When Were the First Municipal Street Lights Installed in North Pelham?

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In early 1896, the citizens of the area we know today as Pelham Heights stole a march on the rest of Pelhamville and were able to have their neighborhood incorporated as the first village in the section known as Pelhamville.  Worse yet, to the consternation of the vast majority of Pelhamville residents, Pelham Heights incorporated using the name "Village of Pelham."  See Mon., Mar. 28, 2016:  Pelham Heights Really Pulled a Fast One on Pelhamville in 1896 -- Again! 

The remainder of Pelhamville kicked into high gear and promptly arranged a vote to incorporate as the "Village of North Pelham."  That vote, as well as an election to designate the first village officials, was held on August 25, 1896.  See Mon., Oct. 27, 2014:  Pelhamville Votes to Incorporate as the Village of North Pelham in 1896.

The proposal to incorporate passed by the slimmest of margins.  It passed by only two votes out of the 132 votes cast.  In addition, Pelhamville voters elected local grocer Jacob Heisser as the first President of the Village (the position now known as Mayor of the Village).

One of the very first official acts -- if not the first official act -- of the new Heisser administration in the new Village of North Pelham was to install municipal street lamps along village roads that were not yet even paved.  

The settlements of Pelham Manor and Pelhamville, before the incorporation of any villages, had improvement associations funded by local private dues.  Both improvement associations hung kerosene lanterns in strategic locations in the settlements during the 1880s.  Pelham Manor residents hired a lamp lighter who wandered about and lit the lamps at dusk, then extinguished them late in the evening.  Pelhamville, however, handled the matter differently.  It placed lanterns in places where at least two families resided nearby and agreed to fill, light, and maintain the lanterns.  In both settlements the lanterns, however, were few and far between and did little to light the way of Pelham travelers.

On August 27, 1896, only two days after the vote to incorporate and the associated election, the new Village of North Pelham began the installation of new open-flame municipal street lamps.  The village installed 71 so-called "naphtha flare" street lamps.

During the 1890s, Naphtha lamps were becoming popular and were being installed as street lamps across the region.  Communities such as Jamaica, Queens were installing the lamps a hundred or so at a time.  The new Village of North Pelham adopted the trend.

Naphtha is a colorless petroleum distillate that, typically, is an intermediate product between gasoline and benzine.  It is highly volatile and can be used as a solvent, a fuel, and the like.  Although research, so far, has revealed no record of the source of the naphtha used by North Pelham in its street lights, one source was its creation as a by-product when gas is produced from coal.  Gas was produced near Pelham and used in the new Village of North Pelham at the time.

There were a host of different types of naphtha flare lamps.  The precise model installed on the streets of the new Village of North Pelham on August 27, 1896 is, at least for now, lost to history.  There are common characteristics of such lamps, however, that provide a sense of what the first street lights in North Pelham were like.

Typically, naphtha flare lamps were gravity fed and had no wicks.  The liquid fuel fed from a small tank through a tube with a tap to a preheated burner.  When the tap was opened, the liquid fed to the burner where it evaporated.  The evaporating gas would light and burn as an open flame.  

Preheating the burner of the lamp so that the liquid fuel would begin to evaporate for ignition typically was a difficult task.  Depending on the model of the lamp, there could be a small metallic cup beneath the burner to hold a small fuel that could be ignited and burner beneath the burner for a time to preheat it until it grew hot enough to evaporate the liquid naphtha allowed to drip to the burner.

Naphtha flare lamps were notoriously hazardous.  There are many news accounts during the 1890s describing explosions of such lamps when the fuel tanks became overheated or were ignited in some fashion.  Additionally, if the flame of such a lamp was blown out by the wind, for example, the liquid would continue to drip from the tank and collect as a puddle below before evaporating.  That puddle, of course, could ignite as well.  

The lamps came with varying-sized fuel tanks.  Of course, larger tanks when full, would light longer than those with smaller tanks.  Some of the more common models could burn for as long as seven hours.  

Nevertheless, the need for street lights in the growing Village of North Pelham was undeniable in the latter half of 1896.  Despite the risk, the new village purchased and installed 71 of the lamps.  Progress continued its inevitable march through Pelham.

