Historic Pelham

Presenting the rich history of Pelham, NY in Westchester County: current historical research, descriptions of how to research Pelham history online and genealogy discussions of Pelham families.

Monday, April 23, 2018

Brief Obituary of Maria Rapelje of Pelham Who Died in 1803, a Daughter of Pelham's Rem Rapelje and Helen (Hardenbrook) Rapelje


The obituary was brief; only twenty two words.  It marked the end of a brief life, that of Miss Maria Rapelje of Pelham.  She was the beloved daughter of Pelhamite Rem Rapelje and his wife, Helen (Hardenbrook) Rapelje.  Maria was only twenty years old at the time of her death on July 20, 1803.

Historic Pelham has published a host of articles on the Rapelje family, early Pelham pioneers.  See, e.g.:

Fri., Mar. 03, 2017:  The Will of Rem Rapelje of Pelham, Probated on November 20, 1805.

Thu., Mar. 02, 2017:  1805 Advertisement Reveals Much About the Pelham Farm of Rem Rapelje

Fri., Jan. 08, 2016:  Pelhamite Rem Rapelje, a Loyalist, Was "Rode on Rails" During the Revolutionary War

Wed., Oct. 03, 2007:  Book by George Rapelje, Pelham Resident Along With His Father, Rem Rapelje, Published in 1834

Mon., Feb. 27, 2006:  Another Description of the Farm of Rem Rapelje of Pelham Published in 1806

Wed., Aug. 24, 2005:  1807 Advertisement for Sale of Property of Rem Rapelje in Pelham.

Maria Rapelje is buried in the cemetery of Saint Paul's Church National Historic Site located at today's address of 897 S. Columbus Avenue, Mount Vernon, New York.  The beautiful church, construction of which began in 1765 to replace an earlier wooden structure, stands within what once was the Village of Eastchester.  A section of the Eastchester Village Green remains in front of the church today.  The church was one of several in the wider region that served Pelham families in the 18th and early 19th centuries.

The Rapelje family was closely aligned with Saint Paul's Church.  Indeed, the magnificent pump organ located in the loft of the church that was crafted by Henry Erben of New York City was commissioned by George Rapelje, an original pew holder in Saint Paul's Church, at a cost of $800 in 1833 (about $36,500 in today's dollars).  The organ "remains one of the oldest working organs in the United States" according to the site.

The obituary of young Maria Rapelje appeared in the July 30, 1803 issue of The Spectator published in New York City ten days after her death.  The brief obituary is transcribed below, followed by a citation and link to its source.


Detail of Map Prepared in 1853 Showing Pelham Neck and Lands Owned
by the Rapelje Family. Source: Dripps, Matthew & Conner, R.F.O.,
Southern Part of West-Chester County N. Y. (1853) (Museum of the City
of New York, No. 29.100.2628). NOTE: Click on Image to Enlarge.

*          *          *          *          *

"DIED.

On Wednesday the 20th inst. at the Manor of Pelham, Eastchester, Miss MARIA RAPELJE, in the 20th year of her age."

Source:  DIED, The Spectator [NY, NY], Jul. 30, 1803, Vol. VI, No. 625, p. 3, col. 3.

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Tuesday, November 07, 2017

Philip Pell of the Manor of Pelham Helped Complete the Stone and Brick St. Paul's Church in Eastchester


Construction began in 1763 on the beautiful stone and brick church building located today at 897 South Columbus Avenue in Mount Vernon.  The structure replaced an earlier late 17th century square wooden meeting house that stood nearby, roughly 70 yards west of the present structure.  Today, the beautiful church building is the centerpiece of St. Paul's Church National Historic Site, an important historic jewel in the midst of our region.



The Ancient Church Building at St. Paul's Church National Historic Site
at 897 South Columbus Avenue, Mount Vernon, New York.  The Church
Served the Manor of Pelham and Surrounding Region for Much of the
Late 18th and Early to Mid 19th Centuries.  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

When construction on the stone and brick church began, the building stood at the edge of Eastchester village green, important in its own right as the location of the Great Election of 1733.  Later the spectacular church building became the principle church for those who lived in the Manor of Pelham during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries.

