Brazen Holdup at New Railroad Station on Fifth Avenue in North Pelham in 1913

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The giant, monolithic, and modern Fifth Avenue Station of the Million-Dollar-A-Mile railway known as the New York, Westchester & Boston Railway was only a few months old on June 15, 1913.  It was a hulking cast-concrete station that towered above the main street of the Village of North Pelham that connected two lengthy stone and dirt railroad embankments on each end of the station that cut much of the Village of North Pelham in half.

The Fifth Avenue Station platform was well above road level with stairs that led down to a small ticket office and tiny waiting area.  The image immediately below shows the station in about 1912 (shortly after it opened) with a horse and carriage standing outside the little ticket office and waiting area.   

Undated Photograph of the Fifth Avenue Station of the New York,

Westchester & Boston Railway, Ca. 1912, from Engineering

News.  Source:  Remembering North Pelham Facebook Page.

NOTE: Click on Image to Enlarge.

That little ticket office (seen at lower left of the image above) was the scene of a brutal crime in the wee hours of the morning on June 15, 1913.  The 12:08 a.m. train from New York City arrived on time.  Railroad ticket agent Edward J. Morrissey was working dutifully in the ticket office as the train arrived.  Within moments, two men came hurrying down the stairs.  

At least at that time of night, tickets were not collected on the train.  Rather, there was a ticket box at the base of the stairs where the ticket agent would oversee disembarking passengers as they deposited tickets in the box and left the station.  Agent Morrissey saw the two men hurrying down the stairs and, thus, attended to the ticket box to collect their tickets.

The station was entirely empty.  When the two men reached agent Morrissey at the ticket box they stopped suddenly and whipped out revolvers, pointing them at his head.  The men ordered Morrissey to "cough up his cash" and also to "hurry up about it."

Stunned, Morrissey apparently did not move quickly enough.  While one of the men covered Morrissey with a revolver, the other used rope and a belt to tie him up.  Once he was disabled, they bound him more securely both hand and foot and placed a gag in his mouth.  Then the men threatened that he must "shut up and keep quiet" or he would "forfeit his life."  The two thugs then carried Morrissey to a storage room, tossed him inside, and closed the door.  They then went about their evil business.  They stole $51 and railroad tickets from the Fifth Avenue Station.

A short time later, the 12:48 a.m. train from New York City pulled into the Fifth Avenue Station.  A disembarking passenger, James Algie, came down the station stairs.  He thought he heard groans.  He notice the ticket office was unattended although the lights were lit brightly.  Algie followed the sounds of the groans and found Morrissey.  According to one account "Morrissey was in a pitiable plight, but was not unconscious."

Algie immediately notified the Chief of Police of the Pelham Manor Police Department, R. H. Marks.  Chief Marks sent out a general alarm and the Pelham Heights and Pelham Manor Police Departments began immediate searches for the perpetrators.  

Chief Marks could not reach the police of North Pelham because they were out patrolling.  When he finally reached them, quite some time had passed, but they began a search as well.  Three North Pelham police officers were patrolling the village and searching for the perpetrators including Policeman Frederick Keller who reportedly knew every resident in the Village of North Pelham.  

Keller was at Fourth Street (today's Lincoln Avenue) between Eighth and Ninth Avenues at about 2:30 a.m. when he noticed a tall man wearing a white Panama hat who was walking along Fourth Street near Ninth Avenue.  The man seemed to fit the description of one of the thugs who robbed the Fifth Avenue Station.

Officer Keller shouted "Stop!  What are you doing around here this time of the morning?"

The man answered "Oh, I'm going home up the line."

Keller asked "Where do you live?"

The man then made a tell-tale mistake.  "Oh, I live a little ways up the street."

Keller felt he had his man.  He said "I don't know you.  You don't live here.  You had better come along with me to the station."  Officer Keller took the man by the arm and began to guide him along Fourth Street (Lincoln Avenue) to Fifth Avenue.

When the pair reached Fifth Avenue, the prisoner shouted "Take your arm off me, I'm not going with you without a fight."  He turned toward the officer and tried to punch him.  Officer Keller began shouting for assistance.  The two men grappled and began to fight when suddenly the man whipped out a revolver.  Officer Keller promptly knocked the firearm out of the man's hand, but in doing so dropped his nightstick.

Nearby North Pelham Police Officers Michael J. Fitzpatrick and Officer Dick heard their fellow Officer's shouts and ran to him to help.  Fitzpatrick was the first to arrive and found Officer Keller fighting "desperately" with the thug.  Fitzpatrick and Keller were able to use their nightsticks on the man, but he was able to get to his revolver yet again.  This time Officer Fitzpatrick knocked it out of his hand.  

The two officers began dragging the criminal to the North Pelham police station.  He fought them all the way to the station.  Then, after another "desperate encounter," they landed him in a cell.

The prisoner gave his name variously as John and James Conway of 148 West 67th Street in New York City.  He was "sullen and refused to give any information."  Ticket agent Edward J. Morrissey was able to identify the prisoner as one of the two robbers.  Police found not only the revolver he used, but also $20 and some railroad tickets in his possession.  Soon the robber was arraigned and carted off to the County Jail in White Plains as the investigation, and search for the second robber, continued.

Thus, shortly after it opened, the brand new Fifth Avenue Station of the New York, Westchester & Boston Railway joined a long history of robberies and burglaries of railroad stations in Pelham Manor, Pelham, and North Pelham! 

