Historic Pelham

Wednesday, June 07, 2017

More on Vigilance Committees in the Town of Pelham During the 1880s

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During the 1870s and 1880s, many local communities in our region without well-developed police departments relied on so-called "vigilance committees" to assist public authorities with maintaining law and order. Many of these vigilance committees in Westchester County, though not all, began as temperance organizations. Some evolved into broader vigilance committees devoted to controlling crime and improving their local communities. Some remained only as temperance committees.

The Town of Pelham had at least three, and perhaps four, vigilance committees: one or two on City Island, one in Pelham Manor on the mainland, and another in Pelhamville on the mainland. City Island clearly had a vigilance committee focused on temperance known as "The Law and Order Association of Pelham." It appears that there was a second vigilance committee on City Island known as the "Law and Order Society of City Island." (Care should be taken, however, until further research can clarify whether the references to two different City Island vigilance committees were merely imprecise references to the same organization.) Pelham Manor had the Pelham Manor Protective Club. The records of that "Club" still exist and are held in the collections of the Westchester County Historical Society. Pelhamville had the "Pelhamville Improvement Association." That organization was Pelhamville's answer to the Pelham Manor Protective Club.

I have written about these vigilance committees on a number of occasions. At the end of today's Historic Pelham article is an extensive listing of such previous articles with links. Today's article provides more on the history of the "Law and Order Society of City Island."

There is evidence that the various vigilance committees within the Town of Pelham cooperated with each other. The records of the Pelham Manor Protective Club reflect that on February 11, 1882, the Executive Committee of the club met with four members of the "Law and Order Society of City Island." The four were Jerome Bell, Samuel Billar, William McAllister, and "J. Bell." The City Island representatives, who said their organization included seventy voting members, presented a slate of proposed candidates for elected Town positions with care given to proposing candidates from City Island, Pelham Manor, and Pelhamville. According to the minutes of the meeting which record the various candidates proposed by the "Law and Order Society of City Island," Mr. Hambrecht Q. French of the Pelham Manor Protective Club:

"moved that the committee of the P. M. P. Club, accept the names presented by the committee of the Law and Order Society of City Island, they to send us names to fill up the balance of the ticket. Carried.

Mr. Reynolds moved that the committee of the P. M. P. Club, send to the Committee of the Law and Order Society of City Island the names we would like to have nominated for officers. Carried." Source: Records of the Pelham Manor Protective Club 1881-1891, p. 15 (Feb. 2, 1882) (Leather-bound volume in the collections of the Westchester County Historical Society).

A further meeting regarding the looming 1882 spring elections was held between the Executive Committee of the Pelham Manor Protective Club and representatives of the "Law and Order Society of City Island" was held on February 25, 1882. See id., p. 17.

Similarly, on April 1, 1882, members of the Executive Committee of the Pelham Manor Protective Club received a committee from the "Law and Order Society of City Island" to determine "if we could not stop the residents of Hart's Island from voting in the town of Pelham." See id., p. 20. For many years during the 1880s, Pelham Manor was concerned about allegations of voting fraud involving residents of Hart Island in the Town of Pelham. See Thu., Mar. 12, 2015: Pelham Democrats Purportedly Stole the Supervisor Election in 1886 by Importing Paupers from Hart Island to Vote (outlining allegations of fraud in 1886, four years later).

Virtually no records exist of any of these Pelham vigilance committees with the exception of the Pelham Manor Protective Club. Only time will tell if further research may shed additional light on these local government precursors to village and ward government for the various sections of the Town of Pelham in the nineteenth century.

Stray Horse and Cow Reward Poster Offering One Dollar for the

Impounding of Any Stray Horse or Cow Found Within One Mile of

Pelham Manor Depot (Far Less Than the $10 Offered for the Arrest

of a Tramp). Courtesy of The Office of The Historian of The Town of

Pelham. NOTE: Click on Image To Enlarge.

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Labels: 1882, City Island, Law and Order Association of Pelham, Law and Order Society of City Island, Pelham Manor, Pelham Manor Protective Club, Pelhamville, Pelhamville Improvement Association, Vigilance Committees

Friday, May 06, 2016

More on the History of the Pelhamville Improvement Association

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During the early 1880s, there were no villages within the Town of Pelham. At the time, the Town government was controlled by City Islanders who refused to open the purse strings to fund infrastructure improvements within far-flung hamlets that had sprung up on the mainland including Pelham Manor and Pelhamville.

