Tiny Pelhamwood Threatened to Secede from the Village of North Pelham in 1920

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"We are willing to pay taxes for benefits received, but believe it

unfair to be taxed for upkeep of streets in other parts of the village

to the exclusion of our own.  What is the remedy?  The formation

of the village of Pelhamwood."

Resolution Adopted by the Pelhamwood Association at its

Annual Meeting Held in May, 1920.

Ten years!  Nothing had been done to repair the dirt roads that wound through the tiny little neighborhood of Pelhamwood for an entire decade after the roads were first graded as the neighborhood was developed in 1910.  Pelhamwood residents and members of the Pelhamwood Association were furious.  Yet, it was not the fault of the Village of North Pelham within which the neighborhood existed.  Nor was it the fault of the Town of Pelham.  How could that be?

The roads of Pelhamwood were privately owned by the development company that developed the residential area.  The roadways were deemed private "Parkways" -- much like certain roadways in Pelham Heights (including the Boulevard) when that region was developed during the late 1880s and early 1890s.  But, with development of that portion of "Pelhamwood" located within Pelham nearing completion (and the development of that part that stood within New Rochelle not fully begun), the development company made virtually no effort to maintain the dirt roads.

Postcard View of "THE CLOCK TOWER.  'PELHAMWOOD'" Showing

A Dirt Roadway Entrance to Pelhamwood in About 1910.  NOTE:

Click on Image to Enlarge.

Pelhamwood residents were angry because they paid the same property taxes as other residents of the Village of North Pelham, but their tax dollars were used to maintain and improve only those roadways outside the neighborhood of Pelhamwood.  Thus, the Pelhamwood Association was reduced to trying to maintain the roads on its own -- including the application of expensive oil to keep the dust down.  

By 1918, the situation had gotten so bad that the Pelhamwood Association, using dues paid by its members, hired Louis Civitello -- who eventually became a beloved local figure known as "Pelhamwood's Louie" -- to perform general handyman work and street repairs.  The organization issued Pelhamwood Louie a bright blue uniform with "dazzling brass buttons" and even used him as a "traffic officer" at the intersection of Highbrook and Washington Avenues.  Even the energetic Pelhamwood Louie, however, couldn't keep up with necessary road repairs in Pelhamwood.

By 1920, Pelhamwood residents were clamoring for the Village of North Pelham to take ownership of the local streets, retain them as "Parkways" (while banning truck traffic on them), oil and maintain them and, eventually, macadamize them.  Pelhamwood residents seethed because, despite their years of effort to achieve that objective, they believed the Village of North Pelham had done little to make it happen.  

At the regular meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Village of North Pelham on April 6, 1920, a large delegation of Pelhamwood residents attended.  Led by William M. Uhler, President of the Pelhamwood Association, the group formally requested the Village to take over Pelhamwood streets.  According to Uhler, the principal thing Pelhamwood wanted was to have the Village undertake the upkeep of the roads and continue to maintain them as Parkways while banning truck traffic.

The President of the Village of Pelham, Jim Reilly, pointed out that there were a number of difficult issues to be addressed.  First, a number of the streets that were part of the larger "Pelhamwood" development were within New Rochelle.  Moreover, the sewer lines beneath those streets flowed into a trunk sewer beneath Highbrook Avenue.  Thus, new connections to the sewer system along the comparatively undeveloped "Pelhamwood" streets in New Rochelle might lead to issues beneath the Pelhamwood streets in the Village of North Pelham, costing time, effort, and money to address.  Additionally, President Reilly cautioned that only $9,000 was appropriated for the entire year to maintain all the roadways in the Village of North Pelham.  It would cost $3,500 just to apply oil all the streets of Pelhamwood, leaving only $5,500 for the rest of the village streets.

Nevertheless, the Village Board that night instructed its Village counsel to "devise ways and means to 'take over the streets from the Pelhamwood company, the streets to remain parkways and the police to prevent heavy trucking.'"  When it came to any promise to macadamize the streets, however, the Board seemed to favor putting "the proposition up to the taxpayers and let them decide if they want all the streets paved or merely patched up."

During the ensuing weeks, the matter seemed to drag -- at least in the eyes of the residents of Pelhamwood.  Indeed, the residents became so frustrated that by mid-May, they were in open revolt threatening to secede from the Village of North Pelham by forming their own tiny village of 500 residents.  Thus, the Pelhamwood Association held a raucous annual meeting in Town Hall the week of May 10, 1920.  Following debate, the members of the Association passed the following resolution, quoted in full:

"The time for positive action on our part has arrived.  If the village of North Pelham does not wish to father us, let them so declare themselves and give us a chance to go it alone.  I am sure we are fully competent to do so.  It is true that in return for taxes we are given police service, garbage removal and street lighting.  We fully appreciate the fact that the abnormally high cost of labor at present precludes any great improvement in the condition of our streets.  But the control of the streets by the village will assure the enforcement of village regulations relative to the restoration of the streets after excavation for sewer, water and gas connections as well as the help of legal machinery to prohibit heavy trucking over our streets.  We are willing to pay taxes for benefits received, but believe it unfair to be taxed for upkeep of streets in other parts of the village to the exclusion of our own.  'What is the remedy?  The formation of the village of Pelhamwood.  We believe this can be accomplished by an act of the legislature.  The state of New York will certainly not permit any group of its citizens to pay taxes without any return.  One more village added to the present cluster should make no difference.  Perhaps the efforts of the Men's club committee on Greater Pelham may result in the amalgamation of all villages under one government, in which even we might be recognized in the general shake-up.  The unscrambling of this Pelham-omelet, however, may be long deferred and we suggest that a committee he appointed to consult a lawyer in reference to forming a village and that a proper amount of money be placed at the disposal of the committee to cover the expense of securing this advice.'"

The resolution seemed to have its intended effect.  At a Village Board meeting held on June 7, 1920, the Village Counsel announced that the officers of the development company that owned the private roadways in Pelhamwood had executed and delivered a form of dedication surrendering the easement to the streets of Pelhamwood in favor of the Village of North Pelham.  The dedication was read into the record and a motion to receive the streets as set forth in the dedication passed unanimously.  According to the local newspaper "Then occurred something which has seldom, if ever taken place at a village board meeting; the people present broke into hearty applause."

The union of Pelhamwood and the Village of North Pelham was saved.  There would be no secession.

*          *          *          *          *

Below is the text of several newspaper articles that form the basis of today's Historic Pelham Blog article.  Each item is followed by a citation and link to its source.

"BUSY SESSION HELD BY THE PELHAM BOARD
-----

North Pelham, April 7. -- The full board was present including 'Our Mary' Dickenson, the new village treasurer, when President Reilly called it to order at 8:10 last night.  So great was the number of interested spectators that the village room was not big enough, so the meeting was held in the court room.  Clerk R. C. Smith read the minutes of the organization meeting and also a special meeting held March 31st, which were approved as read.  The latter meeting was for the purpose of meeting emergencies such as the payment of interest on bonds, paying the police and reappointing Lester Champion patrolman for another month pending the report from the civil service commissioner on his examination for that position.  A communication was received from John Matthew Tierney, stating that as he understood a vacancy existed in the North Pelham police department, he applied for the job.  He claimed nine months' experience.  He was placed on one month's probation beginning April 15th.  Communication was received from Fred L. Merritt of the county board of supervisors, asking for the names and addresses of the village board of assessors.  The clerk was directed to send the names and addresses of the president and trustees.  George B. Gibbons and J. B. Thill sent letters asking that they be notified at any time a bond issue was contemplated.  