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"HIGHWAYMEN HOLD UP AGENT OF NEW ROAD AT PELHAM
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Midnight Raid -- Desperadoes Make Small Haul
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ONE CAPTURED LATER
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Identified by Victim -- Puts up a Fight with Police
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North Pelham, June 16. -- There was a desperate hold up at the station of the New York, Westchester and Boston railway, Fifth avenue, immediately after the arrival of the 12:08 train from New York, at midnight yesterday when two armed men walked into the ticket office at the foot of the stairs and levelling magazine revolvers at the head of Edward J. Morrisey, the night ticket agent, demanded that he 'hold up his hands' and surrender all money and tickets he had in his possession.  Morrissey was bound hand and foot and thrown into what is known as the 'storage room' in the station.  The desperadoes took $51 and some tickets.  they then went away.  An hour later James Algie, who returned on a train from New York heard groans coming from the store room and found Morrissey lying on the floor with a gag in his mouth.  Algie released him as quickly as he could and notified Chief R. H. Marks at Pelham Manor, who sent out a general alarm to police departments of the surrounding towns in Westchester County.

It was about 2:30 o'clock that Policeman Keller, who had been on the force for about two weeks arrested a man on Fourth street between Eighth and Ninth avenues, who answered the description of one of the men wanted.  The man fought Keller and tried to draw a revolver on him.  Officer Fitzpatrick came to his assistance, and the two policemen finally managed to land their prisoner in jail.  He gave the name of John Conway, of 148 West Sixth street.

Later Conway was identified by Morrissey.  In Conway's possession was found a revolver, $20 in money and some tickets.  

The other man who assisted Conway in his work is still at large.  Conway was arraigned before Justice of the Peace Lambert this morning on a charge of burglary and was held to await the action of the grand jury.  He was taken to White Plains this morning by Policeman Keller.

Agent Morrissey was in the office when the two men came down the stairs.  Both appeared in a hurry.  Morrissey did not think anything of their appearance and as he came from the office to have them drop their tickets in the box, as had been his custom, the two suddenly stopped and confronting him whipped out revolvers and pointing them at his head called upon him to 'cough up his cash' and to 'hurry up about it.'  Morrissey was overcome by surprise for a few moments and during this one of the men, who obtained rope and a belt from some place while the other covered him with his revolver.  Later they bound him hand and foot and placed a gag in his mouth.  He was told to 'shut up' and keep quiet for if he didn't he would forfeit his life.  There was not a person around the
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(Continued on Page 2)

HIGHWAYMEN HOLD UP AGENT AT PELHAM NOW
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(Continued from Page 1.)
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station at the time.  The two desperadoes finally carried Morrissey, who was absolutely helpless, into another room and closed the door.

On the arrival of the 12:48 train, James Algie, after he heard groans, looked into the office and noticed that the lights were alright, but that the agent was missing.  He at once became suspicious, and on investigation, found Morrissey.  Morrissey was in a pitiable plight, but was not unconscious.  There were a few marks on his face, so it is said by the police.  The agent at once told the story of the hold-up to Algie who at once notified Chief Marks, who sent out an alarm.  The Pelham Heights and Pelham Manor police began making a search for the two, but it was not until the three North Pelham policemen were notified by Chief Marks, after they had rung up, that they started a search in the village.

Policeman Dick was on duty in district No. 3 which is north of Sixth street in Chester Hill Park; Policeman Frederick Keller was on post in District No. 2 which is east of Fifth avenue between the New Haven railroad tracks and Policeman Michael Fitzpatrick was in district No. 1 in the western part of the village.  As soon as they were notified of the holdup they at once started a search.  Keller was in Fourth street between Eighth and Ninth avenues when he noticed a tall man with a white Panama hat walking along Fourth street near Ninth avenue.  It was noticed that he answered the description of one of the men who was wanted in connection with the holdup and he called to him to 'stop.'  What are you doing around here this time of the morning?' asked Keller

'Oh, I'm going home up the line,' was the reply.

'Where do you live?' asked Keller.

'Oh, I live a little ways up the street,' replied the man.

Keller who had lived in the village for years and who knows every man in North Pelham by sight, said:  'I don't know you.  You don't live here.  You had better come along with me to the station.'

The policeman then took the man by the arm and led him along Fourth street to Fifth avenue, where the prisoner suddenly turned on his captor and shouted:  'Take your arm off me; I'm not going with you without a fight.'

The words had hardly been spoken than the man turned on Keller and struck at him.  The two grappled and in the midst of the fight, as blows were exchanged, the man whipped out a revolver.  Keller knocked it out of his hand, and in doing so he dropped his stick.  Fitzpatrick had heard Keller's shout for assistance and was approaching.  The men were fighting desperately when Policeman Fitzpatrick came up, and it was not until the two policeman had used their sticks with vigor on the man's head that he was finally subdued.  In the midst of the fight the man again drew his revolver and tried to use it, but it was knocked out of his hand for the second time by Fitzpatrick.

The two policemen fought with the prisoner all the way to the station and after a desperate encounter landed him in a cell.  Later the agent identified him.  The prisoner gave his name as James Conway, of 148 West 67th street, New York.  He was closely questioned by the police about his 'pals,' but was sullen and refused to give any information.  He did tell, however, contradictory stories about his return to the village after the holdup but claimed all along that the police had the wrong man and that they had got their identification mixed up with that of somebody else.  He was asked to explain his appearance in the village at 2:30 o'clock when he did not live here and again contradicted himself several times.  He said he had been in Mount Vernon and he was on his way to his home.

