Pelhamites Wanted Free Home Mail Delivery in 1909

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."

Pelham had entered the modern age in 1909.  It had two major issues, however.  It did not yet have 10,000 residents.  Nor did the Pelham post office do $10,000 worth of business a year.  Pelham needed one or the other in order to have mail carrier delivery by local postal carriers.  

Pelham is bounded by New York City, New Rochelle, and Mount Vernon.  Each of those three municipalities had free mail delivery.  Pelham wanted free mail delivery.  That would be a real indication Pelham had entered the modern age -- the big time.

On the evening of December 6, 1909, an ad hoc committee of Pelham citizens met at the Manor Club with Postal Inspector E. L. Kincaid to discuss the matter.  In attendance were:  Kneeland S. Durland, John Young, Henry L. Rupert and A. W. Crane, of the Village of North Pelham; Robert A. Holmes, Benjamin L. Fairchild of the Village of Pelham (i.e., Pelham Heights); and Munroe Crane, William B. Randall, James F. Secor and President Pond of the Village of Pelham Manor.

At that meeting, the committee learned that Federal law at the time barred free mail delivery in municipalities such as Pelham that did not have either at least 10,000 residents or at least $10,000 worth of business annually in its local post office.  Members of the committee further learned, however, that there was a possible alternative.  Pelham could merge its local post office with the post office of any adjacent community that met the minimum requirements.  Pelham would retain its independence and identity as a Town comprised of three smaller villages.  But, its post office would be subsumed within the post office of another municipality and its various post offices would no longer have postmasters.  Instead, they would have postal "superintendents" who reported to the postmaster of another post office in an adjacent community.

The committee was convinced.  It was time to do something.  It decided to recommend that the Pelham post office system become a part of the post office of an adjacent municipality with free mail delivery so Pelham could receive free mail delivery.  The big question, of course, was "which adjacent municipality?"

The newspapers of Mount Vernon and New Rochelle lit up with stories about how Pelham's post offices might become part of their own.  Mount Vernon seemed confident that because its post office facilities were closer to a larger segment of the Pelham population that Pelham most certainly would select Mount Vernon to take over its postal services.  

Pelham, however, surprised all and arranged to associate with the New York City post office.  On February 15, 1910, the Pelham Manor Post Office was "merged" with the post office in the Village of North Pelham and the system became part of the New York City postal system.

Problem solved, right?  Wrong. . . . 

The new postmaster in charge issued an order that no mail would be delivered until a sufficient number of Pelham residents erected mailboxes to receive mail.  Until then, residents were required to call at the Pelham post office branches to pick up their mail.  By mid-March, for example, only half the residents of the Village of North Pelham had erected mailboxes for mail delivery.  Indeed, it was weeks before sufficient mailboxes were erected and free mail delivery could begin.

Pelham had entered the modern age -- the big time!

Postal Carrier Delivering Mail in 1909.

NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

*          *          *          *          *

"PELHAM WANTS LETTER CARRIERS; MAY HAVE THEM BY JOINING THIS POST OFFICE
-----
Government Requires That Town Must Either Have 10,000 Population or Else Office Must Do $10,000 Per Year, or Else Consolidate With City -- Would Not Lose Identity.
-----

Pelham wants free delivery in connection with their postal facilities and last week prominent citizens of the town made a formal application to the Federal government for this privilege.  The application is of some interest to Mount Vernon, for the regulations of the post office department provide that in order for a town, city or village to have a delivery system, one of two requirements must be fulfilled or else the place must be a part of the post office system of a municipality where carriers or free delivery are had.

The Requirements.

The requirements are that either the town must have ten thousand population or else the post office receipts must aggregate $10,000 per year.  Neither, of course, will be fulfilled in Pelham and so the other alternative is open if the free delivery system is to be obtained and that is affiliation of the post office facilities of another town.  Naturally this is importance [sic] to Mount Vernon as the office in this city would be one of the places with which Pelham could consolidate, and still have its same identity as now and secure the free delivery system, the carriers being sent out under the supervision of this office.

Not Lose Identity.

Post Office Inspector E. L. Kincaid was in Pelham today investigating the conditions and it is supposed that he will report to Washington in a few days regarding the matter.  The Pelham post office would not lose their identity if they were part of the Mount Vernon post office system.  The only difference would be that these offices would have superintendents instead [of] postmasters, but there would be comparatively little change in rules and regulations except the free delivery system which of course would be new and give the people of the entire town the privileges they are now seeking.

