Decision in 1923 to Extend the As-Yet Unbuilt Hutchinson River Parkway

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During the early 1920s, the open rolling lands alongside the Hutchinson River in the Town of Pelham and the river itself were beauties to behold.  A string of reservoirs and lakes dotted the countryside throughout undeveloped lands between Pelham's border with New York City all the way north to Scarsdale.  The Hutchinson River and its watershed throughout the entire region was an important water supply system that provided drinking water to such communities as Pelham, Mount Vernon, New Rochelle, Eastchester, Bronxville, and Tuckahoe, among others.  

At the time, Westchester County wanted to protect the gorgeous countryside and the water supply system.  What better way than to purchase a lengthy tract along the Hutchinson River to create an undeveloped "Parkway."  The parkway would be the envy of the nation, much like the nearby Bronx River Parkway that was begun in 1907. 

The Hutchinson River Parkway was envisioned as a true park with a quiet winding road adjacent to bridle paths, pedestrian paths, reservoirs and lakes.  The roadway and its bridges and overpasses were intended to be modern but quaint-looking and aesthetically pleasing.  All expected the roadway to be a signature destination for Sunday drivers who wanted a jaunt in their fanciful early automobiles on a beautiful day through a beautiful countryside.

And then it began. . . . . . . 

Even before construction started on the new Parkway in 1924, local officials were pushing to expand the length of the roadway at both ends.  The Hutchinson River Parkway originally was envisioned to end at Lincoln Avenue, Mount Vernon (then connected to 4th Street in Pelham, now also known as Lincoln Avenue).  Their intentions were good -- at least at the outset.  They wanted to protect as much land and watershed as possible within a beautiful Parkway.  "Alea iacta est" as Julius Caesar supposedly said when he crossed the Rubicon with his legions to begin a civil war:  the die [was] cast.  There would be no return.

Thus, during the summer of 1923 while engineers were still trying to survey the expected route of the Parkway and at a time when the exact course of the Parkway had not even been determined, the Westchester County Board of Supervisors approved an extension of the planned Parkway from its planned terminus at Lincoln Avenue all the way to Pelham Bay Park at the New York City border.  

A Commission advising the Board of Supervisors recommended the extension.  The Board received the recommendation and immediately approved it for implementation.  The Commission reported to the Board of Supervisors, in part, as follows:

"While there is no question of the desirability of acquiring these lands for park use, it would not be feasible to interfere with the water supply at this time.  The important thing is to insure that this picturesque tract will eventually be available as a public park.  The Commission is, therefore, negotiating with the New Rochelle Water Company for the purchase of these lands on the basis of the Water Company's retaining the right to use the same for water supply purposes for a period of twelve to fifteen years, by which time it is assumed that the population will have so increased as to affect the purity of the water supply and at the same time the demand for park spaces will be more urgent.  Such an arrangement would operate to materially reduce the purchase price to the county and at the same time insure the county against the certain rise in value during the fifteen year period.  Negotiation[s] to this end are in progress and if satisfactory arrangements can be concluded with the Water Company, the Commission will recommend to your Board the acquisition of this tract."

The goal of preserving the additional lands to the south of Lincoln Avenue adjacent to the Hutchinson River to the New York City line seemed laudable at the time.  Indeed, construction of the Hutchinson River Parkway in the midst of a beautiful park setting began the following year in 1924 and continued for several years.

Soon, however, the automobile became king and the region throbbed with cars trying to get from one place to another using the tiny little Parkway.  As the years passed, the Parkway was expanded in sections (even as late as 1941) until it grew to become a major highway artery running north and south from New York City through Westchester County to the New York - Connecticut state line at Rye Brook.

Today the Hutchinson River Parkway is a nearly 19-mile mess of a thoroughfare that is so crowded with traffic day and night that, at times, it can be so congested that it nearly is impossible to navigate.  The narrow, winding lanes (long since expanded well beyond their original capacities) begin at the Bruckner Interchange in the Throggs Neck section of the Bronx and proceed north, having junctions with I-95 (the Cross-Bronx Expressway), I-295 (Cross Bronx Expressway Extension), I-678 (the Whitestone Expressway), and I-278 (the Bruckner Expressway).  Any time issues arise on any of these connected roadways, traffic piles onto "the Hutch," often bringing that roadway to a near standstill.  To make matters worse, anytime a truck wanders onto the Hutch (trucks are banned on all New York Parkways) and smashes into any of the low overpasses built in the 1920s to allow Model-T automobiles to pass beneath, traffic comes to an absolute standstill for hours and hours.  

Savvy Pelhamites long have known to avoid the Hutch most times of the day and night.  All Pelhamites long for the good old days when the Hutch was, in fact, a Sunday parkway set in a beautiful park. . . . . . 