1905 Newspaper Advertisement for One Type of Naphtha Flare Lamp,

a Wells Lamp Known, Colloquially, as the Hydra Head.  NOTE:

Click on Image to Enlarge.

Example of a Wells No. 14 Naphtha Flare Lamp Lit.

NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

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Below is the text of a newspaper article on which today's Historic Pelham article is based.  The text is followed by a citation and link to its source.

"THE OLD DAYS

Back In 1896

Ran across a small bundle of the Pelham Press for the last six months of 1896.  In opening one a circular advertising a New York City evening paper fell out.  Before a law was passed making it a misdemeanor to insert circulars in newspapers without authority, it was the custom of chiseling merchants to have cheap circulars printed advertising their wares and for a nominal sum the newsdealer would insert one in Each paper sold or delivered.  Some big New York merchants had whole sections resembling a newspaper printed and many readers thought it was actually a section of the paper they bought.  Rival newspapers would print a circular criticising their opponent and have the newsdealer insert one in every one of the rival's papers.

*     *     *     *

It Was Pelhamville Then

The edition of Wednesday, August 25 says 'Next Saturday is election and every respecting resident of Pelhamville should vote for the incorporation of the place as a village to be known as North Pelham.  It will bring modern improvements.'

*     *     *     *

No Free Rides

Also in the same edition:  'Constable Paul Sparks was arrested in Mount Vernon last week for riding on a car without paying his fare.  He thought his badge was a pass but the conductor thought different.  The case came up before Judge William H. Bard who discharged him.

*     *     *     *

Interesting Note

In the same issue we are told 'Today is the 84th birthday anniversary of Mrs. Henry Ward Beecher.  She was for many years famous chiefly as the wife of America's great orator-clergyman.  Of late years, however, she has won for herself a modicum of literary reputation as a writer on household articles.'

*     *     *     *

Railroad Burglars in 1896

From the Sept. 1st:  'Div. Sup. Shepard of the New Haven road telegraphed Saturday night that a gang of burglars were coming down the tracks.  Constables E. L. Lyon, Bruce T. Dick and R. H. Marks stayed in the station all night but the burglars did not show up.  They did try to break into the Rye station but were fired on by the constables there.'

*     *     *     *

Garden Work Fatal

From the same copy:  'George J. Pearson, aged 76, one of the oldest residents of Pelham, was stricken with paralysis while working in his garden last Wednesday and died Sunday.  The funeral was held yesterday.

*     *     *     *

Who Remembers the Postmistress

Also:  'Miss Madge Collins, sister of Mrs. Katherine I. Merritt the local postmistress, and George Edward Meyers of Mount Vernon, were married last Thursday in Newark, N. J.  They came immediately to North Pelham to the home of the bride's sister, Mrs. A. B. Beckwith of Third avenue where a reception was held.'

*     *     *     *

And Then Came The Light

'Incorporation' won and Jacob Heisser, the grocer, was elected first village president.  It will be a short term as all regular village elections will take place in March.  Two days after the election seventy-one street lamps were installed.  Each had a naphtha tank on top holding sufficient fuel to keep the light going all night.

*     *     *     *

The Voice in the Presses

The August 26th copy has a two column illustrated article on the last page telling of the new 'Marvel of the Age,' 'The Linotype eclipses all modern inventions' and tells of the revolution in the art of type setting."

Source:  THE OLD DAYS, The Pelham Sun, Jun. 26, 1942, Vol. 32, No. 12, p. 8, cols. 4-6.  

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An Early Description of Efforts to Open Chester Park Published in 1891

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In 1891, William T. Standen, an actuary with the United States Life Insurance Company, and his wife, Elizabeth G. Standen, owned much of the land we know today as Chester Park in the Village of Pelham.  At the time, the land was located just north of an unincorporated section of the Town of Pelham known as Pelhamville.  

Though Standen worked in the headquarters of United States Life Insurance Company located at 261 Broadway in New York City, he and his wife had a residence on the lands they owned in the Town of Pelham.  They called their residence "The Homestead."   The Homestead was located north of today’s Pine Avenue between Maple Avenue and Pelhamdale Avenue.  By May of 1891, the Standens had decided to subdivide their land and develop it as “Chester Park”. In May and June of that year, the lands were surveyed for the purpose of creating a subdivision map for development purposes.

