An Historic Fiftieth Anniversary in Pelham During 1922

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A Golden Wedding Anniversary is a grand and glorious event, though rarely an historic event.  Yet, one such anniversary celebrated on Tuesday, November 14, 1922 rose to the level of an historic event in the little Town of Pelham.

That day, "anyone who was anyone" in the Town of Pelham attended a grand celebration of the Golden Wedding Anniversary of Isaac Carpenter Hill and Emma Jane Lovecraft Hill who were married in what was then the tiny little village of Mount Vernon on November 13, 1872.

Isaac C. Hill was one of the most significant and transformative public education figures in the early history of the Town of Pelham.  At the time of his marriage to Emma Jane Lovecraft in 1872, he was a school teacher in White Plains.  His new wife was a school teacher in Mount Vernon.  After the pair wedded, Isaac Hill moved to Mount Vernon.

In 1877, Isaac Hill became the "Principal" of the old Prospect Hill School on Split Rock Road.  Although he was designated the Principal, the tiny school was a one-room schoolhouse.  He was the only teacher.  

Prospect Hill Schoolhouse in an Undated Photograph.

Image Courtesy of the Office of the Historian of the Town of Pelham.

982 Split Rock Road Which Incorporates the Old Prospect

Hill Schoolhouse. Photograph by the Author, 2004.

I have written about Isaac C. Hill and his career in education before.  See, e.g.:

Tue., Sep. 27, 2005:  Isaac C. Hill's Reminiscences of Early Public Schools in Pelham. 

Tue., Mar. 28, 2006:  More Reminiscences of Isaac C. Hill of Early Public Schools in Pelham. 

Mon., Aug. 11, 2014:  Excerpts of January 8, 1889 Remarks Dedicating a New School Building in Pelhamville.

Mon., Jan. 12, 2015:  Isaac C. Hill, Involved with Pelham Education for Forty-Five Years, Retired in 1922.

On Tuesday, November 14, 1922, more than one hundred guests gathered at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Isaac C. Hill to celebrate the 50th wedding anniversary of the couple.  The gathering grew so large that an adjacent neighbor opened a nearby home to receive many of the guests who could not fit into the home of the Hills on Third Avenue in the Village of North Pelham.  

The celebration lasted from the early hours of the morning until the evening.  Rev. Herbert Haight Brown, pastor of the Church of the Redeemer in the Village of North Pelham, read the original marriage certificate of the couple to the crowd.  The couple also exhibited original wedding invitations from their ceremony in 1872 as well as a beautiful locket that contained "miniatures" of the couple at the time of their marriage.  The organist of the Church of the Redeemer played the wedding march from Richard Wagner's 1850 opera "Lohengrin."

Supper was served to nearly one hundred guests.  Isaac and Emma Jane Hill entertained the guests with a beautiful and remarkable duet "When You and I Were Young, Maggie," with Mrs. Hill playing the accompaniment on the piano.  According to The Pelham Sun "The steadiness of their voices was remarkable.  Despite their fifty years of married life and their advancing years, neither of them could be called old.  The passing years have only added maturity."

The Pelham Sun posted a lengthy list of the many astounding gifts that the couple received as well as a lengthy list of many of the guests who attended the grand celebration.  

Yes, because the celebration honored Isaac C. Hill, a beloved figure who devoted forty-five years of his life to public education service in the Town of Pelham, the event was indeed an historic one now part of the history of our little Town of Pelham.

"MR. AND MRS. ISAAC C. HILL

Pelham couple who celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of their wedding

at their Third avenue home last Monday.  They were married in the

Village of Mount Vernon in 1872.  Source:  Many Congratulations For

Pelham Couple At Their Golden Wedding -- Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Hill of

Third Avenue Marked Completion of Fifty Years of Wedded Life With

Celebration Attended By Scores of Friends -- Were Married In the

Village of Mount Vernon In 1872, The Pelham Sun, Nov. 17, 1922, Vol.

13, No. 38, p. 1, cols. 3-4.  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

*          *          *          *          *

"Many Congratulations For Pelham Couple At Their Golden Wedding
-----
Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Hill of Third Avenue Marked Completion of Fifty Years of Wedded Life With Celebration Attended By Scores of Friends -- Were Married In the Village of Mount Vernon In 1872.
-----

It is seldom that a golden wedding anniversary is celebrated in the Pelhams, and still more seldom that such a celebration is attended with such unusual outpourings of affection and esteem as characterized the commemoration of fifty years of wedded life last Tuesday by Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Carpenter Hill of Third avenue, North Pelham.  From early morning hours until late in the evening visitors paid their respects to the happy couple, telegrams poured in from out of town friends.  Tokens of affection in wonderful array were brought and sent by their friends and the attendance at the reception held in the evening was such that the home of a neighbor was thrown open to receive some of the guests.  The home on Third avenue was beautifully decorated, being a veritable bower of chrysanthemums, roses, asters and autumn foliage mingled with artistic embellishments which made it a fairyland.

Features of the evening reception were the reading by Rev. H. H. Brown of the original marriage certificate, the exhibiting of the original wedding invitations and a locket containing miniatures of Mr. and Mrs. Hill at the time of their marriage.  Miss Peterson of Pelhamwood, organist of the Church of the Redeemer, played the wedding march from 'Lohen-

Continued on page 4

Golden Wedding Celebration
-----
Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Hill Celebrated Fiftieth Wedding Anniversary Last Tuesday
-----
Continued from page 1

grin'

Supper was served to almost one hundred guests, the tables being hosted by Mr. and Mrs. David Lyon, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Ward, Mrs. Oscar Strieffler, and the Misses Iona, Helen and [illegible] Lyon, nieces of Mr. and Mrs. David Lyon.

Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Hill were married on November 13, 1872, by Rev. Charles Seymour, rector, at Trinity Church in the then village of Mount Vernon.  At that time Mr. Hill was a teacher in the public schools in White Plains and Mrs. Hill, then Miss Emma Jane Lovecraft, officiated in like manner in the Mount Vernon schools.

Five years after their marriage, Mr. Hill came from Mount Vernon to become principal of the old Prospect School at Pelham Manor.  For forty-five years he has been identified with the educational system of The Pelhams, recently retiring from membership of the Board of Education, having closed his work as principal of Hutchinson School in 1914.  He has been a member of the vestry of the Church of the Redeemer for forty-[illegible] years and is now clerk of that body.  Mrs. Hill was for fourteen years organist of the same church and is still actively identified with the work of the parish as a member of the Parish Guild.  Both are beloved by members of the congregation.  

An interesting feature of the celebration was the singing by Mr. and Mrs. Hill of a duet 'When You and I Were Young, Maggie,' Mrs. Hill playing the accompaniment on the piano.  The steadiness of their voices was remarkable.  Despite their fifty years of married life and their advancing years, neither of them could be called old.  The passing years have only added maturity.

An interesting guest at the ceremonies was Mr. and Mrs. Charles Doad Hill of White Plains, who also celebrated their golden wedding [anniversary] on September 29th of this year.  Charles Hill is Isaac Hill's brother.

Among the list of gifts which were displayed in three rooms, owing to their great number, were the following:

Flowers, Parish Guild of the Church of the Redeemer; gold mounted cane, Vestry of the Church of the Redeemer; Tiffany-topaz brooch, Parish Guild of the Church of the Redeemer; $10 gold piece, Mr. and Mrs. C. D. Hill; gold and white dresser set, Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Lyon; gold match box and cameo brooch, Mr. and Mrs. John T. Brook; gold tea tile, Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Herman; gold and glass cracker and cheese dish, Mrs. R. Hewitt; gold thimble, Mr. and Mrs. W. B. Lyon; flowers, Mr. and Mrs. Herman Sobel; gold pepper and salts, Mrs. M. Calderwood; gold dish, Mr. and Mrs. H. Hacker; two gold mounted fountain pens, Mr. and Mrs. A. Anderson; gold scarf pin, M. J. Lynch; gold bar pin, Miss Mary Lynch; old gold boudoir lamp, Mr. and Mrs. J. Lyon; oil painting, Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Shinn; gold thermos bottle, Mr. and Mrs. S. E. Lyon; embroidered pillow cases, the Misses Hewitt; gold and glass syrup pitcher, Mrs. W. Lyon and Mrs. Vander-Roest; gold and glass vase, Judge and Mrs. I. B. Louis; gold and glass dish, Rev. and Mrs. E. B. Rice; flowers, Wm. Edinger; gold dish, Harry A. Anderson; Ovington cup and saucer, Mrs. and Miss Offinger; Ovington cup and saucer, Mr. and Mrs. M. Offinger; $5 gold piece, Prof. and Mrs. A. B. Davis; embroidered pillow cases, E. Merritt; flowers, Miss Agnes Ward; gold and glass dish, F. Case; gold piece, $2.50, Mrs. McGalliard; book, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Wirth; thermos bottle, Mrs. J. Brengel; cigars, J. Brengel; cigars, Mrs. Eugene Meyer; Japanese tray, Mr. and Mrs. O. Strieffler; gold bon-bon dish, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Barker; flowers, the Misses Aspenleiter; gold and glass dish, Miss Ellen Freshney; flowers, Mrs. John B. Clegg; gold and glass dish, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Dobbs; filet lace scarf, Mrs. John Lowery; gold thimble, Mr. and Mrs. G. I. Karback; Tatting handkerchief; Mrs. H. I. Jones, gold tie clasp, Geo. Busteed; gold vanity pins, Mrs. Geo. Busteed; cigars, K. S. Durham; gold and glass mayonnaise bowl, Mrs. K. S. Durham; gold and glass dish, Mrs. MacCloud, Mrs. Rigg; gold and glass dish, Mrs. Hatch; box chocolates, Mr. and Mrs. Warren Hazen; hand painted mayonnaise bowl, Mr. and Mrs. J. Mollenhagen; flowers, Mrs. Godfrey Oden; bronze placque, Mr. and Mrs. J. Gulatsi; towel set, Mr. and Mrs. Monroe; peppers and salts, Mrs. Merz, and daughter; flowers, Mrs. Kate Mulligan; gold fish, the little Brengels; basket of flowers, Mr. and Mrs. B. Dick; peppers and salts, Mr. and Mrs. Fitzpatrick; flowers, Mrs. E. Semmons; cut glass vase and flowers, Mr. and Mrs. R. Scott; guest book, Rev. and Mrs. F. Anderson; peppers and salts, Mr. and Mrs. H. Blakeloke; bottle wine, Mr. and Mrs. D. A. Kennedy; flowers, Mrs. Merz; gold dish, Dr. and Mrs. Bryer; condiment set, Mr. and Mrs. J. Heisser; flowers, Mr. and Mrs. T. James; flowers, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Griffin; flowers, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Griffin; flowers, Mr. and Mrs. John Norman; flowers, Mr. and Miss Louis Kurtz; Pickard china gold plate, Mrs. Mary Dickinson; gold syrup jug and plate, Congressman and Mrs. Ben L. Fairchild.