Once construction on the new church building began in 1763, progress was exceedingly slow.  At the time, Eastchester and the Manor of Pelham were sparsely populated.  Residents of the region found it difficult to fund completion of such a grand and substantial church building.

The church was still not complete when the American Revolution began.  Though the exterior was finished, the interior was incomplete.  For example, it had only a dirt floor and virtually no furnishings.  The beautiful bell tower of the church that we admire today was only about two-thirds complete.  Parishioners at the time still worshiped in the old wooden meeting house nearby.

Given the central location of the church as well as the fact that it was the largest and finest stone and brick structure in the region, the church was used repeatedly by the American, British, and Hessian armies during the Revolutionary War.  Indeed, after the Battle of Pelham on October 18, 1776, British and Hessian troops used the unfinished church building as a military hospital.  During the war, the wooden meeting house seems to have been dismantled, likely for firewood.

After the war ended in 1783, the citizens of Eastchester, the Manor of Pelham, and the surrounding region resumed efforts to complete construction of the church.  Famed Patriot Philip Pell Jr. of the Manor of Pelham played a critical role in completion of the church building.  I have written before about Philip Pell Jr., one of the most significant residents ever to live in Pelham.  See, e.g.

Fri., Nov. 25, 2016:  A Pelham Resident Rode With General George Washington on Evacuation Day in 1783.

Mon., Feb. 15, 2016:  More on Revolutionary War Patriot Philip Pell, Jr. of the Manor of Pelham.








Fri., Mar. 9, 2007:  Abstract of Will of Philip Pell, Sr. of the Manor of Pelham Prepared in 1751 and Proved in 1752.  [This is an abstract of the will of the father of Col. Philip Pell.] 






It seems that enactment of a new statute in New York State in 1786 played an important role in efforts to complete the interior of the church.  On April 6, 1784, New York enacted a law entitled "An Act to Enable all the Religious Denominations in this State to Appoint Trustees Who Shall Be a Body Corporate, for the Purpose of Taking Care of the Temporalities of Their Respective Congregations and for Other Purposes Therein Mentioned."  After enactment of the statute, the parishioners of the church nominated and elected Philip Pell Jr. of the Manor of Pelham and Benjamin Drake of Eastchester as Trustees to hold an election of a group of parishioners to serve as more permanent "Trustees of the Episcopal Church in Eastchester in the County of Westchester and State of New York."

On Monday, March 12, 1787, the "male persons of the Congregation" gathered and elected as Trustees of the church the following:  John Bartow, John Wright, Isaac Ward, Elisha Shute, Lewis Guion, and Philip Pell Jr.  The new Trustees met on July 2, 1787 in the home of Charles Guion of Eastchester.  The Trustees appointed Thomas Bartow as Clerk, Treasurer, and Collector of the Board.  They then drew lots to create three classes of Trustees with terms of one-year, two-years, and three-years:  (1) one year terms:  John Wright and Lewis Guion; (2) two year terms:  Elisha Shute and Thomas Bartow; and (3) three year terms:  Isaac Ward and Philip Pell Jr..

The Board of Trustees set out to sell to various families "seats" within the Church that consisted of private, high-walled pew boxes that still can be seen today.  These sales were intended to fund final construction costs and permitted completion of such furnishings as a pulpit and clerk's desk.  

The Trustees met at the home of William Crawford Jr. of Eastchester on Saturday, December 15, 1787 "for the purpose of disposing the pew ground" of the church.  Charles Guion purchased "Seat No 1" which was the pew box just inside and to the left of the main entry door of the church as one enters.  It remains there today.  He paid seventeen shillings.

For about the next seven months or so, the Trustees sold pews to members of the church.  Some members purchased a single "Seat" (pew).  Others purchased more than one.  Prices ranged from eight shillings to two pounds and one shilling.  A pew plan showing pew ownership as of 1790 appears immediately below.