"The Homestead," Residence of William T. Standen,

The Founder of Chester Park, Ca. 1890s.

Source: Courtesy of The Office of The Historian of The

Town of Pelham from a Board of Photos Donated to the Town of Pelham.

One of the earliest descriptions of efforts to develop Chester Park appeared in the August 4, 1891 issue of The Chronicle published in Mount Vernon, New York.  The description notes that the intent behind the development was to allow residents to "embrace every enjoyable element of country life, without the usual disadvantages."  With this in mind, the developers promised a stage coach to run regularly between the Pelhamville Depot and Chester Park and also to carry Chester Park students to and from the Pelhamville School.  The developers also promised macadamized roads, street lamps provided by the Eastchester Electric Light Company and emphasized the two-acre green in the center of the development with a large fountain stocked with gold and silver fish and aquatic plants.

Today's posting to the Historic Pelham Blog transcribes the text of this early description of efforts to develop Chester Park, followed by a citation and link to its source.

I have written about the history of Chester Park on numerous occasions.  For more, see:  

Bell, Blake A., History of Chester Park in the Village of Pelham, The Pelham Weekly, Vol. XIII, No. 46, Nov. 19, 2004, p. 10, col. 1.).

Wed., Jul. 16, 2014:  Final Auction of Remaining Lands of the Pelhamville Land and Homestead Association in 1898.

Thu., Jun. 01, 2006:  Early Photographs of Chester Park Among Materials Donated to The Office of The Historian of The Town of Pelham.

Fri., Jun. 2, 2006:  Several of the Early Photographs of Chester Park Recently Donated to The Office of The Historian of The Town of Pelham.

Mon., Jun. 5, 2006:  More Early Photographs of Chester Park Recently Donated to The Office of The Historian of The Town of Pelham.

Tue., Jun. 6, 2006:  More Early Photographs of Chester Park Recently Donated to The Office of The Historian of The Town of Pelham.

Monday, June 19, 2006:  Court Decision Issued in 1894 Sheds Light on Finances Behind the Development of Chester Park in the Early 1890s.

"Pelhamville.
-----
CHESTER PARK.

Our sister localities, Pelham Heights and Pelhamville, are making practical strides towards becoming resident sections.  One of the newest to make a bid for public favor is Chester Park, near Pelhamville station.  

The Park has three entrances from the public highway, viz."  Pine avenue to the north, Willow avenue to the south, and Central avenue between them, at which is located the main entrance.  The entrance piers and receding walls are built of very handsome native granite, and are imposing in size and of excellent workmanship.  

Free water laid on to every lot.  Magnificently macadamized roads.  Every requisite for the highest enjoyment of country life.

The Eastchester Electric Light Company will light the streets of this park and the residences erected in it.

The designer of Chester Park has madfe ample provision for the pleasure and recreation of children.  The public green is a plot of about two acres, which will be, for all time, reserved as a place of recreation for residents and their friends.

The easterly end of the green forms a terrace, with a noble flight of stone steps leading up thereto from the Central avenue.  At each of the eight corners of this green are piers surmounted by bronze vases, which will, in season, be decorated by the best art of a florist.

In the centre of the green is a large basin and fountain.  The water is stocked with gold and silver fish, lilies and water plants, and as the fountain is generally playing throughout the day, it makes a most charming piece of ornamentation.

A commodious stage will run constantly between Pelhamville Station and the Park, at a merelly nominal fare, and this stage will also be used when desirable, to take the children of residents to school and bring them home again, so that residences in this choice location can embrace every enjoyable element of country life, without the usual disadvantages.  

Anyone visiting the Park for the purpose of inspection can apply to the Depot Agent at Pelhamville, who will drive them over to the park and back free of charge.  Mr. Thomas G. Brotherton, the resident manager, will be there to receive and show courteous attention to all guests or visitors."

Source:  Pelhamville -- CHESTER PARK, The Chronicle [Mount Vernon, NY], Aug. 4, 1891, Vol. XXII, No. 1425, p. 2, col. 2.  