A large delegation from Pelhamwood was present and asked that the streets of that section be taken over by the village.  President Reilly asked the committee just what it expected the board to do.  Mr. Uhler stated that the principal thing was the upkeep of the roads and maintaining them as parkways.  Mr. Reilly asked if the committee had taken into consideration that some of these streets are in New Rochelle and the sewer in those streets flowed into the trunk sewer, in Highbrook avenue.  The committee admitted this and stated that plans had been made to limit the number of new connections with this sewer.  Mr. Reilly replied:  'You see there is only $9,000 appropriated in this year's budget for a street fund which is insufficient.  It will cost $3,500 for oil alone and that will leave only $5,500 for all the rest of the village streets.'  Mr. Voight then stated that the old board had promised to spend $2,000 on the Pelhamwood streets this year.  It was finally agreed to turn the matter over to the village counsel with a request that he devise ways and means to 'take over the streets from the Pelhawood company, the streets to remain parkways and the police to prevent heavy trucking.  Alderman Connacher stated that the village engineer in 1913 prepared an estimate of the amount [required] to macadamize all the streets in the village including curbing and the amount did not exceed $71,838.  He stated that during the last 10 or 12 years between $90,000 and $100,000 had been spent on the streets and 'we still have mostly dirt roads.'  He said he preferred to put the proposition up to the taxpayers and let them decide if they want all the streets paved or merely patched up.

Mrs. Kingsland, who owns the old Costello property, appeared before the board to find out the true dimensions of her property which is situated on the west side of Fifth avenue between Fourth and Sixth streets.  The deed calls for 107 feet while the mortgage claims 114 feet.  It appears the two surveyors employed had made surveys from their private starting points which were at opposite ends of the village.  This matter was laid over.

Mr. Kendall, representing the New Rochelle water company, appeared to request permission to lay a 16-inch water main from Mayflower avenue along the west side of Fifth avenue, under the sidewalk, to Sixth street.  This would give the village greater water pressure.  The request was granted on condition that a contract be drawn up by village counsel guaranteeing that the work be completed in three weeks, the village to be relieved of all responsibilities from accidents and other causes relating thereto, and that the street and sidewalks be left in as good condition as found.  The proposed main is about 1200 feet long.

Nick De Feo appeared praying for relief from the present flooded condition of Eighth avenue and Sixth street.  The question was discussed at length and finally referred to counsel to determine if the village can legally acquire property for the purpose of opening a road.  It seems a colored woman, Nellie Russel, owns a piece of property which blocks the north end of Eighth avenue and prevents a curb and gutter being laid.  She wants $2,000 for it and the board believes the price rather high.

The 'cold storage' box was then opened and a number of bills taken out.  Thomas Stewart's for $6 automobile hire was laid on the table as it was presented in January and the present board wanted to find out what was wrong with it that the old board had not paid it.  Henry I. Rurert's bill for counsel fees $200 was also laid over for the same reason; Edward F. Campbell's bill as village engineer to the old board, for making report and map on the sewer area on New Rochelle where it affects this village.  It was gently laid on the table; C. Tamke, taxi hire for last October in the Miller case was laid over; Westchester Lighting company, $360.42 was ordered paid as was also the New York Telephone company bills for $3.75 and $3.45.  Two more telephone bills for $4.20 and $.40 were ordered paid although the company will be asked what the forty cent bill is for.  A bill from the Pelham Sun for $60 was laid over for investigation and Mr. Reilly explained he had received another one from the same firm for $124 and some cents but had forgotten to bring it along.  Williamson Law Book Co. $18 ordered paid as were the election officers, Thomas Carson, Grace Amundsen, Ezra Daggett, Daniel J. Kennedy, $8 each; Melville J. Wheeler as inspector, including expenses was $8.32 which was ordered paid.  Albert Laiser who pleaded guilty to making the bluebird emblem for the Citizen's ticket sent in his bill for $5.20 which was ordered paid.  William J. Griffith's bill for bonding the tax collector and treasurer $27, paid; Clerk Smith's bill for books and supplies $34.06 paid; all the bills for the street department help, $75, $22, $33, and $7 were paid.  John Carmarano presented a bill for $220.83 for the ashes and garbage removal contract; it was ordered paid if found correct, the contract to be looked over.  A bill for rent from the Town of Pelham was laid over; Polhemus Printing company printing election cards, $8, paid; the bill of Dr. McGuire for $42 for services as health officer was ordered paid; Westchester Lighting company, $372.50, tabled; ex-Clerk Wheeler, salary and postage, $34.92, paid.

Harry A. Anderson appeared to ask for a compromise on the Marvel property taxes; denied.  John T. Logan was reappointed registrar of vital statistics.  The village clerk was directed to notify Edward F. Campbell, the former village engineer, to turn over to the village all maps, papers, profiles, etc. in his possession belonging to the village.  President Reilly called attention of the board to the condition of the burned flat at Sixty street.  The village counsel directed to see what could be done to abate the nuisance.  The night of the regular meeting conflicting with the board of fire commissioners' meeting and the village counsel being a member of the fire board, the village meeting will be held hereafter the first Wednesday in each month.  The assessors will start work next Thursday and continue until finished.  Mary A. Dickenson, the village treasurer asked for a new treasurer's book and stationery.  Owing to the frail condition of the general fund, $2,000 was ordered transferred from the contingent fund to the general fund.  The meeting then adjourned."

Source:  BUSY SESSION HELD BY THE PELHAM BOARD, The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], Apr. 7, 1920, No. 9254, p. 12, cols. 3-5.  

"Pelhamwood Talks of Breaking Away From Village of North Pelham
-----

North Pelham, May 19.  --  The board of trustees of the village of North Pelham will hold a special meeting tonight at which many important matters will be discussed.  The Pelhamwood section has threatened to break away and incorporate as a separate village, unless certain conditions are complied with.  Pelhamwood wants North Pelham to take over the streets of that section but the presence of a swerage [sic] system which includes a part of New Rochelle has held up this action for several years.  The board has spent considerable time trying to devise ways and means to acquire the streets without incurring any liability to the town or other two villages for this outside sewerage which must pass through the pipes of the other two municipalities.  The New Rochelle section of Pelhamwood has not as yet reached the stage of development that the North Pelham part has, and the board fears that when this section is built up and houses connected it may be necessary to lay larger mains to carry off the additional flow.  The disposal plant is now taxed to capacity and increased matter to be treated will require expensive additions to the works.  

There is nothing to stop the section from forming a separate village.  The village of Pelham was incorporated in 1896 with a population of less than one hundred.  Pelhamwood has over 500 population today and is expanding rapidly, but the cutting off of this part of the village with an assessed valuation of almost half the entire village, is viewed with alarm by taxpayers.  Coming at a time when the people are complaining that there are too many officials in the town and that the work is being duplicated as a result, they seem amused at the thought of another board being created.  

