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.

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

The Three Original Neighborhoods Planned by the Pelham Manor & Huguenot Heights Associations in the Early 1870s


During the 1870s, real estate speculators who owned lands in the area of today's Village of Pelham Manor began to dream.  They formed the Pelham Manor & Huguenot Heights Association to develop a first class, elegant suburban respite from the giant metropolis nearby.  Their plans were grandiose.  They developed an Esplanade "in the center of which rows of trees are left standing with such care as to give it the appearance of one of the drives in the famous Bois de Boulogne." 

They placed the center of the new development at the location we know today as Four Corners. They had a grand plan to build a magnificent church at the corner.  The developers flooded the Metropolitan region with handbills, sales brochures, newspaper advertisements, and even a stock prospectus in connection with the sale of shares in the venture. 

I have written on numerous occasions about the Pelham Manor & Huguenot Heights Association, as well as the development of the suburb that came to be known as Pelham Manor.  See the end of this article for a lengthy list of such postings with links to each.

The Pelham Manor & Huguenot Heights Association developers envisioned three neighborhoods that would form the initial basis of the new development.  The three were:  (1) Pleasant Ridge Division; (2) Glen Mitchill Division; and (3) Chestnut Grove Division.  Where were these three original Pelham Manor neighborhoods?  It turns out that one of the three was not even within the boundaries of today's Village of Pelham Manor.  Rather, it was within an area now part of Pelham Heights in today's Village of Pelham.

Marketing materials for the Pelham Manor & Huguenot Heights Association shed light on the locations of the three original neighborhoods.  In 1875, the Association released a large map entitled "MAP of THREE DIVISIONS AS PLOTTED of Lands of the PELHAM MANOR & HUGUENOT HEIGHTS ASSOCIATION.  PELHAM, WESTCHESTER CO. N.Y." (see below).



NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

The map provides a fascinating glimpse of the original vision of the Pelham Manor & Huguenot Heights Association developers.  For example, the map shows that a large hotel once was planned along the Esplanade near its eastern end adjacent to the Pelham Manor Depot that once stood where I-95 now cuts through Pelham Manor.  The hotel would have stood roughly adjacent to the home that now stands at 1084 Esplanade.  A store and post office was planned for the area across the street from Huguenot Memorial Presbyterian Church where today's Four Corners Shopping Center stands.  

The rough center of the development was expected to be today's Four Corners intersection of Boston Post Road and Pelhamdale Avenue, anchored by the beautiful church building of the Huguenot Memorial Presbyterian Church known as the "Little Red Church."  A detail from the map above showing the planned Little Red Church roughly a year before it actually was built appears immediately below.



NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

The central avenue of the new development was the exceptionally-wide boulevard known as "Esplanade."  According to text included with the map, the planned development would include:

"Dwelling Houses of new & tasteful designes for sale, -- (or may be rented,) as now built, or building, -- $4,000 to $12,000 for Estate Complete fitted for residence the year roudn, -- having furnaces on sanitary principles, (from Gold's Heater Co. of New York,) -- Hot and Cold Water circulation, Lavatories, Closets, etc., -- Gas, (at less than one-half City cost,) -- Sidewalks, Graded Lawns, &c.  Built after best models from Boston Suburbs and elsewhere in the Healthful, well privileged including liberal and handsome grounds and select suburb called  Pelham Manor and Huguenot Heights, extending from the New Haven Railroad to the Sound.  Accessible from N. Y. City business centres -- with over 40 trains daily, by two thoroughly equipped railroads, and the well appointed East River Boats.  One commutation ticket serves on both railroads.  Two Depots, Two Churches, Schools, etc. on premises.  About one hour's ride to Fulton Street, by Cars and Boat, -- or by all rail, about half hour only to Grand Central Depot.  Also, -- Choice Lands in parcels, large or small, on good Avenues, for sale favorably.  This Westchester County suburb is now so endowed and regulated as to offer almost everything sought for in the externals of a home; -- its healthfulness is proven by the Sanitary Record for nearly forty years of the adjacent 'Priory' (Young Lades') School, -- by the continuous health and longevity of the several families there resident from the beginning of the century, -- as well as by its gravelly, well drained soil.  Those subject to Asthma elsewhere, having come to Pelham Manor to live, find themselves rid of that distressing malady.  All family supplies daily served at residences; -- good public and social privileges; -- associations refined; absolute restrictions insuring against nuisances; landscape beautifully wooded, and combined with attractions of Sound, most picturesque; delightful drives, with boating and fishing ad libitum; Neptune House and Pelham Bay Hotels near by, &c., &c.  Taxes in Pelham are very light, about one-eighth of city imposition.  Agents effecting sales fairly dealt with.  Excursions, -- pleasures, -- plans, -- etc., furnished by Stephens Brothers, Managers for Corporation, 187 Broadway, New York City.  R. M. Mitchill, Sup't residing at Pelham Manor."

Although a number of the anticipated roadways either were not built or, subsequently, were rerouted or (in the case of those where I-95 now stands) were destroyed, it is still possible to determine the rough locations of the three original neighborhoods planned by the Pelham Manor & Huguenot Heights Association.

The Pleasant Ridge Division stood in a portion of today's Pelham Heights.  It was bounded, roughly, by Colonial Avenue (designated as Old Boston Post Road on the map above), Wolfs Lane, properties plotted on the north side of today's Boulevard (designated as "Ridge Avenue" on the map, and properties plotted on the north side of what looks to be, roughly, today's Cliff Avenue (designated as "Glen Avenue").  

The Glen Mitchill Division, apparently named after the on-site Superintendent of the Pelham Manor & Huguenot Heights Association, Robert M. Mitchill, stood in an area now part of today's Village of Pelham Manor.  It was bounded, roughly, by Colonial Avenue (designated as Old Boston Post Road on the map above), Pelhamdale Avenue, an area near but not adjoining today's Boston Post Road (designated "Boston Boulevard" on the map above), and properties plotted on the north and east sides of the curving Monterey Avenue (designated "Lake Avenue" on the map above).  

The final neighborhood was the Chestnut Grove Division that likewise was planned in an area that is part of today's Village of Pelham Manor.  That neighborhood was bounded, very roughly, by the New Haven Branch Line Railroad tracks still in use that run parallel to today's I-95, today's Lake Drive to the northeast of Pelhamdale Avenue (designated as a planned "Continuation of Glen Avenue" on the map above"), today's Boston Post Road (designated "Boston Boulevard" on the map above), and properties plotted on the east and south sides of the curving roadway consisting of today's Prospect Avenue and Highland Avenue.  

If you live in one of these three areas today, congratulations!  You live in what were the first planned suburban neighborhoods designed by the founders of the Pelham Manor & Huguenot Heights Association in the early 1870s!



1874 Newspaper Advertisement for Pelham Manor and Huguenot Heights.
Herald, Jun. 28, 1874, p. 14, col. 5 (Note:  Paid subscription required to
access via this link).  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

The text of the above advertisement is transcribed immediately below to facilitate search.