Yesterday President Peter Ceder, Chief Marks, and Policeman Fitzgerald went to police headquarters in New York, but it was found that Conway had no record there.  As far as could be ascertained he is not known in New Rochelle nor in Mount Vernon.

Late in the evening Lieutenants Cody and Finelli, of New Rochelle, came to the North Pelham police headquarters and closely questioned the prisoner.  Lieutenant Cody told a reporter last evening that he had never seen the man before but had found in a receptacle in the cell some torn bits of paper which made him suspicious.  He placed these bits together and found that they gave a name different from that which the prisoner had given as well as a different address.  This name and address were not made public.

The address in New York which Conway gave to the police was visited by President Ceder yesterday afternoon but Conway was not known there.  It was stated this afternoon that the police have obtained clues which may lead to the arrest of the second man.

Station Agent Morrissey later went to his home in New York.  As far as could be learned he was none the worse for his experience with the exception of a few bruises.

The prisoner is tall and athletic appearance and has black hair.  He happened to hear the police and some men in conversation with the reporter last evening and wanted to know 'why they were talking to a reporter.'"

Source:  HIGHWAYMEN HOLD UP AGENT OF NEW ROAD AT PELHAM -- Midnight Raid -- Desperadoes Make Small Haul -- ONE CAPTURED LATER -- Identified by Victim -- Puts up a Fight with Police, The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], Jun. 16, 1913, No. 7173, p. 1, cols. 5-7 & p. 2, cols. 2-3.

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I have written on numerous occasions about the New York, Westchester & Boston Railway that had its Fifth Avenue Station in the Village of North Pelham.  See, e.g.:

Tue., Jun. 05, 2018:  A Saboteur Bombed Non-Union Railroad Bridge Construction Site at Pelham Reservoir in 1911.

Wed., Nov. 23, 2016:  1910 Railroad Announcement that the "Finest and Most Artistic Bridge" Would Be Built Over Highbrook Avenue.

Mon., Sep. 26, 2016:  Battles over Razing the Fifth Avenue Station, the Highbrook Avenue Bridge, and Embankments After Failure of New York, Westchester & Boston Railway.

Thu., Sep. 22, 2016:  Pelham's Highbrook Avenue Bridge Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Wed., Apr. 01, 2015:  Pelham Settled the Unpaid Tax Bills of the Defunct New York, Westchester & Boston Railway Company in 1943. 

Fri., Feb. 20, 2015:  Village of North Pelham Fought Plans for Construction of the New York, Westchester & Boston Railway in 1909. 

Tue., Jan. 12, 2010:  Architectural Rendering of the Fifth Avenue Station of the New York, Westchester & Boston Railroad in North Pelham Published in 1913. 

Fri., Dec. 18, 2009:  The Inaugural Run of the New York, Westchester and Boston Railroad Through Pelham for Local Officials in 1912. 

Thu., Jul. 7, 2005:  The New York, Westchester and Boston Railroad Company Begins Construction of its Railroad. 

Fri., Feb. 25, 2005:  Robert A. Bang Publishes New Book on The New York, Westchester & Boston Railway Company. 

Bell, Blake A., The New York, Westchester And Boston Railway in Pelham, The Pelham Weekly, Vol. XIII, No. 50, Dec. 17, 2004, p. 10, col. 1.

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An Editorial from Early Pelham Newspaper The Register Published in 1906

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Pelham had a number of early newspapers of which no copies (or an insignificant number of copies) are known to exist.  One such newspaper was The Register, a Democratic newspaper published in the early years of the 20th century.

I have written about the history of Pelham's various newspapers before.  For examples, see:

Mon., Aug. 04, 2014:  A History of Newspapers Published in Pelham.

Thu., Jun. 26, 2014:  A History of the Early Years of The Pelham Sun, A Pelham Newspaper Institution. 

Mon., Sep. 05, 2005:  The Pelham Republican:  Official Newspaper of The Villages of Pelham and North Pelham in 1902. 

Mon., May 23, 2005:  Thomas M. Kennett, Long Time Editor of The Pelham Sun. 

Fri., Apr. 01, 2005:  The Earliest Newspaper in Pelham?

The Register likely was Democrats' answer to The Republican, a newspaper published in Pelham during at least the years 1902 and 1903, if not later.  In his account of early Pelham newspapers published in 1929, J. Gardiner Minard recalled that The Register was founded after The Pelham Sun in 1910.  Minard's memory, however, failed him.  It is clear that The Register existed as early as 1906 and, perhaps, earlier.  

According to Minard, Charles B. Forbes (who later became publisher of the White Plains Daily Press) founded The Register with the assistance of J. Gardiner Minard.  In 1929, Minard wrote:  

"Between the two of us we kept the political pot boiling. Forbes received a tempting offer from a Washington, D. C. newspaper for a few years, during which time I pulled off a neat stunt. Robert Lucas Forbes, brother of my original partner, was running the New Rochelle Paragraph and although it was independently Republican, he found conditions in New Rochelle so unbearable that he supported the Democratic candidates in spite of threats from the Republican Committees to deprive him of then county printing. My paper was Democratic and when the official county newspapers were designated the Register was included, and I celebrated the event by transferring the paper to Forbes. Mr. Ceder subsequently consolidated the Record and Register with the Pelham Sun."