One of the first to offer congratulations was Mrs. Hatch, who made Mrs. Hill's wedding gown fifty years ago.

Among those who attended the ceremonies and tendered personal congratulations were:  Prof. and Mrs. A. B. Davis, Rev. and Mrs. E. B. Rice, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Scott, Mr. and Mrs. J. Brengel, Mrs. Mary Offinger, Miss J. Offinger, of Mt. Vernon; Miss Florence Busteel, of Bronxville; Mrs. Fannie Hatch of New York City, Mr. and Mrs. O. Strieffler, Mr. William Ernst, Mrs. Wm. Barry, Miss Agnes Ward, of New York City; Mr. and Mrs. MacCloud, Mrs. Riggs, Mr. and Mrs. C. D. Hill of Mt. Kisco; Mrs. A. F. Kitchel of Sound Beach, Mr. and Mrs. A. R. Van de Water, Mrs. George Lawrence, Mrs. Wm. Twells Tiers, Mr. and Mrs. L. B. Wardrop, Mr. and Mrs. Jas. Harper, Mrs. Frederick Davies, H. J. Bickford, Judge A. N. Menkel, D. A. Kennedy, E. O. Bartlett, Mr. and Mrs. John T. Brook, Mrs. H. J. Carell, Miss Peterson, Mr. and Mrs. H. Chase, Miss Chae, Mrs. H. I. Jones, Mr. and Mrs. W. B. Hoff, Rev. H. H. Brown, Mr. and Mrs. J. Ward, Mr. Edgar Merritt, Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Shinn, Mrs. Robert Hewitt, Mr. and Mrs. M. Fitzpatrick, Mr. and Mrs. Alex. Anderson, Harry Anderson, J. Rolus, Jr., Mrs. Walter Barker, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Barker, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Hacker, Miss Helen Hewitt, the Misses Aspenleiter, Mr. and Mrs. Mm. Dobbs, Mrs. Ernest Mann, Mrs. F. Semmons, Mr. and Mrs. H. Blakelock, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Ryan, Mrs. E. McGalliard, Mr. and Mrs. John Clegg, Mrs. Edward Temple, Miss Susan Singer, Mrs. Vander Roest, Mrs. Grace Lyones, Judge and Mrs. I. B. Louis, Thomas M. Kennett, Miss Ione Lyon, Mr. and Mrs. Herman Zoebel, Mrs. Matthew Herman, Mrs. M. Calderwood, Miss Helen Lyon, Mr. M. J. Lynch, Miss Mary Lynch, Mr. and Mrs. H. Playle, Mrs. Carew, Mrs. W. B. Lyon and little Eleanor, Mr. and Mrs. Adolph Fassler, Miss Anita Lyon, Mr. and Mrs. J. Buchanan, Mr. and Mrs. J. Gulatsi, Mr. John Lowery, Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Lyon, Mr. and Mrs. Martin Offinger, Mrs. G. I. Karback, Mrs. Loretta Cook, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Lyon, Mr. and Mrs. Young, Mr. and Mrs. J. Mollenhagen, Rev. Dr. Louis G. Leary, Mrs. Godfrey Oden, Mrs. Kate Mulligan, Miss Mulligan, Mr. and Mrs. A. Monroe, Mrs. Merz, Miss Emma Merz, Miss L. Merz, Mr. Wm. Edinger, Mrs. Augusta Keller, Mrs. Thomas Barker, Miss Caroline Barker, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Barker, Mrs. Harriet Barker, Mrs. Mary Dickinson.

Over a hundred telegrams and letters were received.  From Congressman and Mrs. Ben L. Fairchild at Washington came hearty congratulations; others arrived from Kansas City, Rochester, N. Y., Syracuse, Danbury, Ct., North Hero, Vt., and other places.

Mr. and Mrs. Hill wish to take this opportunity of thanking all their many friends for their wonderful expressions of good will."

Source:  Many Congratulations For Pelham Couple At Their Golden Wedding -- Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Hill of Third Avenue Marked Completion of Fifty Years of Wedded Life With Celebration Attended By Scores of Friends -- Were Married In the Village of Mount Vernon In 1872, The Pelham Sun, Nov. 17, 1922, Vol. 13, No. 38, p. 1, cols. 3-4 & p. 4, cols. 1-4.

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Plans in 1879 to Sell the Tiny Prospect Hill Schoolhouse in Pelham and Use the Proceeds for a New Schoolhouse

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The remnants of a tiny one-room schoolhouse known as the Prospect Hill Schoolhouse still stand on today's Split Rock Road.  The structure has been incorporated into the residence that stands at 982 Split Rock Road.  According to a publication issued in 1976:

"In 1840, John Hunter, who owned the land just to the southeast of Prospect Hill, deeded a small corner of his land on the border to the town of Pelham for the purpose of building a school.  In 1866, for some reason, the town purchased part of Lot 51 from Terrance Malloy and moved the school to that site, which is now the front part of the main center section of 982 Split Rock Road.  It has been said that the reason for the removal of the school was that Hunter wished to enlarge his racetrack.  However, research has shown that his track was further south, nearer Throg's Neck.  Also, the configuration of the land at that spot would not have lent itself to the requirements of a racetrack." 