"Photo 42. View of the parkway looking south from the East Third

Street Bridge, August 31, 1927. This view shows workmen preparing

the roadways for paving. (Westchester County Archives, Park

Commission Photograph Collection, PPC5389)"  Source: LoRusso,

Mark S., An Historic American Engineering Record Level II Documentation

of the East Third Street Bridge Spanning Hutchinson River Parkway

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

Vernon and Village of Pelham Westchester County New York, p. 94

(2017: Sponsored by The Federal Highway Administration and the

New York State Department of Transportation, Part of the New York

State Museum Cultural Resource Survey Program). NOTE: Click on

Image to Enlarge.

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"River Parkway To Go Through Three Villages
-----
Board of Supervisors Also Want Glen Island Bought For Bathing Park
-----
Definite Course Of Road Through Pelham Not Yet Determined But Surveyors Are Now At Work
-----
River Parkway to Go Through

At a joint meeting held in White Plains on Monday, the County Board of Supervisors formally requested the Park Commission to extend the proposed Hutchinson River Boulevard from its termination at East Lincoln Avenue all the way to Pelham Bay Park in New York City.

The exact course of the parkway has not yet been determined, but engineers are now surveying and the Park Commission will soon begin to look over the property.  The cost of acquiring land in the various localities will determine the course.  Nine hundred thousand dollars is the estimated cost of acquiring the property for the Hutchinson River Parkway.

Glen Island, if the request of the Board of Supervisors is complied with, will be purchased and turned into a public park.  A large bathing beach will be constructed and in all probability a bridge will be built from the mainland to the island.

The report of the Commission to the Board of Supervisors met with such favor that the Board went further and requested that the Hutchinson Parkway be extended and that Glen Island be purchased.  Part of the report follows:

Another project of country-wide importance and of particular interest to the Pelhams, the cities of Mount Vernon and New Rochelle and the town of Eastchester, includes a protective strip along the Hutchinson River from Lincoln Avenue, Mount 

(Continued on page 3)

Hutchinson River Parkway Approved
-----
(Continued from page 1)

Vernon to Eastchester Road and from thence a considerable portion of the lands in the Hutchinson River Valley now used for water supply purposes, extending to Drake Road in the village of Scarsdale and connecting with the Bronx River Parkway at the New Rochelle Water Company's crossing between Crestwood and Scarsdale.

The Commission has no doubt of the desirability of acquiring between 800 and 900 acres in this section.  The lands are particularly beautiful and for the most part already developed as a park.  The three lakes or reservoirs are splendid park features.  However, these lands and lakes now constitute the greater part of an important water supply system, furnishing water to the city of New Rochelle, the town of Eastchester and the villages of Bronxville and Tuckahoe.

While there is no question of the desirability of acquiring these lands for park use, it would not be feasible to interfere with the water supply at this time.  The important thing is to insure that this picturesque tract will eventually be available as a public park.  The Commission is, therefore, negotiating with the New Rochelle Water Company for the purchase of these lands on the basis of the Water Company's retaining the right to use the same for water supply purposes for a period of twelve to fifteen years, by which time it is assumed that the population will have so increased as to affect the purity of the water supply and at the same time the demand for park spaces will be more urgent.  Such an arrangement would operate to materially reduce the purchase price to the county and at the same time insure the county against the certain rise in value during the fifteen year period.  Negotiation[s] to this end are in progress and if satisfactory arrangements can be concluded with the Water Company, the Commission will recommend to your Board the acquisition of this tract."

Source:  River Parkway To Go Through Three Villages -- Board of Supervisors Also Want Glen Island Bought For Bathing Park -- Definite Course Of Road Through Pelham Not Yet Determined But Surveyors Are Now At Work -- River Parkway to Go Through, The Pelham Sun, Jul. 6, 1923, p. 1, col. 6 & p. 3, col. 5.

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For Once, Pelham Manor Mainlanders Told City Islanders "No" in 1883

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Throughout much of the 19th century, most of the population of the Town of Pelham lived on City Island -- not on the mainland.  Thus, initiatives to appropriate taxpayer funds for improvements on City Island were nearly always successful.  In contrast, initiatives to appropriate taxpayer funds for improvements on the mainland (including appropriations to repair roads and bridges on the mainland) often failed either at the ballot box or during votes taken at Town meetings controlled by City Island Democrats.  Residents of Pelham Manor, Bartow, Prospect Hill, and Pelhamville grew angrier by the year about their circumstances. As far as they were concerned, "City Island always voted no" regarding appropriations to improve mainland roads and the like.  The battle became one between the islanders and the mainlanders.