"WESTCHESTER COUNTY PROPERTY FOR SALE AND TO RENT.
-----
'PELHAM MANOR AND HUGUENOT HEIGHTS.' -- 
One hour from Wall street, via Express boats on East River and Harlem River and Portchester Railroad; 35 minutes from Grand Central depot via New Haven Railroad; a delightful suburb; nearly one mile square; midway between Mount Vernon and New Rochelle; offering unusual advantages in accessibility from the city (36 daily trains); picturesque views of the Sound; perfect healthfulness, &c., and specially adapted for permanent residences the year round.  For new maps of New York city (showing exact location of the five new stations between Forty-second and 18oth street, on line of Fourth avenue improvements and lower Westchester pamphlets, &c., apply to STEPHENS BROTHERS & CO., 187 Broadway."

*          *          *          *          *

I have written on numerous occasions about the Pelham Manor & Huguenot Heights Association, as well as the development of the suburb that came to be known as Pelham Manor. For examples, see:  

Bell, Blake A., The Pelham Manor & Huguenot Heights Association:  A "Failed" Effort to Develop a New York City Railroad Suburb During the 1870s (Jun. 3, 2006) (research paper presented to the Conference on New York State History on Jun. 3, 2006).


Bell, Blake A., The Pelham Manor & Huguenot Heights Association, The Pelham Weekly, Vol. XV, Issue 1, Jan. 6, 2006.

Mon., Jan. 30, 2017:  Using a Massive Explosion to Market Pelham Manor Real Estate in 1876.

Thu., Jun. 16, 2016:  Evidence of Lawsuits Involving, and the Receivership of, the Pelham Manor and Huguenot Heights Association During the 1870s and 1880s.

Mon., Jun. 13, 2016:  Rare Map Published in 1874 on Behalf of the Pelham Manor & Huguenot Heights Association.  

Wed., Jan. 14, 2015:  1874 Handbill Advertising Homes, Lots, and Securities for Sale by the Pelham Manor And Huguenot Heights Association.

Tue., Jun. 17, 2014:  1875 Real Estate Sales Brochure for New Suburb of Pelham Manor Being Marketed by the Pelham Manor & Huguenot Heights Association.

Fri., Feb. 21, 2014:  More About Edmund Gybbon Spilsbury Who Served as Engineer for the Pelham Manor & Huguenot Heights Association.

Tue., Jul. 19, 2011:  1876 Newspaper Advertisement Touting Pelham Manor & Huguenot Heights Association Real Estate.

Wed., May 19, 2010:  Obituary of Charles J. Stephens of the Pelham Manor & Huguenot Heights Association.

Tue., May 18, 2010:  1874 Newspaper Advertisement Touting Pelham Manor & Huguenot Heights Association Real Estate.

Mon., May 17, 2010:  Jessup Family Members Tried in 1909 to Take Back Some of the Lands Conveyed to Form the Lands Developed by the Pelham Manor and Huguenot Heights Association.

Fri., May 14, 2010:  1885 Article on Alleged Failure to Develop Pelham Manor Said the Development "At Best Resembles the Collapse of a Wild Cat Land Scheme."

Wed., Nov. 11, 2009:  1874 Evening Telegram Advertisement for Pelham Manor & Huguenot Heights Development.


Thu., Apr. 09, 2009:  The Death of Charles J. Stephens in City of Mexico in 1891.

Mon., Mar. 2, 2009:  1884 Advertisement Placed by Charles J. Stephens of the Pelham Manor & Huguenot Heights Association Offering Home for Rent.

Tue., Jun. 20, 2006:  Mystery - A Lawsuit Filed Against the Dissolved Pelham Manor & Huguenot Heights Association in 1915.

Mon., Jun. 12, 2006:  Early Deed of Land to the Pelham Manor & Huguenot Heights Association.


Fri., May 26, 2006:  The 27th Conference on New York State History Will Include Presentation of Paper on Pelham Manor & Huguenot Heights Association.

Wed., May 10, 2006:  Horace Crosby, the Civil Engineer Who Laid Out the Chestnut Grove Division for the Pelham Manor & Huguenot Heights Association in the 1870s.


Mon., May 8, 2006:  Edmund Gybbon Spilsbury Who Served as Engineer for the Pelham Manor & Huguenot Heights Association.

Tue., Apr. 18, 2006:  Prospectus Issued by the Pelham Manor & Huguenot Heights Association in 1874.

Mon., Mar. 27, 2006:  1057 Esplanade: One of the Original Homes Built by the Pelham Manor & Huguenot Heights Association.

Mon., Mar. 20, 2006:  Charles J. Stephens and Henry C. Stephens of the Pelham Manor & Huguenot Heights Association.

Tue., Feb. 21, 2006:  Silas H. Witherbee and His Influence on the Village of Pelham Manor

Thu., Dec. 22, 2005:  Area Planned for Development by The Pelham Manor & Huguenot Heights Association in 1873.

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Tuesday, July 17, 2018

Village of Pelham Manor's Initiative to Annex No-Man's Land from New York City in 1931


Sandwiched between the southern boundary of the Village of Pelham Manor in the Town of Pelham and the northern boundary of Pelham Bay Park is a tiny strip of land only 250 feet wide that long has been known as "no-man's land."  While the phrase may evoke images of a forsaken strip that no one wishes to frequent, nothing could be further from the truth.  

No-man's land is a long strip of land made up today of about thirty-five properties that sit in the Bronx.  Because they are separated from other Bronx residential areas by Pelham Bay Park, however, they derive many of the amenities of the suburban lifestyle offered by the lovely Village of Pelham Manor.  For example, the children of homeowners located on the strip attend schools in Pelham Manor.  Yet, the lucky homeowners who live on this strip pay modest New York City property taxes (at least when compared with property taxes in Pelham).

There is no shortage of explanations for the existence of no-man's land.  Some say that a surveyor's error was responsible.  Others claim that New York City originally intended the city boundary to end at the northern boundary of Pelham Bay Park but changed its mind and decided to annex slightly more land to the north to ensure that small islands located in Long Island Sound would be within the City's boundaries.  Another account says that a road named "Park Drive" once was intended to be built along the northern boundary of Pelham Bay Park so that extra land was annexed to allow the road to be built.  Plans for that roadway supposedly were abandoned due to opposition by Pelham residents, thereby freeing the area adjacent to the planned roadway for residential development.  

I have written several times about Pelham's no-man's land.  See:


Mon., Dec. 5, 2005:  The Fabled "No-Man's Land" of Pelham Manor: A Tiny Strip of New York City.

Thu., Feb. 27, 2014:  More About the Fabled "No-Man's Land" of Pelham Manor: A Tiny Strip of New York City.

Tue., Jun. 06, 2017:  James Burnett of Pelham Manor: Chief Pooh-Bah and Jack of All Trades.

Whatever the reason for its creation, the result was 'no-man's land."  By the early 1930s, no-man's land had become a headache for all concerned. New York City found it difficult to provide the area with basic services.  The City did not maintain the roadways, did not provide transportation to New York City Schools for the children who lived there (who had to pay tuition to Pelham to attend its schools), and -- in effect -- relied on Pelham Manor to provide utility hookups and the like to residents in exchange for the payments of fees.

In about early March, 1931, there were seventeen residences built in no-man's land.  (Today there are more than thirty.)  Pelham Manor decided to do something about no-man's land.  Petitions began circulating to have the entire area annexed by the Village of Pelham Manor to return the land to Pelham.  Any such annexation would require approvals by New York City, the Village of Pelham Manor, and the Town of Pelham, followed by final legislation enacted by the State of New York.  

