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.

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Paper Dated March 20, 1731/32 in Which Thomas Pell Renounced Right To Serve As Executor of Will of Thomas Parsal


As I noted in last Friday's posting to the Historic Pelham Blog, recently, while preparing for a workshop presentation on using the Web to find "primary" sources to support historical research, I ran across a couple of fascinating Pelham-related items in the "Witness to Early American Experience" collection developed jointly by the New-York Historical Society and New York University. One of those items was a paper bearing the signature and seal of Thomas Pell executed on March 20, 1731/2 in which he renounced his right to serve as Executor of the last will and testament of Thomas Parsal. The paper is from The Richard Maass Collection, Fales Library, NYU (Identifier No. 055-002-a-0230).

Below is a link to an image of the item, followed immediately by a transcription of the item:

http://dlib.nyu.edu/maassimages/maass/jpg/000186s.jpg

"Mannor of Pelham in Westchester
County D: 1731/2 this 20 Day
of March

These are to notify all whom it may concern that I Thomas Pell one of the Executors of the Last Will and Testament of Thomas Parsal and for diverse good reasons having renounced my right of Executorship to the Said Will per this [illegible] whereof I have hereunto set my hand the day & year first above written

Sealed and Delivered
in the presence of

Tho: Pell [Pell Seal on Red Wax]"

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Monday, March 30, 2009

Orders Issued from Pelham During the War of 1812


Recently, while preparing for a workshop presentation on using the Web to find "primary" sources to support historical research, I ran across a couple of fascinating Pelham-related items in the "Witness to Early American Experience" collection developed jointly by the New-York Historical Society and New York University. One of them contains orders issued from Pelham during the War of 1812. The material is a laid paper fragment containing orders issued by Samuel M. Richardson on June 23, 1812 from Pelham. It is from The Richard Maass Collection, Fales Library, NYU (Identifier 055-002-A-0759).

Below is a link to the image of the item, followed immediately by a transcription of the order:

http://dlib.nyu.edu/maassimages/maass/jpg/000604s.jpg

"Pelham 23. June 1812

Pursuant to orders from Colonel Miltinow [sp. ?] Capt. John P. White will detach from the 7th Company, now under his command (in any way he may think proper) five privates and one Seargeant, for the service of the United States. The number of men to be taken from the 2d Battallion is forty seven Officers included, which is to form one Company. You will make out a list of the names & hand them to the subscriber without loss of time

Per Order

Saml M. Richardson

{ Major 2d Bat. 8th Regiment

To Capt. J. P. White"

To provide a little context, following a number of actions by the British in the early 19th century, Americans were seething at British slights including Britain's refusal to reverse decrees imposed during the Napoleonic Wars that continued to interfere with American shipping. With American trade in shambles and the young nation's economy at serious risk, many began to beat the drums of war. On June 18, 12, President James Madison singed into law a Congressional declaration of war against the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.

It would seem that the above-quoted order issued five days later was part of the effort by the young United States to federalize portions of the New York State militia for the defense of coastal New York. It was not until September 1813 -- more than a year later -- that the war reached Pelham's doorstep in a brief naval battle off its shores.

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Friday, March 27, 2009

Remains of 53 Individuals Thought to Be Revolutionary War Combatants Reinterred at St. Paul's Church on October 17, 1908


As I have written many times before, the history of St. Paul's Church of Eastchester, now a National Historic Site, is closely entertwined with that of the Town of Pelham. Consequently, I often have written about the history of the church here. For a few of many examples, see:

Thursday, March 26, 2009: Excerpt From Book Published in 1860 Provides Memories of Sundays at St. Paul's Church Before 1838.

Thursday, November 8, 2007: Brief History of St. Paul's Church in Eastchester Published in 1886.

Friday, September 21, 2007: The Ringing of the Bell of St. Paul's Church of Eastchester on the 100th Anniversary of the First Service in the Stone Church.

Thursday, September 6, 2007: Information About St. Paul's Church, the Battle of Pelham and Other Revolutionary War Events Near Pelham Contained in an Account Published in 1940

Wednesday, August 15, 2007: Plan of Pews in St. Paul's Church 1790

Monday, August 13, 2007: 1865 Comments of Rev. William Samuel Coffey of St. Paul's Church in Eastchester Regarding the Tenure of Rev. Robert Bolton of Pelham

Wednesday, August 8, 2007: A Description of an Eyewitness Account of Interior of St. Paul's Church in Eastchester During the Revolutionary War

Friday, June 15, 2007: Photograph of St. Paul's Church in Eastchester Published in 1914

Monday, April 9, 2007: An Account of the Election Victory of Lewis Morris in the So-Called "Great Election".

Monday, February 12, 2007: Saint Paul's Church National Historic Site Opens New Exhibition: "Overlooked Hero: John Glover and the American Revolution"

Wednesday, December 20, 2006: A Brief History of St. Paul's Church in Eastchester Published in 1907.

Today's Historic Pelham Blog posting transcribes a brief article that appeared in the October 18, 1908 issue of The New York Times. It describes a solemn ceremony in the graveyard of St. Paul's held the previous day to reinter the skeletal remains of at least 50 individuals discovered at a site in Tuckahoe, New York thought to have been Revolutionary War Combatants. The date of the ceremony certainly was not coincidence. October 17 was a Saturday and preceded by one day the anniversary of the Battle of Pelham fought on October 18, 1776. St. Paul's Church was used as a field hospital by British and German troops following that battle. Below is the text of the article.

"COLONIAL HEROES BURIED.

-----

SKELETONS FOUND IN TUCKAHOE LAID TO REST IN EAST CHESTER.

Fifty skeletons, supposedly those of Colonial soldiers who died in the Revolution, were buried in the yard of the pre-revolutionary Church of St. Paul, in East Chester, yesterday afternoon, the Rev. W. S. Coffee officiating. They were buried in a big plain board coffin.

There was no plate upon the coffin, only a small American flag, but the Daughters of the American Revolution of Mount Vernon, who took charge of the burial, hope in time to erect an appropriate monument over the grave.

There was no service in the church, only the commitment service of the Episcopal Church at the grave, where some seventy or eighty persons, many of them members of the D.A.R., gathered. There were no addresses. Some persons think the skeletons, which were discovered in excavating a Tuckahoe road, are really bones from an abandoned colored cemetery, and other persons were certain that a goodly number of the bones were those of women.

Reginald Pelham Bolton, Dr. Philip Schuyler Van Patten, and Mrs. Joseph Woodk, Regent of the Mount Vernon Society, D. A. R., have made a thorough investigation of the place where the bones were found and the history of that part of the country. It was found that several skirmishes between the Americans and British soldiers took place on that ground, which was near the tavern of Stephen Ward, an old-time patriot. The skulls have been proved to be those of white men, and Prof. Huntington of Columbia University has asserted that the bones were all those of men.