Source: The Junior League of Pelham, Inc., A Glance at the Past: Pelham's Growth From 1775-1975 p. 14 (The Junior League of Pelham, Inc. Sept. 1976) (Pamphlet associated with accompanying map; 32 pp. including Map Bibliography, Manuscript Bibliography and illustrations by Hedy Klein).

Prospect Hill Schoolhouse in an Undated Photograph.

Image Courtesy of the Office of the Historian of the Town of Pelham.

982 Split Rock Road Which Incorporates the Old Prospect

Hill Schoolhouse.  Photograph by the Author, 2004.

As early as 1879, the Board of Education of the Union Free School District No. 1 of the Town of Pelham formulated a plan to replace the tiny one-room schoolhouse in Pelham Manor known as the Prospect Hill Schoolhouse.  

In 1879, the School District petitioned the Westchester County Board of Supervisors to permit it to sell the Prospect Hill Schoolhouse and the land on which it stood along Split Rock Road and to permit it to use the proceeds of the sale to purchase "other lands for the site of their school-house, and to the erection of necessary buildings therein."  

On December 22, 1879, Odle Close (a member of the Judiciary Committee of the Westchester County Board of Supervisors) presented to the Board of Supervisors on behalf of the Judiciary Committee a report recommending that the School Board's petition be granted and that authority to sell the schoolhouse and land be given.

A copy of the brief report is transcribed immediately below, followed by a citation to its source.

"MONDAY, Dec. 22, 1879.

The Board met pursuant to adjournment,
The Chairman and a quorum of members present.
The minutes of December 18th were read and approved.
Mr. Close, from the Committee on Judiciary, presented the following report, which was laid over:

To the Board of Supervisors:

The Judiciary Committee, to whom was referred the petition of the Board of Education of School District of the town of Pelham, for leave and authority to sell lands, and buildings thereon, now owned by and occupied by said district, situated on Prospect Hill, and known as Prospect Hill School-house; and for leave to apply the proceeds of such sale to the purchase of other lands for the site of their school-house, and to the erection of necessary buildings therein, respectfully report, that they have examined the matter so referred, and recommend that such leave and authority be granted.

Respectfully submitted,
ODLE CLOSE,               )
SAM'L WM. JOHNSON, )
D. W. TRAVIS,               }  Judiciary Committee.
M. BANTA,                     )
H. D. PHELPS,              )

Source:  Proceedings of the Board of Supervisors of Westchester County, N. Y., Session of 1879, Together With Proceedings at a Special Meeting, Held June 17th, 1879, and a Special Meeting, Held June 23d, 1879, p. 224 (White Plains, NY:  The Westchester News, 1879).

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The Laying of the Foundation Stone at Prospect Hill School on Sunday, June 9, 1929

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No definitive history of Pelham schools has been written.  Many articles and publications, however, have touched on the issue.  Indeed, I have written numerous Historic Pelham Blog postings that touch on the history of schools and education in The Pelhams.  For a few of the many, many such examples, see the list of links and articles at the end of today's posting. 


In his seminal history of The Pelhams published in 1946, Lockwood Barr touched on the long history of schools and education in Pelham.  He wrote: 

"THE first mention of a school in that section of Westchester County, in the tract owned by Thomas Pell, is found under the date of August 13, 1683. This school was located in the tract which he sold to the "Ten Families," not far from Old St. Paul's Church in Eastchester. The school was under the jurisdiction of the Rector of the Congregation, according to Bolton's History of Westchester, Vol. II, p. 100. The first reference to a school in the Town of Pelham, states that ". . . at a Town Meeting held at the School House in the Town of Pelham on Tuesday, the 7th day of April 1801 . . . there were elected seven Commissioners of Schools." The location of that school is not known."

Source:  Barr, Lockwood Anderson, A Brief, But Most Complete & True Account of the Settlement of the Ancient Town of Pelham Westchester County, State of New York Known One Time Well & Favourably as the Lordshipp & Manour of Pelham Also The Story of the Three Modern Villages Called The Pelhams, p. 149 (The Dietz Press, Inc. 1946) (Library of Congress Control Number 47003441, Library of Congress Call Number F129.P38B3).

Today's posting to the Historic Pelham Blog adds a little more to the history of education in The Pelhams.  It transcribes an account of the laying of the cornerstone of Prospect Hill Elementary School on June 9, 1929, only months before the stock market crash and the onset of The Great Depression.  The account is transcribed in its entirety, followed by a citation to its source.

 

Laying of the Cornerstone at Prospect Hill Elementary School

on Sunday, June 9, 1929.  Source:  Courtesy of The Office of The

Historian of The Town of Pelham.



 
"Foundation Stone Of Prospect Hill School Laid By School Trustee Ives; Ceremonies Conducted By P.T.A.
-----
Keynote Of Exercises Is the 'Reincarnation Of Prospect Hill School,' the First Of the Schools Of Pelham -- President Nevins Praises Foresight Of L. Ogden, Thompson In Obtaining Site For School
-----

Little old schoolhouse on Prospect Hill, where Pelham children of half a century ago mastered the three 'R's' will be reincarnated in the new Prospect Hill School, the foundation stone of which was laid on Sunday.  The Parent-Teacher Association was in charge of the ceremonies.  The new school is located at Clay and Washington avenues and Hudson street.  It will accommodate the children living south of the Boston road in Pelham Manor.

