Pelham's Fourth of July Celebration in 1877

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Happy Fourth of July, dear Pelham.  Most importantly, Happy Birthday America.  

Pelham has a grand and longstanding history of monumental Fourth of July celebrations.  Indeed, I have written about such celebrations a number of times.  See, e.g.:

Mon., Jul. 04, 2016:  19th Century Fourth of July Celebrations in the Town of Pelham.

Fri., Jul. 04, 2014:  A History of Grand "Small-Town" Fourth of July Celebrations in Pelham.

Pelham was a very different place in 1877.  But, the Fourth of July was celebrated just as joyously that year as it will be today, 140 years later.  

The Fourth of July, 1877, was only one year after the centennial celebration of the birth of our nation.  That centennial celebration still resonated with Pelhamites in 1877.  Indeed, the dedication of the Huguenot Memorial Presbyterian Church, the nation's only "Centennial Church," was still fresh in the minds of all Pelhamites.

An important part of the 1876 centennial celebration was the patriotic gathering of Pelham's "City Island Cornet Band."  We may smile a little smile today at the thought of a "Cornet Band" being an important part of such a celebration, but the band truly was integral to our town's grand centennial celebration that year.  Indeed, the Cornet Band was so integral to the centennial celebration in 1876 that the women of Pelham resolved at about Christmas that year to prepare something extraordinary for the July Fourth Celebration a few months later.

By about Christmas, 1876, women of Pelham gathered in gratitude to repay the Pelham musicians who made Pelham's celebration of the nation's centennial so special.  Pelham women decided at Christmas time to create an important and amazing embroidered U.S. flag for the "City Island Cornet Band." 

Wednesday, July 4, 1877 was a warm and lovely day in Pelham.  The patriotic celebration of the day began with a sailing race among five City Island cat-rigged sailboats (single sail boats with a single mast, usually with a shallow draft and a "centreboard").  Five such cat-rigged sail boats competed:  Big Bonanza, Little Nell, Potato Bug, Little Gull and Sembler.  Big Bonanza took first place that lovely day in Pelham.  

Just like the year before (the nation's centennial celebration year), the "City Island Cornet Band" played an important role in Pelham's July 4 celebration.  The band serenaded important citizens of the Town.  

That day, the band gathered at the City Island home of Henry Bischoff.  The band first played a number of patriotic songs, then the special festivities began.  

For nearly seven months from Christmas, 1876 to July 4, 1877, the women of Pelham worked tirelessly to embroider a patriotic masterpiece.  The massive embroidered flag depicted the Goddess of Liberty (Columbia) on one side, bearing aloft an American flag that extended to the other side of the masterpiece.  According to one account, the flag "was skilfully embroidered and a neater piece of workmanship never left the hands of the fair [women]."

Young Miss Amanda Bischoff, a daughter of host Henry Bischoff, delivered remarks on behalf of the women who created the flag for the City Island Coronet Band.  Amanda Bischoff was graceful, accomplished, and modest.  She delivered important patriotic remarks that are worth documenting today.  That day, 140 years ago today, young Amanda Bischoff of Pelham said:

"When, at the celebration of our glorious Centennial, our good neighbors and the patriotic citizens of this blessed little island united to do honor to the occasion, it was then the sweet strains of the City Island Cornet Band that contributed to enliven the festive scenery around us, and earned our common gratitude; and in due appreciation, the family Bischoff went into counsel to deliberate upon the propriety of giving a lasting token of our feeling towards your noble institution.  It occurred to us that some emblem, patriotic and musical at once, wouuld be welcomed by you.  We set to work during the long winter and the result is the flag, at present in my hands, still in disguise, but which it will be my honor and pleasure to unfold and present to you in a moment.  Your approbation of the subject as well as the execution of this little work of love, would make us happy.  Columbia, the sweet goddess, worshipped [sic] by every freeman, delightfully looks upon the implements of the noble art at her feet, promising you fame and reward, and who would not be inspired by such authority.  In the name of our family then, I devote to you this flag."