Plan of Pews in St. Paul's Church, Eastchester, New York 1790.
Source:  Coffey, William Samuel, Commemorative Discourse Delivered
at the Centennial Anniversary of the Erection and the Sixtieth of the
Consecration of St. Paul's Church, East Chester, West Chester Co., N.Y.,
October 24th, 1865, p. 43 (NY, NY: Perris & Browne, 1866). To Read
More About the 1790 Pew Diagram of St. Paul's Church, see:
NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

Apparently confident in their ability to sell the pews and raise the money needed to complete the interior of the church, on December 10, 1787 the Trustees entered into an agreement with a local carpenter named William Hoskins.  Hoskins agreed to build a "pulpit reading desk" and a clerk's seat "in a workman like manner" like those at a church in Yonkers within two months of the date of the agreement for the sum of fourteen pounds.  

The Trustees, including Philip Pell Jr., wrote proudly to their pastor to announce their success.  They wrote:

"Reverend Sir

We have this day disposed of the pew ground in our Church in a manner that promises success to our religious endeavors we have a prospect of completing our Church in a respectable manner.  New Rochell [sic] will Join us in engaging a Gentleman of the profession of the Gospel to officiate in the two places from a reliance on your pious wish to promote the Christian religion, be beg leave that when ever a Gentleman of Character and qualified in your opinion for our purpose may come to our knowledge and whose Condition may be adapted to our Situation that you'll please to signify the same to us.

The Revd Benj Moore

We are Revd Sir, with much respect your Nble Servants  The Trustees"

Philip Pell Jr. played yet another important role in his life when he worked so hard to help finish what we know today as the lovely church building at St. Paul's Church National Historic Site.  At the time, Pell's critical efforts benefited not his nation but his Manor of Pelham community.  



The Homestead of Colonel Philip Pell III that Once
Stood Near Today's Colonial Avenue (the old Boston
Post Road) and Today's Cliff Avenue. Source:
Montgomery, William R. & Montgomery, Frances E.,
Colonel Philip Pell (1753-1811) Abridged from "The Pells
of Pelham," The Pelham Sun, Oct. 21, 1938, pg. 11,
col. 3.  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.


*          *          *          *          *

"Page 4

Whereas at a meeting of the male persons of the Congregation of the Episcopal Church in Eastchester in the county of Westchester and State of New York held on Monday the twelfth Day of March in the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven hundred and Eighty Seven at the said Church in pursuance  of an Act of the Legislature of the said State, entitled an Act to enable all the Religious Denominations in this State to appoint trustees Who shall be a Body Corporate, for the purpose of taking care of the Temporalities of their respective Congregations and for other purposes Therein Mentioned passed April the 6th 1784 in Order to elect nominate and appoint Trustees of the said Church the said persons (     ) did previously proceed to nominate and elect two members of the Said Church to preside at and hold the Election for the date as aforesaid.  And Whereas Philip Pell & Benjamin (Drake) were appointed and elected to preside at and hold the said Election and the same being duly held, at the close thereof (     ) Bartow, John Wright, Isaac Ward, Elisha Shute, Lewis Guion and Philip Pell Junr were elected to serve as Trustees of the Episcopal Church in Eastchester in the County of Westchester and State of New York at the Election held as aforesaid, and we do accordingly return the said persons as duly elected, Witness our Hands and Seals the twelfth of March One thousand Seven hundred and eighty seven

Signed and Sealed in the presence of

(Jacob) Sahw [sic]
(     ) Crawford Junr
Philip Pell
Benjn Drake
(A Copy)
(Original document filed with the Chr papers vide overleaf)

Page 5

Westchester County Fs.  Be It Remembered that on this fourth day of April One thousand seven hundred and eighty seven personally appeared before me Stephen Ward Esquire first Justice of the Superior Court of Common Pleas for the County of Westchester William Crawford Junior who being duly sworn deposeth and saith that he was a subscribing witness to the execution of the within writing and that he saw the within named Philip Pell and Benjamin Drake Sign and Seal the same as their voluntary Act, and at the Same time saw Jacob Shaw . . . the other subscribing witness sign his name as a witness thereto and having examined the said writing do allow the same to be Recorded. . . . . . . . . . . . 