Mount Vernon Nearest.

As Mount Vernon is the largest city nearest to Pelham, it would appear as if consolidation with its post office system here would be of greatest advantage.  Pelham could join the systems of either New York or New Rochelle and secure free delivery, but with New York further away and New Rochelle smaller in post office facilities than Mount Vernon and likewise further away from the main villages, the advantages afforded by Mount Vernon are consequently greater.

Wanted Sewage Plant.

Pelham is and likewise has been, considered Mount Vernon's nearest neighbor, and both places have had public works and municipal affairs in common and joint meetings of the officials of both places have often been held.  It was only a few months ago that Pelham consulted with Mount Vernon on the use of the sewage disposal plant and it therefore naturally follows that if Pelham wants free delivery or carrier system and it is possible to secure by becoming a part of a city post office the amount of business is sufficient to give, they will turn towards their nearest neighbor, which is Mount Vernon.

More Conveniences Here.

It is a fact as has already been published in this paper that the Mount Vernon post office has increased in business to a considerable extent in the last six or eight months and it would seem as if Mount Vernon would be preferred by Pelham for this consolidation.  Then a new building is in sight here and necessarily more facilities are going to be had for the handling of the business, all of which would be to the better success of the plan."

Source:  PELHAM WANTS LETTER CARRIERS; MAY HAVE THEM BY JOINING THIS POST OFFICE -- Government Requires That Town Must Either Have 10,000 Population or Else Office Must Do $10,000 Per Year, or Else Consolidate With City -- Would Not Lose Identity, The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], Dec. 6, 1909, Whole No. 6101, p. 1, cols. 6-7.

"PELHAMS WILL NOT UNITE WITH LOCAL POST OFFICE HERE
-----
They Desire to Join New York System For Free Delivery.
-----

The Pelhams will not of their own volition affiliate with the Mount Vernon postoffice [sic] to secure a free delivery system, rather if their views obtain, they will become a part of the New York system.

A number of citizens of the town met at the Pelham Manor club house last evening and held a conference with Postoffice [sic] Inspector E. L. Kincaid.  Among those present were Kneeland S. Durland, John Young, Henry L. Rupert and A. W. Crane, of North Pelham; Robert A. Holmes, B. L. Fairchild of Pelham Heights, Munroe Crane, William B. Randall, James F. Secor and President Pond of Pelham Manor.

It was plain that it would be impossible for the Pelhams to have a free delivery system from their own office, as the receipts would not aggregate $10,000, or is the population 10,000.  After considerable discussion, it was decided to advise the federal government that they desired to be affiliated with the postal system of New York.  

At first it was thought that possibly application would be made to united with either Mount Vernon or New Rochelle, in view of their close proximity, but it was stated that if Pelham wished free delivery and it was necessary to affiliate with the postal system in another city that it would be better to unite with a large city instead of a smaller place.  The sentiment was unanimously in favor of New York and the matter will now be taken up with the department at Washington."

Source:  PELHAMS WILL NOT UNITE WITH LOCAL POST OFFICE HERE -- They Desire to Join New York System For Free Delivery, The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], Dec. 7, 1909, Whole No. 6102, p. 1, col. 5.  

"WANTS FREE DELIVERY.
-----

Pelham wants free delivery in connection with their postal facilities and last week prominent citizens of the town made a formal application to the Federal government for this privilege.  The application is of some interest to Mount Vernon, for the regulations of the post office department provide that in order for a town, city or village to have a delivery system one or two requirements must be fulfilled or else the place must be a part of the post office system of a municipality where carriers or free delivery are had.

The requirements are that either the town must have ten thousand population or else the post office receipts must aggregate $10,000 per year.  Neither, of course, will be fulfilled in Pelham and so the other alternative is to be obtained and that is affiliation of the post office facilities of another town.  Naturally this is [of] importance to Mount Vernon as the office in this city would be one of the places with which Pelham could consolidate and still have its same identity as now and secure the free delivery system, the carriers being sent out under the supervision of this office."

Source:  WANTS FREE DELIVERY, New Rochelle Pioneer, Dec. 18, 1909, p. 5, col. 4.  

"CARRIER SYSTEM NOT ESTABLISHED.

North Pelham, March 22.  -- The establishment of the carrier system in the village of North Pelham is still an uncertainty and people are beginning to wonder about it.