The residents of those far-flung hamlets hungered for amenities such as lamp lights, wooden sidewalks, and other such improvements. Because the hamlets were mere settlements within the Town rather than villages, however, they had no taxing or borrowing authority to raise the funds for such improvements. Thus, the citizens began to band together into associations that, through dues and fund-raising events, raised money to fund some of the improvements local residents sought.

Thus, in early 1883, residents of the tiny little hamlet known as Pelhamville began organizing the "Pelhamville Improvement Association." The organization was Pelhamville's answer to the community improvement efforts of the Pelham Manor Protective Club founded in 1880. I have written about the Pelhamville Improvement Association on a number of occasions. For examples, see:

Thu., Apr. 10, 2014: The Pelhamville Improvement Association.

Mon., Apr. 19, 2010: Early Talk of Moving the Pelhamville Train Station from its Original Location.

Fri., Jan. 29, 2010: News of Pelham, City Island and Pelhamville Reported on September 5, 1884.

Thu., Dec. 03, 2009: Pelham News on May 30, 1884 Including Allegations of Oyster Larceny and Meeting of the Pelhamville Improvement Association.

I also have written about the Pelham Manor Protective Club on a number of occasions. For examples, see the lengthy bibliography of such articles at the end of today's posting.

Recent research has revealed additional important information about the Pelhamville Improvement Association. Today's posting to the Historic Pelham Blog will detail some of this new information.

It now is clear that residents of Pelhamville began organizing the Pelhamville Improvement Association in early January, 1883. On January 12, 1883, The Chronicle of Mount Vernon, New York reported that "A village improvement association is about to be organized in Pelhamville."

The initial purpose of the Pelhamville Improvement Association was to upgrade the type of homes built in the tiny little settlement. According to one account published in 1883, "the object of [the Pelhamville Improvement Association] is to improve the village by the erection of three or four of a good class of dwelling houses." The initial plan, it seems, was "to erect three or four houses, which will be offered for sale at their cost price, and as each one is disposed of, another will be erected."

By the spring of 1884, the association had been successfully organized. A newspaper report published on May 30 of that year noted that following a previous meeting of those involved with the organization, there was an organizational meeting held on the evening of Monday, May 26, 1884 during which citizens of Pelhamville "complete[d] the organization of a Village Improvement Association and [acted] upon a set of by-laws prepared by a committee appointed at the last meeting, consisting of Messrs. Henderson, Boas, and Delcombie."

The reference to Delcombie as a member of the committee that drafted by-laws of the association is clearly a reference to Mr. A. P. Delcambie of Pelhamville who served as a local Justice. John Henderson was an early resident of Pelhamville who was active in the community for many years until moving with his family to New York City in 1895 at about the time the settlement incorporated as the Village of North Pelham. No record has yet been located of Mr. Boas. The name Boas is German in origin. Pelhamville had a large contingent of German settlers at the time.

Among the earliest projects undertaken by the Pelhamville Improvement Association was the purchase and installation of lamps (presumably kerosene lamps) throughout the settlement and the installation of wooden plank sidewalks. Some lamps and a portion of plank sidewalks had been built by October 31, 1884 when a local newspaper reported that six more lamps were about to be installed and plank sidewalks would be completed "as soon as the obstructions are removed."

Just as the Pelham Manor Protective Club was the forerunner of the Village of Pelham Manor Board of Trustees after that village was incorporated in 1891, the Pelhamville Improvement Association was a forerunner to the Village Board of the Village of North Pelham incorporated in 1895. Although a variety of references indicate that members of the association met in various private residences, one authority notes that the association "met in Mrs. Gurney's barn, still standing as the garage to 146 Seventh Avenue. The first village meetings were held in this building." (See below.)

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.

* * * * *

Below is the text of a number of items relevant to the history of the Pelhamville Improvement Association. Each is followed by a citation and, where available, a link to its source.

"A forerunner of the Village Board was an Improvement Association, which met in Mrs. Gurney's barn, still standing as the garage to 146 Seventh Avenue. The first village meetings were held in this building."