Source:  Minard, J. Gardiner, MANY NEWSPAPERS HAVE ENTERED PELHAM FIELD SINCE PELHAM PRESS WAS PUBLISHED IN 1896, The Pelham Sun, Apr. 5, 1929, p. 9, cols. 1-6.

No known copies of The Register exist today.  Yet it is possible to get a little flavor of the publication by virtue of an editorial it published in 1906 that was reprinted in the October 3, 1906 issue of the Daily Argus published in Mount Vernon.  

Pelham Democrats were very unhappy in October, 1906.  They were angry about the Democratic ticket for State positions that would be decided in the November 6 election.  Indeed, they seemed a little embarrassed about the contrast between the well-organized, smooth, and orderly Republican State Convention held September 25-26 and the somewhat tumultuous and disorderly Democratic State Convention held September 25-27.

Following an intervention by U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt, the Republican Convention nominated Charles E. Hughes for Governor, Merton E. Lewis for Comptroller, and renominated all remaining incumbent State officers by acclamation.  In contrast, at their State Convention Democrats nominated William Randolph Hearst as candidate for governor on the first ballot.  Independence League candidates were proffered for a number of remaining positions so that a Democratic / Independence League fusion ticket was presented to voters in the November election.    

Pelham Democrats were not unhappy with the Democratic / Independence League fusion ticket.  Rather, they were unhappy with the nomination of William Randolph Hearts as the Democratic candidate for Governor.  The editorial that appeared in The Register stated:

"'The Democratic nominations made at Buffalo last week are a keen disappointment to the old line Democrats who relied upon their delegates to name a strong man who would stand a good chance against any candidate the Republican party might name.  On the contrary, they named a decidedly weak man, one whose inconsistency is shown in assailing Boss Murphy, Bourke Cockran and Pat McCarren less than six months ago and now delightedly and contentedly basking in their smiles.  The contrast between the smooth running, orderly convention at Saratoga and the disorderly conference is as striking as the characters of the nominees.  The Register is Democratic and accepts the result, unless it is proved conclusively that honestly elected delegates were barred by dishonest methods from the convention.'"

Pelham Democrats and their local mouthpiece, The Register, seemed to agree with most New Yorkers.  In the November 6 election that followed, the entire Democratic / Independence fusion ticket was elected with the exception of William Randolph Hearst who was rejected by New York voters throughout the State but especially in New York City.  Significantly, with the exception of the governorship, the election results ended a twelve-year Republican era in New York State politics.  See "New York State Election, 1906" in Wikipedia -- The Free Encyclopedia (visited Oct. 7, 2017).

William Randolph Hearst, 1906 Democratic Candidate for

Governor of the State of New York, a Nomination with Which

Pelham Democrats and the Democratic Newspaper The

Register were Dissatisfied.  Source:  Wikipedia.

NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

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"PELHAM DEMOCRATIC PAPER DISATISFIED [sic] WITH HEARST
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The Register Says Nomination Is Unsatisfactory and Remarks Upon Candidate's Inconsistency.
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North Pelham, Oct. 3. -- If an editorial which appeared in the Pelham Register of this week's issue is any criterion, the Democratic party in Pelham is in a disgruntled state of mind concerning the nominations made at the Democratic convention in Buffalo.

The Register, which is purported to be the Democratic organ of the town, is dissatisfied with the way things went at Buffalo, and contrasts the Republican convention with the Democratic convention, referring to the former as a 'smooth running and orderly convention,' and the latter as the 'disorderly Buffalo conference.'

The editorial follows, showing no doubt the sentiment of the sober-minded Democrats of the town:  'The Democratic nominations made at Buffalo last week are a keen disappointment to the old line Democrats who relied upon their delegates to name a strong man who would stand a good chance against any candidate the Republican party might name.  On the contrary, they named a decidedly weak man, one whose inconsistency is shown in assailing Boss Murphy, Bourke Cockran and Pat McCarren less than six months ago and now delightedly and contentedly basking in their smiles.  The contrast between the smooth running, orderly convention at Saratoga and the disorderly conference is as striking as the characters of the nominees.  The Register is Democratic and accepts the result, unless it is proved conclusively that honestly elected delegates were barred by dishonest methods from the convention.'"

Source:  PELHAM DEMOCRATIC PAPER DISATISFIED [sic] WITH HEARST -- The Register Says Nomination Is Unsatisfactory and Remarks Upon Candidate's Inconsistency, Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], Oct. 3, 1906, Whole No. 4435, p. 1, col. 1.

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A History of Newspapers Published in Pelham

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."

 

In 1929, J. Gardiner Minard of the Village of North Pelham published an interesting history on local newspaper publishing in the Town of Pelham.  I have written on many occasions of the history of newspaper publishing in the Town of Pelham.  For a few examples, see:

Thu., Jun. 26, 2014:  A History of the Early Years of The Pelham Sun, A Pelham Newspaper Institution.

Mon., Sep. 05, 2005:  The Pelham Republican: Official Newspaper of The Villages of Pelham and North Pelham in 1902.  

Mon., May 23, 2005:  Thomas M. Kennett, Long Time Editor of The Pelham Sun.

Fri., Apr. 01, 2005:  The Earliest Newspaper in Pelham?