Pelhamwood is exclusively residential.  There is another tract almost as large lying north of Fourth street [i.e., today's Lincoln Avenue] belonging to this corporation which is as yet undeveloped and may be included in the new village.  If the cutting up of this starts this year, Pelhamwood will have more than 1,000 people within five years.  The resolution adopted by the Pelhamwood association at its annual meeting  held at the town hall last week is as follows:

'The time for positive action on our part has arrived.  If the village of North Pelham does not wish to father us, let them so declare themselves and give us a chance to go it alone.  I am sure we are fully competent to do so.  It is true that in return for taxes we are given police service, garbage removal and street lighting.  We fully appreciate the fact that the abnormally high cost of labor at present precludes any great improvement in the condition of our streets.  But the control of the streets by the village will assure the enforcement of village regulations relative to the restoration of the streets after excavation for sewer, water and gas connections as well as the help of legal machinery to prohibit heavy trucking over our streets.  We are willing to pay taxes for benefits received, but believe it unfair to be taxed for upkeep of streets in other parts of the village to the exclusion of our own.

'What is the remedy?  The formation of the village of Pelhamwood.  We believe this can be accomplished by an act of the legislature.  The state of New York will certainly not permit any group of its citizens to pay taxes without any return.  One more village added to the present cluster should make no difference.  Perhaps the efforts of the Men's club committee on Greater Pelham may result in the amalgamation of all villages under one government, in which even we might be recognized in the general shake-up.  The unscrambling of this Pelham-omelet, however, may be long deferred and we suggest that a committee he appointed to consult a lawyer in reference to forming a village and that a proper amount of money be placed at the disposal of the committee to cover the expense of securing this advice.'"

Source:  Pelhamwood Talks of Breaking Away From Village of North Pelham, The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], No. 9290, May 19, 1920, p. 10, col. 4.  

"Pelhamwood Streets Are Taken Over By the Village

North Pelham, June 8.  --  The board of trustees met at the board rooms in the town hall last night to act on the dedication of the streets of Pelhamwood.  Every member was present when President Reilly called the meeting to order at 8:35.  A large delegation from Pelhamwood, many of them women, were present and Mr. Reilly officially welcomed them.  Counsel Lambert read the form of dedication which surrendered the easement to the streets to the village and informed the board that it had been signed by the officers of the Pelhamwood company.  Mr. Reilly asked that the agreement be read; this was done by the counsel.  The chair then asked if there was any discussion on the agreement either among the board or among the Pelhamwood delegation present.  There being no objection, Trustee Connacher moved that the streets be received as set forth in the dedication agreement, Trustee Krueger seconded the motion and it was carried unanimously.  Then occurred something which has seldom, if ever taken place at a village board meeting; the people present broke into hearty applause.  Mr. Reilly then assured them that their wants would be taken care of, at which there was more applause.  President Uhler of the Pelhamwood association brought the old army cry of 'when do we eat?,' to mind when he said 'Now that you have the streets, what are you going to do to them?,' to which Mr. Reilly replied that they would be taken care of and the street commissioner who was present was instructed to go over them and see just what was needed.

Addressing the Pelhamwood association, Mr. Reilly said 'At present we must wait for crushed stone, as it would be useless to oil the streets now and then put stone on afterward.  The oil would only be wasted and oil for the streets now costs 10 cents a gallon.  We have only $9,000 in the budget for streets and this is intended to fix every street in the village.  Pelhamwood pays about 37 per cent of the taxes of the village and for the last ten years you had nothing done to your streets.  You are entitled to something and we believe you are going to get it.'  The question of preventing trucking on the parkways of the section brought the response that the village would draw up an ordinance prohibiting trucking on the parkways of the village and the police would be instructed to enforce it.  Village counsel was instructed to draw up an ordinance to that effect, and the village will erect signs at each entrance.  

Street Commissioner Smith was asked if it was possible to fix the street approaching the Pelhamwood station, which is now a 'rocky road to Dublin.'  Smith replied that the street in question was in the city of New Rochelle.  It then was explained that New Rochelle is about to take over the streets of Pelhamwood within the city limits and has already placed monuments there.  Another unusual scene was enacted when Mr. Uhler asked the village board to declare a recess for a few moments so the Pelhamwood association could hold a meeting.  This was granted and Mr. Uhler called the meeting to order and asked that a resolution of thanks be extended to President Reilly and the board of trustees of the village of North Pelham.  This was carried midst much applause.

President Reilly in the name of the board officially thanked them and again assured them that they would get all that is coming to them.  The Pelhamwood people then left and the board proceeded to business.  The next business was the proposed police booths.  President Reilly stated that he had received a bid, or rather an estimate from E. L. Lyon, he did not open it and asked the board whether they wished to award the bid at the meeting or ask for bids.  If the latter course was proposed, he would return the estimate to Mr. Lyon unopened; if, on the other hand, the board wished to erect the booths immediately, Mr. Lyon's estimate was there.  Trustee Harris stated that in his opinion the booths would cost close to $200 each, in which case it would be proper to award the contract by competition.  It was decided by the board to look at the estimate and the sealed envelope was handed to the clerk.  There was a series of long drawn breaths when the amounts were read.  For a booth 6 feet five inches by 6 feet six inches, 8 feet high, double floor, clapboard outside and ceiled inside, $296 each.  For booths same size, single floor, unceiled inside, $248 each.  The matter was laid over.  In the meantime the clerk was instructed to write to the Cheeseborough and Whitman for any catalogue they may have of police booths, etc.

Harry A. Anderson appeared before the board to defend his bill which had been laid over at last week's meeting.  It resulted in Mr. Reilly telling Mr. Anderson that he considered it an insult to himself and the board for Mr. Anderson to continue collecting taxes when he knew the administration which had appointed him, had gone out of business.  Mr. Anderson said he had never been notified to stop collecting, although he admitted that it might have been better had he consulted the board.  He disclaimed any intention at discourtesy toward the board.  The matter will come up at the next meeting.

Health Officer McGuire had not been notified to be present at this meeting so no action can be taken regarding the burned Sixth street flats.  A special meeting has been called for next Monday night at which this and other matters will be attended to.  The meeting then adjourned."

Source:  Pelhamwood Streets Are Taken Over By the Village, The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], No. 9306, Jun. 8, 1920, p. 8, col. 5.  

"Pelhamwood's 'Louie' Completes 18th Year In Employ of Community Group
-----

Louis Civitello, 'Pelhamwood's Louis,' to young and old alike in North Pelham, observed an 'anniversary' on Wednesday.  As the street department of Pelhamwood, 'Louie' was just 18 years old, to use his own words.  It was on April 15, 1918, that William M. Uhler, then president of the Pelhamwood Association, hired 'Louie' as general man-of-all-work for the residential section covered by the association.  Since that time 'Louie' has become as indispensable to Pelhamwood as the 'Toonerville Trolley' is to Pelham Manor.

Ask the property owner who wants to dispose of some leaves.  Ask the mother sending her children off to school.  Ask the kids themselves among whose best friends the genial street man is numbered.  Ask the commuter who dashed out of the house in a rush for his train, forgetting to tell the lady of his household that the water was still running in the bathtub.  Ask the delivery boys who have packages to leave when no one's home.  Ask the officers of the Pelhamwood Association when they have notices to be distributed to every house in Pelhamwood.  Ask Santa Claus when his pack is too heavy on Christmas Eve.  Just ask them all, whom they can rely on and they'll all chorus, 'Louie.'

'Louie' was originally employed by the association, but for the last ten years the Village of North Pelham has paid one-half of his compensation.

His duties are principally street work, but at hours when children are going to and from school 'Louie' garbed in his coveted light blue uniform with the dazzling brass buttons acts as traffic officer at the intersection of Highbrook and Washington avenues.