Within a short time, every property owner in no-man's land except one signed the petitions in favor of annexation.  The one dissenter was a local real estate developer named Arthur Cole who was using his property as a horse riding academy in violation of New York City zoning ordinances and planned, one day, to erect an apartment building on the property which, he believed, would likely not be permitted by the Village of Pelham Manor.  

Then, a no-man's land resident filed a formal complaint with State authorities arguing that because a few feet of his property was in Pelham Manor (though most was in New York City as part of no-man's land), his daughter had the right to attend Pelham schools without having to pay tuition.  State authorities ruled against the Pelham School Board and directed the Pelham Union Free School District to accept the student without requiring tuition payments, opening the door to the possibility that others might pursue similar claims.

The annexation initiative kicked into high gear.  The Board of Trustees of the Village of Pelham Manor held hearings and fully supported the move.  Everyone believed that New York City wanted to relieve itself of the headache of dealing with no-man's land.  

The Pelham Manor Board of Trustees directed the Village Clerk to estimate what the assessed value of the property would be if annexed by Pelham.  The Clerk estimated it to be worth about $496,000 although Arthur Cole disputed the figure claiming the value would be closer to $1,000,000.  Whatever the value, it was clear that annexation would return a substantial amount of valuable real estate to the tax rolls of the Village of Pelham Manor.

The Village of Pelham Manor Village Attorney, Edgar Beecroft, prepared the necessary papers for submission to New York City to seek its approval for annexation.  That is when things ground to a halt.

New York City raised an interesting legal issue.  It indicated that it needed to calculate the amount of bonded debt that would have to be attributed to the property -- and dealt with -- before the property could be annexed.  

The Village of Pelham Manor began to wait.  As time began to pass, it became increasingly clear that annexation would not happen.  Indeed, nearly eighteen months later the local newspaper, The Pelham Sun, speculated that perhaps the matter would be resolved in the year 1933.  It was not.  

In the meantime, as the years passed, when a Pelham child needed to attend a school for the hard-of-hearing in 1938, Pelham negotiated with New York City to allow such Pelham schoolchildren to attend a special school in New York City in exchange for allowing schoolchildren in no-man's land to attend Pelham schools without paying tuition fees.

With no approval from New York City, the annexation of no-man's land languished until World War II when the proposal seems to have died of old age.  No-man's land continues as part of New York City to this day.



Detail of Map Published in 1929 with Portion of No-Man's Land Shown
at Bottom of Page.  Source:  G. M. Hopkins Co., Atlas of Westchester
County, Vol. 1, Pg. 03 (Philadelphia, PA:  G. M. Hopkins Co., 1929).
NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.


*          *          *          *          *

"MANOR MAY GET BACK PROPERTY ANNEXED TO N. Y.-----
Residents of 225 Foot Strip Petition Village to Annex Property East of Park.
-----

If a plan advanced by a group of New York City residents who live just across the Manor boundary line, is approved by the state legislature, Pelham Manor will regain a section of the property which it lost when New York City annexed what is now Pelham Bay Park and City Island.  Residents of the Park Drive section, recognized as Pelham Manor, but in reality within New York City, are circulating petitions urging the return to the village of a 225 foot strip of land several blocks long on the easterly border of Pelham Bay Park, in order that service connections, school facilities and other advantages of Pelham Manor may be gained without additional cost.

At the present time the residents of a half dozen houses in the strip which extends from Long Island Sound almost to the Boston road, are enjoying the advantage of local schools, sewer and service connections by paying certain fees to Pelham Manor and to the school district.  The Pelham Manor police department has an agreement with the New York City police to provide protection.

It is impossible for New York City to provide for the section because it is divided from the rest of the city by the extensive Pelham Bay Park.  

At the meeting of the Pelham Manor Board of Trustees on Monday night Village Attorney Edgar C. Beecroft reported:  That the property had been taken by New York City early in the century when the park lands and City Island were annexed.  The strip at the easterly end was not included in the park land as the city had intended to construct a highway around the park, but the plan was never realized.  In the meantime, the property had been developed.

The petition which was received on Monday night was tabled pending the receipt of others."

Source:   MANOR MAY GET BACK PROPERTY ANNEXED TO N. Y. -- Residents of 225 Foot Strip Petition Village to Annex Property East of Park, The Pelham Sun, Mar. 13, 1931, Vol. 21, No. 50, p. 1, col. 6.

"MORE PROPERTY OWNERS URGE ANNEXATION
-----

Six more property owners have signed the petition urging that the Village of Pelham Manor regain the strip of property lying between the village boundary and Pelham Bay Park, according to the announcement of Village Clerk Gervas H. Kerr.

The new signers were William B. Randall, Mrs. William B. Randall, the Robert C. Black Realty Company, the Skania Realty Company, Inc., Robert H. Crosby and Murray B. Parks.

At the meeting Monday, Gervas H. Kerr, village clerk, was instructed by Mayor Lawrence F. Sherman to determine the assessed valuations of the parcels of property for which annexation is sought."

Source:   MORE PROPERTY OWNERS URGE ANNEXATION, The Pelham Sun, Apr. 10, 1931, Vol. 22, No. 2, p. 10, col. 2.

"PROPERTY VALUED AT $496,592 MAY RETURN TO ROLL
-----
Public Hearing on Annexation Of Strip at Village Boundary To Be Held May 25.
-----

Property assessed at $496,592.00 will be annexed to [the] village of Pelham Manor if the plan to regain part of the property which was taken from the village in the early days of this century, is carried through by legislative act.  Owners of property in this strip of land which borders Pelham Bay Park on the north will attend a public hearing at the Village Hall in Pelham Manor on Monday, May 25.  The trustees will plan their campaign to regain this property on the testimony offered by these property owners.

The property in question which was formerly in Pelham Manor, measures approximately one hundred feet across the northerly border of the park.  It was included in the land taken by the city and included in the plan of Pelham Bay Park for the construction of a highway around the park, but the program was never carried out, and the property has since been developed by private enterprise.  Residents of the strip although virtually living in Pelham Manor are unable to secure the privileges of Pelham Manor residents without payment of fees, and their homes are separated from the city services by the park which measures several miles.

The Board of Trustees of Pelham Manor has received a petition from seventeen property owners arguing that the village take over this strip of property by legislative act.

Village Engineer Julius Dworshak has reported that it will cost the village $58,637.50 to install street improvements in the strip that is proposed to be annexed to the village.  William B. Randall, chairman of the village planning committee, has approved the program and estimates that the property is worth a million dollars."

Source:  PROPERTY VALUED AT $496,592 MAY RETURN TO ROLL -- Public Hearing on Annexation Of Strip at Village Boundary To Be Held May 25, The Pelham Sun, May 1, 1931, Vol. 21, No. 5, Section 2, p. 9, col. 1.  

"STREET REPAIRS IN NEW STRIP TO COST $22,507.50
-----
Village Engineer Estimates Improvement Work To Be Done Should Property Be Annexed by Village.