Today's posting to the Historic Pelham Blog transcribes J. Gardiner Minard's article about the history of newspaper publishing in Pelham, followed by a citation to its source.

Front Page of The Pelham Sun Published on

December 12, 1941, Announcing the Attack

on Pearl Harbor and the Declaration of War.

"MANY NEWSPAPERS HAVE ENTERED PELHAM FIELD SINCE PELHAM PRESS WAS PUBLISHED IN 1896
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History of Local Press Recalled As Pelham Sun Completes the Nineteenth Year Of Its Existence -- First Venture Politically Inspired to Boost McKinley Candidacy
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By J. Gardiner Minard
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We are nineteen years old.  With this issue, The Pelham Sun observes its nineteenth birthday.  On Saturday, April 9, 1910, in the midst of a heated political battle, the citizens of the three small villages that constituted the Town of Pelham in those days found on their doorstep, a four page newspaper.  It was a successor to a series of publications whose enterprising publishers had failed to find the field very lucrative.  The Sun, however, under the careful management of Mr. Ceder, survived its lean days and has continued to serve the Pelhams through all but one year of two decades.

Pelham's newspaper history dates back to March 1, 1896, when The Pelham Press first published.  The manner in which this paper was created was unique.

During the winter of 1895-96, the late Mark A. Hanna, chairman of the Republican National Committee was forcing the presidential nomination of Governor William McKinley, of Ohio.  There was much opposition to McKinley and Hanna with his millions was purchasing the support of certain newspapers.  There lived in Stamford, Conn., a tall old gentlemen [sic] by the name of John T. Trowbridge.  He resembled Charles Evan Hughes with his flowing beard.  Trowbridge saw that Hanna was proceeding with a very expensive program and getting audience with the political leader unfolded the scheme which brought the Pelham Press into being, as well as several other weekly newspapers along the Long Island Sound shore from the Bronx to Milford, Conn.

These newspapers were to sponsor the McKinley cause.  A representative in each city, town and village would edit his particular sheet.  All the papers would be printed alike with the exception of the heads, and subheads on the editorial page.  Each group of news would be printed under the heading of the locality where it was to be circulated.  The papers were printed in New York City and delivered in the various communities by train.  The only expense to the editor was the fifty cents express charges.

Mr. Trowbridge came to Pelham hoping to establish a link of his chain journalism here.  I was recommended for the position as editor and I accepted the very flattering offer.

It was never intended that these newspapers should survive the election, but the Pelham Press had made its mark and when the timje for suspension came, the circulation list was rather substantial, and although I pocketed everything, Trowbridge continued to supply me with papers, until the Spanish-American War broke out in 1898 and I 'resigned' to enlist in the infantry.  So the Pelham Press may therefore be regarded as killed in action, for it ceased publication then and there.

But Pelham was not without its weekly compendium of news, because the Press had a rival.  In 1897 Alfred E. Stevens, of Mt. Vernon noting the success of the Press decided to start a newspaper here, and the Pelham Record made its appearance.  Stevens saw me getting away with some pretty rough stuff and started to follow suit with the result that he was the object of some threats of bodily harm which caused him to sell the paper.

Then came Walter F. C. Tichborne with the Pelhham Republican, a tabloid form of paper which he printed himself in the Lyon building on Wolf's Lane.  This paper ceased to publish when Tichborne entered the automobile sales agency business.

One of the principal sources of revenue much sought by the early publishers of Pelham before Mr. Shinn's time was the printing of the town tax sales and redemption notices, especially if the supervisor was friendly to the editor, he could postpone the sales and cause the notices to be reprinted.  This meant a profit of several hundred dollars.

This revenue caused two very prominent Republicans to start the Pelham Post and even before its first edition was published the Town Board made it the official newspaper on the eve of the publication of the tax sale notices.  When the first edition came off the press a roar of laughter was heard as it contained not a single line of news, merely the official advertisement.  It appeared three times thereafter, the only changes being in the date line.  The publishers collected from the town and then suspended publication.  

There was another newspaper in Pelham the less said of the better.  It was the Pelham Democrat which also appeared three times in one week and then folded its tents.  This was in the heat of an election campaign and the two other papers in the town were so dyed-in-the-wool partisan that the Democrats had to resort to this method in order to present their case to the voters.  

It was precisely this same condition which caused the late Peter Ceder to start The Pelham Sun.  He was being attacked by the Republican organ and being an experienced newspaper man he soon had the officials eating out of his hand by telling the public some unpleasant facts regarding political leaders and officials.  He compelled a Republican Justice of the Peace to resign and a Republican Town Board to appoint him to fill the vacancy.

The first issue of The Pelham Sun, which I have before me shows that although his paper was started for political reasons, Editor Ceder honestly endeavored to give the citizens of The Pelhams a real newspaper covering every activity in addition to the political side.

'The Pelham Sun makes its appearance for the first time today.  We are not going to outline any program or make any promises one way or the other, but we will let our Pelham friends judge our usefulness some future day when we have become better acquainted'. -- Thus Editor Ceder conservatively announced his presence.

The time yellowed sheet before us carries on its first page an account of the history of the old Congregational Church of the Pelhams, long disbanded.  It predicts a great future for the Pelhams in an article forecasting rise in real estate values and remarkable growth in population.  

The Pelham Village Club, which occupied the building which is now the Masonic Temple had a membership of thirty prominent residents.  Another story tells of the town sewer commission discussing plans for the erection of a disposal plant.

