and a hotel. Previous to the year 1851, an association was formed in New York city for the purpose of establishing homes for the members, of which there were quite a number. The only living member of that association now living in North Pelham is John Case, the collector of taxes. Mr. Case's father, Frederick Case, and his brother, John Case, were both members, but they are now dead.
The farm land was surveyed by William Bryson, of New Rochelle, and laid out into 406 lots, most of which were designated by number and some by letter. The lots were laid out beginning at the north at Morgan's farm, where Chester Park is now locted, and extending down on the south as far as the railroad bank, there being only one track at that time, and the bank not being so high as it is now. From east to west the boundary extended from Lather's hill on the east to the center of the channel of the Hutchinson river on the west. As a rule, the lots were one hundred feet square. Lot No. 1 was the most southern lot of them all and was located at the corner of Fifth avenue and First street, where Lyman's drug store now stands. The map of the survey was filed in the register's office in White Plains, August 4, 1851. Opposiite lot No. 1 was a vacant lot on what is now the corner of Fifth avenue and First street. On this lot a substantial two-story building was erected and presented to the railroad company on condition that they stop their trains there, which they did.
At the time the lots were staked out the present streets of the village were marked out though not worked. The street which is known now as Fifth avenue and is at present the principal street of the village, was at the time the land was bought from Messrs. Wolfe and Weeden the northern continuation of Wolfe's Lane, which led from the railroad across the fields to or near his farm house, the residence now of the Straehles. This lane was worked up some. There was no other public entrance to the village. Fourth street, however, was usurped, though it was not worked as a public thoroughfare.
It is said that the first house to be built here was that of Michael O'Malley on Second avenue, which is now standing, and is occupied by F. L. Buckhaber. If this is so, as it probably is, for the information came from a very reliable source, this is the oldest house in the village outside of the old farmhouse. The second house was that of William Darby, a butcher, which stands on the corner of Second street and Second avenue, and is occupied now by Douglas Sprague. Another old house, now standing, built in the early fifties, is that of a Mr. Barker, on Seventh avenue, where Mr. Church now lives. Frederick Case, John Case's father, was one of the first to be located in the old village of Pelhamville, and build a house on the site of the present house owned by Mrs. Knox on Fifth avenue, between Second and Third streets. Another old house stood on the southwest corner of Third street and Fourth avenue, where the house in which Mr. Stead lives is now located.
John Case, the present town tax collector, was the first one to occupy the old Wolf farmhouse after Mr. Wolfe moved out, when his property had been acquired by this association above mentioned.
It is said that at one time in the early history of Pelhamville nearly every house in the old village sold rum privately. This will probably be denied by the descendants of those who lived here at that time, but the information came from a pretty good source. There were two or three 'moonshiners,' so called, in the village, and a brewery which was operated by a good old Dutchman by the name of Bigerchinsky, or something like that. This brewery was located in the basement of a barn which was situated near where the pumping station at the reservoir is now located. The old house in which the Dutchman lived is now standing, but the barn is extinct. Ale was manufactured there.
There are interesting stories told concerning the old 'moonshine' establishments of the early fifties. . . . There was one in the northeast part of the village, somewhere in the vicinity of what is now Ninth avenue, and another in a house not far from where the North Pelham postoffice now stands. It is said that the proprietors of this place had a very narrow escape from arrest one night. The detectives were on their way to execute the law upon the heads of the owners when the latter got wind of what was going to happen and made good their escape. When the detectives arrived, 'it was all over but the shouting,' and that was done by some of the villagers and not the detectives. No one, of course, knew anything about the establishment and the detectives went away without their offenders.
North Pelham has developed more during the last twenty years than ever before. Previous to 1886 there were not a great many houses in North Pelham, or what was known as Pelhamville. Since that time the population has more than doubled. In fact it has doubled since 1896.
It was in that year, in the month of September, that the village of North Pelham was incorporated with Jacob Heisser as the first village president. The trustees were George A. McGalliard, L. C. Young, and Samuel E. Lyon. B. S. Crewell was treasurer and John Case clerk.