Stephen Ward

Entered on the Records of Westchester County
in Lib A of religious Societies pages 10  11  &  12
this 4th June 1787     Richrd Hatfield Clk

(a copy)
(The original is filed with the Church papers)"

Source:  REGISTER OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF ST PAULS CHR at East Chester June 1787 to 1834 For contents of this book vide pe. The property of St. Pauls Church East Chester Parish Register 1787, pp. 4-5 (Typewritten manuscript transcribed by The Eastchester Historical Society, 1966; copy in possession of the author).

"Page 2

At a meeting of the Trustees of the Episcopal Church in Eastchester in the County of Westchester and State of New York held at the House of Charles Guion in the said Township of Eastchester on Monday the 2 day of July one thousand seven hundred and Eighty Seven.

Present

Thomas Bartow
John Wright
Isaac Ward
Elisha Shute
Lewis Guion
Philip Pell Junior

The said Trustees proceeded to appoint a Clerk, Treasurer and Collector of the said Board.

Resolved that Thomas Barton [sic] be the Clerk Treasurer and Collector of the said Board for the purposes by Law directed

The said Trustees then proceeded under the Act of the Legislature for their Incorporation, to divid [sic] themselves by Lott into three Classes as directed by the said Act where the Classes respectively were driven out as follows viz.

John Wright       Lewis Guion     Whose seats become vacant at the end of the first year.

Elisha Shute      Thomas Bartow      Whose seats become vacant at the end of the second year

Isaac Ward        Philip Pell Junior      Whose seats become vacant at the end of the third year

Page 3

At a Meeting of the aforesaid Trustees held at the House of William Crawford Junior on saturday the 15th day of December 1787 (present all the aforesaid Trustees) for the purpose of disposing the pew ground of the aforesaid Church.  The pew ground being exposed to sale according to a plan or draft exhibited on such day were sold to the persons and under the conditions under mentioned.

paid     Charles Guion     Having purchased of the Trustees of the Episcopal Church in Eastchester Seat No. 1 in said Church agrees to erect a pew thereon in six months from the date hereof according to the form to be directed by the said Trustees on performance to have conveyance for the same under the Seal of the aforesaid Trustees on failure to forfeit the seat of ground so purchased nevertheless liable to pay seventeen shillings being the purchase money on demand dates the day above mentioned

s/s Chas Guion

paid     James Morgan     having purchased of the said Trustees Seat No 2 agrees in like manner as above, the purchase money being twenty shillings

s/s James Morg----

paid      Lewis Guion     Having purchased of the said Trustees Seat No 3 agrees in like manner above the purchase money being twenty one chillings [sic]

s/s Lewis Guion

paid     Samuel Webb      having purchased of the said Trustees Seat No 4 agrees in like manner as above the purchase money being nine shillings

s/s Saml Webb

paid     Stephen Ward     having purchased of the said trustees Seat No 5 agrees in like manner as above the purchase money being two pounds one shilling

s/s Stephen Ward

Page 3 (con't)

Philip Pell Junior having purchased of the said Trustees Seat No 6 agrees in like manner as above the purchase money being one Pound"

Source:  REGISTER OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF ST PAULS CHR at East Chester June 1787 to 1834 For contents of this book vide pe. The property of St. Pauls Church East Chester Parish Register 1787, pp. 2-3 (Typewritten manuscript transcribed by The Eastchester Historical Society, 1966; copy in possession of the author).

"Page 6

paid     Isaac Ward having purchased of the Trustees aforesaid Seat No 30 in the said Church agrees in like manner as aforesaid the purchase money being ten shillings

s/s Isaac Ward

paid     Benjamin Drake having purchased of the Trustees aforesaid Seat No 37 in the said Church agrees in like manner as aforesaid the purchase money being 10 shillings

s/s Benjn Drake

paid     Benjamin Morgan having purchased of the trustees aforesaid Seat No 36 in the said Church agrees in like manner as aforesaid the purchase money being ten shillings

s/s Benjn Morgan for C. Morgan

paid     William Crawford Junior having purchased of the Trustees aforesaid Seat No 35 in the said Church agrees in like manner as aforesaid the purchase money being nine shillings 