'Louie' is a Pelhamwood feature, and has been for 18 years."

Source:  Pelhamwood's "Louie" Completes 18th Year In Employ of Community Group, The Pelham Sun, Vol. 27, No. 9, Apr. 17, 1936, p. 5, cols. 3-4.  

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Announcement of Planned Extension of the Hutchinson River Parkway in 1940

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By 1940, there no longer was any pretense that the roadway was a lovely "parkway."  No, by 1940, the Hutchinson River Parkway was considered a potential "super-highway" that needed a major extension to permit New Yorkers to avoid congested streets and boulevards for outings in Westchester County, Connecticut, and Southern New England.  In barely a decade, the nature of the roadway was transformed from its original conception as a lovely "parkway" for Sunday afternoon jaunts into a major automobile artery connecting New York City with southern New England.  Thank you, Robert Moses.  Pelham, of course, was in the cross-hairs.

The history of the Hutchinson River Parkway, of course, is integrally intertwined with the history of the Town of Pelham during the 20th and 21st centuries.  Consequently, I have wriitten about the Hutchinson River Parkway on numerous occasions.  See, e.g.:

Wed., Mar. 07, 2018:  Pelhamites Learned of a Planned "Hutchinson River Improvement" in 1922.

Fri., Nov. 24, 2017:  Hutchinson River Parkway Detritus Was Used to Fill Much of the Pelham Reservoir in 1925.

Mon., May 08, 2017:  Pelham's Historic East Third Street Bridge Over the Hutchinson River Parkway.

Wed., Feb. 01, 2017:  Pelham Historic Marker Placed on Hutchinson River Parkway in 1927.

Tuesday, May 10, 2016:  A History of Tolls on the Hutchinson River Parkway and Their Impact on Pelham.

Tue., Aug. 26, 2014:  Westchester County Board of Supervisors Decided To Extend the Hutchinson River Parkway Through Pelham in 1923.

In 1940, newspapers in the region were filled with news accounts of plans to extend the "parkway" from the Eastern Boulevard, south of Pelham, to the Bronx-Whitestone Bridge using a six-lane extension with no roads crossing the new super-highway.  The plans, of course, had been years in the making.

Only two years before, another extension of the Hutchinson River Parkway had been completed that extended the roadway from Boston Post Road in Pelham to the Eastern Boulevard (once known as the old Shore Road and the Pelham Bridge Road).  Additionally, in 1938 and 1939, New York authorities acquired the right-of-way required to extend the roadway all the way to the Bronx-Whitestone Bridge.

During that two-year period at the end of the 1930s, buildings along the newly-acquired sections of right-of-way were demolished, test borings were made, and bridge designs were drawn so that work on the planned extension could begin as soon as financing was in place.

The planned extension to the bridge was planned to cost about $8,000,000 to construct.  The money was raised through a "refinancing in which the New York City Parkway Authority was merged with the Triborough Bridge Authority, retaining the name of the latter.  Commissioner of Parks Robert Moses headed the parkway authority and he and Commissioners George V. McLaughlin and Roderick Stephens head the Triborough Bridge Authority."

In mid-May, 1940 the Triborough Bridge Authority announced that "contracts had been let for the substructure and superstructure of the Eastchester Creek bridge, for the Givans Creek bridge . . . and for considerable grading."  It further announced that "Bids on other contracts will be taken in the next few months."

Work began soon thereafter.  Pelham, it seemed, would never be the same.

"This map shows the Hutchinson River Parkway Extension in the Bronx.

The numbers at different points are explained in the caption below the

adjoining pictures, which show sections of the same district."  Source:

 Another Parkway for the City -- Boon in Store for Motorists in the Extension

of Hutchinson River Road, N.Y. Sun, May 18, 1940, p. 5, cols. 2-4.

NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

"The Hutchinson River Parkway Extension (indicated by heavy white lines

in the above pictures) will relieve traffic congestion on Eastern Boulevard

(5), the Bronx, which at present is a link for motor vehicles moving between

Long Island and New England points, via the Bronx-Whitestone Bridge and

the Hutchinson River Parkway, Westchester county, and the Merritt Parkway,

Connecticut.  The picture at the bottom (looking north) shows the location (1),

of intersection and grade separations on the parkway extension at East

177th street at Eastern Boulevard.  In the picture at the top (looking north) is

another section of the parkway extension.  The Pelham Bay Parkway (2),

Gun Hill Road and Baychester avenue bridges and grade separations (3)

and the Eastchester Creek Bridge (4) are indicated as well as Eastern

Boulevard (5)."  Source:  Another Parkway for the City -- Boon in Store

for Motorists in the Extension of Hutchinson River Road, N.Y. Sun, May 18,

1940, p. 5, cols. 2-4.  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

*          *          *          *          *

"Another Parkway for the City
-----
Boon in Store for Motorists in the Extension of Hutchinson River Road.
-----

Contractors' steam shovels and graders soon will be making the dirt fly along Eastchester Creek in the Bronx, building an important new link in the ever-growing chain of parkways in the metropolitan area, as modern as the 1940 automobile and as safe from the hazards and delays of big-city traffic as engineering can make it.

Called the Hutchinson River Parkway Extension, the new super-highway will be a boon to motorists who, groaning at the perils and tribulations of the road, have spent many of their summer Sunday hours crawling along congested streets and boulevards for a short outing in upper Westchester county, Connecticut or southern New England.

The extension will strike south across Eastchester Creek from a point in the present Hutchinson River Parkway in Pelham Bay Park to the present approach to the Bronx-Whitestone Bridge.  No other roads will cross its six lanes of traffic, three northbound and three southbound and no red lights will bring automobiles screeching to a stop anywhere along its three and three-quarters miles of roadway.  Landscaped areas on either side and a mall between the north and south-bound lanes will make it a true parkway, as pleasing to the eye as it will be easy to the wheel.

Fast Route to Connecticut.

Long Island motorists, traveling along the existing parkways in Brooklyn and Queens and along the soon-to-be-completed Belt Parkway to the Bronx-Whitestone Bridge, will have a fast, direct route into Connecticut by way of the Merritt Parkway or into the north and south-bound Westchester county parkways by way of the Cross County Parkway or the Mosholu and Bronx Pelham parkways.

To be constructed on a right-of-way obtained in 1938 and 1939, the extension will be built by the Triborough Bridge Authority at a cost of around $8,000,000 and probably will be completed in eighteen months or so.  The new construction was made possible through the recent refinancing in which the New York City Parkway Authority was merged with the Triborough Bridge Authority, retaining the name of the latter.  Commissioner of Parks Robert Moses headed the parkway authority and he and Commissioners George V. McLaughlin and Roderick Stephens head the Triborough Bridge Authority.

The new extension will branch off from the two-year-old section of the Hutchinson River Parkway running south from the Boston Post Road to Eastern Boulevard, which also is known as the old Shore Road and the Pelham Bridge Road.  The branch will be roughly a mile south of the Hutchinson River Parkway-Boston Post Road crossing and about 2,300 feet west of the intersection of the parkway and Eastern Boulevard.  An elaborate cloverleaf at the branch will enable motorists using the new extension to swing eastward to Orchard Beach and City Island, thus diverting some of the heavy summer traffic to those three resorts from the Eastern Boulevard, now badly congested.

A Bottle-neck to Go.