Detail from 1893 Map Showing Layout of Chester Park.

Source:  Bien, Joseph R., "Towns of Westchester and Pelham

(With) Villages of Westchester and Unionport. (With) Village of

Pelhamville" in Atlas of Westchester County, New York

Prepared Under the Direction of Joseph R. Bien, E.M.,

p. 3 (NY, NY:  Julius Bien & Co., 1893).  NOTE:  Click

on Image to Enlarge.

Below is an advertisement for an auction of Chester Park lots that appeared in the August 10, 1891 issue of The Yonkers Statesman.  It is followed by a transcription of its text to facilitate search.

August 10, 1891 Advertisement for Auction of Chester Park Lots.

Source:  CHESTER PARK [Advertisement], The Yonkers Statesman,

Aug. 10, 1891, Vol. VIII, No. 2375, p. 2, col. 5.  NOTE:  Click

on Image to Enlarge.

"CHESTER PARK,
On line of New Haven Railroad near Pelhamville station, within half an hour of the Grand Central Station.
-----
AUCTION SALE OF MAGNIFICENT VILLA SITES
In This Park Will Be Held at the 
REAL ESTATE AUCTION AND SALES ROOM, 
59 to 65 Liberty Street, New York City,
ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 1891, 
At Noon, by
JOHN F. B. SMITH, Auctioneer

Visitors purposing to inspect this Park will be supplied with a vehiclle, free of charge to them, by the Station Agent at Pelhamville.  Macadamized roads, streets lighted by electricity, water laid on free to every lot, a splendidly-ornamented Public Green of about two acres for the pleasure and recreation of residents of Chester Park, are among its many special attractions, which can be thoroughly appreciated only by a personal inspection, which is earnestly invited.

For maps and further particulars, address JOHN F. B. SMITH, Auctioneer, 69 Liberty street, New York City; or THOMAS G. BROTHERTON, Manager, Chester Park, Pehamville, Westchester County, N. Y."

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Notes on the Early History of Pelhamville by Jacob Heisser Published in 1927 After Heisser's Death

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Jacob Heisser was an early settler in the tiny hamlet of Pelhamville.  He became the first President (i.e., Mayor) of the Village of North Pelham when that village was incorporated in 1896.  Following Heisser's death, a brief account that he wrote of the early days of Pelhamville were found among his personal papers.  That account was published in The Daily Argus, a Mount Vernon newspaper, in 1927.  

I previously have transcribed a similar account of Pelhamville's early history written by Jacob Heisser and published in 1913.  See:

Wed., Sep. 23, 2009:  Jacob Heisser's Summary of the Early History of Pelhamville Published in 1913. 

Heiser's account, published in 1927 after his death, is transcribed below, followed by a citation to its source.  

Jacob Heisser.

Source:  The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], Jan. 19, 1927,

Special Pelham Section, p. 9, col. 2.

"THE OLD DAYS IN PELHAMVILLE
-----
Article Written By Late Jacob Heisser Contains Graphic Description
-----
REVIEWS THE HISTORY
-----
Found Among Personal Effects of Late Official -- Is of Value
-----

An interesting account of the early days of old Pelhamville, now North Pelham, is given in an article written some years ago by the late Jacob Heisser, first village president of North Pelham.  The paper, telling of the early railroad history and of various improvements in North Pelham, and was found among the personal effects of the late Mr. Heisser by his daughter, Mrs. Elmer S. Davis.  Mr. Heisser died on August 29, 1926, exactly thirty years after the village of North Pelham was incorporated.  Mr. Heisser being made the first president on the same date.  Mr. Heisser's account of old Pelhamville follows:

'From 1862 to 1873, railroad accommodation was out of the question, as there were no regular stops; two trains in the morning, two in the afternoon, at 7:30 and 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 and 7 p.m.  These trains only stopped upon waving a red flag.  It this was not done, there were no stops.  In the year 1873, the company placed a ticket agent at the station who sold tickets from that time to date.  Train service has increased to date.  At that time, the wagon road went across the railroad track with lift bars for safety [i.e., hand-operated crossing gates that were managed by the ticket agent or his designee, often a local youngster paid by the ticket agent], the station being at Fifth avenue.  A fifty cent fare each way; Charles Merritt, first agent.