Source: Bartlett, Barbara G., et al., A Glance at the Past: Pelham's Growth From 1775 - 1975, p. 23 (Pelham, NY: Junior League of Pelham, Sep. 1976).

"PELHAMVILLE.

A meeting of the inhabitants of Pelhamville was held at the residence of Mr. Vincent Barker on Monday night last, for the purpose of adopting measures to have the low lands drained. A committee consisting of Messrs. Wm. H. Sparks, John Case, and Wm. H. Penfield was appointed to take the matter into consideration and properly present the case to the town Board of Health.

A village improvement association is about to be organized in Pelhamville, the object of which is to improve the village, by the erection of a good class of dwelling houses. It is proposed to erect three or four houses, which will be offered for sale at their cost price, and as each one is disposed of, another will be erected. If the project goes through, we see no reason why Pelhamville may not become a thriving little village.

The annual meeting of the Pelham Manor Protective Club, was held at the residence of Mr. George H. Reynolds, New Year's day. A large number of gentlemen residing at the Manor were present, besides many invited guests. After business matters relating to the Club were finished, a beautiful repast by the generous host was fully enjoyed. The Protective Club is a live organization, accomplishing the purpose for which it was organized, and doing much to promote good order in the Manor, and helping to make it one of the most desirable country resorts adjoining New York city. -- Pioneer."

Source: LOCAL NEWS -- PELHAMVILLE, The Chronicle [Mount Vernon, NY], Jan. 12, 1883, Vol. XIV, No. 695, p. 3, cols. 1-2.

"VICINITY NOTES. . . .

A Village Improvement Association is about to be organized in Pelhamville, the object of which is to improve the village by the erection of three or four of a good class of dwelling houses, which will be offered for sale at their cost price, and as each one is disposed of another will be erected. A good project."

Source: VICINITY NOTES, Eastern State Journal [White Plains, NY], Feb. 2, 1883, Vol. XXXVIII, No. 43, p. 3, col. 4.

"VICINITY NOTES. . . .

VILLAGE IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION. -- A meeting of citizens of Pelhamville was held Monday evening to complete the organization of a Village Improvement Association and to act upon a set of by-laws prepared by a committee appointed at the last meeting, consisting of Messrs. Henderson, Boas, and Delcombie."

Source: VICINITY NOTES -- VILLAGE IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION, Eastern State Journal [White Plains, NY], May 30, 1884, Vol. XL, No. 8, p. 3, col. 4.

"PELHAMVILLE.

A special meeting of the Pelhamville Improvement Association, will be held on Saturday evening, Nov. 1st, at the residence of Mr. W. H. Penfield.

The Cleveland and Hendricks Club, of Pelhamville, will parade on Friday night, in Mount Vernon, under the command of Capt. A. P. Delcambie, of the 8th Regt., New York, N.G.

The petition of Mr. Delcambie, which has been in circulation some time, to obtain the signatures of the residents, of the town of Pelham, for the purpose of having the New Haven Railroad Co. place and maintain safety bars at the Pelhamville Railroad crossing being considered one of the most dangerous on the road.

The Pelhamville Improvement Association intend, during the coming month, to place six more lamps around the village and also to finish the remainder of plank walk as soon as the obstructions are removed."

Source: PELHAMVILLE, The Chronicle [Mount Vernon, NY], Oct. 31, 1884, Vol. XVI, No. 789, p. 3, col. 4.

* * * * *

As noted above, in addition to articles about the Pelhamville Improvement Association, I also have written extensively about the Pelham Manor Protective Club and its activities on many occasions. For examples, see:

Mon., Jan. 25, 2016: Brief Newspaper Account of the Organization of the Pelham Manor Protective Club in 1880.

Mon., Sep. 15, 2014: 1884 Gunfight in Pelham Manor Pits Local Residents Against Pelham Manor Depot Burglars.

Thu., Jan. 21, 2010: Another Brief Account of the January 1, 1883 Annual Meeting of the Pelham Manor Protective Club.

Mon., Nov. 16, 2009: 1882 Article About the Pelham Manor Protective Club.

Thu., Sep. 24, 2009: Brief Newspaper Account of the January 1, 1883 Annual Meeting of the Pelham Manor Protective Club.