A new bridge with a bascule type opening for boats will carry the extension southward across Eastchester Creek several thousand feet to the west of the present Eastern Boulevard bridge, which constitutes a bad bottle-neck for motorists.  Another bridge will arch over Givans Creek and grade crossing separations will eliminate hazards at Baychester avenue, Gun Hill Road, the Bronx Pelham Parkway, Westchester avenue, Tremont avenue, Grass avenue and Eastern Boulevard at the beginning of the Bronx-Whitestone Bridge approach.  In addition there will be a grade crossing elimination where the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad swings across the extension right-of-way between the Pelham Parkway and Gun Hill Road.

Buildings along the right-of-way have been demolished, test borings made and bridge designs drawn, so the actual work is expected to get under way rapidly.  The Triborough Bridge Authority announced last week end that contracts had been let for the substructure and superstructure of the Eastchester Creek bridge, for the Givans Creek bridge . . . and for considerable grading.  Bids on other contracts will be taken in the next few months."

Source:  Another Parkway for the City -- Boon in Store for Motorists in the Extension of Hutchinson River Road, N.Y. Sun, May 18, 1940, p. 5, cols. 2-4.

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Pelhamites Learned of a Planned "Hutchinson River Improvement" in 1922

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As early as 1906, efforts to create the Bronx River Parkway as part of a river conservation effort began.  Although efforts to complete the parkway ebbed until the end of World War I, an initiative to complete the 15.5 mile parkway between Bronx Park and the Kensico Dam in Valhalla, New York picked up steam after the war and led to completion of the parkway in 1925.

As efforts to complete the Bronx River Parkway picked up steam after World War I, many in the region began advocating for the creation of a similar parkway in the Hutchinson River Valley as a means of protecting the river and its valley against over-development and pollution.  These were the earliest seeds of what we know today as the Hutchinson River Parkway.

I have written before about various aspects of the history of the Hutchinson River Parkway.  For examples, see:

Fri., Nov. 24, 2017:  Hutchinson River Parkway Detritus Was Used to Fill Much of the Pelham Reservoir in 1925.

Mon., May 08, 2017:  Pelham's Historic East Third Street Bridge Over the Hutchinson River Parkway

Wed., Feb. 01, 2017:  Pelham Historic Marker Placed on Hutchinson River Parkway in 1927.

Tue., May 10, 2016:  A History of Tolls on the Hutchinson River Parkway and Their Impact on Pelham.

Tue., Aug. 26, 2014:  Westchester County Board of Supervisors Decided To Extend the Hutchinson River Parkway Through Pelham in 1923.

In 1922, efforts to create the Hutchinson River Parkway gained steam.  First, the State of New York enacted legislation to authorize Westchester County to acquire properties for the creation and improvement of parks, parkways, and boulevards within the County.  Attention quickly turned to the Hutchinson River Valley and the Saw Mill River Valley as prime candidates for the creation of parkways as conservation measures to preserve those valleys and mitigate further pollution of those two rivers.  

On November 17, 1922, Pelhamites awoke to read their weekly issue of The Pelham Sun.  In it was a lengthy article written by the President of the Westchester County Parkway Commission, W. Delevan Baldwin, urging the creation of a parkway in the Hutchinson River Valley.

Baldwin noted the massive increase in population and suburban development in the region and further argued that if the County were to wait much longer, the valley would be further developed and, thus, would require a much greater expense to acquire the lands necessary to create the parkway he envisioned.  He wrote:  "For its greater part, Westchester County consists of suburban areas and open spaces, but the reason for starting a park system now, lies in the fact that unless it is started while there are plenty of open spaces, its cost may become prohibitive when the county becomes more closely populated and built up."

Baldwin argued that there was a "moral obligation" to preserve such lands and provide such a park for future generations.  He noted that because the then-present generation would benefit from such a park it would only be fair for a portion of the expense to be born by that generation as well as future generations.  Thus, he urged the issuance of long-term bonds to fund acquisition of the lands to permit development of the parkway.  

Baldwin pointed to the Bronx River Parkway, then nearing completion, as a model for the development of a new Hutchinson River Parkway.  He noted:  "The present need is for the promptest possible action to secure the necessary lands.  Construction and development programs can be deferred until the needs for such improvements are felt and their cost not burdensome.  It should be kept in mind that in acquiring such lands for parkways the county will also be acquiring rights of way for motor driveways, trunk sewers, water, and possibly light and power lines or other public utilities."

Planned development of the Hutchinson River Parkway, it seems, was well on its way . . . . 

Recent View, Looking from North to South, of the East Street Bridge

on the Hutchinson River Parkway. Source: LoRusso, Mark S., An

Historic American Engineering Record Level II Documentation of the

East Third Street Bridge Spanning Hutchinson River Parkway and

Hutchinson River NYSDOT PIN 8BOW.01.101 City of Mount Vernon and

Village of Pelham Westchester County New York, p. 70 (2017: Sponsored

by The Federal Highway Administration and the New York State

Department of Transportation, Part of the New York State Museum

Cultural Resource Survey Program). NOTE: Click on Image to Enlarge.

*          *          *          *          *

"Hutchinson River Improvement Advocated By Park Commission
-----
W. Delevan Baldwin, President of the Westchester County Parkway Commission Urges That Land For This and Other Improvements Be Purchased Now While It Is Possible to Acquire It At Reasonable Cost.
-----

Under a legislative enactment included in the Laws of 1922, Westchester County received authorization for the location, creation, acquisition and improvement of parks, parkways and boulevards.

The State of New York under a separate act conveyed to the County for $1 the 1,100 acre reservation surrounding Mohansic Lake, in the Town of Yorktown.  This Park has been open and of great public benefit during the summer of 1922.

The County Park Commission is composed of W. Delevan Baldwin, John G. Agar, Felix M. Warburg, Arthur W. Lawrence, Mrs. W. A. Read, Cornelius A. Pugsley, William J. Wallin, Mrs. Roberts Walker and Charles M. Miller.

The following authoritative article by President Baldwin, shows the necessity for planning now, a county park system adequate for future needs.
-----

In any discussion of a park system for Westchester County, the question will arise as to why the County needs a park system.

For its greater part, Westchester County consists of suburban areas and open spaces, but the reason for starting a park system now, lies in the fact that unless it is started while there are plenty of open spaces, its cost may become prohibitive when the county becomes more closely populated and built up.

The growth and development of New York City intimately affects Westchester and incidents in the history of the City's expansion serve as admonitions of the necessity for anticipating future needs in the county.

Consider for example, the report of the commission which laid out the present street plan of New York City in 1811 (population then 90,000) and containing this statement:  'It may be a subject of merriment that the commissioners have provided space for a greater population than is collected at any spot this side of China.  It is improbable that (for centuries to come) the grounds north of Haerlam flat will be covered with houses.

The commissioners thought they were going to the ultimate limit of foresightedness, even to the point of risking ridicule. 

But how quaint their statement sounds to us with the knowledge of developments that have come in a little over one century.  Coming to the more recent past, Jones' Woods and other picnic grounds in Manhattan along the East River are easily within the memories of living men, and the areas now composing the Bronx Zoological Park and Botanical Gardens were somewhat of a wilderness less than 30 years ago.

These items in the history of New York City's development are rather trite and familiar, but the point I am making is that the increase of movement of population from the earliest beginnings at Bowling Green, has progressed steadily northward, is now upon us in Westchester County.  While it is true that Westchester spreads out far beyond the confines of Manhattan Island and the Bronx, the advantage is offset by the fact that the population movement is now unprecedented, is, in fact, a surge actuated by pressure of the millions confined within the city limits.  People are coming to Westchester just as fast as the builders can provide homes for them.