Finally, in 1883, the Pelham Manor mainlanders said "no!" -- not in a vote, but in a lawsuit.

At an annual Town meeting that City Islanders ensured was packed with islanders, a vote was held to authorize the Town of Pelham to seek authorization from the Westchester County Board of Supervisors to levy a tax against all Pelham taxpayers to raise $25,000 to repair City Island Bridge and $1,750 for general road purposes, most of which would go to repairing roads on the mainland leading to City Island Bridge.  Pelham Manor residents were furious.  Their roads were in horrendous condition.  They wanted something done.

In 1883, Pelham Manor was not yet a village.  It was "governed" by agreement among the local residents by the Pelham Manor Protective Club, a vigilance club established in 1881.  George H. Reynolds was one of the most prominent members of the club.  In fact, he hosted many meetings of the club in his home.  He served as first President of the club.  In 1883, he served as President again, and was Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Club.  

Residents of Pelham Manor felt that City Island Democrats governed corruptly via "machine" politics.  They felt that the Democratic Machine failed to represent their interests and that, through machine politics, it was able to control the appropriations process and dole out the funds for the principal benefit of City Islanders and the cronies of the Democratic Machine.  Indeed, an anonymous and sarcastic letter to The Chronicle published in Mount Vernon written at about this time claimed as much. See Tue., Jan. 19, 2016:  City Island Always Voted No.  

George H. Reynolds brought a lawsuit against the Supervisor of the Town of Pelham, City Islander James Hyatt, seeking to block any tax levy to fund the bridge and roadway repairs sought by City Island.  The suit alleged that the tax levy should be blocked because appropriations were being handled in an unfair and unequal manner to benefit certain taxpayers at the expense of others.  At some point, perhaps the same time or perhaps later, Reynolds filed a second lawsuit against the Westchester County Board of Supervisors seeking similar relief. 

At first it looked as though the lawsuit against Town Supervisor Hyatt might fail.  According to one news account, a local court initially entered judgment in favor of defendant, rejecting the claims made by Reynolds.  On Saturday, November 3, 1883, however, a local judge entered an order to show cause against the defendant directing that he appear before the court and "show cause why the judgment for the defendant should not be set aside and a reargument ordered."  Moreover, the court enjoined the defendant "from taking further proceedings in the matter until argument on the matter is heard."  It appears from a subsequent news report that, after hearing rearguments, on December 12, 1883 a local New York Supreme Court Justice entered judgment for defendant Hyatt again.  

Newspaper accounts of the day do not specify the nature of the proceedings that followed.  Most likely an appeal was taken from the December 12 decision of the New York Supreme Court (the trial court level in New York). In any event, the attorney for George H. Reynolds (W. R. Lamberton) continued battling on behalf of Pelham Manor Protective Club President George H. Reynolds.  Finally, on Saturday, March 1, 1884, Lamberton filed in both lawsuits (the one against the Pelham Town Supervisor and the one against Westchester County Board of Supervisors) a notice of entry of final judgment in favor of plaintiff George H. Reynolds "for the relief demanded" in the complaints filed in each action.  As one news account put it:  "Those decisions annul the appropriation of $25,000 for City Island Bridge, and that of $1,750 for general road purposes -- both of which were carried at the last town meeting in Pelham."

For once, the mainlanders of Pelham Manor said "no!" -- and it stuck.  For once, they had beaten "The Machine."

1881 Map of the Town of Pelham Showing the Mainland and the Islands

that Comprised the Town Before Annexation. Source:  Bromley, George

Washington & Bromley, Walter Scott, "Town of Pelham, (With) Pelham-

Manor. (From Actual Surveys and Official Records by G.W. Bromley

& Co., Civil Engineers, Published by Geo. W. & Walter S. Bromley,

1881)" in Atlas of Westchester County, New York, From Actual Surveys

and Official Records, pp. 56-57 (Washington, D.C.: G.W. Bromley & Co.

1881).  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

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Transcribed below is the text of a number of news articles concerning the lawsuits filed by George H. Reynolds in 1883.  Each is followed by a citation and link to its source.

"WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

In the suit brought by George H. Reynolds against James Hyatt, Supervisor of the town of Pelham, to restrain the levy of a tax of $25,000 for making repairs to the City Island bridge, Judge Dykman granted an order last Saturday to show cause why the judgment for the defendant should not be set aside and a reargument ordered.  The defendant is also enjoined, by the terms of the order, from taking further proceedings in the matter until argument on the matter is heard."

Source:  WESTCHESTER COUNTY, N.Y. Times, Nov. 5, 1883, p. 8, col. 3 (Note:  Paid subscription require to access via this link).