According to the estimate of Village Engineer Jules Dworschak, it will cost the village $22,507.50 to make street improvements in the strip of property that is proposed to be annexed to Pelham Manor.  Eighteen property owners residing in the half mile strip at the northerly boundary of Pelham Bay Park are ready to secede from New York City and become residents of the village, which has catered to their needs for several years.  On Monday, May 25, a public hearing will be held at the Village Hall, to discuss the submission of a bill to the legislature to permit the annexation of the property by the village.

History repeats itself.  Early in the 20th century [sic] the City of New York effected legislation which took from the Town of Pelham all that property which is now Pelham Bay Park and City Island.  The bulk of that property was developed for park, but a strip measuring 250 feet wide along the northerly boundary of the land was left out of the park in anticipation of the construction of  a highway around the tract.  The property has since been developed and eighteen residences constructed thereon.  If the legislature will permit it the village will re-annex some of the land which it lost almost thirty years ago."

Source:  STREET REPAIRS IN NEW STRIP TO COST $22,507.50 -- Village Engineer Estimates Improvement Work To Be Done Should Property Be Annexed by Village, The Pelham Sun, May 15, 1931, Vol. 22, No. 6, Section 2, p. 10, col. 5

"ZONING CHANGES AND ANNEXATION UNDER DISCUSSION
-----

Two important issues will bring out several hundred residents of Pelham Manor to the public hearing to be held at the Village Hall on Monday.  The application of Arthur W. Cole for a change in zone restrictions to permit the construction of a two-and-one-half story block of stores and offices at the Red Church Corner will be opposed by property owners who desire to retain the strict residential character of the village to annex a 250 foot strip of New York City property at the southwesterly boundary of the village will be favored generally."

Source:   ZONING CHANGES AND ANNEXATION UNDER DISCUSSION, The Pelham Sun, May 22, 1931, Vol. 22, No. 8, p. 1, col. 6

"LAND BETWEEN PARK AND VILLAGE IS CALLED 'NO MAN'S LAND'; ONLY ONE DISSENTING VOTE AT PUBLIC HEARING
-----
 William B. Randall Formally Presents Petition for Annexation of 250 Foot Strip to Village of Pelham Manor; Arthur W. Cole Voices His Objections; Trustees Prepare To Submit Plan to Legislature.
-----

Eighteen residents of the 'No Man's Land' between Pelham Manor and Pelham Bay Park made their formal application to join the village on Monday night when William B. Randall, former president of Pelham Manor urged that the village annex a strip of property one mile and a quarter long and 250 feet wide.  He was supported by all but one owner of property in the strip in question.  That was Arthur W. Cole, who entered his protest saying that annexation would cut the value of the property in half.

The petition was accepted by the Board of Trustees, and the matter held over for consideration.  It is expected that Village Attorney Edgar C. Beecroft will be instructed to prepare the annexation bill which will be submitted to the legislature at its next session.  The plan must be approved by the City of New York, but inasmuch as the property is marooned from the rest of the city, and may at some future date become an economic 'sore toe' it is expected that there will be no official opposition.

Although the hearing on Monday night was attended by officials of the Bronx, Mr. Cole's opposition was the only dissenting vote.  At the present time a riding academy operated by Cole on a section of the property in question is under fire in New York City as a zoning violation.  If this property is taken into the village, it will be included in the residential district and Cole will have another zoning fight on his hands.

Mr. Randall in presenting the petition said as follows:

'The petitioners wish to express their thanks to the Mayor and Board of Trustees of the Village of Pelham Manor, for the interest which they have taken in helping them secure action in reference to having the narrow strip of land, 250 feet by 6600 feet, lying between Pelham Manor and Pelham Bay Park, now belonging to New York City, incorporated into our Village.

'We do not know how this strip came to be left between Pelham Manor and the Park, but it may be that the Park Commission in 1886 expected to use this strip as a Boulevard.  That reason no longer exists, as the cost of condemning the land, now considerably improved, would be too great.  Major Fairchild states that it was an engineering mistake.  Very few of the property owners have declined to sign the petition.  One reason given was the fear of increased taxes in Pelham Manor, that they might be more than those levied now by the City of New York.

Comparison between the taxes assessed in Pelham Manor, on improved property, and those assessed in New York, does not justify this opinion, and even if they were higher, the advantages of living in a beautiful residential suburb like Pelham Manor, would offset such increase.  Another reason for declining to sign this petition, given by one property owner, was, that some time he might wish to build an apartment house on the property.  This is a good reason for the Village taking over this strip, if possible, as the residents of Pelham Manor do not wish for apartments, which would lower the value of residential property in the vicinity.

'As an actuality, the citizens residing within the debatable territory really belong to Pelham Manor.  Their friends and neighbors live in Pelham Manor, and they desire their children to use our Public Schools.  They are virtually citizens of our Village, but are not entitled to its advantages.  These people pay taxes to New York, but receive no service in return.  New York City is unable to give them Schools.  Police.  Fire Protection.  Garbage removal and other utilities.  In order to remedy this uncomfortable and unfair condition, it will be necessary to introduce in the State Senate and Assembly, a bill covering this matter, after approval by the Governor.  It requires the approval of the New York City Authorities.

'It is believed that the city of New York regards this strip as of little value to the City, and as more or less of a nuisance, on account of the difficulty in giving utilities to this territory.  If a demand should be made by the people of this section, who are entitled to vote, the City under the election law would be obliged to constitute a separate election district -- with all the expenses attached, for only a handful of votes.  Again, if a demand should be made for school privileges, New York would have to arrange transportation several miles to the Bronx.

'It seems practically impossible for the City to give this section Water, Gas, Fire and Police Protection, or Public Schools.  We hope that Pelham Manor is willing to do so.  It has already been most helpful on many occasions.

'We, therefore, ask you to give favorable consideration to our petition, as providing a just and fair treatment of the property owners  on our border who now live in a sort of 'No Man's Land.'  If Pelham Manor is willing to accept them, we feel confident that New York will be glad to be relieved of the problems of giving this section necessary services.'

Mayor Sherman informed the petitioners that the village board would lose no time in considering their petition."

Source:  LAND BETWEEN PARK AND VILLAGE IS CALLED 'NO MAN'S LAND'; ONLY ONE DISSENTING VOTE AT PUBLIC HEARING, The Pelham Sun, May 28, 1931, Vol. 22, No. 9, Section 2, p. 9, cols. 1-2.  

"COUNTY AND TOWN MUST APPROVE OF ANNEXATION
-----
Village Attorney Preparing Legal Portfolio in Response To Petition of New York City Residents.
-----

Legal matters incumbent on the proposed annexation by the Village of Pelham Manor of a 250 foot wide strip of land across the southerly boundary of the village, are in preparation by Village Attorney Edgar C. Beecroft [illegible] regarded as residents of Pelham Manor, they are unable to enjoy the privileges of civic improvements here without paying fees.  They contend that New York City has neglected their section and that they will be benefited by joining Pelham Manor.

Village Attorney Beecroft reported to the Board of Trustees on Monday night that it will be necessary to gain the approval of the County Board of Supervisors, the Town Board and of the state legislature."

Source:   COUNTY AND TOWN MUST APPROVE OF ANNEXATION -- Village Attorney Preparing Legal Portfolio in Response To Petition of New York City Residents, The Pelham Sun, Jul. 2, 1931, Vol. 21, No. 14, p. 1, col. 2.