The necessity for setting aside park and recreation areas now for the requirements of the future, is well understood by many of our business and political leaders.  It must be appreciated and understood, however, by the general public in order that these leaders may have the support necessary to bring about action.

Why Provide Parks?

The taxpayer may very properly raise a question as to why we should make provisions for future generations.  Why not let them take care of their own problems?

The answer as I conceive it is this:  if, with experience gained in the past we clearly see the need of establishing a park system adequate for future needs, we should assume the need as a moral obligation.  As a matter of course there would be an underlying distribution of expense.  Long term bonds issued by the county would ease the burden along from our generation to the next without burden to either.

[Illegible] necessity for a country park system and ability of the county to undertake its development.

Progress has been made by an enactment under the laws of 1922 providing for the creation of a county park system, including the location, creation, acquisition and improvement of parks, parkways and boulevards.  Under another chapter of the laws of 1922 the State conveyed the splendid 1,100 acre reservation at Mohansic Lake to Westchester County for $1.00.

The County Park Commission immediately opened Mohansic Park to public use.  During the summer of 1922 hundreds of tent campers were accommodated for week-ends and longer vacation periods.  On Saturdays and Sundays a great many automobile parties picnicked along the attractive lake shores.  Next year, when this park becomes better known, and its various parts become more accessible through the improvement of roads, it will be used a great deal more.

In discussing extensions of the county park system, account should be taken of the superb natural advantages of Westchester and the really wonderful opportunities afforded for park development.  We have shore lines on the Sound, an expanse of many miles along the Hudson, with a beautifully varied lake and hill country intervening.  In the southern part of the county there are the three valleys of the Hutchinson, Bronx and Saw Mill or Nepperham Rivers with their separating north and south ridges.

One Transformation

In looking over park resources there at once comes to mind the Bronx River Parkway now nearing completion and the remarkable transformation that has taken place in the Bronx River Valley.  

Competent authorities decided that the establishment of a parkway was the only practicable solution for reclaiming the Bronx River Valley, the project being a joint undertaking between New York City and Westchester County.

The Saw Mill River valley is rapidly developing a similar problem that must be handled by Westchester as the river lies wholly within the county.  Gradually this valley is becoming built up with garages, small factories and the class of developments that usually contributes the pollution and refuse that makes a river a more aggravated nuisance as time goes on.

Similar conditions will develop along the Hutchinson River Valley and progressive residents in the vicinity have advocated for several years past, the establishment of a parkway.

The three Westchester County river valleys parallel to its north and south axis and the direction of greatest traffic, are natural parkways.  The Bronx River valley has been taken care of and the lands necessary to establish control over the Saw Mill and Hutchinson Rivers, can be acquired now at much lower cost than at some late date, when additional buildings will have to be paid for.

The present need is for the promptest possible action to secure the necessary lands.  Construction and development programs can be deferred until the needs for such improvements are felt and their cost not burdensome.  It should be kept in mind that in acquiring such lands for parkways the county will also be acquiring rights of way for motor driveways, trunk sewers, water, and possibly light and power lines or other public utilities.

The proposal that the county park system should include beaches or parks along the Sound and Hudson River also has many supporters.  Such advocates doubtless have in mind the contrast between resorts operated solely for maximum possible profits and resorts such as Bear Mountain, or the beaches controlled by the Metropolitan District Commission of Boston.

The Westchester County Park Commission feels that the county will not lag behind other municipalities and that a full measure of public support will be forthcoming when the people understand the wisdom and necessity for action.

W. DELEVAN DAWSON."

Source:  Hutchinson River Improvement Advocated By Park Commission -- W. Delevan Baldwin, President of the Westchester County Parkway Commission Urges That Land For This and Other Improvements Be Purchased Now While It Is Possible to Acquire It At Reasonable Cost, The Pelham Sun, Nov. 17, 1922, p. 8., cols. 1-4.

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The Westchester and Pelham Turnpike Road Company Incorporated in 1817

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Until the first two decades of the 19th century, travel to and from the Town of Pelham was very difficult due to the lack of bridges and meaningful roadways.  Indeed, travel to the area from New York City or from points north was easiest by ship, thus ensuring that City Island grew in those early years to become the principal population center of the town.

This all began to change in 1815 when local residents arranged for the construction of the first Pelham Bridge.  See Tue., Oct. 11, 2016:  Is It Possible The First Pelham Bridge Built in About 1815 Was Repaired After Near Destruction by a Storm?

According to longstanding history of the Pelham Bridge, on March 6, 1812, the New York State Legislature enacted a statute incorporating the "Eastchester Bridge Company" to build a bridge over the Hutchinson River where it empties into Eastchester Bay.  With plans to build a bridge that would allow a more direct roadway from the Village of Westchester to the Town of Pelham, another group of local residents began planning construction of such a road as a toll road.  

The Pelham Bridge was built by early 1815 but, within months, was destroyed by an extraordinary storm and flood. There were, however, prompt proposals to rebuild the bridge by August 1, 1817. At about this time, local residents created the “Westchester and Pelham Turnpike Road Company.”  It was incorporated on April 5, 1817. 

According to one historian, “The Shore Road was made into a real road by the Westchester and Pelham Turnpike Co., incorporated April 5, 1817.”  Barr, Lockwood, 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. 51 (Richmond, VA: The Dietz Press, Inc. 1946).  Lockwood Barr may have overstated the point a little. It appears that the Westchester and Pelham Turnpike Road Company was incorporated to build a road from the causeway at the Village of Westchester (near today's Westchester Square in the Bronx) to the Pelham Bridge -- not beyond the Pelham Bridge onto today's Shore Road between the bridge and the Pelham Manor border. 

In any event, it is clear that construction of the road between the Village of Westchester and Pelham Bridge connected Pelham to what were then more populated portions of lower Westchester County, making the colonial roadway known today as Shore Road in Pelham Bay Park all the more important.  The roadway built by the Westchester and Pelham Turnpike Road Company came to be known as the "Westchester Turnpike."  Occasionally, portions of today's Shore Road between Pelham Bridge and the Pelham Manor border were also referred to as Westchester Turnpike. See, e.g., SUPREME COURT -- John Hunter, Plaintiff vs. Robert R. Hunter, Deforciant [Legal Notice], New-York Evening Post, Nov. 19, 1818, p. 3, col. 2 (referencing "the highway leading from the Westchester turnpike road in Pelham to Rodman's Neck, (so called)").  For more on the history of Shore Road, see Friday, Oct. 14, 2016:  Early History of Pelham's Ancient Shore Road, Long an Important Pelham Thoroughfare Along Long Island Sound.

Today's Historic Pelham article sheds a little more light on the creation of the Westchester and Pelham Turnpike Road Company in 1817.  I have written before, on a single occasion, about the history of the company.  See Tue., Feb. 28, 2006:  Westchester and Pelham Turnpike Road Company "Builds" Shore Road in Pelham.

On March 21, 1817, New York State Senator Darius Crosby introduced in the State Senate "An Act to Incorporate the Westchester and Pelham Turnpike Company."  The bill had its first reading to the Senate that day and, by unanimous consent, was read a second time then was committed to a committee of the whole, suggesting there was little or no opposition to the measure.