Superintendent Lyman said this noon, that thus far about 50 per cent. of the residents of the village had installed letter boxes.  It is understood according to the order of Postmaster Morgan, that unless the people put up these letter boxes, no mail will be delivered and that they will have to call for it formerly at the branch post-office.

If the new provision of the post-office appropriation bill becomes a law in the near future, no mail at all will be delivered to any house in cities having no mail boxes.  North Pelham would come under this provision in view of the fact that its post office is now a part of the New York system."

Source:  CARRIER SYSTEM NOT ESTABLISHED, The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], Mar. 22, 1910, p. 3, col. 2.  

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."

More on Famed Pelhamville Druggist and Postmaster Seth T. Lyman and the Building he Built

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."

The lovely building that stands at One Fifth Avenue at First Street in the Village of Pelham once was both a Pharmacy and the Village post office.  It is the second building on that site.  The first burned in a major fire that killed three and entirely destroyed the structure.   Immediately below is an early post card view of the building that replaced the original structure -- the building we know today as One Fifth Avenue.  The post card was postmarked in June 1910.  The pharmacy entrance is the main entrance to the building, on the left.  The post office is on the right in the post card view below.

1910 Post Card View of One Fifth Avenue, Designed

by Architect Arthur G. C. Fletcher. Erected on the Site

of the Original Building that Burned on March 14, 1902.

Source: Collection of the Author.

NOTE: Click on Image to Enlarge.

According to one account, on March 1, 1895, a young man trained as a pharmacist named Seth T. Lyman leased a ground floor retail space with an apartment above in a building located at the corner of today's First Street and Fifth Avenue.  The building was known as "The Pelham Building."  The location was the business center of Pelhamville at the time with little development in the entire area.  Indeed, an account published in 1896 noted that when a local resident needed a location to hold a public auction of a donkey, he chose the Lyman Pharmacy.  

At the time, the building was owned by Clarence Lyons.  It housed the United States Post Office in a small retail space adjacent to Lyman Pharmacy.  The postmaster was Henry Iden of Pelham. 

In 1898, Seth T. Lyman was appointed Assistant Postmaster to help Henry Iden with his duties.  Barely six months after Lyman's appointment, Henry Iden resigned as Postmaster and Lyman succeeded him in the position.  Thereafter, for the next twenty-eight years, Lyman manned his pharmacy and an adjacent post office.  

Between 4:30 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. on March 14, 1902 during a massive blizzard, a tragic fire entirely destroyed the wooden frame building known as The Pelham Building that had been constructed in 1892.  A young boy named Rudolph Youchim was killed in the blaze.  His pregnant mother, Mary, was rescued from the building and gave birth later that day, though she and the newborn died the same day.  

Seth T. Lyman bought the lot after the fire and engaged architect Arthur G. C. Fletcher to design a replacement for the building destroyed by fire.  The replacement building, shown in the post card view above, was built shortly thereafter.  It still stands.  Its fascade is surprisingly similar to the original fascade.

The pharmacy and the post office reopened in Lyman's new building.  Seth Lyman operated his pharmacy and oversaw the post office next door in his building until his retirement as Postmaster on July 1, 1926.  At the time of his retirement as Postmaster, the local newspaper published a fascinating and nostalgic article describing postal delivery in the early days of Pelhamville as Seth T. Lyman was just entering service as Assistant Postmaster.  The article, quoted in full below, is a fascinating glimpse of a simpler time in much of today's Village of Pelham.  

When Lyman built his new building after the terrible fire of 1902, he placed the main entrance on the corner of the building for a reason.  For many years the tiny Pelhamville Depot on the New Haven Line had stood directly across First Street essentially on the lot containing today's Pelham National Bank building at One Wolfs Lane (recently a post office and now the offices of Meridian Risk and other businesses).  There was a time when the residents of Pelhamville expected First Street to grow into an important business stretch of the little settlement.  In 1893 and 1894, however, the train station was moved to its present location and, over the next few years, commercial development along Fifth Avenue proceeded much more quickly than along First Street.  Apparently hedging his bets, Lyman and his architect placed the main entrance on the corner of First Street and Fifth Avenue, easily accessible to, and seen from, both streets.

The tiny little post office had classic mail cubby-holes for each residence.  Lyman and, later, an Assistant Postmaster and clerk sorted the mail to be picked up each day by local residents who walked or drove their carriages to Lyman's Pharmacy.  An enterprising local man named Willie Bronfield began a private mail delivery service.  For a charge of twenty five cents per month per customer, he delivered the mail each day until the population grew to a sufficient level to require the post office to provide free carrier service in about 1909.  

