Historic Pelham Blog Archive
September 24, 2009

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Occasionally I have published to the Historic Pelham Blog information about the work of the Pelham Manor Protective Club first established in 1881 as a "Vigilance Committee" to oversee the health and welfare of Pelham Manor residents a decade before the incorporation of the Village of Pelham Manor.  For a few examples, see:

Friday, April 3, 2009:  Biography and Photograph of Henry Beidleman Bascom Stapler, an Active Member of the Pelham Manor Protective Club in its Latter Years.

Friday, November 16, 2007:  Photograph and Biography of William E. Barnett, a Founding Member of the Pelham Manor Protective Club.

Thursday, February 15, 2007:  Text of January 1, 1885 Annual Report of the Pelham Manor Protective Club.

Wednesday, January 25, 2006:  The Pelham Manor Protective Club Flexed its Muscles in the 1886 Town Elections.

Tuesday, January 24, 2006: 1890 Circular of The Pelham Manor Protective Club on Lamp Lighting

Wednesday, February 23, 2005: The Westchester County Historical Society Acquires Records of The Pelham Manor Protective Club from Dealer in Tarrytown, NY

Monday, January 23, 2006: The Beginnings of Organized Fire Fighting in Pelham Manor?

Today's posting transcribes the text of two articles that appeared in a January 1883 issue of the Mount Vernon, New York Chronicle.  Because the local newspaper did not include the date or page numbers at the top of its pages, the date of the issue must be inferred.  It clearly is dated shortly after January 8, 1883 and before January 13, 1883. 

Significantly, one of the two articles briefly describes the January 1, 1883 annual meeting of the Pelham Manor Protective Club held at the home of George H. Reynolds.  The entire text of the two articles appears below.

"PELHAMVILLE.

A meeting of the inhabitants of Pelhamville was held at the residence of Mr. Vincent Barker, on Monday night last, for the purpose of adopting measures to have the low lands drained.  A committee considting of Messrs. Wm. H. Sparks, John Case and Wm. H. Penfield was appointed to take the matter into consideration and properly present the case to the town Board of Health.

A village improvement association is about to be organized in Pelhamville, the object of which is to improve the village, by the erection of a good class of dwelling houses.  It is proposed to erect three or four houses, which will be offered for sale at their cost price, and as each one is disposed of, another will be erected.  If the project goes through, we see no reason why Pelhamville may not become a thriving little village. 

The annual meeting of the Pelham Manor Protective Club, was held at the residence of Mr. George H. Reynolds, New Year's day.  A large number of gentlemen residing at the Manor were present, besides many invited guests.  After business matters relating to the Club were finished, a bountiful repast by the generous host was fully enjoyed.  The Protective Club is a live organization, accomplishing the purpose for which it was organized, and doing much to promote good order in the Manor, and helping to make it one of the most desirable country resorts adjoining New York city.--Pioneer.

-----

CITY ISLAND.

On Thursday evening of this week, a party of young people gave a surprise to the Misses Scofield.

The collector of taxes has given notice that he will sit to receive taxes for thirty days, from January 13th, inst., from 9 A.M. to 4 P.M., as follows:  January 13th, 20th, 27th and February 3d, at the court-house, City Island; January 18th, 25th and February 1st and 8th, at the store of Robert Scott, Bartow Station.

It is stated that from three to four hundred tons of coal are stolen, annually, from eastward bound vessels, while in the vicinity of City Island.  Complaint has been made from time to time, of the shrinkage in weight of consignments of coal to eastern merchants.  By careful estimate, it is calculated that in some seasons, during recent years, the shrinkage has been as high as 400 tons.  In many instances, those in charge of the cargoes permit small vessels to come along side and, for a nominal consideration, the visitor is sent away loaded to the waters edge with coal, paid for by some enterprising eastern merchant.  In other instances, it is thought that those in charge of the cargoes are in league with the thieves and deal out to them, coal in such an amount as is not likely to be missed by the owner.  A large part of this business goes on while the vessels are at anchor over night, or sheltered from approaching storms.  By this practice, tons and tons of coal, it is alleged, are sold along the shore, both on the Long Island and Westchester side of the Sound, as far eastward as New Rochelle, for less per ton than its best cost.  City Island coal dealers feel most keenly the effect of this business.  The great anchorage for vessels being so conveniently near at hand, a little extra precaution would in a measure, check this wholesale robbery.

A serious accident, to the occupants of one of Vickery's stages was largely averted on Wednesday last.  Owing to the extreme high tide which overflowed the road across the flat, to the depth of about two feet, the driver, Philip Flood, was obliged to make a detour to the eastward, through the seldom traveled streets of the King estate. He had barely completed the detour, when, of a sudden, with the horses on a swinging trot, horses and stage were precipitated into a hole three or four feet deep, which had been left by commissioner Cochran last sumer after taking out a rock.  The driver was thrown from his seat down into the hole, between the horses and the single occupant of the stage was hurled with great violance against the forward part of it, sustaining severe bruises.  One of the horses was considerably cut, and the stage was badly racked. 

Senator Covert has already introduced his bill of last year, abolishing compulsory pilotage through Hell Gate."

Source:  Pelhamville . . . City Island, Mount Vernon [New York] Chronicle, Jan. 1883, p. unknown, col. 2 (Because the local newspaper did not include the date or page numbers at the top of its pages, the date of the issue must be inferred; it clearly is dated shortly after January 8, 1883 and before January 13, 1883).

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