Two gravestones in St. Paul's Church yard are dated 1704. There is an old Prayer Book in the church dated 1715, and a Bible, 1759, used in the service of the church, and these, with the bell still in use, were buried in the Revolution.

At that time the church building was used for a hospital, and across the path from the graves of the American and British soldiers buried yesterday is the site of an old sand pit, from which material for the building of the church was taken, and where those who died when it was a hospital were buried, unknown and unnamed. The burial spot for the fifty skeletons was purposely chosen in this place. The rector of the church, Mr. Coffee has held that office for fifty-six years."

Source: Colonial Heroes Buried, N.Y. Times, Oct. 18, 1908, p. 8.

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Thursday, March 26, 2009

Excerpt from Book Published in 1860 Provides Memories of Sundays at St. Paul's Church Before 1838


The history of St. Paul's Church of Eastchester, now a National Historic Site, is closely entertwined with that of the Town of Pelham. Consequently, I often have written about the history of the church here. For a few of many examples, see:

Thursday, November 8, 2007: Brief History of St. Paul's Church in Eastchester Published in 1886.

Friday, September 21, 2007: The Ringing of the Bell of St. Paul's Church of Eastchester on the 100th Anniversary of the First Service in the Stone Church

Thursday, September 6, 2007: Information About St. Paul's Church, the Battle of Pelham and Other Revolutionary War Events Near Pelham Contained in an Account Published in 1940

Wednesday, August 15, 2007: Plan of Pews in St. Paul's Church 1790

Monday, August 13, 2007: 1865 Comments of Rev. William Samuel Coffey of St. Paul's Church in Eastchester Regarding the Tenure of Rev. Robert Bolton of Pelham

Wednesday, August 8, 2007: A Description of an Eyewitness Account of Interior of St. Paul's Church in Eastchester During the Revolutionary War

Friday, June 15, 2007: Photograph of St. Paul's Church in Eastchester Published in 1914

Monday, April 9, 2007: An Account of the Election Victory of Lewis Morris in the So-Called "Great Election".

Monday, February 12, 2007: Saint Paul's Church National Historic Site Opens New Exhibition: "Overlooked Hero: John Glover and the American Revolution"

Wednesday, December 20, 2006: A Brief History of St. Paul's Church in Eastchester Published in 1907

Today's Historic Pelham Blog posting transcribes a chapter from a book published in 1860 containing an account of "Pleasant Sundays' spent at St. Paul's Church in about 1836. The author of the book was James Bolton (1824 - 1863), the youngest son of Rev. Robert Bolton who founded Christ Church in Pelham Manor and who served as Rector of St. Paul's Church in East Chester.

As James Bolton notes in the preface, he changed names in the book, but provides "truthful" narrratives from his boyhood. The book is about his family's life on the "Pond Field Farm" in East Chester which Rev. Bolton acquired in about 1836 before he built Bolton Priory and Christ Church in Pelham. In the book, James Bolton refers to Pond Field Farm as "Brook Farm", to East Chester as "Lancaster" and to St. Paul's Church as "St. Peter's Church".

The material appears immediately below, followed by a citation to its source.

"V.

Pleasant Sundays.

BROOK FARM was about three miles from the village of Lancaster. It was the nearest village to us, and thither we had to go for our letters, literature, clothes and groceries; all of which, and blue pills besides, could be obtained in one large shop. The village, nicely shaded with locust-trees, straggled for another mile along the high road -- the houses being mostly on the left-side of the way, as on the right-hand side the land bordered on a vast salt-marsh, watered, and often flooded by a tidal creek [Hutchinson River], which connected Lancaster with the sea. Beyond the marsh, rose a somewhat hilly and well-wooded country, trending towards other townships. The inhabitants of Lancaster were mostly farmers, each living on [Page 33 / Page 34] his own small holding. Here and there was a villa of pretensious architecture, the residence of a retired city tradesman, or of an elderly maiden lady, invisible as a dormouse during the cold season. The Lancastrians must have been a healthy population, for they had no doctor. They must have been a happy population, for they had no lawyer. That they were kindly and hospitable, we had many practical experiences. There were, as there always are, village curiosities among them; the cheif of these was that aged patriarch, Beldart, the sexton -- six feet of bone and muscle -- bell-ringer and grave-digger -- the parish authority -- the person, according to his own estimate, on whose Atlas shoulders rested all the interests of true religion and virtue in Lancaster.

Close on his heels came Squire Timms, a crotchety bachelor -- rector's churchwarden, always in a fidget about something -- the target of the village belles. Then there was 'Aunt Bathsheba,' as she was called -- as her own children called her -- fattest and amiablest [Page 34 / Page 35] of women -- throwing off smiles as the sun throws off its rays -- delighting much in teaparties (she was famous for crullers and dough-nuts), and so fond of hearing herself sing, that she never knew when to let a note go, but would be warbling away at the first line of a psalm whilst the congregation had turned the corner of the third. If it was not praying for the dead, I would say, 'Bless her dear old soul.' Sixty years ago, when a boy, whilst playing about the camp of a British regiment, then lying at Lancaster, her husband had his skull cracked by a wanton soldier, who got, as he deserved, the cat-o'-nine-tails for it. He had to be trepanned, and there on the crown of his polished head, encircled by a wreath of snowiest hair, you could see the piece of silver -- we always set it down for an English half-crown -- which the doctors had made him a present of.

The parish church, St. Peter's, of which our beloved father was rector, stood by itself on a green knoll at the entrance of the village. It was a large stone edifice, begun prior to [Page 35 / Page 36] the revolutionary war, and had been used as a court-house or hospital by either earmy, according as the one or the other occupied Lancaster. Beldart remembered when you could trace blood-stains on the floor. There, even up to our day, sunken in the trunks of a row of venerable acacias, might be seen the rings to which troopers had fastened their horses, and occasionally, so tradition said, unhappy creatures with two legs less than a horse.

I have told you that the church stood by itself on a green knoll. It was surrounded with tall willows and poplars; but the glittering weathercock on its spire out-topped the tallest of them. The churchyard, which sloped down to the marsh, lay behind. It was spacious, yet thickly covered with stones, some just from the mason's chisel, some dating back as far as 1688. Over the graves ran quantities of blackberry vines, the fruit whereof we could stick on our thumbs like thimbles; but we dare not go very deeply into their constituents. I am afraid that these juicy black- [Page 36 / Page 37] berries often drew us off from profiting by the epitaphs.

Adjoining the church was a hundred-and-fifty-feet carriage shed, built, as the inscription on it testified, by that munificent individual, 'John Armiger, Esq., for the comfort and convenience of the worshippers at St. Peter's.'