The article below includes a picture of Seth T. Lyman in his wire-rim glasses as a young man.  It provides an important yet nostalgic glimpse of an earlier time in the history of the Village of Pelham.

"SETH T. LYMAN Superintendent of Pelham Post

Office who retires July 1st, after 28 years supervision

of mails in Pelham.  Source:  Lyman Resigns As Post

Office Superintendent -- Will Retire July 1, After Twenty-

eight Years as Chief of Pelham Post Office, The Pelham

Sun, Jun. 25, 1926, Vol. 17, No. 17, p. 1, cols. 4-5.  NOTE:

Click on Image to Enlarge.

*          *          *          *          *

"Lyman Resigns As Post Office Superintendent
-----
Will Retire July 1, After Twenty-eight Years as Chief of Pelham Post Office
-----

After twenty-eight years' supervision over the dispatch and delivery of mails at Pelham Post Office, Seth T. Lyman has tendered his resignation as superintendent, to become effective July 1st.  Mr. Lyman will retire to his summer home at Lake St. Catherine, Vt.  He has announced no plans for the future.

Coming to Pelham thirty-one years ago and establishing himself as a druggist at Fifth Avenue and First Street, Mr. Lyman has had great opportunity to watch the growth of the Pelhams.  Appointed assistant postmaster in 1898 and subsequently appointed postmaster and superintendent when Pelham district was taken over by the New York City post office, he has seen the advance of the town mirrored in the increased demand for postal service.

When Mr. Lyman was appointed assistant postmaster, the late Henry Iden presided over the little office adjoining the drug store, opposite the station at Fifth Avenue and First Street.  A grade crossing led over the railroad right of way, and the residents of the Pelhams, in horse-drawn vehicles, drove to the post office daily and applied for their mail.  First Street was then the business street of Pelham, the main line station of the New Haven Railroad being on this thoroughfare.

Six months after Mr. Lyman's appointment to the post office, Mr. Iden resigned and Lyman succeeded him.  In 1905 [sic; should be 1902] the post office building burned.  After rebuilding, the main entrance of the new store opened on Fifth Avenue, which street was bidding for popularity as the business avenue.

Carrier service, although of an unofficial nature, was introduced at that time in the person of Willie Bronfield, a negro, who at a charge of twenty five cents per month per customer, delivered the mail to the Town.

By 1909 the Town had grown to such an extent that carrier service had to be taken over by the office.  In order to facilitate this the Pelham district was taken into the New York City office, and Lyman retained as superintendent.  At that time two carrier routes were established in the territory covered by the office in North Pelham and Pelham Heights.  The staff consisted of the superintendent, one clerk and two carriers.

At this time the post office was moved from the old location to the newly built Douglas Block, adjoining the present location.  Here the office remained until 1925 when it was moved to its present location in a building erected especially for that purpose by John T. Brook.

The post office staff today consists of a superintendent, four clerks and nine carriers.

When Mr. Lyman announced his intention of retiring, many expressions of tribute to his faithful service were received from those who have known him during his administration at the local post office, among whom were Congressman Ben L. Fairchild, who sent the following letter of commendation to Superintendent Lyman:

'Dear Mr. Lyman:  I cannot resist a feeling of regret at the news that you have tendered your resignation as superintendent of the Pelham post office.  You have been our courteous and efficient postmaster for so many years that sentimentally it seems to me that Pelham and Dr. Lyman are synonymous terms.  If your purpose is to retire to a well earned rest, you have certainly earned the right to the fullest enjoyment that life affords and to the commendation of your neighbors and constituents whom you have served so well.

'To you and to Mrs. Lyman, my very best wishes are extended. 

Sincerely yours,

(Signed) BEN L. FAIRCHILD.'"

Source:  Lyman Resigns As Post Office Superintendent -- Will Retire July 1, After Twenty-eight Years as Chief of Pelham Post Office, The Pelham Sun, Jun. 25, 1926, Vol. 17, No. 17, p. 1, cols. 4-5.

*          *          *          *          *  

I have written about Seth T. Lyman and One Fifth Avenue, the building he built that still stands at One Fifth Avenue on a number of occasions.  For examples, see:  

Mon., May 16, 2016:  Fatal Fire in 1902 at One Fifth Avenue Burned Down the Post Office and Pharmacy.  

