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Pelville
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The early development of Pelville as a residential community started in 1851 when Lewis Marsden and Henry Platt created the Pelhamville Village Association by acquiring the Wolf Farm property - some 110 acres. The farmhouse was situated at Third Street on Fifth Avenue and later moved to a site on Sixth Avenue.

The property purchased by Marsden and ]Platt was not particularly attractive for residential development because it consisted of mainly hilly acreage cut through by several streams that flowed into the Hutchinson River.

Despite this, "Pelhamville" property was sold in plots measuring 100 by 100 feet - for $50 a plot. Since the land was not easily accessible, purchasers made lot selections from a map. The promoters provided free lunch - with beer. It is said that many who showed up enjoyed the food and drink - then left.

Several purchasers, who had made lot selections by map only, upon inspection of their acquisitions, and learning that the village was only a "flag stop" station on the railroad, walked away, abandoning the lots.

A long term result of this initial land development scheme was to plague the Village for years to come. Subsequent buyers found that clear title to the lots wereldifficult, if not impossible, to obtain. The problem became even more complicated as squatters moved onto the property setting up their own houses (often without basements, presumably to facilitate quick removal, if required).
History:

With incorporation in 1896, the Village Board of Trustees in North Pelham decided to install street lamps - much to the consternation of some longtime residents who were distressed by the cost. As a compromise, the trustees insisted that each lamp only contain enough fuel to last until midnight and not be turned on at all when there was a bright moon. Residents agreed to take care of the first street lights by sharing the upkeep, supplying oil and cleaning
Milage:
 1.1
Walking Time: 25 minutes
Specific Areas:
(1) Gazebo

The "Gazebo", located on the lawn next to the Richard Daronco Town House at Harmon and Fifth Avenues, was built in 1994, following a fund raising drive spearheaded by the Rotary Club. It has enhanced the popular summer music series, as bands can play from within the Gazebo.
(2) Richard Daroneo Town House

The Richard Daroneo Town House, at 20 Fifth Avenue, was formally dedicated to the memory of Hon. Richard J. Daronco in 1991. Judge Da,ronco, who was born and raised in Pelham, was appointed to the Federal bench by President Ronald Reagan. Originally built as the Episcopal Church of Christ the Redeemer, the building was deeded to the Town of Pelham in 1976 when the parish merged with Christ Church on Pelharndale Avenue and Shore Road. The bell in front of the building is from the original church located at Second Avenue and Second Street built in 1892. The Pelham Children's Center was started in the church basement in 1970 by the Junior League of Pelham and continues to operate there.

(3) Town Hall
The present Town Hall at 34 Fifth Avenue includes the Village Police Station and Town offices. Pelham's original Town Hall was located on Shore Road in what is now Pelham Bay Park. That location was chosen for the convenience of residents of City Island (then a part of Pelham) and Pelhamville as it was the convenient point between the two. In 1896, when New York City annexed Pelham Bay Park and City Island (where Pelham Cemetery is located) as part of The Bronx, Town Hall was moved to its present spot.
(4) War Memorial
Immediately north of Town Hall is the Pelham War Memorial which includes trees and plaques placed there in memory of Pelham residents who died in this country's armed conflicts.
(5) Pelham Art Center

Located in a former gasoline station at the comer of Third Street and Fifth Avenue, the Art Center incorporates the original building in its design. The brick section at the rear is the former station workplaces The "recycled" structure has won awards for its unique design. The concept for a town art center started in 1970 as an outdoor art show sponsored by the Junior League of Pelham. A townwide fund raising effort, and some government grants, underwrote the present facility which provides a wide range of services to the community. The mission of the center is to see, study and experience the arts.

(6) 148 Seventh Avenue
The bam on this property is now a garage. This was originally known as "Mrs. Gurney's Bam". It was used for meetings, dances and was the first site for Village of North Pelham meetings. Begun in 1866 by E.A. Gurney, it was completed in 1871. At a later date, the bam was rented, along with the adjacent residence, by William H. Cars, who operated a print shop on the premises. He became very successful with his invention of an adhesive that joined tin foil and paper, eventually providing all of the labels for Fleischmen's Yeast. As business expanded, the firm moved to Mount Vernon.
(7) Firehouse
The first local firefighting service began in 1893 with the formation of the First Fire District. The equipment consisted of a hand-drawn hook-and-ladder and pumper. Later, horses were used to pull these firewagons. The horse team names, at various times, were Tom and Jerry, and Tom, Dick and Harry. The animals were often rented out to residents with the strict proviso that, in the event of a fire, the horses had to be returned quickly. If the horses did not arrive in time, firefighters would commandeer any available team of horses to get their equipment to the site of the conflagration. Horsedi-awn equipment included a pumper operated by a steam boiler that only local blacksmith Jim Reilly could get working. Reilly served as the last President of the Village of North Pelham and the first Mayor of North Pelham (i.e. before and after incorporation). "Reilly's Bench", at Fifth Avenue and Sixth Street, was the favorite spot for political discussions. For many years, the top floor of the present firehouse was the center of community activities including dances, basketball games, etc. This is now used as a workout room by the firemen with equipment acquired without cost to residents.
(8) Lincoln Avenue
Formerly known as Fourth Street, the increase in traffic, since it is a main artery from New Rochelle to Mount Vernon, caused the street to be widened in 1929, at which time it was renained Lincoln Avenue.
(9) "Happy Land"
Pelham's first movie theatre was called the "Happy Land". Located on the West side of Fifth Avenue opposite Seventh Street, moviegoers in 1918 sat on board seats after paying a five cents admission fee.
(10) Sanborn Map Building