I was a 'comfort and convenience,' for numbers of the worshippers came from a distance, and we could not leave our vehicles exposed to the noon-heat or rain. Now we drove into this famous shed, exchanged our horses' bridles for halters, gave them their hay or corn, and left the whole row, two or three dozen, in charge of a single man.

For this church, then, of a Sunday, our family started about ten o'clock, directly the necessary farm duties were done. It was a three quarters of an hour's drive, for there were some formidable hills to ascend and descend. We made a regular cavalcade -- four wheels, two-wheels and saddle -- seldom less than fifteen souls -- and we carried our own [Page 37 / Page 38] and our horses' provender with us, for it was too far to return between morning and afternoon services.

Arrived, we had ten minutes to see the horses stabled, and exchange a word with the farmers' sons, who lingered outside the porch till the bell tolled in. Then we took our seats in the gallery around the organ. (The organ also announced, in gold letters, that it was the gift of the munificent 'John Armiger, Esq.') We were the choir, whilse our elder sister played. The prayer-book service is the same as in England, except that you pray for the 'President of the United States,' instead of 'our Sovereign Lady Queen Victoria,' and for 'the Senate and Representatives in Congress assembled,' instead of 'the High Court of Parliament.' Our beloved father had no curate. I often wished I could have helped him when it was so hot, that every opening of the mouth was an effort. He preached simply, affectionately, earnestly -- upholding the Banner of the Truth with both [Page 38 / Page 39] hands and the people knew the joyful sound, and crowded to hear it.

After service, we looked to the horses and then, in exceedingly primitive style, spread our own meal on the vestry table, and, sitting round on chairs and hassocks, ate our meal 'with gladness and singleness of hears, giving thanks to God' for it in his own house. In extreme summer the vestry was too close, and we had to adjourn to the open space around the communion rails.

Then our Sunday-school commenced. We had fifty or sixty children. The were arranged in classes in the gallery. My personal charge was a group of black boys. They were merry fellows -- merrier than wise. They laughed at the driest question in the Catechism, and there were certain Scripture stories, as Balaam and his loquacious ass, and Jonah in the whale's belly, which gave rise to such a rolling of the whites of their eyes, and to such rollicking sounds, that I did not [Page 39 / Page 40] venture to narrate them twice. I tried to write lessons on their memories, but it was very much like trying to write them on a whipt syllabub.

Sunday-school ended, we strolled up a lovely shady valley, down which a brook dropped musically; lay on the cool sward; listened to the wood-thrush's vespers; and talked on sacred subjects.

By-and-by the bells rang again, and we assembled for a late afternoon service. Then hastening home, we walked over the farm, and marked the growth of things; and so, thanking God for our Sabbaths, finished them as a Christian household should with 'hymns and spiritual songs.'

Those were pleasant Sundays. I regale myself on them now! They were pleasant, I verily believe, because they were observed sacredly. Busy six-day workers need a seventh day's rest, and you cannot rest if you allow worldly enterprises or worldly pleasures to occupy the mind -- they keep the mill grind- [Page 40 / Page 41] ing, whereas you want to shut it up, and get rid of its clatter.

It is possible for everybody to sanctify the Lord's day in their hearts, and if they have learnt that secret, they have learnt the secret of pleasant Sundays.

Source: Bolton, James, Brook Farm: The Amusing and Memorable of American Country Life, Chapter V, pp. 33 - 41 (NY, NY: Robert Carter & Brothers, 1860).

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Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Another Brief Account by Fontaine Fox Describing Trolley in Pelham Manor as Inspiration for Toonerville Trolley Comic Strip


Occasionally I have written about the "Toonerville Trolley" and its ties to Pelham. For a few examples, see:

Mon., March 5, 2007: An Ode to the Toonerville Trolley and Its Skipper Published in 1921.

Wed., November 15, 2006: Another Letter by Fontaine Fox Describing How the Pelham Manor Trolley Inspired Him to Create the Toonerville Trolley.

Tue., September 19, 2006: Toonerville Trolley Cartoons Available For Free Viewing Online

Wed., August 9, 2006: The Saddest Day in the History of Pelham Manor's "Toonerville Trolley"

Tues., October 11, 2005: The Toonerville Trolley Pays its Bills -- Late!

Tues., September 20, 2005: Pelham's "Toonerville Trolley" Goes To War

Fri., June 17, 2005: "Skipper Louie" of Pelham Manor's Toonerville Trolley

Tue., April 19, 2005: Pelham Manor Residents Fight Construction of the Toonerville Trolley Line

Today's Historic Pelham Blog posting transcribes an excerpt from an article written by Wesley W. Stout from interviews he conducted of Fontaine Fox, the creator of Toonerville Folks. The article appeared in the July, 1936 issue of The Magazine Sigma Chi. According to the author, Fontaine Fox noted that his first efforts to draw sketches of trolleys arose when he worked for a local newspaper in Louisville, Kentucky, but the idea for the comic strip arose when he rode on the little Pelham Manor trolley one day. Below is the excerpt, followed by a citation to its source.

"In Louisville, there is a belt line around the city known as the Brook Street line. It gets all the cast-off equipment of the trunk lines. I lived on it, as did my managing editor, A. T. MacDonald. He lampooned the service in his daily column of paragraphs and had me draw some sketches to support his campaign. These memories were stored in the back of my head.

Soon after coming to New York, my wife and I went up in the Pelam neighborhood to call on Charley Voight and found a rattletrap trolley at the station. The car and its combination conductor-motorman were a pretty close approximation of the Toonerville Trolley and its Skiper. When we got back home, I worked out the idea."

Source: Stout, Weley W., A Noted Cartoonist, The Magazine Sigma Chi, July 1936, pp. 133, 139.

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Tuesday, March 24, 2009

1897 Photograph of Visitors Streaming to Athletic Outing on Travers Island in Pelham Manor


Below is an interesting photograph that shows visitors streaming across the causeway to Travers Island in Pelham Manor in 1897 to attend athletic games on the Island at the summer clubhouse of the New York Athletic Club. The photograph shows the old clubhouse on the Island before it was destroyed by fire on January 5, 1901. Interestingly, the causeway no longer exists because the small bay has since been filled and a parking area stands on and near the area.

The photograph appeared in the November, 1897 issue of "Outing" magazine as part of an article about the first of a series of athletics matches between the Chicago Athletic Association and the New York Athletic Club held on October 2, 1897.






Source: Athletics: The East Against the West in Outing, Vol. XXX, No. 2, p. 203 (Nov. 1897).

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Monday, March 23, 2009

The Greyhound and the Tantivy-- The Four-in-Hand Coaches that Succeeded Col. Delancey Kane's "Tally-Ho" to Pelham


I have published many items on the Historic Pelham Blog regarding the spectacle of "coaching to Pelham" in four-in-hand carriages during the 1870s and 1880s. Col. Delancey Kane began the practice during the 1870s. Many followed in his footsteps. To read a little about the curious fad, you may wish to review the following items which are merely a few of the many, many items on the topic published to this Blog and to the HistoricPelham.com Web site.