"PREPARE LEGAL WORK BEFORE LAND CAN BE ANNEXED
-----

The Pelham Manor Board of Trustees is expected to announce a definite plan on Monday for the annexation of a 250 foot strip of New York City property to the village.  Village Attorney Edgar C. Beecroft has been preparing the necessary legal papers.  The strip in which there are seventeen residences lies along the southerly boundary of the village between the village line and Pelham Bay Park.

Of the seventeen property owners only one has expressed opposition to the plan to annex the strip to Pelham Manor.  Arthur W. Cole, who maintains a riding school at one end of the 250 strip [sic] is experiencing legal difficulties with the New York City authorities relative to zoning.  It is believed that he can expect even more rigid zoning restrictions if the property is taken into Pelham Manor."

Source:  PREPARE LEGAL WORK BEFORE LAND CAN BE ANNEXED, The Pelham Sun, Jul. 10, 1931, Vol. 22, No. 15, p. 1, col. 1.  

"SCHOOL BOARD LOSES TUITION CASE; BOUNDARY LINE RESIDENCE OWNERS CAN SEND CHILDREN TO LOCAL SCHOOLS
-----
Deputy Commissioner of Education Decides that Parent Can Select Pelham Manor as His Residence When House Is Located on Boundary Line; Property Included in Strip Proposed To Be Annexed to Village.
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Reserving the decision of the Board of Education of the Pelhams, Deputy and Acting Commissioner of Education Ernest E. Cole, has declared that tenants of houses on the Pelham Manor village line can send their children to the Pelham schools without payment of tuition.  The decision was handed down at Albany on Saturday.  William L. Ransom was attorney for the appellant Melville T. Chandler, of No. 11 Monroe street.  Tuition fees charged for seven-year-old Adelaide Chandler, daughter of the appellant, were responsible for the suit.  

The action has a bearing on the status of some of the school children residing in the 250 foot strip of property on the northerly boundary of Pelham Bay Park, just across the Pelham Manor village line.  An action is pending to have this property annexed to the village of Pelham Manor.  It was taken into New York City late in the nineteenth century.

Chandler is the owner of a 50 x 125 foot parcel of land which is partially in Peham Manor and partially in New York City.  Inasmuch as an eight foot frontage of his property is within Pelham Manor, and 16% of the house, also, he objected to being charged tuition fees for the attendance of his child at Prospect Hill School.  The Board of Education contended that Chandler paid the greater percentage of school taxes to  New York City, he was not properly a resident of the Pelham school district and should not therefore be entitled to free educational privileges.

Commissioner Cole in his decision dated as follows:

'It has long been held that to acquire a domicile or residence, two things are necessary -- the family residence in a place and the family to make it a home.  Both conditions are present in this case.  The appellant resides in a house that is located partly in said Union Free School District.  We should not indulge in too great refinements in determining just what proportion of the house is located on each side of the line.  The house is a home for residential purposes.  It would not be a dwelling house with the Pelham side eliminated.  Under these circumstances I think that the appellant had the right to choose the place of residence, at least for school purposes, and he has clearly indicated such choice.  Therefore, I find his daughter a legal resident of said Union Free School District for the purpose of school attendance and must be received and instructed in the public schools maintained in said district with no tuition charge.'"

Source:  SCHOOL BOARD LOSES TUITION CASE; BOUNDARY LINE RESIDENCE OWNERS CAN SEND CHILDREN TO LOCAL SCHOOLS, The Pelham Sun, Jul. 31, 1931, Vol. 22, No. 18, p. 1, cols. 7-8.

"SCHOOL PROBLEM FOR PARENTS IN BORDER STRIP
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New York City Refuses To Provide Transportation for Pupils in 250 Foot Strip.
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Problems of residents of the 250 foot wide 'no man's land' strip between Pelham Manor and Pelham Bay Park were increased last week when the new York City School authorities refused to provide school transportation to children living there because their parents own automobiles.  Thus the parents are forced to take their children to schools several miles across Pelham Bay Park or pay tuition fees in the Pelham schools.  Many have adopted the latter policy, hoping for an adjustment under recent legislation which requires New York City to reimburse the Pelham school district according to the school tax paid on the property.

At the meeting of the Board of Education last Thursday night the case of one parent was cited.  School Trustee William B. Shaw urged that the Pelham Board of Education be lenient with the parent because of financial difficulties.  The father is a native of Pelham was educated in Pelham schools and has been engaged in building construction for several years.  Trustee Shaw recommended that because this man has materially added to the school district income by building several houses, he should be granted an extension of time in paying tuition fees.  The board agreed to accept a note.

A year ago it was proposed by property owners in the strip that the village of Pelham Manor take steps to acquire the property, in order that the residents of this section could gain the benefits of village improvements without paying fees.

The property was formerly part of Pelham Manor, but it was annexed by New York City about thirty years ago when Pelham Bay Park was planned.  A section 250 feet wide along the easterly border of the Park was to have been purchased by the city and a highway around the park constructed thereon.  The city, however, did not follow this plan and a developing company subsequently sold the property in lots. 

The re-annexation plan has not progressed very rapidly.  An investigation was started several months ago to determine how much of the bonded indebtedness of the City of New York was chargeable to the border strip.  However, no report has been made."

Source:   SCHOOL PROBLEM FOR PARENTS IN BORDER STRIP -- New York City Refuses To Provide Transportation for Pupils in 250 Foot Strip, The Pelham Sun, Oct. 21, 1932, Vol. 23, No. 31, p. 13, col. 3.

"PERHAPS IN 1933 WE SHALL SEE . . . 

The annexation to Pelham Manor of the 'No Man's Land strip' across the northerly boundary of Pelham Bay Park so that the residents of this section may gain the benefits of village improvements without the payment of fees. . . ."

Source:   PERHAPS IN 1933 WE SHALL SEE, The Pelham Sun, Dec. 22, 1932, Vol. 23, No. 40, p. 12, cols. 5-6.  

"No Official Approval Of Agreement With N.Y. City On School Pupils
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Although press report from New York City has stated that official approval has been given by the City Board of Education to the proposal for an exchange of pupils between Pelham and New York City, President William L. Chenery of the local Board of Education stated last night that he had not received any notification.  The plan for the exchange provides that Pelham schools will accept, without fee, the children residing in the 250 foot 'no man's land' strip across the northerly border of Pelham Bay Park within New York City in exchange for New York City accepting hard-of-hearing pupils at the Elementary School for the Deaf conducted by the City Board of Education."

Source:  No Official Approval Of Agreement With N.Y. City On School Pupils, The Pelham Sun, Dec. 9, 1938, Vol. 28, No. 36, p. 1, col. 6

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Friday, February 09, 2018

Fascinating Real Estate Puff Piece on Pelham with Interesting Historical Facts Published in 1906


Today's Historic Pelham article transcribes a fascinating real estate "puff piece" published in 1906 touting the Town of Pelham.  The article is significant because it purports to tell a number of stories about the earliest days of the Pelhamville settlement in the early 1850s that do not seem to be available elsewhere and, in fact, are new to this author.

