February/March 2010 - Larchmont Historical Society

February 2010
Volume III: Issue 3
The
Gazebo Gazette
Newsletter of the Larchmont Historical Society
Do You Have What It Takes to Help Make the 2010
House Tour a Huge Success?
Submit your name for consideration as a
House Tour Captain
House Captains are integral to the visitor experience – it will be
your job to recruit terrific docents who will help direct and inform guests. You will also be present at the front door to check
tickets and hand out shoe bags. As each Captain work‘s one
two-hour shift, you will have plenty of time to enjoy the tour
yourself.
We‘re looking for people who can organize and direct a group
of volunteers and make it fun for everyone. If you would like to
be considered, please contact Pier Langone Witek at 914-8346428; [email protected].
March Program
A Talk with CNN
Morning Anchor
Kiran Chetry
Stay Tuned for
Time and Place!
SAVE THE DATE!
Sunday, April 25
Annual House Tour
Volunteer Now!
More Inside:
 Engine One Restoration
 Century Homes Club House
 Victorian Christmas Tour Photo‘s
 Larchmont Historical Society Shop Window
Exhibition
Page 2
Published by:
The Larchmont Historical Society
P.O. Box 742, Larchmont, NY 10538
President’s Message:
Happy New Year!
Editor: Nancy White
Contributors: Lynne Crowley, Kate
Kelly, Jennifer Lamb, Carolyn Brown
Okay, Patti Roberts, Jim Thomsen
Officers and Board of Trustees:
Colette Rodbell President
Lauren Gottfried, 1st VP, Membership
Patti Roberts, 2nd VP, Programs
Carolyn Okay, Recording Secretary
Jim Sweeney ,Treasurer
Stacy Caffrey
Erin Constabile
Manuel Delgado
Elaine Everhart
Andrew Francella
Margi Gristina
Laura Hoffman
Peggy Kahn
Kate Kelly
Chris Knowles
Jennifer Lamb
Jim Levi
Ellen Martin
Cynthia McManus
Stephen Rolandi
Melissa Schoen
Margaret Takata
Roberta Warren
Nancy White
Pier Witek
Lynne Crowley, Archivist
The Larchmont Historical Society was
founded in 1980 and chartered in 1981
as a not-for-profit educational corporation by the New York State Board of
Regents to discover, preserve and disseminate information concerning the
natural, social, and civic history of
Larchmont, and to promote the preservation of local historical sites and structures. The Society maintains an archives in the Mamaroneck Town Center, 740 W. Boston Post Rd.,
Mamaroneck; publishes a newsletter;,
offers programs; conducts tours for
school children and adults; and offers
outreach lectures to other community
groups. The newsletter is published to
provide news of the Society and occasional articles of related interest. Opinions expressed are those of their authors; publication should not be construed as endorsement by the Society.
As you organize your 2010 calendar, be sure to fill in some of these key dates for
the LHS. We would love to have you join us!
In February we are hosting our fourth annual Century Homes Club cocktail party.
If your home is 100 yrs old, and you are not yet a member of this club, please go
to our website (www.larchmonthistory.org) and fill out an application. The process of learning about the home owners who have preceded you is really quite fascinating.
The program plans for March are still being finalized but stay tuned… it will be
interesting!
On April 25, we will hold our Spring House Tour, always a much-anticipated
community event featuring beautiful homes and fascinating community history.
Advance thanks to our generous homeowners who open their doors so that visitors
can learn more about our community.
In June we have our annual members meeting, and this seems a fitting time to remind you that we have recently done a second mailing of membership letters. If
you receive one, it means we do not have a record of your having joined for this
year. Like any responsible organization, we need to watch costs closely, so if you
are not up-to-date on dues, we will no longer be able to keep you on the newsletter
mailing list, nor will you be among the first to hear about the house tour.
Membership dues are a bargain: An individual can join for the year for only $15
(students and seniors pay only $5); family membership is available for $25. Of
course we are appreciative of those who join at a higher level but these basic rates
permit us to keep you on our mailing list.
- Colette Rodbell
A Warm Welcome to Chris Knowles
Chris Knowles is an on-air meteorologist with WPIX 11 in New
York. He and his wife (CNN American Morning‘s Kiran Chetry)
moved to Larchmont two years ago. Chris has been in the television business for twenty years. He got his start in Salisbury,
Maryland. Prior to WPIX, Chris worked for Fox News Channel.
He has degrees from Syracuse and Mississippi State Universities.
Chris‘ grandfather Horace, an 80 year old World War II vet, has
been instrumental in restoring Fort Miles, Delaware. Fort Miles
was an enormous coastal fort along the Delaware seashore. Chris
has helped his grandfather and other enthusiasts tell their story in local newspapers
and television, as well as in a longer piece on CNN.
―Larchmont has an amazing place in history. I look forward to working with the
Larchmont Historical Society to preserve that history, and to help spread the word
about it,‖ said Chris. ―I can‘t ever imagine a time when I will take the beauty and
antiquity of this area for granted.‖
Page 3
As I said, these are some of the facts culled from the archive. I
should note that he‘s also described in these sources as ―a decent, honest man who tried to help a lot of people‖; ―known for
his friendliness and good cheer‖; ―known for his sense of humor‖ ; ―a man of honor, humility and integrity‖ and ―always a
A few months ago I got an email from longtime Larchmont gentleman.‖ Perhaps many of you, dear Readers, can attest to
resident Frank Cox. He said that he and his wife Mary wanted to these assertions.
surprise her father, Joseph Vandernoot, for Christmas with a
Century Homes Club plaque for his over 100 year old house at Last, but in no way least, as a daily communicant, Joe has been
27 Walnut Avenue. Inspired as we were to be the elves to their an active participant at St. Augustine‘s Church, serving as frecollective Santa Claus, we delved into our files to research the quent server and lector. In the parish he was a trustee, president
background of the house.
of the men's club and parish council, and a founding member of
the local Knights of Columbus.