Friday, February 11, 2005: Col. Delancey Kane's "Pelham Coach", Also Known as The Tally-Ho, Is Located.

Bell, Blake A., Col. Delancey Kane and "The Pelham Coach" (Sep. 2003).

Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2008: Brief "History of Coaching" Published in 1891 Shows Ties of Sport to Pelham, New York

Wednesday, July 27, 2005: 1882 Engraving Shows Opening of Coaching Season From Hotel Brunswick to Pelham Bridge.

Wednesday, September 28, 2005: Taunting the Tantivy Coach on its Way to Pelham: 1886.

Thursday, August 3, 2006: Images of Colonel Delancey Kane and His "Pelham Coach" Published in 1878.

Today's Historic Pelham Blog posting transcribes the text of an article that appeared in the April 18, 1886 issue of the New-York Tribune. That article described two of the coaching successors to Col. Delancey Kane's "Tally-Ho": The Greyhound and the Tantivy.

"THE SEASON FOR SPORTS.

-----

THE TANTIVY TO TAKE THE ROAD

-----

BRIGHT PROSPECTS FOR COACHING MEN.

-----

THE ANNUAL PARADE OF THE CLUB ON MAY 22 -- EXCURSIONS IN PROSPECT.

Those who still love the music of the three-foot-horn, who think that a journey behind four spirited horses through forest and field, beneath the clear sky of May or in the gorgeous sunshine of October, is more healthful and far better sport than to watch the dissolving views of nature obtained through a cloud of dust and cinders from the window of a railroad car, have laid their heads together and have formed their plans for the coming season. On the 22d day of next month the annual parade of the Coaching Club will take place in Central Park. It will be a brilliant occasion, for there are nowhere in the world handsomer or better appointed drags, drawn by finer coaching horses, than in New-York. This was quite evident at the Horse Show last November, when Pierre Lorillard's four beautiful bays received the first prize. It is not yet known how many drags will be in line, but it is certain that there will be enough to make a fine showing. The parade will pass through the drives of the Park, and on this great day of the season will not astonish the goats and other inhabitants of Westchester County by unveiling its beauty before their unwonted eyes. Westchester, however, is not long to be left to its rustic tranquility. The old Tally-Ho which Colonel Kane used to drive daily between the Brunswick Hotel and Pelham during a whole season proved so successful that it has not been without successors. These coaches, with their daily trips into the country bringing their passengers back in the evening invigorated by a day in the open air, were always filled, and it was always with the greatest difficulty that places could be obtained by application many days in advance. Parties were made up every day for the round trip, and loud were the praises betowed upon the coaching dinner which was spread before the hungry passengers at Pelham. The Tantivy and the Greyhound succeeded the Tally-Ho. The Greyhound was run on the Pelham route under the joint management of J. R. Roosevelt and C. O. Iselin. The Tatnivy [sic] made daily trips to Tarrytown once season and to Yonkers the next. The Tantivy is to be put on the road again this season. The terminus of the route will be the shady home of the Country Club, whose windows look out upon the Sound; and where if the drive has been hot and dusty, the travelers will find a cool and refreshing noon-day halting place. The Country Club is in the village of Bartow, whence the distance to the Brunswick is eighteen miles. Twenty-five horses have been selected for hire along the route, and they are to be of such metal that passengers on the Tantivy will never grumble at their pace. The roads are excellent for coaching purposes and the hills are neither long nor steep. Four changes will be made along the route -- at One-hundred-and-tenth-st., at Unionport, at Westchester and at Pelham.

The Tantivy will be driven by J. R. Roosevelt and Frederick Bronson on alternate days. Both these gentlemen are experienced whips, and their handling of the ribbons may be relied on as an exponent of all that is graceful and scientific in the art of driving. When the Tantivy ran to Tarrytown and to Yonkers Mr. Bronson was one of the drivers. Mr. Roosevelt's experience is international. The team which is a well-known nobleman used to drive between Brighton and London was never more beautifully handled than that which Mr. Roosevelt conducted from Brighton to Eastbourne, and it is said that he still possesses a large collection of shillings given by thankful and admiring passengers to the driver at the end of each day's trip. The Tantivy will make its first trip on April 26.

It has been a pleasant custom in the Coaching Club for the club in a body to visit one of its members every spring and another in the autumn. Many if not all the members have large country places not far from the city. The club meets at some designated point and thence drives to the place of the member to whose lot has fallen the agreeable duty of acting as host. After a day or so of merry-making the club drives back again. There is never a lack of hospitable offers when the time comes round for one of these pleasant excursions. The club has in this way already been entertained by Pierre Lorillard at Rancocas, by Colonel Jay at Bedford, N. Y.; by W. K. Vanderbilt at Oakdale, L. K.; by Mr. Roosevelt to Hyde Park, by Theodore Havemeyer at Mahwah, N. J., and by Mr. Bronson at Greenfield Hill, Conn. This year Neilson Brown invited the club to be his guests at his breeding farm at Torresdale, Penn. Hence it was proposed to pay a visit to A. J. Cassatt's stud farm, near Philadelphia. This plan, however, has been changed, and it has been finally decided that Mr. Bronson shall again have the honor of entertaining the club in Connecticut. Mr. Bronson's farm, near Greenfield Hill, is about sixty miles from the city, a distance which will easily be covered in a day. The start will be made on May 15 at 9 a.m., from the Brunswick. The road passes through Unionport, Pelham, Portchester, Greenwich, Stamford and Norwalk, at each of which towns horses will be changed. A day will be passed with Mr. Brown in looking over the fine Jersey cattle which he breeds on his farm, and on May 18 the club will return to the city. In the autumn the club will visit Prescott Lawrence at Groton, Mass. The club will meet at Newport in September. Hence the road lies through Fall River and New-Bedford to Boston and on to Groton. The distance is about 100 miles, and six hours are considered a sufficient allowance for the journey.

With such a pleasant outlook before them the members of the Coaching Club are in high spirits and anxious for the return of the bright warm days which will permit them again to take their places on the box, crack the whip and feel the ready response from their gallant teams."

Source: The Season for Sports, New-York Tribune, Apr. 18, 1886, p. 15, col. 1.

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Friday, March 20, 2009

Another Reference to 19th Century Baseball in Pelham


Those who follow the Historic Pelham Blog know that I have posted numerous items regarding early organized baseball in Pelham. In fact, I have written extensively on the topic. Among the material I have prepared on the topic are the following:

Monday, November 26, 2007: Box Score of a Baseball Game Played on Travers Island in Pelham Manor in July 1896.