"WESTCHESTER COUNTY
-----
Epitome of the News. . . . 

-- In the suit brought by George H. Reynolds against James Hyatt, supervisor of the town of Pelham, to restrain the levy of a tax of $25,000 for making repairs to the City Island bridge.  Judge Dykman granted an order last Saturday to show cause why the judgment for the defendant should not be set aside, and a re-argument ordered.  The defendant is also enjoined, by the terms of the order, from taking further proceedings in the matter until argument on the matter is heard. . . ."

Source:  WESTCHESTER COUNTY -- Epitome of the News, New Rochelle Pioneer, Nov. 10, 1883, p. 3, cols. 6-7.

"JUDGMENT REVERSED. -- In the action brought by George H. Reynolds against James Hyatt Supervisor of the town of Pelham, the Supreme Court rendered judgment on the 12th day of December last, in favor of the defendant, with costs.  On Saturday an order was entered by the plaintiff's attorney, reversing this judgment and rendering judgment for the plaintiff.  At the same time an order was entered in the action of Reynolds against the Westchester County Board of Supervisors, rendering final judgment for the plaintiff for the relief demanded in the complaint.  Those decisions annul the appropriation of $25,000 for City Island Bridge, and that of $1,750 for general road purposes -- both of which were carried at the last town meeting in Pelham.  The plaintiff has been represented in these suits by W. R. Lamberton, and the defendants by Martin J. Keogh."

Source:  JUDGMENT REVERSED, The Yonkers Statesman, Mar. 3, 1884, Vol. I, No. 94, p. 1, col. 4.  

"PELHAM AND CITY ISLAND. . . . 

On the 12th of December last a judgment was rendered by the Supreme Court in favor of James Hyatt, Supervisor, the defendant in the action brought by George H. Reynolds against him.  On Saturday last the plaintiff's attorney entered an order reversing the judgment and giving judgment for the plaintiff.  Another order was also entered in the suit of Reynolds against the Board of Supervisors of Westchester County, being final judgment for him for the relief demanded in the complaint.  The appropriations of $25,000 for a new bridge at City Island and $1,750 for road purposes are annulled by these judgments. . . .

[I]f there is one appropriation that should be granted more than another it is certainly that one for repairing and grading City Island road and the one for bluestoning that portion of the road from City Island bridge to Marshals corner.  This piece of road has been for weeks past, literally in an impassable condition and no one could be more deeply impressed with the necessity of repairing it than the writer.  From the nature of this piece of road it would be a useless expenditure of money to attempt to repair it, by the method ordinarily employed, of putting clay or sand upon it."

Source:  PELHAM AND CITY ISLAND, The Chronicle [Mount Vernon, NY], Mar. 7, 1884, Vol. XV, No. 755, p. 3, cols. 4-5.

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More on Unsuccessful Efforts in 1884 by Town of Pelham to Replace the Wooden City Island Bridge

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Recently I wrote about an ultimately unsuccessful effort in 1884 to have the New York State legislature authorize the Town of Pelham to issue bonds to fund the replacement of the old wooden City Island Bridge built in 1868 by David Carll with a new wooden bridge.  See Wed., Jul. 20, 2016:  Bill Introduced in 1884 to Authorize the Town of Pelham To Build a New City Island Bridge.  Further research has revealed that the story behind this ultimately unsuccessful effort to replace the old wooden bridge with a new one is more complex and more interesting than first thought.  Indeed, it represents yet another example of a 19th century battle between mainlanders and islanders.  

It turns out that the introduction on March 6, 1884 of a bill entitled "An act to authorize the contstruction of a bridge in the town of Pelham, Westchester county, between the mainland of said town and City island, and to authorize the acquiring of land therefor, and the issuing of bonds of the said town to pay for said bridge" was a direct response to a pair of lawsuits brought on behalf of the mainlanders to halt appropriations for the new bridge.

A brief newspaper reference published on March 7, 1884, the day after the bill was introduced, indicates that for months a Pelham mainlander had been engaged in lawsuits to stop the Town of Pelham from appropriating funds to build a new wooden replacement bridge.  Indeed, Pelham Manor resident (and mainlander) George H. Reynolds initially brought two lawsuits.  The first was brought against Town Supervisor James Hyatt (an islander).  Reynolds filed a related action against the Board of Supervisors of Westchester County.

Plaintiff Reynolds sought relief to block Town of Pelham appropriations of $25,000 for a new City Island Bridge and $1,750 "for road purposes."  Initially, on December 12, 1883, the New York Supreme Court entered an order against Reynolds and in favor of Town Supervisor James Hyatt in the first action.  Although the record is a little vague, it appears that on March 1, 1884, the New York Supreme Court entered final judgments in the two lawsuits granting mainlander Reynolds the relief he demanded.  Consequently, "[t]he appropriations of $25,000 for a new bridge at City Island and $1,750 for road purposes are annulled by these judgments."  