In dedicating the foundation stone, the Parent-Teacher Association, which is composed mainly of mothers of pupils in the Pelham schools, accepted a responsibility for the school and inaugurated a program of cooperation wherein the parents and school officials will work together for the best interests of school matters in the town.

'Henry B. Nevins, president of the Board of Education sounded the keynote when he said:  'In inviting the Parent Teacher Association to conduct these ceremonies we wanted them to feel an interest in this school from its very beginning.  The responsibility started today does not end here; it is a cooperation that all must be vitally interested in.'

It was Mrs. Herbert Elliott, ,vice-president of the P. T. A., who announced the name of the school.  Heretofore the new building had been referred to as the Washington School.  Inspiration for the new name was the little one-roomed Prospect Hill school which stood on Split Rock road, and had been used as a schoolhouse since 1835.  This was the foundation of the Pelham school system.  Pres. Nevins later announced that Mrs. E. T. Gilliland, of Pelham Manor, had suggested the name of the new school, as a fitting memorial to the sturdy school children of the early Pelhams and an inspiration to youngsters of today.  

The old Prospect Hill School was referred to many times in the addresses.  

Mrs. Holton H. Scott, president of the Parent Teacher Association presided at the ceremonies.  In her opening address she said:

'It is with especial pleasure and enthusiasm that we the members of the Parent Teacher Association greet you and welcome you to the laying of the cornerstone of this school.

'Situated as this building is, on one of the choicest and most commanding sites in Pelham Manor, it marks the rounding out of the school system of the Pelhams.  A system which starting  with this school and continuing through the Siwanoy, Colonial and Hutchinson schools with the High School in its midst, we think is scarcely surpassed by any community of its size in the state.

'I shall let others speak of the building itself, of its place in the community, ,of the generosity of the taxpayers which made possible its erecction.

'To us members of the P. T. A. the laying of this stone has a deeper, a more personal significance than the mere start of a building.  To us the fact that we have been invited to officiate at this occasion shows the confidence placed in us by the Board of Education and the school authorities, in our ability to work side by side with them in the interests of our children's education.  It is a public testimony that the P. T. A. is regarded as a body influential in the community and deserving to be recognized as such.  I wish that all past presidents of the organization might have sat here on the platform with us to receive the honor due them.  For it is to their efforts and the efforts of those who worked with them that our association has attained its present standing.  

'To us members of the P. T. A. the laying of this stone is also another evidence that we have an intelligent and enlightened group of men directing our schools, who are willing and eager to give our children the most efficient and more progressive education and educational facilities that modern investigation and experience affords.  The selection of the superintendent for the past two years shows this interest; an educator of the finest type whose going we all lament.  Their next selection promises the same high order.

'I regret that my allotted time will not allow me to enlarge upon this theme, to dwell at length upon the measures in the liberal education which the School Board has started during the past few years.  The fine new buildings and equipment speak for themselves.  It is what goes on in those buildings, the kind of things our children are taught; the emphasis placed upon the forming of healthful bodies; the foundations laid for character; essentials not so evident, but of great importance; that we parents watch most eagerly.

'I wish I might tell in detail of the health service and dental work which has been carried on by the Board of Education in all the schools in the past year with the special clinic at Hutchinson; of the opportunity classes for retarded children started in that school; of the introduction of French in even the lowest grades of all schools, with its broadening effect on the children's comprehension of their own language; of the interest in athletics stimulated throughout the school system, wherein every single child is encouraged to take part.  One could spend many hours expatiating on the improvements in our system made in the last two years at the risk of embarrassing these public spirited men with a few words of praise.  

'In the mentioning of these measures, I am not only giving words of commendation to those most deserving I am also speaking of the improvements dear to the heart of the P. T. A.  These are measures with a true spirit of cooperation, the P. T. A. organization has encouraged and in some instances even suggested.

'I point with pride to the really surprising number of experienced and trained women whom we have in our membership; authors; educators, psychologists, statisticians, playwrights, nurses, musicians who have come to the Pelhams to educate and bring up their children and who are willing to give their services freely whenever the teachers or school authorities call upon them.  It is their policy to cooperate with those in charge of the education, as they are doing today.

'I detract no jot of praise from the school authorities in speaking as I do; the P. T. A. takes to itself no credit for what goes on in the schools.  It has merely the power to mould [sic] public opinion and make tactful suggestions when called upon.  It rejoices, however, in being able to say with all truthfulness that here is a body of men willing to call upon it for cooperation; whose wishes it respects; whose requests it is glad to carry out.

It is only thus by working in harmony, teachers, parents, and school authorities that we secure for our children highest efficiency in education.'

Mrs. James F. Longley president of the Manor Club was called upon to speak.  Her address was as follows:

'Speaking on behalf of the women of Pelham represented n the membership of the Manor Club, I wish to voice satisfaction in the growing educational facilities of Pelham.

'The need of a school easily accessible to the children living in this end of the town has been felt for many years as the crossing of the Boston Post Road has always been a menace and an anxiety to the mothers of this locality.