Among the names mentioned in the social columns, are many still prominent here, among them, Mrs. David Lyon, the late Mrs. R. C. Black, Mrs. W. Beach Day, Mrs. Jas. F. Secor, Mrs. W. B. Randall, and Mrs. C. C. Davis.

With the first issue of The Pelham Sun, the Pelhams were favored with the first free mail delivery here.  A front page article boasts that 'two deliveries will be made beginning tomorrow.'  Carrier William A. Williamson, still a member of the local staff was one of the two men assigned to the Pelhams.

Liberty Engine & Hose Co. is commended for its benevolence in defraying the funeral expenses of one of its deceased members.

They had their police problems in those days too.  Witness a front page story of a controversy in the North Pelham Village Board which resulted in the dismissal of a patrolman.

James Reilly was village president and David Lyon, now supervisor, was a trustee.  History may also be said to repeat itself in Pelham Heights.  The chief executive's chair in 1910 was also filled by a Mr. White as it is today.

Robert A. Holmes was president of the Board of Education and Edgar C. Beecroft, now attorney of the village of Pelham Manor, was supervisor.

A scathing attack was made on Village President Reilly in a letter which was signed by one who chose to call himself 'Nemesis'.

The familiar 'boiler plate' syndicate matter of small town journalism fills the better part of the second and third pages, and a full page advertisement, the only ad in the issue adorns the last page.  Harry S. Houpt, tells the villagers of the advantages of the Houpt-Rockwell automobile.  These 'handsome' machines sold for $5,000 and $6,000.

After the Sun was started the Pelham Register appeared.  Charles B. Forbes, now publisher of the new White Plains Daily Press, was founder and I assisted.  Between the two of us we kept the political pot boiling.  Forbes received a tempting offer from a Washington, D. C. newspaper for a few years, during which time I pulled off a neat stunt.  Robert Lucas Forbes, brother of my original partner, was running the New Rochelle Paragraph and although it was independently Republican, he found conditions in New Rochelle so unbearable that he supported the Democratic candidates in spite of threats from the Republican Committees to deprive him of then county printing.  My paper was Democratic and when the official county newspapers were designated the Register was included, and I celebrated the event by transferring the paper to Forbes.

Mr. Ceder subsequently consolidated the Record and Register with the Pelham Sun.  

In 1919 The Pelham Sun was purchased by a group of prominent citizens who continued to guide it until 1025 when it was purchased by the present owner, Thomas M. Kennett, who had been its editor and publisher since 1921.

The Free Press made its appearance shortly after the world war and was a semi-weekly.  It gave promise of great things but after a few weeks the editor disappeared leaving those promises behind him.  It was an expensive venture for its backers.  Another paper started soon after the Free Press was the Pelham Advocate edited by a woman, backed by the Countess von Tetzel and the Baroness Argilogos.  It struggled for a few months and cost a lot of money.  The last paper to start was the Pelham News which began as a tabloid and later changed to full size.

Pelham has had more newspapers than either Mount Vernon or New Rochelle.  The time has passed, however, when a newspaper can be started on a shoelace.  With the scarcity of newsprint and high costs of production and composition, few dare tackle the game.  Today it is the survival of the fittest and the paper that presents its news fairly and accurately is the winner."

Source:  Minard, J. Gardiner, MANY NEWSPAPERS HAVE ENTERED PELHAM FIELD SINCE PELHAM PRESS WAS PUBLISHED IN 1896, The Pelham Sun, Apr. 5, 1929, p. 9, cols. 1-6.  

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A History of the Early Years of The Pelham Sun, A Pelham Newspaper Institution

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As with The Pelham Weekly of today, The Pelham Sun of yore was a Pelham institution that documented the daily doings of Pelhamites throughout a large part of the 20th Century.  Both newspapers have generated priceless historical records of our little town.  

Peter Ceder founded The Pelham Sun on April 9, 1910 and nurtured the growing newspaper until shortly before the advent of the Roaring Twenties when he turned his attention, full time, to real estate development in the Town of Pelham. In 1919, Ceder began a search for a new owner to whom he could turn to continue the institution he had created.  He turned, first, to J. Gardiner Minard, a resident of the Village of North Pelham who had some newspaper experience.  Having just returned from World War I, Minard demurred, telling Ceder "I am sick of wars and running newspapers."

Soon it began to appear that Ceder might close the newspaper, leaving the growing and increasingly-prosperous town without its own newspaper.  A group of nine civic-minded citizens led by Pelham Manor multi-millionaire William T. Grant, the founder of the nationwide chain of W. T. Grant 25 Cent Stores, formed The Pelham Sun Corporation and bought the newspaper from Peter Ceder.  

Pelham resident Thomas M. Kennett was appointed the editor of The Pelham Sun on February 28, 1921.  In 1925, Kennett purchased The Pelham Sun from the nine Pelham residents who had acquired it from Ceder.  Kennett operated the newspaper with his son, Frederick T. Kennett.  

Front Page of The Pelham Sun Published on

December 12, 1941, Announcing the Attack

on Pearl Harbor and the Declaration of War.

I have written before about the history of The Pelham Sun and the newspaper's long-time editor, Thomas M. Kennett.  See Monday, May 23, 2005:  Thomas M. Kennett, Long Time Editor of The Pelham Sun.  