George Huntington Reynolds was a nationally-renowned steam engineer and inventor known for designing the steam engine for the now-famous USS Monitor that fought in the first battle of the ironclads during the American Civil War.  Reynolds lived with his family in Pelham Manor for many years.  He was an active member of the Pelham Manor Protective Club and served as President of the local school board for eight years.  He built a palatial home in the Manor that no longer stands.  He was one of the nation's preeminent mechanical engineers and was involved in many projects that are stories in and of themselves.  Late in life he moved to Connecticut, but various of his children and grandchildren remained in Pelham and surrounding areas for many years.

George Huntington Reynolds in Photograph Published in 1903.

Source: Commemorative Biographical Record of Tolland and

Windham Counties Connecticut Containing Biographical Sketches

Of Prominent and Representative Citizens And Of Many Of The

Early Settled Families -- Illustrated, plate between pp. 188-89

(Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1903). NOTE: Click on Image

To Enlarge.

In short, it seems that in 1883 and 1884, City Island resident and Town Supervisor James Hyatt led an initiative on behalf of City Islanders to fund replacement of the old wooden City Island Bridge by spreading the cost of the bridge replacement across all Pelham taxpayers.  Thus, the Town Board appropriated $25,000 to build the new wooden bridge.  Mainlander George Huntington Reynolds, in turn, opposed that initiative and successfully sued to block the town appropriations to fund replacement of the old bridge and to fund certain unspecified road work.  Shortly after final judgments were entered in favor of Reynolds in his two lawsuits against the Town Supervisor and the Westchester County Board of Supervisors, it would appear that the islanders initiated the legislative effort to authorize the Town of Pelham to issue bonds to fund replacement of the bridge about which I previously have written.  

Undated Photograph of the Old City Island Bridge

Built by David Carll. NOTE: Click on Image to Enlarge.

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Below is the text of a newspaper article referencing the lawsuits brought by George H. Reynolds.  It is followed by a citation and link to its source. 

"PELHAM AND CITY ISLAND.

The women have occupied the time of the justices' courts this week.  Verdict, no cause of action.  

It is reported that Mr. Wm. Belden has obtained a charter to build a horse railroad between City Island and Bartow.

Two weeks ago, Mr. James H. Weaver started off on a trip for the benefit of his health, the objective point being California.  On Monday last, he was heard from in Mexico.

Considerable anxiety is manifested on City Island, as to the whereabouts of Pilot Geo. W. Scofield.  He passed Bartlet Reef light, last Friday morning, at nine o'clock, in charge of a vessel, since which time nothing has been heard of him.

Mr. and Mrs. George Banta celebrated their twentieth wedding anniversary, on Monday evening last.  On the same evening, Dr. M. Cromen celebrated the anniversary of his birthday.  Scores of friends aided in making both events pleasurable.

At the sale of lots held on Friday last, by Messrs. Jenkins & Cameron, the purchasers were, John Bowman, two lots; Thomas Collins, one lot; Jacob Brady, one lot; Geo. Booth, two lots; M. Mulligan, two lots.  One lot was knocked down to Joseph May.  [Illegible] will be resold to-day.  

On the 12th of December last a judgment was rendered by the Supreme Court in favor of James Hyatt, Supervisor, the defendant in the action brought by George H. Reynolds against him.  On Saturday last the plaintiff's attorney entered an order reversing this judgment and giving judgment for the plaintiff.  Another order was also entered in the suit of Reynolds against the Board of Supervisors of Westchester County, being final judgment for him for the relief demanded in the complaint.  The appropriations of $25,000 for a new bridge at City Island and $1,750 for road purposes are annulled by these judgments.

The Commissioners of Highways of the Town of Pelham, have given notice that they will apply at the annual town meeting for a vote authorizing the raising of  $5,735, for the purpose of repairing roads and bridges, to be expended as follows:

Repairing culverts Pelhamdale avenue near Boston Turnpike.....$25.00
Repairing culverts, Washington avenue near Union street.....25.00
Pelham lane, repairing and grading.....50.00
Pelham road [repairing and grading].....50.00
Boston turnpike [repairing and grading].....100.00
Pelhamdale ave., bal. due for repairing.....58.00
Wolf's lane [bal. due for repairing].....85.00
Old Boston road [bal. due for repairing].....75.00
Fifth avenue [bal. due for repairing].....67.00
Fourth street [bal. due for repairing].....65.00
City Island road [bal. due for repairing].....135.00
Culvert, City Island road [bal. due for repairing].....15.00
Shore road, balance due for repairing.....96.00
Pelham lane [balance due for repairing].....125.00
Culvert Pelham lane [balance due for repairing].....10.00
Boston turnpike [balance due for repairing].....125.00
Main street [balance due for repairing].....255.00
Culvert, Fordham ave, west of Main st. balance due for repairing.....50.00
Planking City Island bridge, bal. due.....65.00
Main street, repairing and grading.....280.00
Fordham ave., west of Main street, repairing and grading.....100.00
City Island road, repairing and grading.....300.00
Wolf's lane [repairing and grading].....100.00
Old Boston Road [repairing and grading].....50.00
First avenue, [repairing and grading].....30.00
Second do [i.e., ditto] [repairing and grading].....20.00
Fourth do [repairing and grading].....35.00
Sixth do [repairing and grading].....50.00
Seventh do [repairing and grading].....50.00
Second street [repairing and grading].....20.00
Third do [repairing and grading].....25.00
Pelhamdale ave., [repairing and grading].....90.00
Repairing culverts, Pelhamdale avenue near Old Boston road.....40.00
Bluestoning Pelhamdale ave. and Wolfs lane, south of Pelhamville depot,.....1000.00
Bluestoning City Island road, between Shore road and City Island bridge.....1000.00
Main st., between Ditmars and Cross streets, raising grade.....1000.00

Whether all these repairs are necessary or not we do not pretend to say.  The Commissioners of Highways doubtless think they are else they would not ask for the money, but if there is one appropriation that should be granted more than another it is certainly that one for repairing and grading City Island road and the one for bluestoning that portion of the road from City Island bridge to Marshals corner.  This piece of road has been for weeks past, literally in an impassable condition and no one could be more deeply impressed with the necessity of repairing it than the writer.  From the nature of this piece of road it would be a useless expenditure of money to attempt to repair it, by the method ordinarily employed, of putting clay or sand upon it."

Source:  PELHAM AND CITY ISLAND, The Chronicle [Mount Vernon, NY], Mar. 7, 1884, Vol. XV, No. 755, p. 3, cols. 4-5.  

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Bill Introduced in 1884 to Authorize the Town of Pelham To Build a New City Island Bridge

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New York City has constructed a temporary bridge adjacent to the old City Island Bridge that opened July 4, 1901.  It took almost three years to build and cost $200,000.  The city's Department of Transportation is in the midst of demolishing the old City Island Bridge and constructing a new bridge to replace it after years of controversy over the original proposed design for a soaring, 18-story cable bridge intended to evoke a massive sail.  The new City Island Bridge that will be constructed follows a simple causeway design more in keeping with the character and nature of the island.

Rendering of the Proposed City Island Causeway Bridge

To Be Built as Replacement for the Old City Island Bridge

Opened in 1901.  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

The history of the ferries and bridges that have connected City Island to the mainland for nearly two hundred fifty years is long and storied.  Part of that history involves the bridge built in 1901 that replaced an earlier bridge built by David Carll of City Island in 1868.  

By the mid-1880s, that old City Island Bridge completed in 1868 had become a decrepit, dangerous, and dilapidated eyesore.  The bridge originally was built from the timbers of an ancient decommissioned ship known as the North Carolina, cobbled together with a draw that was taken from the old Harlem Bridge when that bridge was replaced.   As one account put it so succinctly, even when newly-built in 1868, the City Island bridge was "nothing but a second hand affair." 

Interestingly, in 1884 there was an effort to authorize the Town of Pelham to issue bonds to fund the replacement of the old wooden bridge with another wooden bridge.  It appears that with New York City assembling parkland on the mainland with plans to form Pelham Bay Park at the time, the initiative withered on the vine.  The iniative, however, provides an interesting glimpse of the importance of the City Island Bridge to the Town of Pelham at the time, as well as the process that would have been followed had the wooden replacement bridge become a reality.  

On March 6, 1884, a member of the New York State Assembly, S. W. Johnson, introduced a bill entitled "An act to authorize the contstruction of a bridge in the town of Pelham, Westchester county, between the mainland of said town and City island, and to authorize the acquiring of land therefor, and the issuing of bonds of the said town to pay for said bridge."  By unanimous consent, the bill was read a first and then a second time.  It immediately was referred to the Committee on Roads and Bridges for analysis.

That month, the full text of the bill was reproduced in a local newspaper.  That text is reproduced in its entirety below.  The bill authorized the Town Board of Pelham to issue up to $20,000 in bonds paying up to 5% interest per annum to fund the construction of a wooden draw bridge to replace the old City Island Bridge built by David Carll.  The bill further authorized the Town Board to buy land on the mainland and on City Island necessary for the bridge and, in the event owners would not sell such land, then the Town could buy such land "in the same manner and by like proceedings, as railroad corporations are authorized by law to acquire land in cases in which they are unable to agree with the owners."  