At that moment, the embroidered masterpiece was unfurled before the crowd.  Miss Bischoff contintued:

"[I devote to you this flag] with the best wishes for your future success.  Unite around it on all social occasions, be they pleasure, entertainment or such as require it veiled in crape; be it to celebrate our national holidays, or leading on our patriots to battle in defense of our blessed country.  I than you for you patience in listening to my feeble effort of addressing you and request all to assist me in giving three hearty cheers for thee City Island Cornet Band."

Orrin Waterhouse of the City Island Cornet Band accepted the embroidered flag with appropriate words.  We may only wish we could know today where that magnificent embroidered flag -- or its remnants, may be.  

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Below is the text of the news article that forms the basis of today's Historic Pelham article.  The text is followed by a citation and link to its source.  

"City Island.

The race on July 4th, between cat-rigged boats resulted in a victory for the Big Bonanza.  The contestants were, Big Bonanza, Little Nell, Potato Bug, Little Gull and Sembler.

The City Island Cornet Band serenaded a number of prominent citizens of the Island and vicinity on the Fourth of July.

There will be a race between cat-rigged boats at City Island on Saturday, July, 14.

The City Island Cornet Band serenaded Mr. Henry Bischoff and family at their tasteful and cosy little villa, City Island, on the Fourth, and after discoursing several national airs, were presented by the ladies of this gentleman's family with a beautiful flag worked and elegantly finished by them during the winter months, conceived at Christmas time and presented on our national holiday.  On one side of the flag the Goddess of Liberty, bearing aloft the flag of our country was skilfully embroidered and a neater piece of workmanship never left the hands of the fair.  Miss Amanda Bischoff, the graceful and accomplished daughter of the host, at the conclusion of the serenade proper, stepped into the foreground and, with a chaste and native modesty, said:  'Mr. Leader and gentlemen of the City Island Cornet Band!  --  When, at the celebration of our glorious Centennial, our good neighbors and the patriotic citizens of this blessed little island united to do honor to the occasion, it was then the sweet strains of the City Island Cornet Band that contributed to enliven the festive scenery around us, and earned our common gratitude; and in due appreciation, the family Bischoff went into counsel to deliberate upon the propriety of giving a lasting token of our feeling towards your noble institution.  It occurred to us that some emblem, patriotic and musical at once, would be welcomed by you.  We set to work during the long winter and the result is the flag, at present in my hands, still in disguise, but which it will be my honor and pleasure to unfold and present to you in a moment.  Your approbation of the subject as well as the execution of this little work of love, would make us happy.  Columbia, the sweet goddess, worshipped [sic] by every freeman, delightfully looks upon the implements of the noble art at her feet, promising you fame and reward, and who would not be inspired by such authority.  In the name of our family then, I devote to you this flag (here flag was unfurled and presented) with the best wishes for your future success.  Unite around it on all social occasions, be they pleasure, entertainment or such as require it veiled in crape; be it to celebrate our national holidays, or leading on our patriots to battle in defense of our blessed country.  I than you for you patience in listening to my feeble effort of addressing you and request all to assist me in giving three hearty cheers for thee City Island Cornet Band.'  Mr. Orrin Waterhouse, in the name of the Cornet Band, responded in very appropriate words.

Mrs. Murphy desires to state that the report that her baby died from the effects of an overdose of laudanum is untrue.

The first annual excursion of Pelham Lodge, No. 712, F. and A. M., will take place on Thursday, August 16th 1877.  The steamer General Sedgwick, has been engaged, and will leave New Rochelle at 7:30 and City Island at 8 o'clock A. M.  The excursion will consist of a sail up the Hudson through the highlands.  The tickets are $1 each."

Source:  City Island, The Chronicle, Jul. 13, 1877, Vol. VIII, No. 408, p. 2, col. 5.  

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