Fri., Apr. 3, 2009: Biography and Photograph of Henry Beidleman Bascom Stapler, an Active Member of the Pelham Manor Protective Club in its Latter Years.

Fri., Nov. 16, 2007: Photograph and Biography of William E. Barnett, a Founding Member of the Pelham Manor Protective Club.

Thu., Feb. 15, 2007: Text of January 1, 1885 Annual Report of the Pelham Manor Protective Club. Wednesday,

Wed., Feb. 15, 2006: The First Lawsuit Ever Filed Against Pelham Manor?

Thu., Feb. 02, 2006: January 2, 1888: The Day Residents of Pelham Manor Decided to Incorporate a Village.

Wed., Jan. 25, 2006: The Pelham Manor Protective Club Flexed its Muscles in the 1886 Town Elections.

Tue., Jan. 24, 2006: 1890 Circular of The Pelham Manor Protective Club on Lamp Lighting.

Mon., Jan. 23, 2006: The Beginnings of Organized Fire Fighting in Pelham Manor?

Tue., Mar. 29, 2005: The Earliest Telephone in Pelham Manor?

Tue., Mar. 01, 2005: The "Outrage" of June 10, 1882 -- A Sad Mystery Solved.

Wed., Feb. 23, 2005: The Westchester County Historical Society Acquires Records of The Pelham Manor Protective Club from Dealer in Tarrytown, NY.

The Pelham Manor Protective Club Founded in 1881, The Pelham Weekly, Vol. XIII, No. 24, June 11, 2004, p. 12, col. 1.

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Labels: 1883, 1884, A.P. Delcambie, Boas, John Henderson, Pelham Manor Protective Club, Pelhamville, Pelhamville Improvement Association, Village of North Pelham

Tuesday, March 08, 2016

The Mysterious John Bos, a 19th Century Portraitist Who Lived in Pelhamville

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In 1885, advertisements appeared in local newspapers announcing that an artist and portraitist named "John Bos" had moved his studio from 207 West 46th Street to the tiny settlement of Pelhamville in the Town of Pelham.

1885 Advertisement Announcing Move of the Studio of

Portraitist John Bos from New York City to Pelhamville.

Source: JOHN BOS [Advertisement], The Chronicle [Mount

Vernon, NY], Jul. 10, 1885, Vol. XVI, No. 825, p. 1, col. 2.

NOTE: Click on Image to Enlarge.

John Bos was a portraitist who specialized in "PHOTOGRAPHS PAINTED IN ALL METHODS." The text of his advertisement that appeared in local newspapers (one such image of which appears immediately above) read as follows:

"JOHN BOS,
ARTIST.

BEGS leave to announce that he has REMOVED HIS STUDIO from 207 West 46th Street, New York city, to PELHMVILLE, Westchester County, N.Y.

PHOTOGRAPHS PAINTED IN ALL METHODS, CRAYON PORTRAITS A SPECIALTY, AT REASONABLE PRICES.

Mr. Bos will be pleased to have you call and see his work. Orders by mail promptly attended to."

John Bos was a resident of Pelhamville before he moved his studio out of New York City to the tiny little settlement in 1885. Indeed, by at least 1884 artist John Bos already was a prominent member of the Pelhamville community. That year, Bos was serving as Vice President of the Pelhamville Improvement Association, a local civic improvement organization that collected dues and helped pay for municpal improvements before the existence of the Village of North Pelham. See Pelham And City Island, The Chronicle [Mount Vernon], May 30, 1884, Vol. XV, No. 767, p. 3, col. 4. By 1887, Bos had become President of that important civic group. See PELHAM AND CITY ISLAND, The Chronicle [Mount Vernon, NY], June 3, 1887, Vol. XVIII, No. 990, p. 3, col. 2. In addition, at least as early as 1885, John Bos was elected to serve as a Vestryman at the Church of the Redeemer in Pelhamville. See EASTER ELECTIONS . . . PELHAMVILLE, Supplement to Eastern State Journal [White Plains, NY], Apr. 17, 1885, p. 1, col. 5. He also represented the Church of the Redeemer as a Lay Delegate to the One Hundred and Second Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of New York in 1885. See Journal of the Proceedings of the One Hundred and Second Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of New York, p. 29 (NY, NY: John C. Rankin, Jr., Printer, 1885).