Today's posting to the Historic Pelham Blog transcribes a brief article written by J. Gardiner Minard that was published in 1931.  It describes the Town of Pelham in 1910 when The Pelham Sun was founded, and details a little about the early history of the newspaper.  The article appears immediately below, followed by a citation to its source.  

"THE PELHAM SUN HAS PROGRESSED WITH PELHAMS; PROSPERITY IS TESTIMONIAL
-----
Newspaper Has Advanced With Communities; Grows From One Man Paper to Large Organization of Efficient Workers; Editor Ceder's Offer To Dispose of Newspaper.
-----
By J. Gardiner Minard
-----

In the life of a long established newspaper, twenty one years may not seem much; but for a newspaper in the Pelhams to survive a generation is to set a record.  There is quite a difference between the four page paper established in 1910 by the late Peter Ceder and the two or more section Pelham Sun of 1931.

This is, of course, no reflection on the founder.  There is perhaps just as great a difference between the Pelhams of 1910 and the town of 1931.  At that time there was not an apartment in the three villages; that vast tract west of Wolf's Lane stretching to the Mount Vernon-New York City boundary, and from Colonial avenue to Boston Post road had no more houses than could be counted on the fingeres [sic] of one hand.  Fowler avenue to New Rochelle and from Colonial avenue to Boston Post road was the site of the Pelham Country Club.  Winyah Park which stretched from Fifth avenue to the Columbus avenue school in New Rochelle, and from the New Haven railroad tracks to Huguenot Lake, and which did not contain a single building, had just been purchased by Clifford B. Harmon and contractors were busy felling trees to make way for streets in what is now Pelhamwood.

Fifth avenue between First and Second streets had but one building on each side, viz; the court house and the drug store-post office.  The east side of the same street between Second and Third streets was a succession of empty lots and no buildings.  The Heisser farm in the north east section of the village had been sold to the Hudson P. Rose company and was being developed.  It is therefore natural with the phenomenal growth of the town that its only newspaper should keep pace with its development.

My interest in the Pelham Sun is a little more than ordinary, for I had an opportunity in 1919 to be its owner and editor.  I had just emerged from the World War when Mr. Ceder called me into his office and the following conversation took place:  

'Minard, I am going to give you the Pelham Sun.'

'Thanks, ever so much Mr. Ceder, but I don't want it.'

'Don't be a fool; I am not handing you a gold brick; the paper has no debts and here are the books to show it is on a good paying basis.  Here is the situation:  real estate in the town is booming and needs all my attention.  North Pelham is growing and my duties as village president are now taking time which ought to be devoted to my real estate business and I am really devoting no time to the newspaper.  All the news you see in it comes into this office either over the telephone or is brought in.  By devoting your entire time to it you can make a handsome profit.  I will even give you office space here free.'

'Mr. Ceder, I appreciate your generous offer, but I ran two newspapers already in Pelham and was constantly in hot water.  During those years I had to go around with my sleeves rolled up.  I have just returned from more than two years service in the war and I can only compare it with running a newspaper in Pelham.  I am sick of wars and running newspapers.'

Mr. Ceder expressed regret and stated that he must part with it.  A few weeks later nine residents of the town formed the Pelham Sun Corporation and bought it.  When one looks back over the past twenty-one years and notes the wonderful growth of the town it is natural that the Pelham Sun should show signs of expansion.  But it also means the maintenance of an editorial and mechanical staff.

The day of the 'one man' newspaper in Pelham is past.  Few readers realize what forces are at work to keep the hungry columns filled.  There is hardly a night but one or more meetings must be 'covered,' which means a representative of the paper who must remain from the opening to closing, often after the midnight hour, taking notes which must be transcribed and made into typewritten copy for the typesetter.  Police stations and courts must be covered as well as the various meetings and other activities of clubs and societies.  The schools require some attention as well as church services and meetings of their allied societies.  

When a newspaper prospers it is a testimonial to its management, for its circulation determines whether its policy is approved or not by the residents in the territory it covers.  There is no doubt before another generation, the Pelham Sun will pass from the weekly to the daily stage.  Let us hope so."

Source:  Minard, J. Gardiner, The Pelham Sun Has Progressed With Pelhams; Prosperity Is Testimonial, The Pelham Sun, Apr. 17, 1931, p. 13, cols. 4-8.

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Village Elections in the Town of Pelham in 1912

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The following article, transcribed from the Saturday, March 23, 1912 issue of the New Rochelle Pioneer, describes the results of the Village elections in the Town of Pelham that year.

"ELECTIONS HELD IN VILLAGES
-----
Ceder Has a Walk Over at North Pelham -- Pelham Heights and the Manor Are Quiet.

Peter Ceder was re-elected president of North Pelham village at the annual election Tuesday morning, defeating his Republican opponent C. W. Foster by a vote of 184 to 108, a majority of 76.  The rest of the Democratic ticket was elected with good sized majorities as follows:  For trustee, E. C. Logan, Dem. 182; C. T. Cottrell, Rep., 109.  Treasurer, A. P. Delcambre, Dem., 169; Vincent Barker, Rep., 121.  Tax collector, C. A. Dickenson, Dem., 211; Bert Penfield, Rep., 103.  The proposition to raise $30,000 by bond issue for paving and street improvement purposes was carried by a vote of 108 to 44.

There was not as much excitement in the present village election as there has been in previous years.  There were 153 straight Democratic and 69 straight Republican votes.

At Pelham Heights.