The first improvement in the old village of Pelhamville was done by an improvement association started by E. A. Gurney in 1886.  A plank sidewalk was laid from First street to Second street on Fifth avenue.  Lamps were put up at the different residences of such parties as would care for them.  If two families lived near each other, the one would keep the lamp clean and light it, the other furnished the oil.  In fact, there were no permanent improvements until the year 1908, when the village of North Pelham issued bonds to an amount of $39,000.  The improvements began in earnest and have kept pace since.

Up to the year 1877, there were 42 families in the village.  

The active members for the incorporation of the old village to North Pelham in 1896 were:  Otto E. Stroetzel, Charles A. Barker, Jacob Heisser, Alex. Kennedy, G. I. Karbach, James Penny, George Glover Pearson, Augustus Godfrey, Mrs. Broege, S. T. Lyman, John H. Young, Louis C. Young, William J. Evert, Michael J. Woods, William Edinger, Isaac C. Hill, John Case, S. Gregoor, James S. Greer, John M. Shinn, S.E. Field.

The cost of Incorporation was $210.50.

Village officers, first year:  Jacob Heisser, president; George A. McGalliard, Louis C. Young, Samuel E. Lyon, trustees; B.F. Crewell, treasurer; William Edinger, collector; John Case, clerk."

Source:  THE OLD DAYS IN PELHAMVILLE, The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], Jan. 19, 1927, Special Pelham Section, p. 9, col. 4. 

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The Pelhamville Improvement Association

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During the early to mid-1880s, the residents of the tiny little hamlet known as Pelhamville created an organization named the "Pelhamville Improvement Association."   The organization seems to have been Pelhamville's answer to the community improvement efforts of the Pelham Manor Protective Club.  Both organizations contributed mightily to the improvement of our community and bettered the lives of those Pelham citizens who lived in our Town more than 130 years ago.  

I have written about the Pelhamville Improvement Association on a number of occasions.  For examples, see:  

Mon., Apr. 19, 2010:  Early Talk of Moving the Pelhamville Train Station from its Original Location.  

Fri., Jan. 29, 2010:  News of Pelham, City Island and Pelhamville Reported on September 5, 1884. 

Thu., Dec. 03, 2009:  Pelham News on May 30, 1884 Including Allegations of Oyster Larceny and Meeting of the Pelhamville Improvement Association.   

Since no records of the Pelhamville Improvement Association have yet been located (unlike the Pelham Manor Protective Club), its history is somewhat murky.  The Pelhamville Improvement Association existed as early as 1884 and, perhaps, earlier.  See Pelhamville, The Chronicle [Mount Vernon, NY], Sep. 5, 1884, Vol. XVI, No. 782, p. 3, col. 5. The organization existed until at least 1890 and may well have existed until the Village of North Pelham was incorporated in 1896 (or even later).  It seems to have raised money for its projects and activities through "entertainments" open to the community where it charged admissions and fees.  See Pelham and City Island, The Chronicle [Mount Vernon, NY], June 3, 1887, Vol. XVIII, No. 990, p. 3, col. 2.

During the mid-1880s, meetings of the Association were held in the homes of its members.  Additionally, the Pelhamville residents who served as officers of the Pelhamville Improvement Association read like a who's who of Pelhamville Founders and early settlers.  According to one newspaper account published in May of 1884:

"A regular meeting of the Pelhamville Improvement Association was held on Monday evening, May 26th, at the residence of Mr. C. H. Meritt. After the transaction of some routine business and the adoption of a constitution and by-laws, the following officers were unanimously elected for the ensuing year. Messrs E. H. Gurney, Pres; John Bos, Vice-pres.; C. H. Meritt, Treas., Lieut. Delcombie, Sec. All further elections and appointments were left over till next meeting. The next regular meeting of the association will be held on the last Wednesday of June."

Source:  Pelham And City Island, The Chronicle [Mount Vernon], May 30, 1884, Vol. XV, No. 767, p. 3, col. 4.  