In early 1890, a local newspaper reported that John Bos, "artist," of Pelhamville "was recently married to Miss Smith, sister of Lieut. Col. Smith of the 7th Regiment of New York city" (an apparent reference to Lieutenant Colonel Morgan L. Smith of the 7th Regiment). See Pelhamville, The Chronicle [Mount Vernon, NY], Feb. 4, 1890, Vol. XXI, No. 1,269, p. 3, col. 3. The 1890 reference to the "recent" marriage between Bos and "Miss Smith" is a bit puzzling since earlier reliable references indicate there previously was a "Mrs. J. Bos" in Pelhamville as early as mid-1887. See [Untitled], New Rochelle Pioneer, Jun. 25, 1887, Vol. XXVIII, No. 13, p. 3, col. 5 (noting that "Mrs. J. Bos" had signed a petition in Pelhamville to move the planned location of the new train depot planned to be built in Pelhamville).

Although clearly an artist and portraitist named John Bos lived and worked in Pelhamville for much of the 1880s, that artist has turned out to be somewhat of a mystery. For example, research has yet to reveal any examples of paintings or portraits by John Bos, nor has a definitive biography of the artist yet been found. To make matters more difficult, there were a number of individuals of that name in and around New York City at the time. Nevertheless, there are snippets of potentially relevant information about John Bos that may shed light on his life and are collected below.

A "painter" named John Bos may be found in the City of New York as early as 1857. See New York, New York City Directory, 1857, p. 88 (showing John Bos, "painter," with a home at 364 Houston Street) (Ancestry.com, paid subscription required to access this link).

By 1875 a John Bos is shown as working as an "artist" at 191 Sixth Avenue, with a home at 137 East 122nd Street. See Goulding's New York City Directory for 1875-76, p. 123 (Ancestry.com, paid subscription required to access the link). See also New York, New York City Directory, 1878, p. 134 (showing Bos living at 137 East 122nd Street) (Ancestry.com; paid subscription required to access this link).

It appears that in 1880, John Bos -- a citizen of "Holland," an "Artist," and living at 137 East 122nd Street in New York City -- filed a Petition for Naturalization with the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York in Manhattan that included the Oath of Allegiance to the United States reflected immediately below.

Oath of Allegiance to the United States of John Bos, Artist

from Holland, Part of the Petition for Naturalization of John

Bos Filed with the United States District Court for the Southern

District of New York. Source: Oath of Allegiance to the United States

by John Bos, Artist, of Holland in Ancestry.com. New York,

Petitions for Naturalization, 1794-1906 [database on-line]. Provo,

UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013. Original data:

Petitions for Naturalization, 1793-1906. ARC ID: 5324244.

Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service. Record

Group 85. National Archives at New York City, New York, U.S.A.

NOTE: Click on Image to Enlarge.

The text of the oath of allegiance immediately above reads as follows:

"United States of America )
} ss.
Southern District of New York )

I, John Bos of the City and State of New York, artist, do declare on oath, that I will support the Constitution of the United States, and that I do absolutely and entirely renounce and adjure all allegiance and fidelity to every foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty whatever, and particularly to the King of Holland of whom I have been heretofore a subject. SO HELP ME GOD.

[Signed] John Bos
137 E 122d

Sworn in open Court, this 23 day of Oct 1880 }

[Signed] John A. Osborn Jr.
Clerk of the District Court of the United States, For the Southern District of New York"

There also is evidence that in 1889, a "John Bos" had a studio in New York City at 42 West 23rd Street, and a residence Clifton on Staten Island. See New York, New York, City Directory, 1889, p. 193 (Ancestry.com; paid subscription required to access this link). However, as referenced above regarding his marriage to "Miss Smith," it seems that John Bos, portraitist, was still located in Pelhamville.

For now, the mystery remains. Can examples of paintings or portraits by John Bos of Pelhamville be located. Can a definitive biography of the artist be found? It seems this is yet another Pelham history mystery.

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Labels: 1884, 1885, 1886, 1887, 1888, 1889, 1890, Artist, John Bos, Pelhamville, Pelhamville Improvement Association

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Notes on the Early History of Pelhamville by Jacob Heisser Published in 1927 After Heisser's Death

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Jacob Heisser was an early settler in the tiny hamlet of Pelhamville. He became the first President (i.e., Mayor) of the Village of North Pelham when that village was incorporated in 1896. Following Heisser's death, a brief account that he wrote of the early days of Pelhamville were found among his personal papers. That account was published in The Daily Argus, a Mount Vernon newspaper, in 1927.