For example, the most fascinating assertion contained in the article is one this author has never seen before.  According to the article, about three years after the New York and New Haven Railroad line began running through Pelham in 1848 -- and likely about the time the settlement of Pelhamville was first being laid out in 1851 -- "a substantial two-story building was erected" on the lot known today as One Wolfs Lane where the Pelham National Bank Building stands.  According to the account, that two-story building was "presented to the railroad company on condition that they stop their trains there, which they did."

This brief assertion seems to be one of the few references indicating roughly when the first Pelham Train Station was built.  It is not known with certainty whether the image below depicts that first station or some subsequent replacement, but the image -- which is known to depict the Pelham Train Station that stood on the same spot in late 1885 -- may be considered a two-story structure and likely is, in fact, the original station that was replaced after a fire in the mid-1890s with today's Pelham Train Station.


Image From the January 16, 1886 Issue of Scientific American that
Featured a Cover Story About the Pelhamville Train Wreck
Entitled "A Remarkable Railroad Accident."  This is One of the
Only Known Images of What May Be the Original Pelhamville Train
Station Built in About 1851.  NOTE: Click on Images to Enlarge.

Another brief story told about the early days of Pelhamville that is new to this author includes an assertion that the entire settlement was a haven for moonshiners -- long before the area became a thorn in the side of Prohibition enforcement agents during the 1920s and early 1930s.  According to the article:

"It is said that at one time in the early history of Pelhamville nearly every house in the old village sold rum privately.  This will probably be denied by the descendants of those who lived here at that time, but the information came from a pretty good source.  There were two or three 'moonshiners,' so called, in the village, and a brewery which was operated by a good old Dutchman by the name of Bigerchinsky, or something like that.  This brewery was located in the basement of a barn which was situated near where the pumping station at the reservoir is now located.  The old house in which the Dutchman lived is now standing, but the barn is extinct.  Ale was manufactured there.

There are interesting stories told concerning the old 'moonshine' establishments of the early fifties. . . . There was one in the northeast part of the village, somewhere in the vicinity of what is now Ninth avenue, and another in a house not far from where the North Pelham postoffice now stands.  It is said that the proprietors of this place had a very narrow escape from arrest one night.  The detectives were on their way to execute the law upon the heads of the owners when the latter got wind of what was going to happen and made good their escape.  When the detectives arrived, 'it was all over but the shouting,' and that was done by some of the villagers and not the detectives.  No one, of course, knew anything about the establishment and the detectives went away without their offenders."

The article includes a surprising number of rare and unusual photographs of Pelhamites and Pelham locations, though the quality of the images is not the best.  Those are reproduced below.


"RESIDENCE OF GEO. B. BRIDGMAN, NORTH PELHAM."


"R. H. MARKS,
Chief of Police."


"JACOB HEISSER,
Village President, North Pelham, 1896."


"ST. CATHERINE'S CHURCH, NORTH PELHAM."


"UNION FREE SCHOOL OF DISTRICT NO. 1, TOWN OF PELHAM."
This is a Predecessor of Today's Hutchinson Elementary School.  It
Was the Third School on the Site and Stood from 1900 Until 1910.


"RESIDENCE OF JOHN H. YOUNG, NORTH PELHAM."


"JOHN CASE, Oldest Resident Member of Original
Association, Established Pelhamville."


"THE OLD WOLF HOMESTEAD, NORTH PELHAM."


"CHURCH OF THE REDEEMER, (Episcopal,) NORTH PELHAM."


"A VIEW IN PELHAM HEIGHTS."

*          *          *          *          *

"TOWN OF PELHAM INTERESTING, IMPORTANT, VALUABLE AND UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION ABOUT THE VILLAGES OF PELHAM, NORTH PELHAM, PELHAM HEIGHTS AND PELHAM MANOR

Lying snugly between the flourishing cities of New Rochelle and Mount Vernon, on the New York, New Haven and Hartford railroad, and covering an area of 2 1/2 square miles, is situated the hustling little town of Pelham divided into the villages of Pelham Manor, Pelham Heights [sic], Pelham and North Pelham.  Pelham Manor is strictly a residential village; Pelham Heights, which is a part of the village of Pelham, is also made up of residences; the original village of Pelham has within its midst a few stores, while the village of North Pelham has has a good business section.

The settlement of the town of Pelham, so history says, dates back to the times when the Huguenots were having their troubles in France and leaving that country in large numbers.  It is recorded that a number of these Huguenots came to that part of this country known now as New Rochelle and Pelham and settled here.

The town of Pelham was named after Lord Pell [sic], who was one of the earliest settlers in Westchester county [sic].  However, he was not the earliest by any means.  The following interesting facts are gleaned from 'The Drake Family Pedigree,' so called, by Jacob Bonnet, of New Rochelle, concerning the early settlers of Pelham.  The writer says:  'The settlement of New Rochelle dates back to 1689, when some 6,000 acres, previously included in the Manor of Pelham were made over to Jacob Leisler, of New York, in trust for the Huguenots, who then were arriving in large numbers from England.  These refugees were a portion of the 50,000 who left France for England in 1687.  Four years before the revocation traditions, unsupported, however, by evidencing, tell us that one of King Charles' ships brought out the founders of the town of New Rochelle.  And we find that during the year 1690 Leisler was parcelling out the Pelham purchase among the French families who preferred to sustain a new settlement which might possess all possible characteristics of their native land.

'Among the names of those to whom Leisler released portions of the Pelham tract are John Neuville, 200 acres; Alexander Allair, 100 acres; Louis Guion, 136 acres; and John Butiller.'

It will thus be seen that Pelham was settled by Huguenot refugees [sic].  As the years rolled by the settlement gradually grew until there were quite a number of people living here by the time the nineteenth century arrived.

In the section of Westchester county known as Pelham Manor the Huguenots settled.  To their memory there now stands the beautiful Presbyterian Church, at the corner of Pelhamdale avenue and the Boston Post road.  Pelham Manor boasts of a great many magnificent residences, which are inhabited by wealthy New Yorkers.  The streets are broad and lined by stately trees which in the summer are covered with beautiful foliage.  There are no public buildings in Pelham Manor [sic].  Everything there reminds one of home.  Outside of the residences there are also the fine Manor club house and the elegant school, with dormitories, of Mrs. John Cunningham Hazen, which is one of the most select private schools in the United States.

Pelham Manor was the first of the three villages to be incorporated, the incorporation taking place in the early nineties.  The present population in 679, according to the census just taken.  The village itself has for the most part grown up during the past twenty years and is now passing through stages of marked development.  The past year has seen the erection of several new residences and others are now in the course of construction.  The Witherbee Real Estate Improvement Company is building a house which is to be rented by Mr. Holland, of Highbrook avenue.  It will be completed in the spring.  John Farrington is building a house on Esplanade avenue, between Boston Road and Wolf's Lane.  Witherbee Black is completing a house on Esplanade avenue, near Pelham Manor station.  

The hilly and swampy land on the corner of Pelhamdale avenue and the Boston Road, opposite the Presbyterian Church is now being graded, and the probability is that it will not be many years before there will be located there handsome residences as well as on the two open places across the street.