s/s Wm Crawford juner

paid July 28  89     Maj. Daniel Williams having purchsed of the Trustees aforesaid Seat No 31 in the Said Church agrees in like manner as aforesaid the purchase money being Sixteen Shillings

s/s Daniel Williams

paid     Israel Honeywill [sic] having purchased of the aforesaid Trustees Seat No 32 in the Said Church agrees in like manner as aforesaid the purchase Money being Sixteen shillings Decmr 19    87

s/s Israel Honeywell

paid     Lancaster Underhill having purchased of the Trustees aforesaid Seat No 20 in the Said Church agrees in like manner as aforesaid the purchase money being Sixteen Shillings     January 12, 1788

s/s Lancaster Underhill

Page 7

entered in his act     William Pinkney having purchased of the aforesaid Trustees Seat No (     ) in the said Church agrees in like manner as aforesaid the purchase money being Twenty three shillings

s/s William Pinkney

paid     Thomas Bartow having purchased of the aforesaid Trustees Seat No 9 in the said Church agrees in like manner as aforesaid the purchase money being Twenty Shillings

s/s Thomas Bartow

paid     Anthony Bartow having purchased of the aforesaid Trustees Seat No 10 in the Said Church agrees in like manner as aforesaid the purchase money being Seventeen Shillings

s/s Anthony Bartow Jun

entered in his account     John G. Wright having purchased of the aforesaid Trustees Seat No 13 in the Said Church agrees in like manner as aforesaid the purchase money being fourteen shillings

paid     Philip Rhinelander having purchased of the aforesaid Trustees Seat No 26 in the Said Church Agrees in like manner as aforesaid.  the purchase money being Twenty shillings

s/s Philip Rhinelander

paid     Benjamin Morgan having purchased of the aforesaid Trustees Seat No 27 in the said Church agrees in like manner as aforesaid the purchase money being ten shillings

s/s Benjn Morgan

paid     Elisha Shute having purchased of the aforesaid Trustees Seat No 28 in the said Church agrees in like manner as aforesaid the purchase money being eight shillings

s/s Elisha Shute

paid     Daniel Townsend having purchased of the aforesaid Trustees Seat No 29 in the said Church agrees in like manner as aforesaid the purchase money being eight shillings 

s/s Daniel Townsend

Page 8

paid     Alexander Fowler having purchased of the Trustees aforesd Seat No 21 in the said Church agrees in like manner as aforesaid the purchase money being sixteen shillings     January 15, 1788

s/s Alexander Fowler

Gilber [sic] Valentine, having purchased of the Trustees aforesaid Seat N [sic] 12 in the said Church agrees in like manner as aforesaid the purchase money being sixteen Shillings     February 12, 1788

Ram [sic] Rapeljay [sic] having purchased of the Trustees aforesaid Seat No 34 in the said Church agrees in like manner as aforesaid the purchase money being sixteen shillings     feb 25, 1788

paid     David Huestic [sic] having purchased of the Trustees aforesaid Seat No 22 in said Church agrees in like manner as aforesaid the purchase money being Sicteen [sic] Shillings     Feb. 28, 1788

paid     Moses Fowler having purchased of the Trustees aforesaid Seat No 23 in the said Church agrees in like manner as aforesaid the purchase money being Sixteen Shillings     feb. 28, 1788

paid     William Fowler having purchased of the aforesaid Trustees Seat No 33 in the said Church agrees in like manner as aforesaid the purchase money being Sixteen Shillings     April 1st 1788

s/s Wm Fowler

Page 9

paid     William Stanten [sic] having purchased of the Trustees aforesaid Seat No 24 in the said Church agrees in like manner as aforesaid the purchase money being sixteen shillings     April 21st 1788

s/s William Stanten [sic]

paid     James N. Roosevelt having purchased of the Trustees aforesaid Seat No 11 in the said Church agrees in like manner as aforesaid the purchase money being Sixteen Shillings     April 21, 1788