I previously have transcribed a similar account of Pelhamville's early history written by Jacob Heisser and published in 1913. See:

Wed., Sep. 23, 2009: Jacob Heisser's Summary of the Early History of Pelhamville Published in 1913.

Heiser's account, published in 1927 after his death, is transcribed below, followed by a citation to its source.

Jacob Heisser.

Source: The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], Jan. 19, 1927,

Special Pelham Section, p. 9, col. 2.

"THE OLD DAYS IN PELHAMVILLE
-----
Article Written By Late Jacob Heisser Contains Graphic Description
-----
REVIEWS THE HISTORY
-----
Found Among Personal Effects of Late Official -- Is of Value
-----

An interesting account of the early days of old Pelhamville, now North Pelham, is given in an article written some years ago by the late Jacob Heisser, first village president of North Pelham. The paper, telling of the early railroad history and of various improvements in North Pelham, and was found among the personal effects of the late Mr. Heisser by his daughter, Mrs. Elmer S. Davis. Mr. Heisser died on August 29, 1926, exactly thirty years after the village of North Pelham was incorporated. Mr. Heisser being made the first president on the same date. Mr. Heisser's account of old Pelhamville follows:

'From 1862 to 1873, railroad accommodation was out of the question, as there were no regular stops; two trains in the morning, two in the afternoon, at 7:30 and 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 and 7 p.m. These trains only stopped upon waving a red flag. It this was not done, there were no stops. In the year 1873, the company placed a ticket agent at the station who sold tickets from that time to date. Train service has increased to date. At that time, the wagon road went across the railroad track with lift bars for safety [i.e., hand-operated crossing gates that were managed by the ticket agent or his designee, often a local youngster paid by the ticket agent], the station being at Fifth avenue. A fifty cent fare each way; Charles Merritt, first agent.

The first improvement in the old village of Pelhamville was done by an improvement association started by E. A. Gurney in 1886. A plank sidewalk was laid from First street to Second street on Fifth avenue. Lamps were put up at the different residences of such parties as would care for them. If two families lived near each other, the one would keep the lamp clean and light it, the other furnished the oil. In fact, there were no permanent improvements until the year 1908, when the village of North Pelham issued bonds to an amount of $39,000. The improvements began in earnest and have kept pace since.

Up to the year 1877, there were 42 families in the village.

The active members for the incorporation of the old village to North Pelham in 1896 were: Otto E. Stroetzel, Charles A. Barker, Jacob Heisser, Alex. Kennedy, G. I. Karbach, James Penny, George Glover Pearson, Augustus Godfrey, Mrs. Broege, S. T. Lyman, John H. Young, Louis C. Young, William J. Evert, Michael J. Woods, William Edinger, Isaac C. Hill, John Case, S. Gregoor, James S. Greer, John M. Shinn, S.E. Field.

The cost of Incorporation was $210.50.

Village officers, first year: Jacob Heisser, president; George A. McGalliard, Louis C. Young, Samuel E. Lyon, trustees; B.F. Crewell, treasurer; William Edinger, collector; John Case, clerk."

Source: THE OLD DAYS IN PELHAMVILLE, The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], Jan. 19, 1927, Special Pelham Section, p. 9, col. 4.

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Labels: 1862, 1873, 1926, 1927, Charles Merritt, E.A. Gurney, Jacob Heisser, New Haven Main Line, Pelhamville, Pelhamville Depot, Pelhamville Improvement Association, Railroad, Street Lights, Village of North Pelham

Thursday, April 10, 2014

The Pelhamville Improvement Association

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During the early to mid-1880s, the residents of the tiny little hamlet known as Pelhamville created an organization named the "Pelhamville Improvement Association." The organization seems to have been Pelhamville's answer to the community improvement efforts of the Pelham Manor Protective Club. Both organizations contributed mightily to the improvement of our community and bettered the lives of those Pelham citizens who lived in our Town more than 130 years ago.