Wednesday, November 21, 2007: Baseball on Travers Island During the Summer of 1897.

Friday, July 20, 2007: Account of Early Baseball in Pelham: Pelham vs. the New York Athletic Club on Travers Island in 1897

Friday, November 10, 2006: The Location of Another Early Baseball Field in Pelham

Monday, October 9, 2006: Reminiscences of Val Miller Shed Light on Late 19th Century Baseball in Pelham and the Early Development of the Village of North Pelham

Thursday, March 23, 2006: Baseball Fields Opened on the Grounds of the Westchester Country Club in Pelham on April 4, 1884

Tuesday, January 31, 2006: Another Account of Baseball Played in Pelham in the 1880s Is Uncovered

Thursday, October 6, 2005: Does This Photograph Show Members of the "Pelham Manor Junior Base Ball Team"?

Thursday, September 15, 2005: Newspaper Item Published in 1942 Sheds Light on Baseball in 19th Century Pelham

Thursday, February 10, 2005: New Discoveries Regarding Baseball in 19th Century Pelham

Bell, Blake A., Baseball in Late 19th Century Pelham, The Pelham Weekly, Vol. XIII, No. 17, Apr. 23, 2004, p. 8, col. 2.

Recently I ran across a snippet within an article on another topic that details a baseball game between the Knickerbockers and the Country Club team from Pelham on June 16, 1884. Below is the brief excerpt followed by a citation to its source.

"THE WEEK IN SOCIETY,

-----

BEGINNING OF THE WEDDING MONTH.

-----

MANY WEDDINGS OF NOTE--A GAME OF BASEBALL BETWEEN SOCIAL CLUBS.

* * * * * *

A good deal of sport is being anticipated in connection with the baseball match arranged between nines of the Knickerbocker and Country clubs, which will be played at the latter's grounds a week from to-morrow. William Binninger is to be the doughty captain of the Knickerbockers, and William Kent of the Country men. It is expected that big scores will be made by both sides. . . ."

Source: The Week in Society, New-York Tribune, Jun. 8, 1884, p. 7, col. 4.

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Thursday, March 19, 2009

More on the Early Efforts To Develop the First Nine Holes of the First Pelham Bay Golf Course


Today's Pelham Split Rock Golf Club, consisting of the Pelham Bay Golf Course and the Split Rock Golf Course, sits on land that once was part of the Town of Pelham before annexation by New York City in 1896. The narrow, tree-lined Split Rock Golf Course opened in 1934 and was designed by John van Kleek. Pelham Bay Golf Course opened in 1905.

I previously have published to the Historic Pelham Blog an interesting account of the early, slow efforts to build the first nine holes of the Pelham Bay Golf Course. See Tuesday, December 20, 2005: An Early Description of Construction of the First Nine Holes of the Pelham Bay Golf Course. As noted in that posting, the account, published in The New York Times in 1900, indicates that Val Flood, New York City's "golf professional" was overseeing construction of the course. Although the first nine holes of the course were scheduled to open in August, 1900, its condition in September of that year -- a full month later -- was described as "chaotic".

Today's posting to the Historic Pelham Blog transcribes an excerpt of an article that describes the earliest efforts to plan and construct the course. The full article appeared in the April 18, 1900 issue of the New-York Tribune.

"GOLF.

-----

COMING MATCHES AT RICHMOND HILL -- ANOTHER PUBLIC LINKS AT PELHAM BAY PARK.

* * * * * * *

Now that the Van Cortlandt Park links are in running order, Commissioner Moebus has turned his attention to Pelham Bay Park, where a second public links is to be laid out this coming season. Commissioner Moebus has all along promised that as soon as the Van Cortlandt improvements were completed he would devote his attention to Pelham Bay, and in fulfilment of that promise a gang of men were at work yesterday making the preliminary arrangements for the new course.

The news of the Commissioner's action will be particularly gratifying to the members of the New-York Athletic Club, whose summer grounds at Travers Island are scarcely fifteen minutes from the new links. In fact, when the club's scheme for a course at Fox Hills fell through the golfing portion of the membership were quick to see that Pelham Bay Park offered the most satisfactory substitute, and they have been urging the carrying out of the project ever since. At the direction of Mr. Moebus, Daniel Ulrich, the city's engineer, has made a careful survey of the property, and, with the suggestions of Laurence E. Van Etten, of the New-York Athletic Club, the map of the new course is now fairly outlined. The course will occupy the northwestern end of the park, about a mile from Pelham Manor, and is comparatively easy of access by means of the New-Haven Railroad to New-Rochelle. It is probable that the first nine holes will be opened in July, but the completed course will be opened in July, but the completed course will hardly be ready before September. . . ."

Source: Golf, New-York Tribune, Apr. 18, 1900, p. 6, col. 3.

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Wednesday, March 18, 2009

A Little More Information About the Closure of the White Hotel


Recently I provided a little information on the closure of the White Hotel in the late 19th century. See Thursday, March 12, 2009: The Reason the White Hotel Was Shut Down and Split from One Building Into Two Cottages.

Today's posting to the Historic Pelham Blog transcribes another brief article that referenced the reasons for the closure of the White Hotel. According to the article, after Pelham voted to permit the sale of liquor, local saloonkeepers began "grossly to abuse" the privilege by opening "dance halls, gambling houses, and even 'green-goods' games". "Green-goods" games are confidence games -- "games" that today we would think of as the hustling three-card monte game or the illegal shell game of the streets of New York City.

"PELHAM.

A special election will be held to-morrow in the town of Pelham on the question of local option under the Raines law. In 1896 the people of Pelham voted no license, but two years later this verdict was set aside in another election. The saloonkeepers no sooner secured permission to engage in business in the town than some of them began grossly to abuse the privilege by conducting dance halls, gambling houses, and even 'green-goods' games in connection with their places. Once place, known as the White House, finally became so notorious that the State Excise Commissioners revoked its license and it was closed."

Source: Pelham, New-York Tribune, Mar. 26, 1900, p. 12, col. 1.

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Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Actions to Stop the Construction of a Trolley Line on Shore Road in 1899 and 1900


In 1899 and 1900, as companies worked hard to cover the region with trolley tracks to improve mass transit, efforts were underway to develop a trolley line along Shore Road to move thousands of passengers to the recreational center and amusement park on Glen Island. Local homeowners fought the efforts valiantly. A brief article in the March 6, 1900 issue of the New-York Tribune described some of those efforts.

"A BILL MAKING NECESSARY THE CONSENT OF A MAJORITY OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS.

Assemblyman Cooley has introduced a bill to prevent the construction of a trolley road in any part of Pelham Road, in the village of Pelham Manor or the city of New-Rochelle, except with the consent in writing of a majority of the owners of property along the thoroughfare. A similar bill offered last year was adopted in the Assembly and failed in the Senate.