Tue., Jul. 8, 2014:  Account of Devastating Fire at One Fifth Avenue in 1902.

Tue., Feb. 04, 2014:  Lyman's Pharmacy and Post Office Was Located in the Building That Still Stands at One Fifth Avenue in Pelham. 

Tue., Jul. 4, 2006:  Seth T. Lyman, Pelham's Own Medicine Man of the Late 19th Century. 

Bell, Blake, A., The Lyman Pharmacy Building At One Fifth Avenue in Downtown Pelham, The Pelham Weekly, Vol. XIII, No. 19, May 7, 2004, p. 12, col. 1.

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."

Why Do We Call It the Village of Pelham Instead of Pelhamville? Because We Were Duped!

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."

For nearly fifty years in the late 19th century, the approximate area that we know today as the Village of Pelham was known by a different name:  Pelhamville.  The United States Post Office was designated the "Pelhamville Post Office."  The railroad officially designated the railroad station as "Pelhamville Station."  

Why, then, is the village named the Village of Pelham and not the Village of Pelhamville?  The short answer is that more than a century ago, the residents of the Heights pulled a fast one and duped the residents of Pelhamville.  Indeed, local newspapers reported that the residents of Pelhamville had been "made a laughing stock" by the residents of Pelham Heights.  As one newspaper headline reported in bold capital letters:  "ANGRY PELHAMVILLEITES.  THEIR POST OFFICE AND RAILROAD STATION STOLEN."

The ruse was simple.  During the winter of 1895/1896, a rumor began circulating throughout Pelhamville that the area was about to incorporate as a village as had Pelham Manor only a few years before.  At the time, the area north of the New Haven line railroad tracks, often referenced as Pelhamville, had about eight hundred residents and two hundred voters.  The area just south of the New Haven line railroad tracks was being newly-developed and only had about 20 residents.  That area was known, informally, as "Pelham Heights" or "The Heights."

Shortly after the rumors of incorporation began to circulate throughout Pelhamville, two petitions "mysteriously" began circulating throughout Pelhamville to change the name of the United States Post Office to Pelham and to change the name of the New Haven line railroad station to Pelham Station.  Pelhamville residents gladly signed the petitions because, as one article put it, "[r]esidents felt a new pride in their village, as it bore one of the oldest names in Westchester county, and they dreamed of incorporation, and many improvements that would be possible under a village government."  Indeed, Pelhamville residents were proud and happy when word came that both petitions had been granted and both the post office and railroad station would hence be known as "Pelham."

Pelhamville residents, however, failed to see the train coming down the tracks.  The tiny little development of "Pelham Heights," led by United States Congressman Benjamin L. Fairchild, stole a march on Pelhamville and incorporated as the "Village of Pelham."  Pelhamville residents were shocked and angry.  They believed they had been duped.  They tried to determine who was responsible for distributing the "mysterious" name-change petitions that they had signed believing that Pelhamville would become the "Village of Pelham."  Some believed the petitions were nefarious in nature had been started by residents of the Heights.  Others disagreed and were of the view that the Heights had simply taken advantage of the situation.  All agreed, however, that they were angry and that their post office and railroad station had been "stolen" from them -- figuratively speaking.

I have written of this amusing incident before.  See Fri., Apr. 15, 2005:  How Pelhamville "Lost" Its Name!  In effect, it is one of the reasons for the name of today's Village of Pelham and why that village is not known as the Village of Pelhamville.

Map of Pelhamville Published in 1868.

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

from Actual Surveys By and Under the Direction of

F.W. Beers, Assisted By A.B. Prindle & Others,
pg. 36 (NY, NY: Beers, Ellis & Soule, 1868) (Detail from

Page 36 Map Entitled "Town of New Rochelle,

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

Today's posting to the Historic Pelham Blog transcribes a lengthy article about the incident that appeared in The Daily Argus of Mount Vernon (reprinted from The New York Times).  It provides a fascinating glimpse into events that we can laugh about today, but which were particularly painful to the residents of the sleepy little hamlet known as Pelhamville in 1896.

"ANGRY PELHAMVILLEITES.
-----
THEIR POST OFFICE AND RAILROAD STATION STOLEN.
-----
Pelham Heights, incorporated as the Village of Pelham, Took Them Both by Having their Names Changed to Pelham -- Two Hundred Voters in Pelhamville and Scarcely Enough in Pelham to Fill the Village Offices.
-----
[New York Times]

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., June 28.--The residents of the hamlet of Pelhamville which lies between Mount Vernon and this village, are very angry.  They say they have been duped and made a laughing stock of by the residents of Pelham Heights, the newly incorporated village of Pelham, that lies just across the tracks of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railway from Pelhamville itself.