Another newspaper account published in three years later in June of 1887 indicates that the officials of the organization had changed somewhat:

"The following are the officers elect of the Pelhamville Improvement Association: President, John Bos; Vice-President, W. T. Standen; Secretary, I.C. Hill; Treasurer, A. Anderson; Executive Committee, John Britton, C. W. Bolton, David Lyon, John T. Logan, W. H. Sparks."

Source:  Pelham and City Island, The Chronicle [Mount Vernon, NY], June 3, 1887, Vol. XVIII, No. 990, p. 3, col. 2.

As its name suggests, the Pelhamville Improvement Association was involved in a wide variety of projects intended to improve the lives of Pelhamville citizens.  For example, in 1884 it was involved in planting trees throughout the village donated by Colonel Richard Lathers who owned a large swath of land part of which eventually became today's Pelhamwood.  See Pelhamville, The Chronicle [Mount Vernon, NY], Sep. 5, 1884, Vol. XVI, No. 782, p. 3, col. 5.  A little earlier than that, the Association was involved in erecting street lamps that burned oil to light the roads and walkways of the tiny little village.  Id.  

Map of Pelhamville Published in 1868.

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

Surveys By and Under the Direction of F.W. Beers, Assisted By

A.B. Prindle & Others, pg. 36 (NY, NY:  Beers, Ellis & Soule, 1868)

(Detail from Page 36 Map Entitled "Town of New Rochelle, Westchester

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

The remainder of today's Historic Pelham Blog posting transcribes several 19th century newspaper articles that mention the Pelhamville Improvement Association and the work it performed on behalf of the citizens of Pelhamville.

"PELHAMVILLE.

A special meeting of the Pelhamville Improvement Association, will be held on Saturday evening, Nov. 1st, at the residence of Mr. W.H. Penfield.

The Cleveland and Hendricks Club of Pelhamville, will parade on Friday night, in Mount Vernon, under the command of Capt. A.P. Delcambie, of the 8th Regt., New York, N.G.

The petition, of Mr. Delcambie, which has been in circulation some time, to obtain the signatures of the residents, of the town of Pelham, for the purpose of having the New Haven Railroad Co. place and maintain safety bars at the Pelhamville Railroad crossing, was presented to Supervisor Hyatt, on last Monday.  We hope before long to see them in operation, a thing long needed, this crossing being considered one of the most dangerous on the road.

The Pelhamville Improvement Association intend, during the coming month, to place six more lamps, around the village and also to finish the remainder of plank walk as soon as the obstructtions are removed."

Source:  PELHAMVILLE, The Chronicle [Mount Vernon, NY],Oct. 31, 1884, Vol. XVI, No. 789, p. 3, col. 4.  

"PELHAMVILLE.

Through the efforts of the Pelhamville Improvement Society, the State Board of Health have set to work draining all the low and marshy lands in and around the above place.

The residents of Pelhamville have not, this winter, to plow [sic] knee deep through the snow, as of yore, for arrangements have been made to have the snow cleaned from the sidewalks, as occasion requires.  A few live men can make a wonderful change in any place, not even excepting Pelhamville."

Source:  PELHAMVILLE, The Chronicle [Mount Vernon, NY], Jan. 2, 1885, Vol. XVI, No. 798, p. 3, cols. 3-4.

"PELHAMVILLE.

Lyman T. Morgan has been appointed gateman [for the manual train crossing gates across Fifth Avenue] at Pelhamville.

The Pelhamville Improvement Association will hold a meeting at the residence of Mr. Bos, this evening.  

The four year old child of Mr. James Murdock, which swallowed a kernal [sic] of corn one day last week is not expected to live.  The grain of corn lodged in the larynx and all efforts to remove it has [sic] proved unavailing.

A regular quarterly session of the County Lodge of Good Templars was held in the chapel at Pelhamville on Tuesday of this week.  The attendance of delegates was quite flattering, about sixty representatives being present.  The afternoon was occupied with the usual business of such sessions; reports of committees, discussions etc., after which refreshments were served to the visitors.  In the evening there was a puplic [sic] installation of officers of the Pelhamville Lodge, followed by an entertainment of music, recitations, readings, etc."

Source:  PELHAMVILLE, The Chronicle [Mount Vernon, NY], Aug. 14, 1885, Vol. XVI, No. 830, p. 3, col. 3.