I have written about the Pelhamville Improvement Association on a number of occasions. For examples, see:

Mon., Apr. 19, 2010: Early Talk of Moving the Pelhamville Train Station from its Original Location.

Fri., Jan. 29, 2010: News of Pelham, City Island and Pelhamville Reported on September 5, 1884.

Thu., Dec. 03, 2009: Pelham News on May 30, 1884 Including Allegations of Oyster Larceny and Meeting of the Pelhamville Improvement Association.

Since no records of the Pelhamville Improvement Association have yet been located (unlike the Pelham Manor Protective Club), its history is somewhat murky. The Pelhamville Improvement Association existed as early as 1884 and, perhaps, earlier. See Pelhamville, The Chronicle [Mount Vernon, NY], Sep. 5, 1884, Vol. XVI, No. 782, p. 3, col. 5. The organization existed until at least 1890 and may well have existed until the Village of North Pelham was incorporated in 1896 (or even later). It seems to have raised money for its projects and activities through "entertainments" open to the community where it charged admissions and fees. See Pelham and City Island, The Chronicle [Mount Vernon, NY], June 3, 1887, Vol. XVIII, No. 990, p. 3, col. 2.

During the mid-1880s, meetings of the Association were held in the homes of its members. Additionally, the Pelhamville residents who served as officers of the Pelhamville Improvement Association read like a who's who of Pelhamville Founders and early settlers. According to one newspaper account published in May of 1884:

"A regular meeting of the Pelhamville Improvement Association was held on Monday evening, May 26th, at the residence of Mr. C. H. Meritt. After the transaction of some routine business and the adoption of a constitution and by-laws, the following officers were unanimously elected for the ensuing year. Messrs E. H. Gurney, Pres; John Bos, Vice-pres.; C. H. Meritt, Treas., Lieut. Delcombie, Sec. All further elections and appointments were left over till next meeting. The next regular meeting of the association will be held on the last Wednesday of June."

Source: Pelham And City Island, The Chronicle [Mount Vernon], May 30, 1884, Vol. XV, No. 767, p. 3, col. 4.

Another newspaper account published in three years later in June of 1887 indicates that the officials of the organization had changed somewhat:

"The following are the officers elect of the Pelhamville Improvement Association: President, John Bos; Vice-President, W. T. Standen; Secretary, I.C. Hill; Treasurer, A. Anderson; Executive Committee, John Britton, C. W. Bolton, David Lyon, John T. Logan, W. H. Sparks."

Source: Pelham and City Island, The Chronicle [Mount Vernon, NY], June 3, 1887, Vol. XVIII, No. 990, p. 3, col. 2.

As its name suggests, the Pelhamville Improvement Association was involved in a wide variety of projects intended to improve the lives of Pelhamville citizens. For example, in 1884 it was involved in planting trees throughout the village donated by Colonel Richard Lathers who owned a large swath of land part of which eventually became today's Pelhamwood. See Pelhamville, The Chronicle [Mount Vernon, NY], Sep. 5, 1884, Vol. XVI, No. 782, p. 3, col. 5. A little earlier than that, the Association was involved in erecting street lamps that burned oil to light the roads and walkways of the tiny little village. Id.

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).

The remainder of today's Historic Pelham Blog posting transcribes several 19th century newspaper articles that mention the Pelhamville Improvement Association and the work it performed on behalf of the citizens of Pelhamville.

"PELHAMVILLE.

A special meeting of the Pelhamville Improvement Association, will be held on Saturday evening, Nov. 1st, at the residence of Mr. W.H. Penfield.

The Cleveland and Hendricks Club of Pelhamville, will parade on Friday night, in Mount Vernon, under the command of Capt. A.P. Delcambie, of the 8th Regt., New York, N.G.

The petition, of Mr. Delcambie, which has been in circulation some time, to obtain the signatures of the residents, of the town of Pelham, for the purpose of having the New Haven Railroad Co. place and maintain safety bars at the Pelhamville Railroad crossing, was presented to Supervisor Hyatt, on last Monday. We hope before long to see them in operation, a thing long needed, this crossing being considered one of the most dangerous on the road.

The Pelhamville Improvement Association intend, during the coming month, to place six more lamps, around the village and also to finish the remainder of plank walk as soon as the obstructtions are removed."

