New-York tribune., 1920-04-18

some rum, trinkets and other things,
then Of small! value, to the Indians
previous to 1866 for this land and ex-
tensive lands to the east along Long
Island Sound. The oaks under which
the crafty Englishman, refugee from
Kent in England because of his un-
qualified support of Oliver Cromwell,
meet the original owners are still
there. The highway up from Pelfs
Point now is the same followed by the
1000 British and German soldiers un-
in 200 boats from Throg's Neck at I
O'Clock in the morning Of October Is,
l776, in d campaign against White
Plains. The same boulders and hill
locks and some of the stone walls be-
hind which the 600 hardy Marblehead
fisherman-sold waited for the ad-
vancing foreigners are still there.
Built His Home in Land of Beauty
Thomas Pell lived in Fairfax County,
Conn, when he acquired the land now
known as the PeIhams and New Ro-
chelle. So fascinating was the beauty
of the country that he decided to estab-
lish his home there. He called it Pei
ham, which is q coinage Of the first
three letters Of the family name and
"ham," which means residence. He
was a loyal Britisher, and, what is
more, good business man. Pell
thought that it would not be amiss to
have his ownership confirmed by the
Crown, so he petitioned Governor Cen
eral Dongan, his maiesty's representa-
tive in New York. By promising SOW
ereignty to the Crown and that he
would defend the faith of the King, in
addition to paying over lamb every
May to the Governor General in New
York, his deal with the Indians was
given royal sanction.
First Lord of the Manor
John Pell, gentleman by profession,
son of DIR. Pell, Cromwell's ambassa
dor to the Swiss Canton and nephew
Of Thomas Pell, got the Pelham hills
and dales, craigs and swamps, islands
and water front on his uncle's death
in 1880. His inherited estate included
also the land now the township of New
Rochelle. That the Pelhams have not
lost their natural beauty in these many
years may be credited to the care and
the measures Of protection taken by
this Young man. Coming from Kent,
said to be the prettiest countryside it
all England. natures handiwork in the
Pelhams impressed him SO much that
he decided to hedge it with restrictions
that would retain for all time that
had been made a township by agree
ment with Governor Dongan, but that
was not absolute enough. Having q
desire, perhaps. to be officially one or
the great gentry on this side of the
ocean, he petitioned Governor Nicol
20 make him Lord of Pelham ManoY
which would give him feudal rights
make him ruler. magistrate and owne,
of the entire country. On the vow OF
allegiance and on the payment of 20
shillings at New York once a year he
was clothed with these great powers
which he used wisely SO far as the
preservation Of the country was cor
cerned.
New Rochelle at 81 an Acre
He gave the Huguenots from La
Rochelle 200-odd acres near the shore
to settle and later sold the remainder
Of the 5000 acres in the township Of
New Rochelle at 81 an acre to his
French neighbors. After the Revou-
tionary War 800 acres along the Sound
front were sold for $500 an acre by
the government to man named
Bailey.
This was the start Of the partition
and upbuilding of the Pelhams.. Albert
Roosevelt bought $50 of the confiscated
acres in 1900 at s25 an acre. In 1850
acres there brought as high as $500
To-day these acres are not to be had
for love nor money.
Homes of Just a Few
The Pelhams, as we know them, the
living place of prosperous professional
and business men, date back not more
than quarter of a century. r. c.
Black, of the firm of Black, Starr &
Frost, former Congressman B. L. Fair
child and B. F. Corlies and their fam
lies owned practically all of this land.
II had been their summer places. They
decided to surrender part of these great
estates to folks who would appreciate
the park-like country. Since the new
comers were to be their neighbors, they
saw to it that there would be no rea-
son for regretting inviting folks to
Pelham to live. Restrictive covenants
we're placed on the land, which will con-
tinue forever. No crowding has been
permitted and the social life is the
best.
Can Accommodate Another Seventy-fve
There is room now for about sew
enty-five new families in the Pelhams,
due to the activities of builders and
the various developers. These houses
will be found in Pelham Heights, Pei
hamwood, Pelham Manor and Pelham
Knobs. The man who can afford to
pay $lSO month or more toward the
ownership Of home can very likely be
accommodated in Pelham. The lowest
priced house is $7,50O Prices range
up from that figure to SAT, 500, which is
asked by Harry S. Houpt, automobile
dealer, who is erecting twelve houses
on Pelham Heights, the cheapest of
which is $35 900.
Real estate men estimate that the
building program in the Pelhams has
added, or will add, close to 400 new
homes to the town before the close of
the year: All but seventy-five have
been sold.
Because of the constant pressure for
homes in this ideal section it would be
well Tor those who have the home ca
IN mind to lose no time in looking
over the dwellings at Pelham. You
w1ii nnd the real estate dealers courte-
GUS. They know the country and
much about construction details.
Many Pelhams In Pelham Township
There arc three Pelhams in the
.own OF Peiham--namely, Pelham
nanor, reiham and North Pelham.
Ieinsm Manor is the section nearest
70 the Sound. 1t extends from the
wAser north to Colonial Avenue and is
the Oldest settlement, 1t being in that
section that Thongs Pell built Pei
Ham Manor. ''-
Then comes Pelham, which extenda
uortn 70 the main line Of the New
maven road. North Pelham, Of course.
~ beyond Pelham. These sections are
iocaized-that Is, they are sub
oiyided into small local communities.
~ Inc