The residents of Pelhamville, among whom there are over 200 voters, are without a post office and without a railroad station.  Postoffice [sic] and station stand on the same site as usual, but their names have been changed to Pelham, to conform with the new Village of Pelham on Pelham Heights, in which there are about twenty voters.  [Editor's Note:  This "Village of Pelham" subsequently was merged with the "Village of North Pelham" to form what we know today as the Village of Pelham.]  So there is no Pelhamville Post Office or Pelhamville railway station, though both are in the hamlet that for a long time has borne that name.  All this has been brought about, residents of Pelhamville say, by those who quietly obtained the necessary legislation to incorporate Pelham -- the smallest village in the State of New York.  They say also that they were used as cat's paws to pull chestnuts out of the fire for their neighbors on the heights.

Pelham Heights, the home of Congressman Ben L. Fairchild, was incorporated last spring through special legislation.  It was a surprise to every one [sic], for no one thought that wooded fields, in which there were only a few houses, were about to become a village bearing the historic name of Pelham.  The thing was done, however, and the village had its election in due time.  There are nearly enough offices for each voter in the village to have one.  S. Cushman Caldwell was elected President.  John F. Fairchild, Congressman Ben L. Fairchild's brother, was elected Treasurer.  Ralph K. Hubbard, Howard Scribner, and G.C. Fletcher were elected Trustees.

The Fairchilds are large property owners in the new village.

The residents of Pelhamville were more astounded than any one else when Pelham Heights was incorporated under the name of Pelham.  They were almost speechless when they saw the village across the railroad tracks organize its government.  It then burst upon them with full force that the United States Government had changed the name of the Post Office that stands near the railway station from Pelhamville to Pelham.

But their cup of sorrow was not yet full, for the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad Company the other day took down the old signs bearing the word 'Pelhamville,' and put in their places signs with the word 'Pelham.'  Now persons wishing to visit Pelhamville must get off at Pelham, and those writing to friends in Pelhamville must address Pelham.

There really is no Pelhamville.  It has been wiped out of existence.

It went around Pelhamville last winter that the place was going to be incorporated.  The hamlet is modest and unpretentious, but the idea of incorporation was pleasing.  Then a suggestion came from somewhere that it would be a good thing to have the name changed to Pelham.  This idea also was pleasing, and when, later on, papers were circulated petitioning the United States government to change the name of the Post Office to Pelham, and the railway company to change the name of the station to Pelham, almost every one in the village signed them.

Both requests were granted.  Residents felt a new pride in their village, as it bore one of the oldest names in Westchester county, and they dreamed of incorporation, and many improvements that would be possible under a village government.  Then came the cruel news that Pelham Heights had incorporated, leaving Pelhamville out in the cold, and, worst of all, had taken the name of Pelham.

Old residents, figuratively speaking, 'kicked themselves' when they thought how they had helped change the name of the postoffice [sic] and the railway station by signing the petition.  They wondered who started the idea of incorporating Pelhamville and put the petitions afloat.  Some are bold enough to announce that it was the residents of Pelham Heights.  Others, however, differ from this opinion.  They say that it was merely a fortuitous adjustment of circumstances that gave to the new Pelham the station and postoffice [sic].

Frank Lyon, Frederick Puckhaber, M.J. Lynch and a few other residents of Pelhamville refused to sign the petitions to change the name of the postoffice [sic] and railroad station.  They said that the old name was good enough for them and saw no sense in the change.  They now make sarcastic remarks to their neighbors whose names went on the petition.

Otto E. Stroetzel, President of the Citizens' League of the Town of Pelham, is circulating a petition with the idea of having Pelhamville incorporated.  The eight hundred persons who live there are not very enthusiastic about incorporation.  They feel that the place has lost its autonomy, now that Pelham, just next door, has incorporated and given its name to the Post Office and railway station.  They are very, very sore and suspicious of all petitions, anyhow."

Source:  ANGRY PELHAMVILLEITES -- THEIR POST OFFICE AND RAILROAD STATION STOLEN, Daily Argus [Mt. Vernon, NY], Jun. 29, 1896, Vol. XVII, No. 1297, p. 1, cols. 3-4 (from the New York Times).

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."