Source: PELHAMVILLE, The Chronicle [Mount Vernon, NY],Oct. 31, 1884, Vol. XVI, No. 789, p. 3, col. 4.

"PELHAMVILLE.

Through the efforts of the Pelhamville Improvement Society, the State Board of Health have set to work draining all the low and marshy lands in and around the above place.

The residents of Pelhamville have not, this winter, to plow [sic] knee deep through the snow, as of yore, for arrangements have been made to have the snow cleaned from the sidewalks, as occasion requires. A few live men can make a wonderful change in any place, not even excepting Pelhamville."

Source: PELHAMVILLE, The Chronicle [Mount Vernon, NY], Jan. 2, 1885, Vol. XVI, No. 798, p. 3, cols. 3-4.

"PELHAMVILLE.

Lyman T. Morgan has been appointed gateman [for the manual train crossing gates across Fifth Avenue] at Pelhamville.

The Pelhamville Improvement Association will hold a meeting at the residence of Mr. Bos, this evening.

The four year old child of Mr. James Murdock, which swallowed a kernal [sic] of corn one day last week is not expected to live. The grain of corn lodged in the larynx and all efforts to remove it has [sic] proved unavailing.

A regular quarterly session of the County Lodge of Good Templars was held in the chapel at Pelhamville on Tuesday of this week. The attendance of delegates was quite flattering, about sixty representatives being present. The afternoon was occupied with the usual business of such sessions; reports of committees, discussions etc., after which refreshments were served to the visitors. In the evening there was a puplic [sic] installation of officers of the Pelhamville Lodge, followed by an entertainment of music, recitations, readings, etc."

Source: PELHAMVILLE, The Chronicle [Mount Vernon, NY], Aug. 14, 1885, Vol. XVI, No. 830, p. 3, col. 3.

"Pelhamville

Mr. and Mrs. I.C. Hill will give a children's concert at Association Hall in Mount Vernon on the 21st of February next at 8 p.m. It will be an operetta, of the heroes of infancy, dressed in original fashion, and will be given under the auspices of the Universalist Society of Mount Vernon.

The Pelhamville Improvement Association will meet next Wednesday evening. At the last meeting the Road Commissioners were requested to fill up an excavation at the corner of First avenue and First street. The matter is now in a fair way of being attended to. The nuisance has existed some two years.

It is rumored that Mr. Charles Barker has recovered $800 damages from the Western Union Telegraphy Company, for injuries sustained by driving into a telegraph pole in Pelham Manor. It appears that the post had been planted in the road-bed, and the company had been notified to remove it.

We do not know what has become of the Pelhamville Brass Band. Up to last November it had great vitality. What has become of it?

Mr. F. W. Lambert has just returned from a trip to Europe.

Mr. J.T. Ford has taken possession of his new house.

Mr. B. F. Corlies has offered to donate a plot of land to the Railroad Company if they will build the new depot to the south side of the track. Ground will be broken on his purchase, in the spring.

Col. Lathers is laying a sewer through Winyah Park, to connect with the New Rochelle sewers.

Mr. Gregor will break ground in the spring for a new house on Second avenue. Mr. Madorn will also break ground for a new house at the same time.

Messrs. Heron and Kuntz have bought the Buxton property.

Mr. Robert Penfield expects to start for Albuquerque, N.M. about the 20th inst.

Mr. J. Bos, artist, was recently married to Miss Smith, sister of Lieut. Col. Smith of the 7th Regiment of New York city."

Source: Pelhamville, The Chronicle [Mount Vernon, NY], Feb. 4, 1890, Vol. XXI, No. 1,269, p. 3, col. 3.

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Labels: 1884, 1885, 1887, 1890, Charles H. Merritt, H. Gurney, Pelhamville, Pelhamville Improvement Association, street lamps, Street Lights, tree planting

Historic Pelham

Wednesday, June 07, 2017

More on Vigilance Committees in the Town of Pelham During the 1880s

Friday, May 06, 2016

More on the History of the Pelhamville Improvement Association

Tuesday, March 08, 2016

The Mysterious John Bos, a 19th Century Portraitist Who Lived in Pelhamville

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Notes on the Early History of Pelhamville by Jacob Heisser Published in 1927 After Heisser's Death

Thursday, April 10, 2014

The Pelhamville Improvement Association

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