The bill further would require that the bridge be a public bridge with no tolls charged.  The bill further provided a detailed process for reporting by the Town of Pelham on the status of repayment of such bonds to retire the debt.

It was not until after the City of New York annexed the region from Pelham in 1895, that efforts to replace the old wooden City Island Bridge gained traction.  The city began construction in 1898, opening the new bridge (that is now being demolished) on July 4, 1908.

Undated Photograph of the Old City Island Bridge Built

by David Carll.  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

Undated Photograph of the Old City Island Bridge Built

by David Carll.  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

Undated Post Card View of the Steel City Island Bridge Opened

in 1901, Circa 1920s.  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

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"AN ACT

To authorize the construction of a bridge in the town of Pelham, Westchester Co., between the mainland of said town and City Island, and to authorize the acquiring of land therefore, and the issuing of bonds of the said town to pay for said bridge.

The people of the State of New York represesented in Senate and Assembly do enact as follows:

Section 1.  The Town Board of the town of Pelham, in the county of Westchester, is hereby authorized and empowered to construct, or cause to be constructed, a wooden draw-bridge, at a cost not exceeding twenty thousand dollars, across and over that branch or arm of Long Island Sound at the narrows, so called, between the mainland of said town and the Island known as City Island, also in said town of Pelham :  Said bridge to comence, at or near the place on the mainland aforesaid where the present bridge begins, and to extend across said branch or arm of Long Island Sound to the place or near the place on City Island where the present bridge terminates.  The said Town Board is hereby further authorized, for and on behalf of, and in the name of said town, to take and hold, in the manner hereinafter mentioned, so much land, at or near each end of the said bridge, as may be necessary for the erection of the said bridge and the piers, abutments, and other appurtenances thereof, and for all necessary approaches leading to and from the same.  The said bridge shall be constructed with a draw, to open at least forty feet, so as to permit vessels with standing masts to pass through the same.

Section 2.  It shall be lawful for the said Town Board, for and in behalf, of the said town to purchase such land, at and near each end of the bridge at the mainland and on City Island, as may be necessary for the purposes of said bridge, and to enter upon and take possession of the same.  Such land to be purchased of the owners thereof at a price mutually to be agreed upon; and if, for any reason, the said board are unable to agree with the owner or owners for the purchase of any real estate so required for the purposes of said bridge, the said Town Board shall have the right to acquire such real estate for, and in the name of, the town, in the same manner and by like proceedings, as railroad corporations are authorized by law to acquire land in cases in which they are unable to agree with the owners of the same.  The said board is also hereby authorized, for and in behalf of the said town, to use and occupy so much of the bed of the stream of the said sound, and the land between high and low water mark, as may be necessary for the purposes of said bridge and the piers, abutments and appurtenances are to be so constructed and used as not to hinder or delay navigation.

Section 3.  Such bridge when erected, shall always be a free bridge for the use of the public, and all vessels shall have the right to pass through the draw thereof without toll.

Section 4.  The construction of said bridge shall be under the management and control of the said Town Board of the town of Pelham, or of a committee appointed thereby, who shall receive no compensation for such supervision, management and control as aforesaid.

Section 5.  The supervisor of the said town of Pelham, by and with the consent of the town board, or of a majority of the members thereof, is hereby authorized and empowered to borrow, upon the credit of said town, the sum of twenty thousand dollars to pay for the construction of such bridge, the drawing of plans and specifications therefor and other necessary incidental expenses, and to secure the sum so borrowed and the interest thereon, the said supervisor is hereby authorized and empowered to issue coupon bonds, by and with the consent of the said town board, as hereinbefore provided, in the manner and to the amount hereinafter provided.

Section 6.  The said bonds shall be signed by the Supervisor and the Town Clerk of said town, and issued for an amount not less than two hundred and fifty dollars each, and not more than one thousand dollars each :  the sum of two thousand dollars only, of the money so borrowed, as hereby authorized, shall become due and payable on the first day of May in each year.  A record of all bonds, so issued, shall be kept by the Town Clerk, of said town, in a book to be kept by him for that purpose; showing the date and amount of each bond, when the same becomes due and payable; the amount of principal and interest paid and remaining unpaid, and all particulars in relation to the issue, sale and redemption thereof.

Section 7.  Said bonds shall bear interest at a rate not exceeding five per cent. per annum, payable annually, and shall be sold for not less than their par value; and the premium, if any, which may be received thereon, shall be applied in payment of the interest first becoming due thereon, and the amount of such premiums shall be deducted from the sum authorized to be levied and collected, as provided in the ninth section of this act.