Little interest was manifested in the election at Pelham Heights on Tuesday, as only 40 votes were cast, and there was no opposition to the ticket in the field.  E. E. Huber was elected president to succeed A. C. Winch.  Mr. Huber had been village trustee.  The rest of the ticket was as follows:  Trustee, I.B. Ferguson; treasurer, A. L. Bukchout, and tax collector, E. H. Kingsland.  The two last named succeed themselves.  Mr. Ferguson is a new trustee.

At Pelham Manor.

The principal interest in the election in Pelham Manor was in the contest for tax collector.  H. E. Dey, the candidate on the Republican ticket was opposed by E. Kendall Gillett, the nominee on the Prohibition ticket.  Dey won by a vote of 71 to 31.  One hundred and two votes were cast there being no opposition to any of the other candidates and their names appeared on both the Republican and Prohibition tickets.  The officers follows [sic]:  President, Willard P. Brown:  trustee, Walter Scott: treasurer, A. L. Hammett:  tax collector, H. E. Dey.  The only change is that of H. E. Dey, who succeeds Langdon H. Roper.  The two propositions carried.  No. 1 which provides for a bond issue of $16,000 for the purpose of putting the Shore Road and the Boston Post Road in condition was carried by a vote of 32 to 18.  No. 2 which provides for the collection of the garbage, was carried by a vote of 42 to 9."

Source:  Elections Held in Villages, New Rochelle Pioneer, March 23, 1912, p. 7, col. 6.

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Report on State of the Village of North Pelham by President Peter Ceder Published in 1913

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President of North Pelham, Peter Ceder, prepared a "State of the Village" report that appeared in an issue of The Pelham Sun published in 1913.  The report provides an interesting description of the state of the Village at a time when it was beginning to experience explosive growth that continued until the Great Depression.  The entire report is transcribed below.

"Pres. Ceder on North Pelham
-----

The progress in North Pelham the past few years has been rapid, substantial and systematic.  The mud-hole streets that distinguished the village as a back-woods municipality only three short years ago, are no more.  Instead, the main thoroughfares now present substantial and permanent pavements that will stand the test of time and traffic.

North Pelham is the largest village in the town in population, containing between 1,400 and 1,500.  It is a third-class village, while the villages of Pelham and Pelham Manor are still in the fourth class.

As a third class village the law permits us to have a President and four Trustees.  For fourth class villages the law provides for a President and only two Trustees.  But the law does not make it mandatory upon the part of a third class village to elect four Trustees.

I have been so closely connected with the past few years' municipal history in North Pelham that my optimism about the future of the little village may, perhaps, be a bit exaggerated.  But even so, I am happy to retain my firm conviction that ere long my home village will advance from the third to the second class.

Why shouldn't it?

Our transit facilities excel those of most other villages in the county.  At the south end we have the main New Haven road; in the centre of the old part of the village we have the Fifth avenue station of the New York, Westchester and Boston road; a little further east we have the Clifford avenue station of the same line, and up at the north end people can be handsomely accommodated by the Chester Heights station of the Westchester road.  We also have a chance to use the nearby East Lincoln Avenue station.  And only 30 minutes to 42nd street.

We have trolley car service every fifteen minutes, with the right to transfers in all directions.  The trolley now runs to the further north end of our village and to the east boundary line.  I think that the extension of the trolley line up Pelhamdale avenue, and the attendant increase in car service, together with the pleasing transfer privileges obtained, is one of the most noteworthy achievements of the village administration of which I have had the pleasure to be a part.  Transit facilities are the forerunners of increased population and the consequent increase in property values.

Those whose memory is in good working order have not forgotten how our streets looked a couple of years ago.  Those who are not blind and are willing to see cannot fail to comprehend the tremendous change our permanently improved streets have worked in the village.  Those who have occasion to use our concrete sidewalks will say that walking in North Pelham is just fine.

A little statistics will not be out of place. 

The village has 65,475 lineal feet or 12.44 miles of streets; it has 9.22 miles of sewer; it has 7.4 miles of flag sidewalks; it has 6.17 miles of concrete sidewalks.  Of the nearly 13 miles of streets 6,191 lineal feet are paved with Bithulitic on concrete foundation, 750 feet are paved with Tarvia pavement, 11,855 feet are macadimized and 53,620 feet are dirt roads.

There are 8,960 feet of trolley track within the village limits. 

The dirt roads have been greatly improved by the use of oil, which serves both as a road improver and as a dust exterminator -- a double purpose.

Our street lighting system could and should be improved.  The open flame gas lamps are antiquated and give an inferior illumination compared with the modern street lights now in use in nearly all up-to-date municipalities.

We enjoy good police protection at the hands of our little force of four men.  Robberies and burglaries are rarely heard of and general good order is maintained night and day.

I fail to see why our little village should not grow rapidly, for it contains all the essential elements necessary to make an ideal suburban community for the middle class. 

In conclusion I wish to impress upon the minds of my fellow taxpayers in North Pelham the fact that they should exert themselves a little more than they now do to induce that rapid but sound growth the village is entitled to by reason of the many inducements it can hold out to purchasers of moderate means.  Be boosters, and not knockers.

PETER CEDER,
Pres. Village North Pelham"

Source:  Pres. Ceder on North Pelham, The Pelham Sun, 1913, p. 11, col. 6 (undated newspaper page in the collections of the Office of The Historian of The Town of Pelham, NY; digital copy in author's files).

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