Assemblyman Cooley, it is understood, is acting on behalf of a number of prominent people who live in the road and desire to save it from being destroyed by the construction of a surface railroad. One of the results of the measure, if it be adopted, will be to prevent the New-York, Westchester and Connecticut Traction Company, or P. H. Flynn syndicate, from reaching Glen Island."

Source: A Bill Making Necessary the Consent of a Majority of the Property Owners, New-York Tribune, Mar. 6, 1900, p. 10, col. 2.

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Monday, March 16, 2009

Obituary of Architect Frederick Carles Merry


Frederick Carles Merry was a well-known architect and civil engineer in New York City during the late 19th century. For a number of years he lived in Pelham Manor. While there he designed the original clubhouse of the Manor Club, Pelham Hall, the Pelhamville School that replaced the little red school house in 1888, the Nanette Bolton Memorial Chapel at Christ Church and many private residences. He laid out the property at Pelham Heights including engineering the roads and planning and building the first five homes of that lovely neighborhood. Merry also designed the Parish House of Trinity Church, the National Bank building and the Lambden Store in New-Rochelle.

He died in New York City on March 4, 1900. Below is his obituary that appeared in the New-York Tribune the following day.

"FREDERICK CARLES MERRY.

Frederick Carles Merry, a well known architect of this city, after a lingering illness, expired at his home, at No. 219 West One-hundred-and-thirty-fifth-st., last evening at 6 o'clock. He was born at Edgbarton, Birmingham, England, on June 16, 1837. He came with his father, Anthony T. Merry, to this country when he was about ten years old, and was reared near Camden, N. J., where his father became proprietor of the chemical works. He studied in Philadelphia, and took up the professions of architecture and civil engineering. His first important work was the laying out of a portion of Fairmount Park. After the fire at St. John's, N. B., he did considerable work in restoring the public and private buildings of that city.

He afterward returned to New-York, and purchased property in Pelham Manor and established his home there. The clubhouse, Pelham Hall and many private residences are the fruit of his architectural skill, while the fine roads in that vicinity also bear the marks of his work. He built the parish house of Trinity Church, the National Bank and the Lambden store at New-Rochelle. He also laid out the property at Pelham Heights, engineering the roads, planning and building the first five dwellings of that picturesque hamlet.

In the city a number of public buildings are monuments to his work, among them Chickering Hall, the New-York Hospital, St. Michael's Protestant Episcopal Parish House and the Williamsburg Fire Insurance Building.

At Milton, Penn., he built a fine private house, a firehouse at City Island, and at the time of his death was engaged in building a hospital at Englewood, N. J.

He was for many years one of the vestrymen of Christ Church, Pelham Manor. He belonged to the Masonic order, New-Rochelle Lodge.

Mr. Merry leaves a widow, who is a daughter of the Rev. D. N. Freeland, with a daughter and two sons and one sister at Merchantvile, N. J."

Source: Frederick Carles Merry, New-York Tribune, Mar. 5, 1900, p. 7, col. 4.

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Friday, March 13, 2009

Pelham Women Stage Benefit for the "Summer School for Children" in 1900


While researching another topic, I recently ran across an unusual item in the New-York Tribune published on February 17, 1900. The item describes a benefit staged by the Junior Association at the Manor Club on February 16, 1900 to raise funds for the "Summer School for Children".

The Summer School for Children may have been the same as the Pelham Home for Children, although I have not yet established that this was the case. See Thursday, April 14, 2005: The Pelham Home for Children That Once Stood on Split Rock Road.

In the hope that I will be able to solve this Pelham history mystery, I have transcribed the brief news item below.

"TO BENEFIT A SUMMER SCHOOL.

Westchester women and their friends united in making a success of the entertainments given yesterday at the Pelham Manor Club house for the benefit of the Summer School for Children, under the direction of the Junior Association. In the afternoon there was a magjc lantern exhibit and a gramophone concert for children, and in the evening a series of National cradle songs, sung by the young people interested in the charity. During both afternoon and evening there was a sale of articles contributed by friends. The proceeds of the entertainments will be devoted to furnishing the new building erected last summer. The Pelham Summer School is an instution conducted by prominent women of neighboring towns for the purpose of giving summer vacations to poor children of New-York City."

Source: To Benefit a Summer School, New-York Tribune, Feb. 17, 1900, p. 7, col. 2.

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Thursday, March 12, 2009

The Reason the White Hotel was Shut Down and Split from One Building Into Two Cottages


Two similar-looking buildings sit side-by-side at 303 Wolfs Lane and 307 Wolfs Lane. Their similarities are no coincidence. They once were part of the same building, the White Hotel.

The White Hotel was a "hostelry" built in about 1870. By the late 1890s, New York communities including Pelham were wrestling with the issue of voting to be "wet" or "dry" communities -- that is, communities that allow the serving of alcohol in saloon establishments versus those that refuse to allow. The White Hotel became embroiled in the controversy during a brief time when Pelham voted to allow saloons. It became such a "notorious" establishment that it was shut down. The building later was split in two with the north half becoming 307 Wolfs Lane and the south half becoming 303 Wolfs Lane.

Below is a brief newspaper reference to the circumstances that led to the splitting up of the hotel. Also are photographs of the two buildings as they have appeared in recent years.



307 Wolfs Lane

303 Wolfs Lane

"PELHAM

A special election is to be held in the town of Pelham on next Tuesday to vote on local option. In 1896 the town voted no license. In 1898 the saloon-keepers won, and as one of the results the White Hotel sprang up. It was conducted in such a notorious manner that the State Excise Board cancelled the license of its proprietor. The hotel is now to be cut in two and remodelled into cottages."

Source: Pelham, New-York Tribune, Mar. 25, 1900, p. 12, col. 2.

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Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Benjamin L. Fairchild's Congressional Campaign in 1894


I repeatedly have written about Benjamin L. Fairchild of Pelham who served as a member of Congress. See, e.g.:


Friday, December 7, 2007: Another Biography of Congressman Benjamin Fairchild of Pelham, a Founder of Pelham Heights.


Friday, April 22, 2005: Benjamin L. Fairchild of Pelham Heights -- A Notable Pelham Personage.


Tuesday, August 15, 2006: Another Biography of Benjamin L. Fairchild of Pelham Heights.


In 1894 Fairchild was elected to congress from the 16th district, embracing Westchester County and what was then the borough of the Bronx. As a member of the 54th congress, he served on the committees on patents, and coinage, weights, and measures.


Today's posting to the Historic Pelham Blog transcribes the text of an article that appeared in the October 25, 1894 issue of the New-York Tribune describing Fairchild's campaign for a Congressional seat. Additionally, below is an engraved image of Fairchild that appeared with the article.



"BEN L. FAIRCHILD CAMPAIGN.