'Our hard working school board, our fellow citizens, who give so freely of their time and thought to school affairs are to be greatly congratulated on their foresight in keeping pace with the rapid growth of our town.  Under the leadership of Mr. L. Ogden Thompson some years ago, they secured this fine piece of property while it was still available, and now that the need has arisen for more school space they are building this fine school in keeping with the character of this village.

'The growth of this town in the past few years has been phenomenal, and it took vision to keep abreast of it in school facilities.  It is not so long ago that two schools were adequate to take care of all the children in the three villages; when the old assembly room in the Siwanoy School was quite large enough to seat the parents who attended the annual school meetings, while now the auditorium in our splendid Memorial High School is scarcely adquate to hold the attendance at some of these meetings in recent years.

'That the standard of education to be obtained in our schools is a very high one has been strikingly demonstrated during the past week, when coveted honors were won by graduates of our high school in three of the most prominent of our women's colleges.

'It is very necessary that this standard should not be lowered by inadequate facilities, but I think that we have every reason to feel that our equipment is keeping pace with our needs, and I am sure that for many years to come, this fine school will afford ample space for the younger children of Pelham Manor.'

Mrs. Sophie Schuyler Dey, representing  the older residents of the Pelhams, marked the growth of the town inn a short address, first paying tribute to the best loved of Pelham's old residents, Mrs. James F. Secor, who is now in California.

'I wish we could have had Mrs. Secor give this address,' said Mrs. Dey.  'She always took so much interest in the Pelhams and everything was so dear to her.

'I was asked to speak because I am a very old resident inasmuch as I have lived here 29 years,' Mrs. Dey said humorously.  'This site, however, is not very far from the beginning of the Pelham School District.  The old Prospect Hill School on Split Rock Road was first opened in 1835, on the Hunter estate.  It was later moved to its present location to make way for Mr. John Hunter's race track.

'It was a one room schoolhouse, and one teacher taught every class.  It must have taken sturdy women to teach in those days.  Its students included many well known national figures today.  Two men who taught school in the little building are still living today.  They are Isaac C. Hill and John M. Shinn.

'There came a time when it became necessary to make improvements at the school.  These were estimated at $300, but at that time the residents of the small village thought it was too much to pay so they failed to approve of it.  

'In 1879, however, it was suggested to bond the district for 44,000 to build a new school.  That too at those advanced days was considered too high, and it seemed that the issued would be lost, until the late Mrs. Robert C. Black, organized the women of the town behind the measure and even though there was no provision for women voting at that time they went to the district meeting and cast their ballots in support of the bond issue.   

'I believe that this was the first instance in which women cast their vote on any matter.

'The little red brick schoolhouse on Jackson avenue near Prospect avenue was then built.  One of its teachers, Mrs. Kate Mulligan, of Pelham Manor, is now teaching in the New York City schools.

'Since then there has been ever increasing cooperation between the citizens and school officials.  Women have taken their share in civic duties and responsibilities.  The day shall shall [sic] come I believe when women will take their places in official positions in town and school board offices.'

President Nevins officially presented the school to the district.  He paid deep tribute to the foresight of L. Ogden Thompson, school trustee and former president of the Board of Education, who was responsible for the purchase of the property on which the new school is being erected.

'The school district owes a lot to Mr. Thompson.  It was through his foresight that the property was purchased for $65,000.  I believe it is now worth $100,000.  Mr. Thompson of his own initiative secured options on the property quietly to avoid profiteering, and after getting contracts for each parcel of land here he turned them over to the school board at an advantageous figure.  We owe a great deal to Mr. Thompson's foresight.'

Arthur S. Ives, chairman of the Building and Grounds committee, of the Board of Education, who set the stone in place, visualized the new school, as a second community center for the Pelhams.  In setting the stone he was assisted by Mayor Joseph N. Greene, of Pelham Manor; Trustee Albert E. Shaw, of North Pelham, and former President Clyde B. Gray, of Pelham Heights.  

Mayor Joseph N. Greene, represented the Village of Pelham Manor.  He complimented the Board of Education and Parent Teacher Association on their activities in directing the schools.  His message, however, was of the future.  He declared that in view of the progress that is imminent it would soon be necessary that the civic affairs of the Village of Pelham Manor be directed by a paid Village Manager.

Supt. of Schools W. Howard Pillsbury pictured the new school as a unit in the modern system of universal education which has placed the United States at the head of all nations.  Outlining the advance of nations, he showed how uneducated world powers were overcome and as culture progressed other nations overcame the conquerors.

'We have merely to refer to the history of Europe to realize how educated nations have succeeded.  Uneducated nations have not survived the struggle and now some of the greatest powers of a few years ago are now dictatorships.

'This school is one unit of the great universal system of education.  It should stand for the best in education and the seven fold aims of education, which are:  the common essentials of reading, writing and cyphering; sound health; vocational education; wise use of leisure time; worthy home membership; good ethical character and good citizenship.

'With this school, we add one more stone to the foundation which guarantees securty for our form of government.  Education will always symbolize what is the nation's most precious gift, to give unfettered for every boy and girl to realize his better self.'

A chorus of children of the Siwanoy School sang the 'Star Spangled Banner' and 'Joy, Joy and Freedom, Today.'  Mrs. Frances Hawks directed.  The chorus was as follows:  Mary Jane Collette, David Cook, Virginia Donovan, Florence Harmon, Roberta Higgins, John House, Elaine Howes, Louise Hurlbut, Marion Hurlbut, Ida Jenke, Robert Katz, Robert Mahoney, Paul McCarthy, Jimmey McEvoy,. Jane McKee, Rhoda Powers, Barbara Ramsay, Eleanor Eansay, Randall Reyer, Marva Rood, Constance Seyer., Carla unger and Eleanor Wheelock."