Pelham was the second village to be incorporated.  At the time of its incorporation, Pelham Heights was a rocky woodland, one section of which every summer was used by the negroes as their camping ground.  However, no many years ago its value as a residential section began to be recognized with the result that many beautiful residences now stand where less than ten years ago, nothing but woodland could be seen.  Pelham Heights, to use the expression, seems to have 'sprung up in a night.'  Not only has its growth been rapid, but the future bids fair to exceed the past.  The past year has witnessed the erection of a number of elegant residences and others are now being constructed.

Mrs. E. E. Sinclair is building two houses on Corlies avenue, between First and Second street; Mr. Wormrath is finishing a house on Corlies avenue, between Second street and the Boulevard; Mr. Nesbitt is finishing a new house on the corner of Corlies avenue and Second street, and is about to move into it himself; Mr. White, of Brooklyn, is completing a house on Monterey avenue; Mr. Sneider, of Seigel, Cooper & Co., is erecting a new house on the corner of Second street and Monterey avenue; W. G. Fay, the optician, of New York, is building a house on Monterey avenue, between First and Second streets; William Dette has plans out for the erection of a handsome new house on Witherbee avenue, between Highbrook avenue and Monterey avenue.  Mr. Dette is with Crocker Brothers.

Mr. Murphy, the real estate dealer, stated not long ago to an Argus representative that there have been quite a number of purchasers looking around for houses and lots to buy in Pelham Heights and Pelham Manor.  That people are anxious to move into these two villages is attested by the fact that Mr. Murphy already has a list of twenty-five applicants for houses to rent.  The spring market looks very promising and healthy, and there will probably be considerable building going on before long.

The village of Pelham has one grocery store, which is owned by John Smith; a meat market, of which E. Paustian is the proprietor; a boarding and livery stable, of which R. L. Vaughan is the proprietor, all of which are located side by side on Fifth avenue, south of the railroad bridge.  In the same locality is situated Lyon hall, which is the rendezvouse for the people at social gatherings of any performance.

North Pelham was the last village in the town to be incorporated, the incorporation taking place in September, 1896.  North Pelham, previous to 1851, wsa made up of a farm, the northern half of which ws owned by John [sic] Wolfe, and the southern half by a Mr. Weeden.  Mr. Wolfe's old farmhouse is the building now occupied by H. H. Straehle and used as a barroom and a hotel.  Previous to the year 1851, an association was formed in New York city for the purpose of establishing homes for the members, of which there were quite a number.  The only living member of that association now living in North Pelham is John Case, the collector of taxes.  Mr. Case's father, Frederick Case, and his brother, John Case, were both members, but they are now dead.

The farm land was surveyed by William Bryson, of New Rochelle, and laid out into 406 lots, most of which were designated by number and some by letter.  The lots were laid out beginning at the north at Morgan's farm, where Chester Park is now locted, and extending down on the south as far as the railroad bank, there being only one track at that time, and the bank not being so high as it is now.  From east to west the boundary extended from Lather's hill on the east to the center of the channel of the Hutchinson river on the west.  As a rule, the lots were one hundred feet square.  Lot No. 1 was the most southern lot of them all and was located at the corner of Fifth avenue and First street, where Lyman's drug store now stands.  The map of the survey was filed in the register's office in White Plains, August 4, 1851.  Opposiite lot No. 1 was a vacant lot on what is now the corner of Fifth avenue and First street.  On this lot a substantial two-story building was erected and presented to the railroad company on condition that they stop their trains there, which they did.

At the time the lots were staked out the present streets of the village were marked out though not worked.  The street which is known now as Fifth avenue and is at present the principal street of the village, was at the time the land was bought from Messrs. Wolfe and Weeden the northern continuation of Wolfe's Lane, which led from the railroad across the fields to or near his farm house, the residence now of the Straehles.  This lane was worked up some.  There was no other public entrance to the village.  Fourth street, however, was usurped, though it was not worked as a public thoroughfare.

It is said that the first house to be built here was that of Michael O'Malley on Second avenue, which is now standing, and is occupied by F. L. Buckhaber.  If this is so, as it probably is, for the information came from a very reliable source, this is the oldest house in the village outside of the old farmhouse.  The second house was that of William Darby, a butcher, which stands on the corner of Second street and Second avenue, and is occupied now by Douglas Sprague.  Another old house, now standing, built in the early fifties, is that of a Mr. Barker, on Seventh avenue, where Mr. Church now lives.  Frederick Case, John Case's father, was one of the first to be located in the old village of Pelhamville, and build a house on the site of the present house owned by Mrs. Knox on Fifth avenue, between Second and Third streets.  Another old house stood on the southwest corner of Third street and Fourth avenue, where the house in which Mr. Stead lives is now located.

John Case, the present town tax collector, was the first one to occupy the old Wolf farmhouse after Mr. Wolfe moved out, when his property had been acquired by this association above mentioned.  

It is said that at one time in the early history of Pelhamville nearly every house in the old village sold rum privately.  This will probably be denied by the descendants of those who lived here at that time, but the information came from a pretty good source.  There were two or three 'moonshiners,' so called, in the village, and a brewery which was operated by a good old Dutchman by the name of Bigerchinsky, or something like that.  This brewery was located in the basement of a barn which was situated near where the pumping station at the reservoir is now located.  The old house in which the Dutchman lived is now standing, but the barn is extinct.  Ale was manufactured there.

There are interesting stories told concerning the old 'moonshine' establishments of the early fifties. . . . There was one in the northeast part of the village, somewhere in the vicinity of what is now Ninth avenue, and another in a house not far from where the North Pelham postoffice now stands.  It is said that the proprietors of this place had a very narrow escape from arrest one night.  The detectives were on their way to execute the law upon the heads of the owners when the latter got wind of what was going to happen and made good their escape.  When the detectives arrived, 'it was all over but the shouting,' and that was done by some of the villagers and not the detectives.  No one, of course, knew anything about the establishment and the detectives went away without their offenders.

North Pelham has developed more during the last twenty years than ever before.  Previous to 1886 there were not a great many houses in North Pelham, or what was known as Pelhamville.  Since that time the population has more than doubled.  In fact it has doubled since 1896.

It was in that year, in the month of September, that the village of North Pelham was incorporated with Jacob Heisser as the first village president.  The trustees were George A. McGalliard, L. C. Young, and Samuel E. Lyon.  B. S. Crewell was treasurer and John Case clerk.

The village of North Pelham is now in the midst of its prosperity.  Today there is a population of 872 persons.  Four years ago the population was given as 627, showing a gain of 245 in four years.  With new industries coming into the village, the village should make rapid strides in growth and the real estate business should boom there.

During the past year six houses have been erected in North Pelham and two more are in the course of erection.  Those built were by Mr. Murphy, on the corner of First avenue and Second street; Mrs. Pickhardt, on Second avenue; Mr. Ham on Eighth avenue; Mr. Brooks on Sixth avenue; Mr. Coe on Eighth avenue, and Mr. Miller on Seventh avenue.  The two houses being erected are those of Philip Godfrey, on Fourth avenue, and David Lyon, Second avenue.  Just as soon as the weather opens, Mr. Fritz of Third avenue, will build a house in back of the schoolhouse.