Four days later on March 25, 1817, the committee of enrolment reported to the Senate that they had examined the engrossed bill and that it had been enroled [sic] and collated.  Thereupon, the Senate voted, by resolution, passage of the bill.

The following day, on March 26, 1817, the New York State Assembly announced that the Clerk of the Senate had delivered to the Clerk of the Assembly the bill that the Senate had passed.  The bill received its first reading before the Assembly that day and was promptly referred to a select committee consisting of Assemblymen Ebenezer White, Jr. and John Townsend of Westchester County, and Edward Smith, Jr. of Putnam County.  The Committee was directed to "consider and report thereon."

The following day (March 27) Assemblyman White of Westchester County reported favorably on the bill to the Assembly as a whole, recommending that he believed it "proper that it [the bill] should become a law of this state."  The Assembly ordered that the "said bill be committed to a committee of the whole house" suggesting, again, that the bill was not controversial.

Two days later on March 29, 1817, the Assembly met as a committee of the whole on the engrossed bill, then formed a select committee to consider the Senate bill further.  The committee consisted of Assemblymen Christopher Tappen Jr. and Green Miller (both representing Sullivan and Ulster Counties), and Assemblyman Ebenezer White, Jr. of Westchester County.  The select committee was instructed "to report the same [the bill] complete."

On Tuesday, April 1, 1817, the Senate bill was read to the full Assembly for a third time.  The Assembly then passed the bill "without amendment" and ordered the Clerk of the Assembly to "deliver the said bill to the honorable the Senate, and inform them, that this house have passed the same without amendment."

The Senate immediately referred the bill, passed by both houses of the legislature, to the "Council of Revision" for advice on whether it should become a law of the State.  On April 7, a message from the Council of Revision, delivered by the Secretary of State, was read to the Senate stating the Council's view "that it does not appear improper to the Council" that the bill should become a law of the state.  

Thus, the bill became law as "CHAP. CLVII -- AN ACT to incorporate the Westchester and Pelham turnpike road company." effective April 5, 1817.

The text of the statute sheds interesting light on the project to build the roadway from the Village of Westchester to the Pelham Bridge.  For example, it authorized three men and their associates to "associate for the purpose of making a turnpike road."  The men were Herman Le Roy (of Pelham, who lived near Pelham Bridge), Thomas C. Taylor, and William Edgar.  It confirmed that the new road would "begin at the causeway leading from the village of Westchester to Throgsneck [sic], at some point east of the bridge over Westchester creek, and to run from thence on the most convenient route to the bridge lately erected over the mouth of Eastchester creek."  It constituted the company as capable of suing and being sued and to allow it to purchase and own property.

The Statute authorized the company to issue one hundred shares of stock, "of thirty dollars each."  It further appointed William Bayard, Thomas C. Taylor, and Benjamin W. Rodgers as "commissioners to receive subscriptions for the said stock" (i.e., sell the 100 shares for thirty dollars each to raise $3,000 to fund the venture).  

Perhaps the most interesting, and amusing, aspect of the statute was the section that authorized the company to levy tolls on the turnpike, once built.  The statute stated "it shall be lawful for the company hereby incorporated to exact and receive at the gate or turnpike to be erected on the said road, the following rates of toll."  It proceeded to list the following:

• for every score of sheep or hogs, six cents; 
• for every score of cattle, horses or mules, twenty cents; 
• for every chair, sulkey [sic], chaise or other two wheel pleasure carriage, with one horse, six cents; 
• for every horse rode, three cents; 
• for every horse led or driven, two cents; 
• for every stage waggon, chariot, coach, coachee, phaeton or other pleasure carriage, drawn by two horses, twelve and an half cents, and six cents for every additional horse; 
• for every cart or waggon, drawn by one horse, six cents; 
• for every cart or waggon, other than stage waggons, drawn by two horses, mules or oxen, eight cents, and two cents for every additional horse, mule or ox; 
• for every sleigh or sled, if drawn by not more than two horses, mules or oxen, six cents, and 
• for every additional horse, mule, or ox, one cent.

By early July, 1817, it seems the shares had all been sold.  That month notices appeared in the Commercial Advertiser published in New York City that an election would be held at 12:00 Noon on Monday, August 4, 1817 at the office of Thomas C. Taylor, 41 Robinson Street (New York City) during which subscribers of shares would elect directors of the Westchester and Pelham Turnpike Road Company.  

Soon, afterward, Pelham had a more convenient roadway connecting it with lower Westchester County and the great metropolis of New York City.

"Pelham Bridge in 1865 From a sketch by W. J. Wilson"

This Shows the So-Called "Third Pelham Bridge" That Crossed

Eastchester Creek and Connected the Westchester Turnpike with

Shore Road.  Source: Jenkins, Stephen, The Story of the Bronx From

the Purchase Made by the Dutch from the Indians in 1639 to the Present

Day, Opposite p. 318 (NY and London: G.P. Putnam's Sons The

Knickerbocker Press, 1912).  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

*          *          *          *          *

"FRIDAY, 10 o'clock A.M. March 21, 1817.

The Senate met pursuant to adjournment.

PRESENT, 

His honor, Philetus Swift, President pro hac vice, and a quorum of the Senate. . . . 

Mr. Crosby, according to leave, brought in the said bill, entitled 'an act to incorporate the Westchester and Pelham turnpike road company,' which was read the first time, and by unanimous consent was read a second time, and committed to a committee of the whole. . . ."

Source:  JOURNAL OF THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW-YORK:  AT THEIR FORTIETH SESSION -- SECOND MEETING, pp. 213, 215 (Albany, NY:  J. Buel, 1817).  

"TUESDAY, 10 o'clock, A.M. March 25, 1817.

The Senate met pursuant to adjournment.

PRESENT,

His honor Philetus Swift, President pro hac vice, and a quorum of the Senate.

The committee of enrolment reported, that they had examined the engrossed bill, entitled 'an act to incorporate the Westchester and Pelham turnpike road company' . . . and that the same [was] duly enroled and collated.

Thereupon,

The said engrossed bill, entitled 'and act to incorporate the Westchester and Pelham turnpike road company,' was read the third time.

Resolved, That the bill do pass."

Source:  JOURNAL OF THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW-YORK:  AT THEIR FORTIETH SESSION -- SECOND MEETING, p. 233 (Albany, NY:  J. Buel, 1817).

"WEDNESDAY, March 26, 1817.

The house met pursuant to adjournment. . . . 

Four several messages from the honorable the Senate, also delivered by their clerk, with the bills therein mentioned, were read, informing that the honorable the Senate have passed the bill, entitled 'an act to incorporate the Westchester and Pelham turnpike road company,' . . . in which bills respectively they request the concurrence of this house.

The said bills were severally read the first time, and by unanimous consent were also read a second time, and the bill, entitled 'an act to incorporate the Westchester and Pelham turnpike road company,' was refered [sic] to a select committee, consisting of Mr. White, Mr. E. Smith and Mr. Townsend . . . severally to consider and report thereon."

Source:  Journal of the Assembly, OF THE STATE OF NEW-YORK -- FORTIETH SESSION -- SECOND MEETING, pp. 668, 670 (Albany, NY:  J. Buel, 1817).

"THURSDAY, March 27, 1817.

The house met pursuant to adjournment. . . . 