The village of North Pelham is now in the midst of its prosperity. Today there is a population of 872 persons. Four years ago the population was given as 627, showing a gain of 245 in four years. With new industries coming into the village, the village should make rapid strides in growth and the real estate business should boom there.
During the past year six houses have been erected in North Pelham and two more are in the course of erection. Those built were by Mr. Murphy, on the corner of First avenue and Second street; Mrs. Pickhardt, on Second avenue; Mr. Ham on Eighth avenue; Mr. Brooks on Sixth avenue; Mr. Coe on Eighth avenue, and Mr. Miller on Seventh avenue. The two houses being erected are those of Philip Godfrey, on Fourth avenue, and David Lyon, Second avenue. Just as soon as the weather opens, Mr. Fritz of Third avenue, will build a house in back of the schoolhouse.
However, the most important building to be erected this coming spring and one which is looked forward to with a great deal of interest by the people is the handsome six thousand dollar convent, on which work will be commenced in the early spring. As previously stated in these columns, this convent will be occupied by the Sisters from the Order of St. Francis. The Sisters will have whole charge of the school, which is to be opened in the Lyceum building next fall. They will also do much needed charitable work among the poor, irrespective of creed. The convent wil face on First avenue, and will be located directly in back of the church. A.G.C. Fletcher is the architect.
The most important buildings in North Pelham are the court house on Fifth avenue, the fire house on the same street, in which are housed the two fire companies of the village, the postoffice and the fine school building, located on an eminence on Fourth street. This schoolhouse is known as the Union Free School of District No. 1 of the town of Pelham, and was erected in 1888. It is without any exceptions the finest edifice in North Pelham. When the school was erected, William Allen Smith was president of the board, and the trustees were E. H. Gurney, Frank Beattie, Robert C. Clark, William Barry, H. N. Babcock. F. C. Merry was the architect, John New & Son the masons, and James Thompson had charge of the carpentering. I. C. Hill is the popular principal of the school. In fact, he is the only man to boast of being at the head of this institution.,
There are three churches in North Pelham, all of which are located on the same street -- Second avenue. In view of this fact, the religious influence on the neighboring ressidents should be quite marked. They are the Congregational church, the Church of the Redeemer, which is Episcopal, and St. Catherine's, which is Catholic. The pastor of the Congregational church is the Rev. Wayland Spaulding. Rev. Cornelius W. Bolton is the rector of the Episcopal church and the assistant rector is the Rev. E. B. Rice. Dr. Rice officiates now, as the rector is very ill and unable to attend to the duties of the parish. The parishioners worship in a magnficent little edifice, a picture of which is seen elsewhere in this paper. The corner stone was laid in 1892. The church is built of native stone and will seat about three hundred.
The members originally worshiped in the little building on Fourth avenue, now used as a Sunday school room and a gathering place for the parishioners at various sociables. The church was organized under the trees in North Pelham, it is understood, and worshiped for the first time in a room upstairs in the present Sunday school building. This used to be an old carpenter's shop and was later remodeled and renovated for a church edifice. The future prosperity of the church was assisted materially by Mrs. Seaver, who lived at one time in Mount Vernon. She gave four lots where the present elegant church now stands. On her death she willed the church a large sum of money. Mrs. I. C. Hill raised the first hundred dollars for the new edifice, and Mr. Rapelye, of New Rochelle, was the architect, he donated the plans. The church was opened for worship February 7, 1893, a little over thirteen years ago.
The corner stone of St. Catharine's church was laid in 1896. The only pastor the church has ever had is the present incumbent, Rev. Father McNichol. When Father McNichol arrived in North Pelham, which was eight years ago, he found the condition of things very bad. There was no rectory and the only land the parish owned was that on which the church stood. Since then the church has been beautifully furnished and both a rectory and lyceum have been built. Six pieces of land have been purchased since he has been here, giving the church property a frontage of two avenues. It is surrounded by an iron fence of handsome pattern which cost, it is said, $1,400. A fine new convent is to be erected this spring which will cost $6,000. When this is completed the value of the property will be about $36,000. The buildings and church property are factors in making that locality of North Pelham the prettiest in the town.