HE IS WORKING HARD TO WIN THE XVITH CONGRESS DISTRICT.

The accounts of Ben L. Fairchild's hot campaign for Congress, in the XVIth District, give more hope daily that he will defeat his Democratic opponent. Mr. Fairchild is exceptionally popular in Westchester County. When he ran for delegate to the Constitutional Convention last year only thirteen votes were cast against him in the First Election District of the town of Pelham in which he lives. Yet in 1892 Cleveland got 110 votes there, and the district has always been safely Democratic. Mr. Fairchild's friends conceded William Ryan only three votes in that election district this year.

Mr. Fairchild is conducting a vigorous canvass. He speaks at least once every night, and on some evenings has made as many as four addresses in different parts of the county. The XXIX and XXXth Assembly districts of this city are also in the XVIth Congress District, and Mr. Fairchild will spend all of next week there making speeches. It is regarded as certain that his majority in Westchester County will not be less than 1,000; his hardest task will be in New-York City."
Source: Ben L. Fairchild's Campaign, New-York Tribune, Oct. 25, 1894, p. 9, col. 2.

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Tuesday, March 10, 2009

A Tragic Death in the Pelham Manor Fire House in 1897


The Manor Club, it seems, had an odd history of stricken women found on its steps in its early years. I previously have written of one such incident. See Wednesday, December 28, 2005: The Mystery of the "Manor Club Girl" That Set Pelham Tongues Wagging in 1913.

Today's posting to the Historic Pelham Blog transcribes an article that appeared in the January 14, 1897 issue of the New-York Tribune about a young woman found at the Manor Club seemingly drunk. It turned out that she was not. She was deathly ill. The text of the article appears beneath the photograph below that shows the original Manor Club club house as it appeared at the time.


"MOUNT VERNON.
Cassie Haggerty, twenty-two years old, a servant employed by Mrs. H. S. Whiting, in Pelham Manor, was found dead yesterday morning in the Pelham Manor Fire House, which is also used as a police station. The girl had a disagreement with her employer on Tuesday, and had started to leave for her home in New-York. Before leaving the house she had complained to Mary McSweeney, a companion that she did not feel well. On her way to the station she stopped at the house of the Manor Club to rest. She then seemed to be suffering from the effects of drink. Constable James Burnett took her back to the house. The cook took the girl in and gave her a bed. Mary McSweeney alleges that Mrs. Whiting returned from New-York City in the evening and she said the girl had been drinking, and that there was no sickness about it. Dr. Washburn was summoned and agreed with Mrs. Whiting. The constable was again sent for, and locked the girl in the police station where she died. Drs. Flemming and Carlisle held an autopsy, which revealed that the real cause of death was congestion of both lungs, the primary stage of pneumonia. Not the slightest trace of alcohol was found in the girl's stomach."
Source: Mount Vernon, New-York Tribune, Jan. 14, 1897, p. 12, col. 1.

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Monday, March 09, 2009

Another Brief Account of Golf at Pelham Manor in 1895


I have written before about the long tradition of golf in Pelham Manor. See, e.g., The Early Days of Golf in Pelham, The Pelham Weekly, Vol. XIII, No. 36, Sept. 10, 2004, p. 12, col. 2.

On January 14, 2008, I posted to the Historic Pelham Blog an item that appeared in the November 10, 1895 issue of The New York Times describing the opening of the Pelham Manor Golf Club season on November 9. See Monday, January 14, 2008: Golf at Pelham Manor. Below is a brief excerpt from an article published in the November 11 issue of The Sun on the same topic.

"THE PROGRESS OF GOLF.

-----

* * * * *

The links of the Pelham Manor Golf Club, on Prospect Hill adjoining Pelhamville Park, were formally opened on Wednesday and a reception was held in a tent near the first tee. The guests were received by Mrs. John C. Hazen, Mrs. Robert C. Black, Mrs. Jabish Holmes, and Mrs. Frank Hunter of Pelham Manor, and Mrs. Robert Lathers, Jr., Mrs. Henry Loomis Nelson, and Mrs. Henry D. Noyes of New Rochelle. . . . ."

Source: The Progress of Golf, The Sun, Nov. 11, 1895, p. 8, col. 4.

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Friday, March 06, 2009

Burglars Blow the Safe at the Pelham Manor Post Office in 1894


During the late 19th century, the Pelham Manor Depot stood at the end of the Esplanade where I-95 now passes. The Depot served passengers on the Branch Line, most of whom commuted to work in New York City. Inside the Depot was the Village Post Office.

On September 25, 1894, the residents of the sleepy little Village were shaken from their beds by a loud explosion at 2:00 a.m. Burglars had entered the railroad station and used explosives to blow the safe. The article below describes what transpired.

"THE SAFE BLOWN OPEN.

-----

BURGLARS ENTER THE POSTOFFICE AT PELHAM MANOR-PART OF THE BUILDINGS WRECKED.

The residents in the neighborhood of Pelham Manor were awakened by a loud explosion about 2 o'clock yesterday morning which shook the surrounding houses. Investigation showed that burglars had broken into the postoffice and blown open the safe. Pelham Manor is about three miles from New-Rochelle, on the Harlem River branch of the New-Haven and Hartford Railroad. The postoffice was situated in the railroad station. Joseph English is the postmaster. Two night watchmen were patroling the village about half a mile from the station when they heard the explosion. One of them hurried to the house of the baggagemaster, Skinner, and the latter, in company with the watchman, went to the house of Postmaster English and aroused him. The three men then went down to the railroad station and found the postoffic a complete wreck. The heavy iron safe, in which there were stamps worth $950, was wrecked. The door of the ticket office of the station was torn from its hinges and the walls were shattered by the force of the explosion. It seemed that the combination of the safe had first been drilled and then a fuse inserted.

The burglars had fled, after securing nearly $1,000, before the postmaster and the baggagemaster arrived. The railroad station is a frame structure, and it is thought strange that the whole building was not wrecked. Postmaster English uses one part of the building as a coal and wood office, and N. J. Donion another part as a real-estate office. The other rooms of the building are used for the post-office and for railroad purposes. This is the seventh time the postoffice has been robbed. The burglars are supposed to have escaped to New-York on the early morning train."

Source: The Safe Blown Open, New-York Tribune, Sep. 26, 1894, p. 1, col. 3.

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Thursday, March 05, 2009

Pelham Manor Contracts for Permanent Fire Protection and Water Supply in 1894

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In 1894, three years after incorporation of the Village of Pelham Manor, the tiny Village arranged for a more reliable water supply. At the time, the Village was engaged in a major effort to modernize its streets by grading and paving them. A brief item on these developments appeared in the September 21, 1894 issue of the New-York Tribune. The text of the article appears below.

"PELHAM MANOR.

The village of Pelham Manor has contracted with the New-York City District Water Supply Company for permanent fire protection and watter supply. Its streets will at once be underlaid with mains, and fire hydrants erected. Notwithstanding the fact that one of the pump-houses of this company, at North Tarrytown, was recently destroyed by lightning and fire, other engines were immediately substituted and the water pressure and supply continued. The pressure along the line is 120 pounds to the square inch. Pelham Manor is grading and paving its streets, and is being built up in the most modern style."

Source: Pelham Manor, New-York Tribune, Sep. 21, 1894, p. 12, col. 1.

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Wednesday, March 04, 2009

"Ladies' Day" on Travers Island in Pelham Manor in 1894

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The New York Athletic Club celebrated "Ladies' Day" at its summer clubhouse on Travers Island annually in the late 19th century. I previously have written of this grand, annual event. See Thursday, April 28, 2005: Ladies' Day on Travers Island in the 19th Century.


Below is the text of an article that described Ladies' Day held on Travers Island on July 18, 1894.

Post Card View of NYAC Clubhouse Opened in 1889, Later Destroyed by Fire.

"'LADIES' DAY' AT TRAVERS ISLAND.

-----

ENJOYABLE OPEN-AIR CONCERT OF THE NEW-YORK ATHLETIC CLUB.

The first open-air concert of the season on the grounds of the New-York Athletic Club, at Travers Island, near Pelham Manor, Westchester County, was given last evening, and, combined with 'Ladies' Day,' served to attract a large number of the members and their wives, sisters, cousins and sweethearts. Most of the guests went up from town in the late afternoon trains, and arriving at Pelham Manor station, were met by large stages, in which they were conveyed to the pretty clubhouse, where they were received by the members of the Entertainment Committee, Charles L. Burnham, Bartow S. Weeks, James Whitely, Frederick Vilmar, T. E. Deeley, R. C. Fisher, F. W. Lawton, Frank Burke, W. H. Harrison, Dr. F. W. Curran, B. C. Williams, George D. Phillips, A. H. Wheeler, I. Bell Brennan, H. E. Zittel, C. J. Kintner, J. T. Fisher, Dr. H. Eugene Smith and J. H. Haslin. The plazzas of the clubhouse were prettily decorated with bunting and flags, and after dinner, which most of the guests enjoyed out of doors, the huge Japanese lanterns were illuminated. The bandstand, erected on the lawn facing the bay side of the house, was also gayly decorated with flags and surmounted by a large dome-shaped arrangement formed of electric lights. Here the 7th Regiment Band and the Metropolitan Quartet furnished music. Some of those who enjoyed the concerts were Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Stewart, Mr. and Mrs. James Whiteley, Miss Whiteley, Mrs. E. P. Greene, Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Harrison, Miss Baker, Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Kendall, Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Remington, Mr. and Mrs. E. M. Kemble, Dr. and Mrs. G. W. Chandler, Miss Crocker, Mr. and Mrs. M. V. Vaughan, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Blaisdell, Mr. and Mrs. Bartow S. Weeks, Miss Martin, Mr. and Mrs. George D. Phillips, George W. Scott, J. Wilson, Robert Lee Mordecai, Eugene Lentilhon, W. C. Downs, E. C. Carter, A. W. S. Cochrane, Dr. Richards and Miss Davenport. The guests returned to New-York before midnight."

Source: "Ladies' Day" at Travers Island, New-York Tribune, Jul. 19, 1894, p. 7, col. 2.

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Tuesday, March 03, 2009

Boys and Girls of Pelham Manor Work to Contribute to the Fresh-Air Fund in 1888

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In 1888, a New York City newspaper known as the New-York Tribune participated in efforts to raise money for the Fresh-Air Fund to fund scholarships for New York City children to attend camp for two weeks in the country. Boys and girls throughout the region worked hard to raise money for "The Tribune Fresh-Air Fund". The young people of Pelham Manor were no exception.

Below is a letter to the Editor of the New-York Tribune dated June 25, 1888 enclosing $50 for the fund and describing a strawberry festival through which the funds were raised. The text of the letter appears below.

"BOYS AND GIRLS WORKING LIKE BEAVERS.

To the Editor of the Tribune.

Sir: The young people of Pelham Manor held a strawberry festival on Mr. E. B. Du Mond's lawn for the benefit of The Tribune Fresh-Air Fund, making a clear profit of $50, which please find inclosed. The day was very warm, but the boys and girls worked like beavers, and deserve great credit. Everybody here is enthusiastic over the good work that you are doing.

D.

Pelham Manor, N. Y., June 25, 1888."

Source: Boys and Girls Working Like Beavers, New-York Tribune, Jul. 2, 1888, p. 5, col. 1.

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Monday, March 02, 2009

1884 Advertisement Placed by Charles J. Stephens of the Pelham Manor & Huguenot Heights Association Offering Home for Rent

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Though the recorded history of Pelham Manor began in the 17th century, for nearly two centuries the population of the area centered around the shore of Long Island Sound with later pockets that developed near such transportation arteries as the Boston Post Road and the New Haven main line that began serving the area in late 1848. In 1873, the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad opened its “branch line” from Harlem River to New Rochelle. Passenger service began in October 1873 with a station stop in the area known as Pelham Manor.

Local landowners saw an opportunity. Remembering the successful real estate developments in Mount Vernon and Pelhamville that followed the opening of the New Haven’s “main line” in 1848, they dreamed of real estate riches. An enterprising group of men owned undeveloped lands that extended from Long Island Sound to an area north of today’s Colonial Avenue in the Village of Pelham near the train station on the New Haven main line. The group created a real estate development association named “The Pelham Manor & Huguenot Heights Association” to develop the lands.

The leaders were two brothers: Charles J. and Henry C. Stephens. Their wealthy uncle, Silas H. Witherbee, also participated. Others involved included R. M. Mitchill, E. Gybbon Spilsbury and, perhaps, Dr. Charles Heywood and members of the Secor family of Pelham. Most of these men later became members of the Pelham Manor Protective Club.

Today's posting to the Historic Pelham Blog transcribes a tiny advertisement placed by Charles J. Stephens in the May 14, 1884 issue of the New-York Tribune offering to rent a home in Pelham Manor. Although the advertisement does not specify which home, it may have been Stephens' own home or one of those offered as part of the Pelham Manor & Huguenot Heights Association development. The text of the advertisement appears below.

"AT PELHAM MANOR.

LARGE OLD-FASHIONED HOUSE, partially furnished, stable and four acres in garden (planted) and lawn for season or until April next, the only desirable place at present available in this thriving suburb; hourly trains from either Forty second st. or Harlem Bridge; time 30 minutes; commutation good on both routes.

CHAS. J. STEPHENS,
177 Broadway."

Source: At Pelham Manor, New-York Tribune, May 14, 1884, p. 7, col. 1.

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