However, the most important building to be erected this coming spring and one which is looked forward to with a great deal of interest by the people is the handsome six thousand dollar convent, on which work will be commenced in the early spring.  As previously stated in these columns, this convent will be occupied by the Sisters from the Order of St. Francis.  The Sisters will have whole charge of the school, which is to be opened in the Lyceum building next fall.  They will also do much needed charitable work among the poor, irrespective of creed.  The convent wil face on First avenue, and will be located directly in back of the church.  A.G.C. Fletcher is the architect.

The most important buildings in North Pelham are the court house on Fifth avenue, the fire house on the same street, in which are housed the two fire companies of the village, the postoffice and the fine school building, located on an eminence on Fourth street.  This schoolhouse is known as the Union Free School of District No. 1 of the town of Pelham, and was erected in 1888.  It is without any exceptions the finest edifice in North Pelham.  When the school was erected, William Allen Smith was president of the board, and the trustees were E. H. Gurney, Frank Beattie, Robert C. Clark, William Barry, H. N. Babcock.  F. C. Merry was the architect, John New & Son the masons, and James Thompson had charge of the carpentering.  I. C. Hill is the popular principal of the school.  In fact, he is the only man to boast of being at the head of this institution.,

There are three churches in North Pelham, all of which are located on the same street -- Second avenue.  In view of this fact, the religious influence on the neighboring ressidents should be quite marked.  They are the Congregational church, the Church of the Redeemer, which is Episcopal, and St. Catherine's, which is Catholic.  The pastor of the Congregational church is the Rev. Wayland Spaulding.  Rev. Cornelius W. Bolton is the rector of the Episcopal church and the assistant rector is the Rev. E. B. Rice.  Dr. Rice officiates now, as the rector is very ill and unable to attend to the duties of the parish.  The parishioners worship in a magnficent little edifice, a picture of which is seen elsewhere in this paper.  The corner stone was laid in 1892.  The church is built of native stone and will seat about three hundred.

The members originally worshiped in the little building on Fourth avenue, now used as a Sunday school room and a gathering place for the parishioners at various sociables.  The church was organized under the trees in North Pelham, it is understood, and worshiped for the first time in a room upstairs in the present Sunday school building.  This used to be an old carpenter's shop and was later remodeled and renovated for a church edifice.  The future prosperity of the church was assisted materially by Mrs. Seaver, who lived at one time in Mount Vernon.  She gave four lots where the present elegant church now stands.  On her death she willed the church a large sum of money.  Mrs. I. C. Hill raised the first hundred dollars for the new edifice, and Mr. Rapelye, of New Rochelle, was the architect, he donated the plans.  The church was opened for worship February 7, 1893, a little over thirteen years ago.

The corner stone of St. Catharine's church was laid in 1896.  The only pastor the church has ever had is the present incumbent, Rev. Father McNichol.  When Father McNichol arrived in North Pelham, which was eight years ago, he found the condition of things very bad.  There was no rectory and the only land the parish owned was that on which the church stood.  Since then the church has been beautifully furnished and both a rectory and lyceum have been built.  Six pieces of land have been purchased since he has been here, giving the church property a frontage of two avenues.  It is surrounded by an iron fence of handsome pattern which cost, it is said, $1,400.  A fine new convent is to be erected this spring which will cost $6,000.  When this is completed the value of the property will be about $36,000.  The buildings and church property are factors in making that locality of North Pelham the prettiest in the town.

There is no doubt that before long the members of the Congregational church will be putting up a fine new edifice.  As it is they worship in a cosy wooden church, the interior of which is a credit to the members.  This organization is one of the active ones of the village and is a factor for development of the religious tone of the town that cannot be lost sight of.  It is to be regretted that the Argus has not a cut of this church.

Beside the important buildings, North Pelham has three grocery stores, owned, respectively, by Jacob Heisser, R. H. Marks, and A. Smith; one blacksmith shop, operated by Mr. James Riley [sic], the fire commissioner; one barber shop, owned by F. Utano; two notion stores; a sheet iron shop, owned by W. Edinger; a butcher shop, owned by B. W. Imhof; a wheelwright industry, owned by A. G. Harris; S. T. Lyman is postmaster; a pharmacy owned by Mr. Lyman, and several places where some men spend their evenings where various kinds of refreshments are served.  There are one or two minor industries.  The fine railroad station is for the whole town, of course, though in the village of North Pelham.

William Edinger is the president of the village now.  The clerk is James W. Caffrey and the treasurer K. S. Durham.  The other trustees are M. J. Woods and Dave Algie.

The social life of North Pelham is well worth passing notice.  The old 'house sociables,' so called, used to be 'the thing' in North Pelham not so long ago.  Young ladies, who even now are living in the village, can remember how they used to attend them when they were young girls.  These house sociables used to be held every month, and what rousing times the people of the village used to have.  Jack Horny, with his fiddle, used to constitute a complete orchestra for the various dances held at these gatherings. . . . There is a very interesting story told about a dance which ws indulged in by a thin young man and a very stout woman.

This particular dance occurred in a house on Prospect street.  On this particular night, when old Jack Horney started up a jig, this fat woman was urged by the people there to dance a jig for them.  She consented
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(Continued on Page 14.)

TOWN OF PELHAM
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(Continued From Page 12.)
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and had as her partner the aforesaid mentioned young man.  The two kept it up for so long that as a result the woman was confined to her bed for three days.  In fact, she had to be taken home in a hack.  This woman now lives in North Pelham and the man is a resident of Mount Vernon.  

Today the people of North Pelham are very sociable and many are the good times they have among themselves.  The various affairs held by the three churches are the principal attractions, not to mention the dances held in Lyon hall and the various home gatherings and dinners.  Lucky is he who owns a home in North Pelham.

North Pelham has not been visited by a great many fires in her history; however, there were several worthy of notice during the last fifteen years.  The large old residence of Frederick Case, one of the earliest settlers here, was burned to the ground, and made a spectacular fire.  It was known as the Case homestead and was located on Fifth avenue.  Another big fire was that which destroyed the Delcambre house, which was situated on Fourth avenue, opposite the Sunday school building of the Church of the Redeemer.  This was a very large building, and also made a spectacular fire.

Probably the worst fire in the history of the village was that which destroyed the Pelham building, where the postoffice is now located.  One life was lost in this fire.  Fire also destroyed Penfield's store on Fourth street and Fourth avenue, J. Heisser's store on Fifth avenue, and Fourth street, a house belonging to George Bowden on Ninth avenue, and a house on the corner of Third avenue and Third street, where the McDonald house is now standing.  These latter fires did not occur at the same time, but at various times.  One of the latest fires was that in the house of Mr. Bovie last Monday noon, which caused little damage.

The officers of the town of Pelham are:  Louis C. Young, supervisor; Harry A. Anderson, town clerk; justice of the peace, Durham, Karbach, Hill, Beecroft; and collector of taxes, John Case.  The chief of police is R. H. Marks."

Source:  TOWN OF PELHAM INTERESTING, IMPORTANT, VALUABLE AND UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION ABOUT THE VILLAGES OF PELHAM, NORTH PELHAM, PELHAM HEIGHTS AND PELHAM MANOR, The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], Feb. 17, 1906, p. 12, cols. 1-7 & p. 14, cols. 3-4.

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