Section 8.  The supervisor of the said town shall at the time of making his annual accounting, as provided by law, make a full and true report of all bonds so issued and outstanding and unpaid, the number date and amount thereof, and the amount of interest paid during the year :  for all of which payments of bonds and interest the proper vouchers must be presented with said report, and said report shall be entered in full by the said town clerk in the book to be kept by him for that purpose.

Section 9.  During each and every year, while any of said bonds remain unpaid, it shall be the duty of the Board of Supervisors of the County of Westchester to cause to be levied and collected, according to law, from the taxable property and inhabitants of the town of Pelham, over and above the expenses of collecting the same, and at the same time and in the same manner in which the taxes of said town for other town purposes shall be levied and collected, such sums as will be sufficient to pay the amount of interest, due or becoming due in any one year, on said bonds; together with and in addition to an amount not exceeding two thousand dollars in any one year, to pay the principal of such of the bonds as may become due and payable during the year; the amount so levied and collected, as provided in this section, shall be in addition to the other sums authorized or required by law to be annually levied and collected, as provided in this section, shall be in addition to the other sums authorized or required by law to be annually levied and collected from the taxable property and inhabitants of said town.

Section 10.  All acts or parts of acts inconsisent with the foregoing act are hereby repealed.

Section 11.  This act shall take effect immediately."

Source:  AN ACT, The Chronicle [Mount Vernon, NY], Mar. 28, 1884, Vol. XV, No. 758, p. 1, cols. 4-5.

"THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 1884.

The House met pursuant to adjournment. . . . 

By unanimous consent,

Mr. S. W. Johnson introduced a bill entitled 'An act to authorize the contstruction of a bridge in the town of Pelham, Westchester county, between the mainland of said town and City island, and to authorize the acquiring of land therefor, and the issuing of bonds of the said town to pay for said bridge,' which was read the first time, and by unanimous consent was also read the second time, and referred to to committee on roads and bridges."

Source:  Journal of the Assembly of the State of New York:  At Their One Hundred And Seventh Session Begun and Held at the Capitol, in the City of Albany, on the First Day of January, 1884, p. 423 (Albany, NY:  Weed, Parsons & Co., 1884).  

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To learn more about the City Island Bridge, early efforts to develop a bridge from the mainland to City Island and about Benjamin Palmer, Samuel Rodman, and others involved in efforts to build such a bridge, see the following.   

Wed., May 06, 2015:  Another Interesting History of City Island Published in 1901.

Fri., Mar. 13, 2015:  An Important History of the City Island Bridge Built in 1868 and the Way Brothers' Ferry That Preceded It.

Mon., Dec. 15, 2014:  Brief History of City Island Including the Legend of the Macedonia Hotel with Photographs Published in 1906.

Thu., Dec. 04, 2014:  Park Department Commissioners Condemned -- But Didn't Close -- the "Dilapidated" City Island Bridge in 1894.

Tue., Oct. 07, 2014:  Legislative History of the 1775 Statute Authorizing Construction of City Island Bridge.

Fri., Oct. 03, 2014:  1775 Statute Authorizing Construction of City Island Bridge.

Tue., Jul. 22, 2014:  Stories of City Island Bridge Published in 1892.

Wed., May 28, 2014:  Description of City Island in the Town of Pelham Published in 1868.

Wed., Mar. 10, 2010:  1899 Article About City Island's New Bridge Describes History of Area and Includes Wonderful Images.

Wed., Dec. 05, 2007:  Photograph of the Old Wooden City Island Bridge.

Tue., Dec. 26, 2006:  1775 Statute Authorizing Samuel Rodman and Benjamin Palmer to Build City Island Drawbridge.  

Tue., May 02, 2006:  Benjamin Palmer's Advertisement in 1756 To Raise Subscriptions To Fund a Free Bridge From Manhattan.

Wed., May 17, 2006:  More About Benjamin Palmer's Involvement With Raising Funds for a Free Bridge from Manhattan. 

Fri., May 05, 2006:  1763 Announcement That City Island in the Manor of Pelham Has Been Laid Out in Lots for Sale.

Mon., May 15, 2006:  Resales of Lots in the 1760s on the Island Known Today as City Island.

Thu., Apr. 19, 2007:  An Account of How Soldiers Were "Recruited" in Pelham in 1758 for the French and Indian War.  

Mon., Jan. 29, 2007:  Palmer Family Offers One Thirtieth of City Island for Sale in 1785.

Archive of the Historic Pelham Web Site.

Home Page of the Historic Pelham Blog.

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