Source:  Foundation Stone Of Prospect Hill School Laid By School Trustee Ives; Ceremonies Conducted by P. T. A., The Pelham Sun, Jun. 14, 1929, Vol. 20, No. 11, Second Section, p. 1, cols. 1-6.   

*            *            *            *             *

Below are a few of the many examples of previous postings to the Historic Pelham Blog that deal with the history of schools and education in The Pelhams.

Mon., Aug. 11, 2014: Excerpts of January 8, 1889 Remarks Dedicating a New School Building in Pelhamville.

Fri., Aug. 08, 2014: 1894 Pelham School Budget Vote: Stage Coach Authorized To Transport Pelham Students in Days Before Autos and Buses.

Thu., Mar. 27, 2014: The "Industrial School at Pelham" Hosted by Christ Church in 1884.

Tue., Mar. 11, 2014: An Early History of Mrs. Hazen's School For Girls in Pelham Manor, Published in 1913.

Mon., Mar. 10, 2014: Dedication of Pelham's New High School in 1911, Now Known as Siwanoy Elementary School.

Tue., May 11, 2010: Mystery Solved - Pelham Town Hall That Once Stood On Shore Road Was Used as a School.

Wed., Mar. 31, 2010: Request for Comment: What Pelham Manor School is This, Shown in 1907?

Tue., Feb. 23, 2010: A Brief History of the Development and Unveiling of Parkway Field in 1955 -- Known Today as Glover Field.

Tue., Feb. 16, 2010: Photograph of Only Known 19th Century Women's Baseball Team in Pelham, New York.

Thu., Feb. 04, 2010: Successful Appeal of Order Dividing the Union Free School District No. 1, Town of Pelham, Into Two School Districts in 1916.

Wed., Jan. 13, 2010: Celebration to Lay the Cornerstone of the New Pelham Memorial High School Building on October 18, 1919.

Fri., Jul. 24, 2009: Late 19th Century Photos of Students with Tennis Rackets at Mrs. Hazen's School for Girls in Pelham Manor.

Tue., Jan. 20, 2009: An Account of the Rev. J. L. Ver Mehr Regarding His Brief Stint as an Instructor of French and Italian at Pelham Priory in 1843.

Mon., Mar. 3, 2008: 1891 Advertisement May Reflect Summer Rental of One of the Dormitories of Mrs. Hazen's School for Girls.

Mon., Feb. 25, 2008: Town of Pelham School Board Trustee Election of 1881.

Wed., Feb. 20, 2008: Pelham Teachers Threatened to Strike for a Pay Increase in 1906 -- All Eleven Of Them.

Tue., Jan. 22, 2008: Townspeople of Pelham Vote Down Bond Proposal at the First Prospect Hill School in 1891.

Wed., Nov. 14, 2007: 1890 Advertisement for Taft's School for Boys in Pelham Manor.

Thu., Jul. 12, 2007: The Infamous Burglary of the Girls of Mrs. Hazen's School for Girls in Pelham Manor in 1905.

Wed., Jun. 06, 2007: Proposed Layout of the Grounds of Pelham Memorial High School in 1920.

Mon., Apr. 16, 2007: History of Pelham Schools on the Web Site of the Pelham Union Free School District.

Thu., Apr. 5, 2007: A Brief History of Early Schools in the Manor of Pelham and Surrounding Areas Published in 1905.

Fri., Mar. 2, 2007: A Brief Account by American Author Margaret Deland of Her Education at Pelham Priory in the 19th Century.

Mon., Jan. 15, 2007: Brief Biographies of Henry Waters Taft and Horace Dutton Taft of Pelham Manor (and Other Family Members).

Tue., Jan. 02, 2007: The Little Red Schoolhouse In Pelhamville -- Predecessor to Today's Hutchinson Elementary School.

Wed., Sep. 6, 2006: Pelham Hall Shelter, a "Refuge for Erring Girls", Founded by Alumnae of Mrs. Hazen's School for Girls in Pelham Manor.

Tue., Aug. 22, 2006: Early Advertisements for Mrs. Hazen's School for Girls in Pelham Manor.

Wed., May 31, 2006: Two Views of the Pelhamville School House Built in the 1850s.

Tue., May 30, 2006: A Biography Published in 1906 on the Life of Horace Dutton Taft, Founder of the Taft School for Boys in Pelham Manor.

Wed., May 24, 2006: Program for January 8, 1889 Opening of the Hutchinson School in Pelhamville.

Tue., Mar. 28, 2006: More Reminiscences of Isaac C. Hill of Early Public Schools in Pelham.  

Mon., Jan. 09, 2006: The First Prospect Hill School in Pelham Manor.

Fri., Oct. 14, 2005: A Reunion of Alumnae of Mrs. Hazen's School for Girls.

Mon., Oct. 03, 2005: Siwanoy School -- The Town of Pelham's Former High School.

Tue., Sep. 27, 2005: I. C. Hill's Reminiscences of Early Public Schools in Pelham.

Mon., Aug. 15, 2005: 952 Pelhamdale Served as a 19th Century School for Girls, Then a School for Boys.

Mon., May 09, 2005: The Historic Murals in the Pelham Memorial High School Library.