paid     Moses Hunt having purchased of the Trustees aforesaid Seat No 25 in the said Church agrees in like manner as aforesaid the purchase money being Sixteen shillings      April 29, 1788

paid     Theodosius Bartow having purchased of the Trustees aforesaid Seat No 38 in the said Church agrees in like manner as aforesaid the purchase money being fourteen Shillings     May 26, 1788

paid     William Vartow [sic] having purchased of the Trustees aforesaid Seat No 19 in the said Church agrees in like manner as aforesaid the purchase Money being fourteen Shillings     May 26 1788

paid     Israel Underhill having purchased of the Trustees aforesaid Seat No 18 in the Said Church agrees in like manner as aforesaid the purchase money being Sixteen shillings     May 27 1788

Page 10

paid     Lewis Guion having purchased of the Trustees aforesaid Set No 14 in the said Church agrees in like manner as a aforesaid the purchase money being Twelve Shillings     June the 2th 1788

paid Sepr 9     Charles Morgan having purchased of the aforesaid Trustees Seat No 15 in the said Church agrees in like manner as aforesaid the purchase money being Twelve shillings     June 14 1788

s/s Charles Morgan

paid Sep 5     Augustus Van Cortlandt having purchased of the aforesaid Trustees Seat No 16 & 17 in the said Church agrees in like manner as aforesaid the purchase money being One pound Twelve Shillings     July 15, 1788

Page 11

Articles of agreement entered into the tenth day of December 1787 between lewis Guion  Elisha Shute  Isaac Ward  Thomas Bartow  and  Philip Pell Jun a majority of the Trustees of the Episcopal Church in Eastchester of the one part and William Hoskins   Carpenter of the other part.  1st the said William Hoskins agreed to erect and build a pulpit reading desk and Clerks seat in the said Church at East Chester according to the dimentions [sic] in the plan by his exhibited to the said Trustees and the form of of the pulpit in the church in Yonkers in the space of Two months from the date hereof.  2d the said Trustees are to furnish the materials for the aforesaid purpose and to pay the said William Hoskins the sum of fourteen pounds when the said work shall be completed he the said William Hoskins during the time he shall be at work to find himself with necessaries  3d the said William Hoskins engages to perform the above job in a workman like manner

In Witness whereof the parties hereto have set their hand the day and year above written

Witness
Ward Hunt
Stephen Ward
Lewis Guion
Elisha Shute
Isaac Ward
Thomas Bartow
Philip Pell Junier [sic]
William Hopkins

(A copy)

Reverend Sir

We have this day disposed of the pew ground in our Church in a manner that promises success to our religious endeavors we have a prospect of completing our Church in a respectable manner.  New Rochell [sic] will Join us in engaging a Gentleman of the profession of the Gospel to officiate in the two places from a reliance on your pious wish to promote the Christian religion, be beg leave that when ever a Gentleman of Character and qualified in your opinion for our purpose may come to our knowledge and whose Condition may be adapted to our Situation that you'll please to signify the same to us.

The Revd Benj Moore

We are Revd Sir, with much respect your Nble Servants  The Trustees
(copy)"

Source:  REGISTER OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF ST PAULS CHR at East Chester June 1787 to 1834 For contents of this book vide pe. The property of St. Pauls Church East Chester Parish Register 1787, pp. 6-11 (Typewritten manuscript transcribed by The Eastchester Historical Society, 1966; copy in possession of the author).


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Wednesday, October 05, 2016

Images of the Pelham Countryside Published in 1901


In 1901, William Abbatt published a fascinating book entitled "The Battle of Pell's Point (or Pelham) October 18, 1776 Being the Story of a Stubborn Fight."  The book collected research about the Battle of Pelham and provided an account of the events before, during, and after the battle.

For purposes of today's posting to the Historic Pelham Blog, however, it is not the Battle of Pelham that will be addressed.  Rather, today's posting includes a number of the lovely photographs of the Pelham countryside that Abbatt included in his book, with brief discussions of each image.  The images captured Pelham and the surrounding countryside shortly before great change in the form of residential development descended upon the region.  The photographs depict a simpler, more pastoral time.  Each image is set forth below, followed by a brief discussion of the image and, in some instances, a current view of the same scene.