"Pelhamville

Mr. and Mrs. I.C. Hill will give a children's concert at Association Hall in Mount Vernon on the 21st of February next at 8 p.m.  It will be an operetta, of the heroes of infancy, dressed in original fashion, and will be given under the auspices of the Universalist Society of Mount Vernon.

The Pelhamville Improvement Association will meet next Wednesday evening.  At the last meeting the Road Commissioners were requested to fill up an excavation at the corner of First avenue and First street.  The matter is now in a fair way of being attended to.  The nuisance has existed some two years.

It is rumored that Mr. Charles Barker has recovered $800 damages from the Western Union Telegraphy Company, for injuries sustained by driving into a telegraph pole in Pelham Manor.  It appears that the post had been planted in the road-bed, and the company had been notified to remove it.

We do not know what has become of the Pelhamville Brass Band.  Up to last November it had great vitality.  What has become of it?

Mr. F. W. Lambert has just returned from a trip to Europe.

Mr. J.T. Ford has taken possession of his new house.

Mr. B. F. Corlies has offered to donate a plot of land to the Railroad Company if they will build the new depot to the south side of the track.  Ground will be broken on his purchase, in the spring.

Col. Lathers is laying a sewer through Winyah Park, to connect with the New Rochelle sewers.

Mr. Gregor will break ground in the spring for a new house on Second avenue.  Mr. Madorn will also break ground for a new house at the same time.  

Messrs. Heron and Kuntz have bought the Buxton property.

Mr. Robert Penfield expects to start for Albuquerque, N.M. about the 20th inst.

Mr. J. Bos, artist, was recently married to Miss Smith, sister of Lieut. Col. Smith of the 7th Regiment of New York city."

Source:  Pelhamville, The Chronicle [Mount Vernon, NY], Feb. 4, 1890, Vol. XXI, No. 1,269, p. 3, col. 3.  

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News About Pelham Manor and Pelhamville in 1895 - Lighting Districts, Gas for the Village, Baseball and More

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On May 23, 1895, a newspaper published in Mount Vernon, The Chronicle, published one of its regular news columns on "Our Nearby Neighbors" reporting developments in Pelhamville and Pelham Manor.  I have reviewed many, many such news reports.  This particular column contains a number of interesting reports of historical interest juxtaposed with gossip tidbits of interest to neighbors in the tiny community at the time, so I have transcribed it in its entirety.

"Pelhamville.

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

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Miss Edith Ward of Oakland Cal. is the guest of her uncle, Mr. Peter Ward of Chester Park.

The broken windows and door in Mrs. C. W. Meinecke's former home which were recently damaged by her are being replaced with new ones.  Mr. J. K. Archibald of New York City is doing the work. 

Supervisor Dennis Beach has presented the Relief Hook and Ladder Co. with three handsome pictures.  They are prettily framed and adorn the walls of the company's rooms.

Richard Marvel, the infant son of Mr. and Mrs. P. Marvel of Fourth avenue, died last Saturday afternoon of membranous croup.  The funeral services were held last Monday afternoon.

Mr. Caleb Nash formly [formerly] of New Rochelle has rented one of the houses owned by W. H. Bard on Fourth avenue near Fourth street.

A meeting of the residents of Pelhamville was called last Monday night at the Court House for the purpose of forming a lighting district.  The meeting was called to order at about 8:15 by Judge G. L. Karbach.  This gentleman was made chairman and Mr. I. C. Hill acted as secretary.  A vote was taken on the question of whether we should introduce streetlights into the village or not and the result showed a majority in favor of the plan.  A committee was then appointed by the chair to take the necessary steps toward organizing a Lighting District.  The committee consists of Messrs. William H. Sparks, Edward A. Schwartz, Philip Godfrey, O. Stretzel and M. Woods.

Meetings are to be held every Friday night commencing to-morrow evening at the chapel of the of the Church of the Redeemer for the confirmation class.

To-day being Ascension Day services were held in the morning at the Episcopal church.

The base ball nine, William J. Evert Jr. captain has arranged to play with Captain Paulus Taylor's team from Mount Vernon on Decoration Day.  The game will tak place on Brickner's grounds.

