Historic Pelham Blog Archive
April 14, 2006

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.

I have continued my research regarding the little hamlet that developed within the Town of Pelham in the early 1850s known as "Prospect Hill Village". For examples of recent postings on the topic published to the Historic Pelham Blog, see:

Friday, April 7, 2006: A View from Prospect Hill Looking West Published in 1887

Tuesday, April 4, 2006: More Information About the Prospect Hill Village Association Formed in the Early 1850s

Wednesday, March 30, 2005: Prospect Hill Village -- Yet Another Early Hamlet Within the Town of Pelham

Monday, November 21, 2005: Prospect Hill and Pelhamville Depicted on the 1868 Beers Atlas Map of Pelham - Part I

In today's posting to the Historic Pelham Blog, I am providing photographs of three homes that were part of the original Prospect Hill Village development. The homes still stand on Prospect Hill in the Village of Pelham Manor. Beneath the three images, I have inserted an excerpt of a wonderful book entitled "A Glance At The Past Pelham's Growth From 1775 - 1975". Barbara Bartlett, Mimi Buckley and others prepared the book that The Junior League of Pelham, Inc. published in 1975. The excerpt deals with the Prospect Hill Village development.

Above:  100 Jackson Avenue, Pelham Manor, NY

Above:  949 Washington Avenue, Pelham Manor, NY

Above:  987 Washington Avenue, Pelham Manor, NY
Moved To This Address From Unknown Location

"PROSPECT HILL

In 1852, a year after Bryson did his survey of Pelhamville, he prepared a map of the area known as Prospect Hill. During Revolutionary times, this section was called "Hog Wallow", most likely because of the muddy condition of Split Rock Road. This area encompassed what is now that part of Pelham Manor including Prospect Avenue, Edgewood Avenue, Highland Avenue and parts of the Esplanade and Pelhamdale Avenue.

Since it is not known who requested the survey, it is impossible to determine the intent of the developer or developers. It is known that 100 Jackson Avenue and 949 Washington Avenue were built at that time and are fine examples of the type of home of the period. 987 Washington Avenue was also built at about the same time, but was moved to its present site at a later date. Its original location and the date of its removal are not known.

Both the exterior and the interior of 100 Jackson Avenue are essentially the same today as when the house was built, with the exception of the rear country kitchn. This room is now joined to the main house by means of a dining room. Just when this alteration was made is not certain, but it was some time after 1899. In 1875, this house was assessed at $1,200, which indicates that at the time it was a fine residence.

Another interesting feature of the area is that along some of the backyards of Washington Avenue, especially behind 949 Washington, the remains of the old stone wall dividing this land from John Hunter's property can be seen.

In 1840, John Hunter, who owned the land just to the southeast of Prospect Hill, deeded a small corner of his land on the border to the town of Pelham for the purpose of building a school. In 1866, for some reason, the town purchased part of Lot 51 from Terrance Malloy and moved the school to that site, which is now the front part of the main center section of 982 Split Rock Road. It has been said that the reason for the removal of the school was that Hunter wished to enlarge his racetrack. However, research has shown that his track was further south, nearer Throg's Neck. Also the configuration of the land at that spot would not have lent itself to the requirements of a racetrack. There was some sporadic building in the Prospect Hill area up until the time it was incorporated into the Village of Pelham Manor in 1915. However, some of these homes, which were originally very large, have been razed to allow for more modern construction."

Source: Bartlett, Barbara, et al., A Glance At The Past Pelham's Growth From 1775 - 1975, pp. 13-14 (Pelham, NY: The Junior League of Pelham, Inc. 1975).

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posted by Blake A. Bell @ 5:05 AM Comment

Click Here To View the Actual Blog Posting for April 14, 2006.

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