Glover’s Rock in About 1901.
NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

The photograph immediately above shows Glover’s Rock in about 1901 shortly before the first memorial tablet dedicated to the Battle of Pelham was installed on the giant glacial boulder on October 18 1901. The old City Island Road (known today as Orchard Beach Road) passes, unpaved, adjacent to Glover’s Rock with the tracks of the Pelham Bay and City Island Horse Railroad visible along the side of the road. In the distance a horse-drawn buggy can be seen making its way toward City Island along the road. Today, the paved Orchard Beach Road has been widened into a four-lane roadway with a grassy median in the center to carry heavy summer traffic to Orchard Beach (and to City Island).



Looking East From Glover's Rock in About 1901.
NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

The photograph immediately above was taken in the roadway next to Glover’s Rock looking toward the east in about 1901. Once again, this is the old City Island Road (known today as Orchard Beach Road). The tracks of the Pelham Bay and City Island Horse Railroad extend along the side of the road into the distance where they curve around the bend toward City Island. Eleven pedestrians in three successive groups can be seen in the distance walking on the roadway toward Bartow Station on the New Haven Branch Line which is located behind the photographer.



Looking East from Glover’s Rock in July, 2016.
NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

The Google Maps photograph immediately above depicts roughly the same view looking east from Glover’s Rock as it looks today. The two east-bound lanes of Orchard Beach Road curve in the distance toward City Island while the two west-bound lanes of the road (on the left in the photograph) curve in the distance toward the Orchard Beach parking area created when Pelham Bay was filled during the 1930s.



Looking West from Glover’s Rock in About 1901.
NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

The photograph immediately above was taken in the roadway next to Glover’s Rock looking toward the west (toward today’s Shore Road and Bartow Station on the Branch Line) in about 1901. The roadway is the old City Island Road (today’s Orchard Beach Road). Once again, along the side of the road are the tracks of the Pelham Bay and City Island Horse Railroad that once ran between Bartow Station and City Island. In the foreground, on the roadway, are birds. In the distance behind them can be seen what appears to be a group of four pedestrians walking from City Island to Bartow Station. Hanging from the electrical lines near the telephone on the right in this photograph is an early electric street lamp to light the roadway.



Looking West from Glover’s Rock in July, 2016.
NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

The Google Maps photograph immediately above depicts roughly the same view looking west from Glover’s Rock as it looks today. It is interesting to note that there is a modern street lamp in nearly the same location as in the similar photograph taken in 1901. A west-bound automobile can be seen in the distance traveling toward Shore Road.



Split Rock Road at the Junction with Shore Road in About 1901.
NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

The photograph immediately above depicts Split Rock Road from its beginning at Shore Road. Split Rock Road can be seen winding into the distance and passing beneath the railroad overpass that carried the tracks of the New Haven Branch Line above the ancient Split Rock Road. The railroad overpass is plainly visible in the center of the photograph. Split Rock Road was closed in December, 1937. Later, during the 1950s, construction of the New England Thruway obliterated much of the ancient roadway between Split Rock and the New York City border with Pelham Manor where a portion of Split Rock Road remains today, lined with lovely residential homes. A portion of Split Rock Road that can be seen in this photograph taken in about 1901 essentially still exists, but serves as a golf cart path traveling beneath the same railroad overpass on the grounds of the Pelham Bay and Split Rock Golf Course complex along Shore Road. Today, the clubhouse of that golf complex stands in the area on the right of the roadway in this photograph, while the parking lot of that golf complex stands in the area on the left of the roadway in this photograph.



Split Rock Road at the Junction with Shore Road in July, 2016.
NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

This Google Maps photograph immediately above shows very, very roughly the same view of what once was the beginning of Split Rock Road at the junction with Shore Road. Vegetation obscures any view of the railroad overpass that stands essentially a little to the right beyond what can be seen of the driveway entrance to the golf complex clubhouse as it seems to disappear in the distance. The clubhouse can be seen on the right. The main parking lot of the complex is just out of the photograph on the left.