Mr. White, from the select committee to whom was refered [sic] the engrossed bill from the honorable Senate, entitled 'an act to incorporate the Westchester and Pelham turnpike road company,' reported, that they have had the said bill under consideration, and believe it proper that it should become a law of this state.

Ordered, That the said bill be committed to a committee of the whole house. . . ."

Source:  Journal of the Assembly, OF THE STATE OF NEW-YORK -- FORTIETH SESSION -- SECOND MEETING, pp. 678, 682(Albany, NY:  J. Buel, 1817).

"SATURDAY, March 29, 1817.

The house met pursuant to adjournment. . . . 

The house then resolved itself into a committee of the whole, on the engrossed bill from the honorable the Senate, entitled 'an act to incorporate the Westchester and Pelham turnpike road company,' and after some time spent thereon, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Sanford, from the said committee, reported progress, and asked for and obtained leave to sit again. . . . 

Thereupon -- 

Ordered, that the committee of the whole house be discharged from further consideration of the said bill, entitled 'an act to incorporate the Westchester and Pelham turnpike road company,' . . . and that the same be committed to a select committee, consisting of Mr. Tappen, Mr. G. Miller and Mr. White, to report the same complete. . . ."

Source:  Journal of the Assembly, OF THE STATE OF NEW-YORK -- FORTIETH SESSION -- SECOND MEETING, pp. 699, 704 (Albany, NY:  J. Buel, 1817).

"TUESDAY, April 1, 1817.

The house met pursuant to adjournment. . . . 

The engrossed bill from the honorable the Senate, entitled 'an act to incorporate the Westchester and Pelham turnpike road company,' was read the third time.

Resolved, that the bill do pass.

Ordered, That the clerk deliver the said bill to the honorable the Senate, and inform them, that this house have passed the same without amendment. . . ."

Source:  Journal of the Assembly, OF THE STATE OF NEW-YORK -- FORTIETH SESSION -- SECOND MEETING, p. 720(Albany, NY:  J. Buel, 1817).

"MONDAY, 9 o'clock A.M. April 7, 1817.

The Senate met pursuant to adjournment.

Present,

His honor Philetus Swift, President pro hac vice, and a quorum of the Senate. . . . 

A message from the honorable the Council of Revision, delivered by the Secretary of State, was read, informing, that it does not appear improper to the Council, that the bill, entitled . . . 'an act to incorporate the Westchester and Pelham turnpike road company' . . . should respectively become laws of this state. . . ."

Source:  JOURNAL OF THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW-YORK:  AT THEIR FORTIETH SESSION -- SECOND MEETING, pp. 283-84 (Albany, NY:  J. Buel, 1817).

"CHAP. CLVII.

AN ACT to incorporate the Westchester and Pelham turnpike road company.

Passed April 5, 1817.

Associates.

I.  BE it enacted by the people of the state of New-York, represented in senate and assembly, That Herman Le Roy, Thomas C. Taylor, William Edgar, and all such other persons shall associate for the purpose of making a turnpike road, 

Route.

to begin at the causeway leading from the village of Westchester to Throgsneck, at some point east of the bridge over Westchester creek, and to run from thence on the most convenient route to the bridge lately erected over the mouth of Eastchester creek, be and they are hereby created a body corporate and politic, in fact and in name, by the name of 'the Westchester and Pelham turnpike road company,' 

Powers.

and by that name shall have continual succession, and be persons capable in law of suing and being sued, pleading and being impleaded, answering and being answered unto, defending and being defended, in all courts places whatsoever, in all manner of actions, suits, complaints, matters and causes, and by the same name and style shall be in law capable of purchasing, holding and conveying any estate, real or personal, for the use of the said corporation:  Provided, that such estate, as well real as personal, so to be purchased and held, shall be necessary to fulfil [sic] the end and intent of the said corporation.

Shares.

II.  And be it further enacted, That the stock of the said company shall consist of one hundred shares, of thirty dollars each;

Commissioners to receive subscriptions.

and William Bayard, Thomas C. Taylor and Benjamin W. Rodgers, are hereby appointed commissioners to receive subscriptions for the said stock, in the manner directed in and by the act, entitled 'an act relative to turnpike companies,' passed the 13th day of March, 1807.

Tolls.

III.  And be it further enacted, That it shall be lawful for the company hereby incorporated to exact and receive at the gate or turnpike to be erected on the said road, the following rates of toll, to wit:  for every score of sheep or hogs, six cents; for every score of cattle, horses or mules, twenty cents; for every chair, sulkey, chaise or other two wheel pleasure carriage, with one horse, six cents; for every horse rode, three cents; and for every horse led or driven, two cents; for every stage waggon, chariot, coach, coachee, phaeton or other pleasure carriage, drawn by two horses, twelve and an half cents, and six cents for every additional horse; for every cart or waggon, drawn by one horse, six cents; for every cart or waggon, other than stage waggons, drawn by two horses, mules or oxen, eight cents, and two cents for every additional horse, mule or ox; for every sleigh or sled, if drawn by not more than two horses, mules or oxen, six cents, and for every additional horse, mule, or ox, one cent.

Rights.

IV.  And be it further enacted, That the company hereby incorporated shall have all the rights, privileges and immunities, which are given and granted in and by the aforesaid act relative to turnpike companies, and shall be subject to all the conditions, provisions and restrictions therein contained."

Source: "CHAP. CLVII -- AN ACT to incorporate the Westchester and Pelham turnpike road company Passed April 5, 1817" in LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW-YORK, PASSED AT THE THIRTY-NINTH, FORTIETH AND FORTY-FIRST SESSIONS OF THE LEGISLATURE, COMMENCING JANUARY 1816, AND ENDING APRIL 1818, Vol. IV, pp. 160-61 (Albany, NY:  Printed for Websters and Skinners by the Printer to the State, 1818).

"NOTICE is hereby given, that an election of Directors in the Westchester and Pelham Turnpike Road Company will be held at the office of Thomas C. Taylor, situate at No. 41 Robinson-street, in the third ward of the city of New-York, on the first Monday of August next, at the hour of 12 o'clock at noon; at which time and place the subscribers of shares in the said company, are notified to attend accordingly. Dated this 3d day of July, 1817. 

WM. BAYARD, ) 
B.W. ROGERS, } Commissioners. 
THOS. C. TAYLOR, ) 

july 3-law4w" 

Source: NOTICE, Commercial Advertiser [NY, NY], Jul. 3, 1817, p. 3. 

The same notice also appeared on July 16, July 17 and July 22. See NOTICE, Commercial Advertiser [NY, NY], Jul. 16, 1817, p. 4; NOTICE, Commercial Advertiser, Jul. 17, 1817, p. 4; NOTICE, Commercial Advertiser, Jul. 22, 1817, p. 4.

"The present road from Westchester Bridge to Pelham Bridge was authorized as follows:

In 1817, Hermann Le Roy, Thomas C. Taylor, William Edgar and their associates were incorporated as a turnpike company to make a turnpike road beginning at the causeway leading from the village of Westchester, at some point on the east side of the bridge over Westchester Creek, and to run from thence in the most convenient route to the bridge lately erected over the mouth of Eastchester Creek and were to be known as the 'Westchester and Pelham Turnpike Road Company.'"

Source:  Scharf, J. Thomas, History of Westchester County, New York Including Morrisania, Kings Bridge and West Farms Which Have Been Annexed to New York City, Vol. I, p. 815 (Philadelphia, PA:  L. E. Preston & Co., 1886).

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