Built in 1906, this manufacturing facility has long been considered unique for its parklike setting, contiguous to the adjacent residential streets. The maps produced for insurance companies and other customers were considered to be of the highest quality and are still produced today. During VAVII, Sanborn Map was a strategic war production plant. Maps were made of previously uncharted areas around the world from aerial photographs. The work was considered "Top Secret" as the plant worked 24 hours a day, with many employees commuting to Pelham from New York City and elsewhere to handle the exacting tasks.

(11) The Stone House
Located at 463 First Avenue, this is sometimes referred to as the "Parrish House". Built in 1851 by Alex Diack, a native of Dundee, this house was modeled after a Scottish townhouse of one of his ancestors. Some of the windows in the building contain colored glass brought from England. The Parrish family occupied the house starting in 1855. James Parrish employed a truckman named Adams who began an express business as a sideline. It prospered so that when James died, his widow received dividends in the form of gold coin. At a later point, she was robbed. Thereafter, she hid the remaining gold coins, for safekeeping, in various parts of the house. Unfortunately, she could not remember all of the hiding places and died before all the coins were recovered. Legend has it that she appears at various times, even in daylight, to search for her gold. Some Pelham residents report having seen her, in ancient finery, walking about the house. To date, searchers have found only a few smafl coins beneath the hearthstone of the basement kitchen. Veteran actor Edward Everett Horton, a descendant of Mrs. Parrish, on visiting the house, heard the stories of the "ghost". He reported that the description very much resembled a photo that he had seen of his great grandmother.
(12) Hutchinson School
The school was started in 1878 as the "Pelhamville School" in a two room building on the same site as the present structure. It was replaced with a larger building called "The North Pelham School" in 1888. She and her children were massacred there by Native Americans within a year of their arrival.
(13) 102-104 Third Avenue
Built in 1868, this house is considered to be a typical example of homes of the era.
(14) St. Catharine's Church
Founded in 1896, this Catholic parish is celebrating its centennial year. Remarkably, in its one hundred year history, there have been only five pastors. St. Catharine's Lyceum was built in 1903 as a recreation and meeting place. Later it served as a parish school until construction began in 1939 on the present building (now called the "Msgr. Murphy Parish Center"). The present Rectory was completed in 1968. St. Catharine's also had property and buildings donated by William T. Grant, the dirne store chain founder, located on Boston Post Road where it had a mission church. In 1954 it was established as a parish of its own under the title of Our Lady of Perpetual Help.
(15) The Reservoir

Located near the railroad arch over the Hutchinson River close to First Street, the reservoir was part of the old New York Inter Urban Water Company. It was used by local residents for swimniing, fishing and as a skating pond. A lagoon that was part of the reservoir was filled in during construction of the scenic Hutchinson River Parkway. Today only Pelham Lake remains from the original body of water.

(16) 32 First Avenue
This building cost approximately $500 to build in 1860 - with neighbors aiding in construction. Patrick Farrell, a devout laborer who brought together the first worshipers for St. Catharine's Church, lived there. Upon the death of his widow in 1908, it became the residence of the church sexton, having been willed to the parish.
(17) Racetrack
Before the arrival of the railroad, in the early part of the 19th Century, the land on both sides of what is today the Metro North right-of-way, was the Pelhamville Racetrack. The northern boundary was the property now occupied by St. Catharine's Church on Second Avenue; extending south to what is now Sparks Avenue - then the location of an ice house. Pacing and trotting horses raised by local gentry - many members of the Pell family - raced here. The construction of the railroad in 1840 brought about the demise of the race course.
(18) Post Office
In 1896, the Post Office serving Pelham was located in the Pelham RR station building. Some years later, it was moved to Fifth Avenue between Second and Third Streets. It arrived at its present location, One Wolfs Lane, in 1936. The reason for this building's address, originally used as a bank, stems from the street numbering system devised by the authorities to facilitate delivery of mail as the area's population expanded rapidly. The lot on which the building is located is so close to the railroad tracks, for a long time it was believed that nothing could be built there. With that assumption in mind, the buildings on Fifth Avenue north of First Street were given numbers starting with "One" Fifth Avenue at the northwest comer. Later, when the bank building was erected, the structure was given the address "One Wolf's Lane" - deemed to be a simpler solution than renumbering all of the buildings on Fifth Avenue.
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