It is understood that Chief of the Fire Department, B. P. Crewell has exchanged his residence and grounds on Terrace Hill for Brooklyn property.

Mr. M. F. Brickner and family are now residing in Professor Madorn's house on Second avenue.

The trustees of Pelham Manor have signed a contract with the Eastchester Gas Light Company to furnish their village with gas. 

The people of Pelham Manor who have recently expended about $56,000 for street improvements are now complaining that in return for the amount spent theyy have only about two thirds of their throughfares [sic] improved and that most of these are outlying roads, a number of which lead to Pelhamville.

Mrs. Mary Jessie Meinecke a former resident of this village was sentenced on Tuesday to ten days imprisonment by Justices Hogan, Meade and Martin in the Court of Special Sessions for having on May 2d sent Mrs. Ella Lawless who is employed in Mr. Meinecke's wholesale drug store, a threatening and abusive letter.  Mrs. Meinecke's lawyer pleaded for her four little children and the Court in imposing the sentence said that it took all the circumstances into consideration.  It was just two days after sending this letter that Mrs. Meinecke demolished a number of windows and the front door in her former home in this place.

'Mr. Edwards and family have recently become residents of Pelhamville.  They are ensconced in a 'Bard' cottage on Fourth avenue.

Congressman Ben L. Fairchild had a 'christening' at his home on Pelham Heights last Monday evening.  The ceremony was performed upon his little son who is now known as Master Francis Cromby Fairchild.

The Alpha Social Club met last Friday evening with Mr. Robert Scott on Fifth avenue.  It was the last meeting of the season and the greater part of it was given up to business.

Two may parties are being arranged for, to be held on Decoration Day."

Source:  Our Nearby Neighbors - Pelhamville, The Chronicle [Mount Vernon, NY], May 23, 1895, p. 4, col. 1.

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Battle Royal in Pelham Manor to Stop the Westchester Lighting Trust from Erecting Electric Light Poles in 1902

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Wealthy residents of Pelham Manor nearly came to physical blows with workers from the Westchester Lighting Trust on April 3, 1902. The Trust had permits from New York City to erect electric light poles along today's Shore Road. When it tried to erect such poles along the roadway between the Pelham Bay Park boundary line and New Rochelle through a portion of Pelham Manor, however, local residents created a "lively scene". The article below, from the April 4, 1902 issue of the New-York Tribune, provides an interest account of the incident.

"WIN FIGHT AGAINST TRUST.

MRS. ANNIE J. ROOSEVELT HAS HER COACHMAN JUMP INTO A HOLE DUG BY LINEMEN.

Wealthy residents of Pelham Manor yesterday prevented by strenuous measures the New-York and Westchester Lighting Trust from erecting electric light poles in front of their homes. Despite the fact that the company had failed to get permits from the property owners, it tried to erect poles along Pelham Road from the Pelham Bay Park boundary line to New-Rochelle. When its men reached the property of Mrs. Annie J. Roosevelt there was a lively scene. Her coachman was ordered to jump into the post hole and prevent the pole from being erected. The linemen said they had a permit from the New-York authorities to erect the poles wherever they wished. 'This is not New-York,' replied Mrs. Roosevelt, 'and you shall not erect the poles, except where I tell you. If you do I shall stop you.'

Mrs. Roosevelt, who is prominent in Pelham Manor society, called her coachman, and when the employes dug a hole he jumped in it. Finally they started to dig directly in front of Mrs. Roosevelt's house. She telephoned to the Pelham Manor Railroad Commissioner and had the work stopped and the holes refilled.

A large gang of linemen then proceeded to work in front of the place of Frederick H. Allen and the Pelham priory. Mrs. Allen sent her employees to fill up the holes as fast as they were dug and telephoned to her husband, who was in New-York. He asked Village President [William B.] Randall to have the desecration of the church property stopped. Constables were sent to the scene, and the trust employes, after a skirmish, surrendered. Mr. Allen said the vice-president of the company called to see him last night and agreed to erect the poles where the property holders desired."

Source: Win Fight Against Trust, New-York Tribune, Apr. 4, 1902, p. 5, col. 4.

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