There is no doubt that before long the members of the Congregational church will be putting up a fine new edifice. As it is they worship in a cosy wooden church, the interior of which is a credit to the members. This organization is one of the active ones of the village and is a factor for development of the religious tone of the town that cannot be lost sight of. It is to be regretted that the Argus has not a cut of this church.
Beside the important buildings, North Pelham has three grocery stores, owned, respectively, by Jacob Heisser, R. H. Marks, and A. Smith; one blacksmith shop, operated by Mr. James Riley [sic], the fire commissioner; one barber shop, owned by F. Utano; two notion stores; a sheet iron shop, owned by W. Edinger; a butcher shop, owned by B. W. Imhof; a wheelwright industry, owned by A. G. Harris; S. T. Lyman is postmaster; a pharmacy owned by Mr. Lyman, and several places where some men spend their evenings where various kinds of refreshments are served. There are one or two minor industries. The fine railroad station is for the whole town, of course, though in the village of North Pelham.
William Edinger is the president of the village now. The clerk is James W. Caffrey and the treasurer K. S. Durham. The other trustees are M. J. Woods and Dave Algie.
The social life of North Pelham is well worth passing notice. The old 'house sociables,' so called, used to be 'the thing' in North Pelham not so long ago. Young ladies, who even now are living in the village, can remember how they used to attend them when they were young girls. These house sociables used to be held every month, and what rousing times the people of the village used to have. Jack Horny, with his fiddle, used to constitute a complete orchestra for the various dances held at these gatherings. . . . There is a very interesting story told about a dance which ws indulged in by a thin young man and a very stout woman.
This particular dance occurred in a house on Prospect street. On this particular night, when old Jack Horney started up a jig, this fat woman was urged by the people there to dance a jig for them. She consented
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TOWN OF PELHAM
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and had as her partner the aforesaid mentioned young man. The two kept it up for so long that as a result the woman was confined to her bed for three days. In fact, she had to be taken home in a hack. This woman now lives in North Pelham and the man is a resident of Mount Vernon.
Today the people of North Pelham are very sociable and many are the good times they have among themselves. The various affairs held by the three churches are the principal attractions, not to mention the dances held in Lyon hall and the various home gatherings and dinners. Lucky is he who owns a home in North Pelham.
North Pelham has not been visited by a great many fires in her history; however, there were several worthy of notice during the last fifteen years. The large old residence of Frederick Case, one of the earliest settlers here, was burned to the ground, and made a spectacular fire. It was known as the Case homestead and was located on Fifth avenue. Another big fire was that which destroyed the Delcambre house, which was situated on Fourth avenue, opposite the Sunday school building of the Church of the Redeemer. This was a very large building, and also made a spectacular fire.
Probably the worst fire in the history of the village was that which destroyed the Pelham building, where the postoffice is now located. One life was lost in this fire. Fire also destroyed Penfield's store on Fourth street and Fourth avenue, J. Heisser's store on Fifth avenue, and Fourth street, a house belonging to George Bowden on Ninth avenue, and a house on the corner of Third avenue and Third street, where the McDonald house is now standing. These latter fires did not occur at the same time, but at various times. One of the latest fires was that in the house of Mr. Bovie last Monday noon, which caused little damage.
The officers of the town of Pelham are: Louis C. Young, supervisor; Harry A. Anderson, town clerk; justice of the peace, Durham, Karbach, Hill, Beecroft; and collector of taxes, John Case. The chief of police is R. H. Marks."
Source: TOWN OF PELHAM INTERESTING, IMPORTANT, VALUABLE AND UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION ABOUT THE VILLAGES OF PELHAM, NORTH PELHAM, PELHAM HEIGHTS AND PELHAM MANOR, The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], Feb. 17, 1906, p. 12, cols. 1-7 & p. 14, cols. 3-4.
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