Bell, Blake A., Mrs. Hazen's School for Girls: Pelham Hall, The Pelham Weekly, Vol. XIII, No. 40, Oct. 8, 2004, p. 12, col. 1.

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1894 Pelham School Budget Vote: Stage Coach Authorized To Transport Pelham Students in Days Before Autos and Buses

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One hundred and twenty years ago, on Tuesday, August 9, 1894, the Pelham School Board held its annual meeting and voted appropriations including salaries for teachers and district employees totaling $4,830.  During the meeting, the Board reported that total receipts for the previous year were $9,358.59 while total expenditures were $8,403.95 (leaving a surplus of $954.64). 

One of the more interesting issues addressed in the meeting was the need to send more advanced pupils who were attending the tiny Prospect Hill School to the larger schoolhouse in Pelhamville for a better education.  The Board determined to send the "advanced pupils" of the Prospect Hill School to the Pelhamville School by stage coach.

An account of the annual meeting appeared in a local newspaper published in Mount Vernon, New York.  The account is contained in an article about a number of events that is transcribed in its entirety below, followed by a citation to its source. 

 

Example of a 19th Century Stage from

Engraving that Appeared in Frank Leslie's

Illustrated Newspaper.



"OUR NEARBY NEIGHBORS.
-----
Pelhamville.

The Chronicle may be obtained in Pelhamville and vicinity from Master Fred L. Anderson who will deliver it at residence.

THE NEW FACTORY. 

Ground was broken last Monday for a white lead factory to be built at Fifth avenue corner of Third street, on the lot owned by Mr. Glover who is also interested in the business.  Mr. William Barry has the contract for the excavation and Mr. John Waugh will be foreman of the carpentering.  It is exptected that this will be a small 'boom' to Pelhamville.

Liberty Hose Company No. 1, held its monthly meeting last Monday evening and the names of three new members were enrolled.

Mrs. Le Quesne and daughters have returned from a visit to Pawling, N. Y.

Master James McSkimmon is visiting at Mr. Chaloux's.

THE SCHOOL ELECTION.

The annual meeting of the Board of Education of Union Free School, District No., 1 was held last Tuesday evening and was a very interesting one throughout.  The meeting was called to order at 8.30 with J. R. Beecroft in the chair.  John Doherty was appointed secretary.  The minutes of the last annual meeting and those of a special meeting were read and approved.  Mr. H. N. Babcock, President of the Board, then read the annual report, showing the following:

Total receipts for past year............$9,358.59
Total expenditures for past year......8,403.95

Leaving a balance in treasury of...$954.64

Next in order was the voting on appropriations, which were as follows:

For teachers' salaries, Pelhamville........2,000
"        "              "           Prospect Hill......  600
For District Clerk's salaray.........................20
For Janitor's wages..................................300
For interest on bonds.................................80
For books and stationery.........................120
For repairs and supplies..........................600
For finishing and furnishing third room
     in Pelhamville school..........................510
For estimated tuition of advanced pupils..200
For installment of special tax....................400

Total......................................................$4,830

There was considerable discussion about the salary of teachers for Prospect hill School.  As there are such a few children attending this school it was decided to send the advanced pupils to Pelhamville School by stage and employ the present teacher for the primary department at a salary of $600.  There was also a good deal of excitement over the proposed janitor whose service had already been engaged by the Board notwithstanding he was a resident of New Rochelle and a native of Italy; it was finally declared, however, to be against the rule to employ any person but a citizen of the United States.  All the appropriations were voted on singly and carried by acclamation and then all together by ballot, making a total appropriation of $4,830.  It was declared to be in order to vote for two trustees and a clerk to the Board.  The vote was as follows:  For clerk, S. Gregoor, 74, John Doherty, 46; for trustees:  Charles Glover, 79, John H. Young, 61, J. R. Beecroft, 83.  Whereupon Messrs. Glover and Beecroft were declared elected as trustees and S. Gregoor as clerk.

The meeting adjourned at about 10:45."

Source:  OUR NEARBY NEIGHBORS -- Pelhamville, The Chronicle [Mount Vernon, NY], Aug. 9, 1894, p. 4, cols. 1-2. 

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Townspeople of Pelham Vote Down Bond Proposal at the First Prospect Hill School in 1891

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I previously have written about the first Prospect Hill School in Pelham Manor that once stood on the lands located at 212-22o Jackson Avenue and 966 Plymouth Street. For a brief history of the school and a early photograph of it, see:

Monday, January 9, 2006: The First Prospect Hill School in Pelham Manor.

Today's posting to the Historic Pelham Blog transcribes a brief report that appeared in the January 26, 1891 issue of The Sun, published in New York City. The report indicates that Town taxpayers met at the little school on January 25, 1891 to vote on a bond proposal for improvements to the Town's highways and roads. The bond was defeated "by a large majority".

"Will Not Bond the Town.

PELHAM. Jan. 25. -- The taxpayers of the town of Pelham held a meeting on Saturday night, in the schoolhouse in Pelham Manor, to vote upon the question of bonding the town for $90,000 for improvements to the highways and road purposes. The meeting was largely attended by both men and women property owners in the town. A vote was taken, and the proposition for the bonding of the town was defeated by a large majority."

Source: Will Not Bond the Town, The Sun, Jan. 25, 1891, p. 3, col. 7.

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Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/.
Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings.