Historic Pelham Blog Archive
October 17, 2005

350TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION BOOK:  "THOMAS PELL AND THE LEGEND OF THE PELL TREATY OAK" -- $11.95 (PROCEEDS AFTER PRINTING COSTS WILL GO TO BARTOW-PELL MANSION MUSEUM).  CLICK HERE TO BROWSE BEFORE YOU BUY! LEARN MORE.

In the lovely village park located at the corner of First Street and Wolfs Lane in the Village of Pelham stands a granite monument with a large bronze bell atop the stone block. The bell was cast more than 100 years ago at the turn of the 20th century. It is the Pelham Firemen's Memorial and has an interesting history of its own.

The large bronze bell contains the following incription:

"1ST FIRE DISTRICT TOWN PELHAM
ORGANIZED FEB., 1893.
BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS
V. BARKER, PRES.
C.A. BARKER, SEC'Y
J.H. YOUNG A. ANDERSON
A. FLETCHER J.F. FAIRCHILD, TREAS."

Though the inscription might suggest that the bell was cast in 1893, it was actually cast a few years later in 1900 in Baltimore, Maryland. Immediately below is an old photograph of the first firehouse in the Village of Pelham on the top of which the bell sat for many years.

The bell was used for at least twenty years early in the 20th century to call Village of Pelham firefighters to their duty. For a number of years a steam whistle at the Knickerbocker Brewery that once stood on Sparks Avenue was used in addition to the bell to summon members of the department to emergencies.

In connection with The Pelham Fire Department's 1993 Centennial Celebration planned by Volunteer Captain John Sinatra, the bell was polished, repaired and placed atop a granite granite monument created by DiNigris Monuments of New Rochelle at cost.

Initial plans were to place the monument on Town Property near the Daronco Town House, but those plans failed and the monument was placed in the Village Park at the corner of First Street and Wolf's Lane. The memorial was dedicated on September 11, 1993 with the following inscription, among others:

"In dedication to all those past, present,
and yet to come who have been and
always will be known as Pelham's Bravest.
This monument shall forever stand
to honor those who selflessly put themselves
in harm's way time and time again to
protect the lives and property of this
community. Let no one forget the
service they provide."

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posted by Blake A. Bell @ 5:04 AM Comment

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