View from Split Rock Looking Across the Valley Toward Eastchester
in About 1901.  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

The photograph immediately above seems to have been taken from a point a little beyond Split Rock looking toward Eastchester. Today the “valley” has been destroyed by construction of the New England Thruway. Additionally, the area in the distance referenced as “Eastchester” is now the City of Mount Vernon. Though Mount Vernon is the eighth largest city in the State of New York, it is the second most-densely populated city in the state. This once bucolic view certainly is no more.


View of Split Rock in About 1901.
NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

The photograph immediately above shows a couple standing on Split Rock Road while admiring Split Rock. Split Rock was saved from demolition during the construction of the New England Thruway by a group of local historians who successfully urged engineers to move the planned roadway several feet in order to spare the famous Pelham landmark. The landmark now stands in an area surrounded by the Hutchinson River Parkway, the New England Thruway, and the entrance ramp from the Hutchinson River Parkway to the New England Thruway.


The Hill at Wolfs Lane in Pelham Manor in About 1901.
NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

The photograph immediately above shows a portion of Wolfs Lane in Pelham Manor not far from Boston Post Road in about 1901. Portions of Wolfs Lane have been straightened and graded a number of times since then. Additionally, of course, the entire area since has been fully developed as a residential neighborhood. Though the area appears quite rural with a fenced pasture visible in the background, there are sidewalks on both sides of the unpaved roadway and a grill in the right foreground that appears to be part of a water drainage system. At the intersection of the unidentified road on the left with Wolfs Lane, there appears to be what likely is a gas lantern atop a pole.


Approximation of the Current View of the Hill at Wolfs
Lane in July, 2016.  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

Wolfs Lane has changed so much in the last 115 years that it is nearly impossible to determine precisely from where the photograph taken of the area in 1901 was snapped. Nevertheless, based on the reference in the caption of the previous photograph taken in 1901 to the bridge over the Hutchinson River being about three-quarters of a mile away and the prominent hill and curve visible in that photograph, one possibility is that the photograph was taken along Wolfs Lane not far from today’s Sherwood Avenue. The Google Maps photograph immediately above depicts that area of Wolfs Lane.


The Bridge Over the Hutchinson River in About 1901.
NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

The photograph immediately above shows the tiny little wooden bridge, resting on stone piers, that crossed the Hutchinson River in about 1901. The unpaved roadway climbing up the hill in the background appears to be today’s Highland Avenue in the City of Mount Vernon. The roadway crossing the bridge is the Old Boston Post Road, now named “Colonial Avenue” within the Town of Pelham (to the right in this photograph) and East Sandford Boulevard within the City of Mount Vernon (to the left in this photograph). Today there is a highway overpass that carries the Hutchinson River Parkway over Colonial Avenue that later was located immediately out of the view of this photograph on the right. Today the tiny little bridge has been replaced with a modern concrete and steel bridge so that cars traveling from Pelham on Colonial Avenue toward the City of Mount Vernon first pass beneath the overpass for the Hutchinson River Parkway and, immediately upon emerging from beneath that overpass, cross the modern bridge over the Hutchinson River that has replaced the tiny wooden bridge seen in this photograph.


The Bridge Over the Hutchinson River in July, 2016.
NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

The Google Maps photograph immediately above shows the modern bridge that stands today near the site where the tiny little wooden bridge along Old Boston Post Road once crossed the Hutchinson River. The bridge is the roadway in the immediate foreground of the photograph with low railings on each side.  In this photograph, the bridge is being viewed from the East Sandford Boulevard side in the City of Mount Vernon. Behind the bridge in this photograph, of course, is the modern highway overpass that carries the Hutchinson River Parkway over Colonial Avenue on the Pelham side of the bridge.


St. Paul’s Church in Eastchester in About 1901.
NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

The photograph immediately above shows St. Paul’s Church in the Town of Eastchester in about 1901. A remnant stretch of the village green is visible on the left of the photograph with a winding unpaved road and a footpath visible as well. The church building, begun in 1764, still stands and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Many renowned Pelhamites are buried in its ancient cemetery. The structure no longer serves as a church.

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