Well, long story – more than 100 years! – short, as it were, we My friend Lu Doyle, a co-congregant with Joe at St. Augustine‘s
determined that a Capt. Van Ness had had the house built in and an admirer, described him to me as The Oldest Living Altar
1896, I believe as a rental property primarily – but never mind Server in the World. On consulting Guinness (the book of world
that for a moment. Let‘s talk about the real centenarian –not the records, not the beer) I‘ve found nothing to contradict that claim,
house, but the current (and, for the past 66 years) owner, Joseph and so I record it faithfully in the archives of the Larchmont
F.Vandernoot.
Historical Society under ―Vandernoot, J‖ with a cross reference
to ―27 Walnut Avenue‖.
Bricks and mortar shingle and nails, they just sit there and look
- Lynne Crowley
pretty. This 101 year old flesh and blood man-about-town
(literally and figuratively!) is our real story here, well worth at
least a quick review in these pages. Searching the archives, I‘ve
culled the following facts from recent coverage in local publications such as the Larchmont Gazette, Reflections, St.
Augustine‘s newsletter and A Catholic Life newspaper
From the Archives:
Born in the Bronx, Joe left school early and went to work to help
support his family. Working his way up the ladder, step by step,
he became a bond trader in Manhattan, and later a vice president
with the company where he worked for 45 years. He and his
wife of 74 years, Alice, who died in 2006, moved to Larchmont
to the aforementioned 27 Walnut Avenue, with their growing
family in 1943..
Yada, yada, yada…. (They went on to have a total of 7 kids, 22
grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren…..) As reported in the
Larchmont Gazette, ―By 1967 he was chair of the Larchmont
Republican Committee and by 1969 he was serving on the
Mamaroneck Town Council – appointed first to fill a vacancy
and then elected in 1970 and 1974. In 1976, he was elected Supervisor… and then was re-elected in 1978 and stepped down at
the end of 1979.‖ Whew!
During his tenure on the Town Board, what were some of the
issues at hand? Let‘s see… flood control, expanding the playing
fields, developing ideas to keep kids away from drugs, ideas for
sharing services between the Town of Mamaroneck and the Village of Larchmont…. Gee, plus ca change, plus c’est la meme
chose, huh? Or, what goes around comes around.
But Joe Vandernoot, not content to rest on a bed of laurel, continued to assume major leadership roles in the community – in
the Manor Park Society, Friends of the Reservoir and the Westchester Association of Retarded Citizens.
Joe Vandernoot shows off the Century Home Club plaque,
mounted on the door of his home at 27 Walnut Ave., a Chritmas
gift from his daughter and son-in-law, Mary and Frank Cox.
Page 4
Century Homes Club
41 Larchmont Ave
“The Bolton Cottage”
Who Were You, Jane Bolton?
In our quest to document one of our latest Century Homes – 41
Larchmont Avenue – we have been introduced to a new lost
friend, the home‘s original owner: Anne Jay Bolton. We were
immediately fascinated by her, not only as yet another female
property owner in our town‘s history, but a single woman and
apparently a real estate investor as well. And there was something in her name, Anne Jay Bolton, that seemed a statement of a
woman worth knowing.
―Bolton Cottage,‖ on the northeast corner of Larchmont and
Walnut Avenues, was completed in the early spring of 1896,
along with the house just north of it for Miss Anne Jay Bolton.
The identification and dating of this house was relatively
straightforward: the deed history documents that Anne Jay Bolton purchased both properties from William H. and Catherine A.
Campbell in October, 1895. And the local periodicals bless us
with having published in the fall of 1895 that ―Miss Bolton, who
has sold her cottage facing Cedar Avenue, will build on the
northeast corner of Walnut and Larchmont Avenues the coming
winter. William L. Gerr, architect of Mamaroneck, is preparing
the plans.‖ Following several weeks later was a citation that
―Charles T. Robinson, the builder from New Rochelle, is putting
up two new cottages for Miss Bolton.‖ In addition, the tax records list 1896 as the first year she paid taxes on 2 houses on this
block (as well as 1895 being the year she turned tax responsibilPalmer Avenue store owner, Muriel Francella has graciously ity for a house on Grove to another).
extended use of the store windows at 1989 Palmer Avenue to the
LHS to display a collection of artwork done by late local artist, We became intrigued with Miss Bolton as a single woman who
Philip Severin. Known as "Mr. Larchmont" , Severin was a life- was seemingly building houses for investment—having sold at
long resident who played an integral role in the creation of our least one prior to these—renting, and then selling these in short
present day community. He was a realtor, developer, town plan- order. She owned 41 Larchmont Avenue for a couple of years,
ner, historian, artist and writer. He recorded his surroundings with the deed of transfer to Mary H. Keating having been reand experiences in his art and writing preserving life in Larch- corded on April 4, 1898. In fact, the deed history of
mont in a way that brings the past to life today. The Larchmont Mamaroneck suggests that she was quite a prolific trader of
Historical Society along with the Chamber of Commerce is ac- property here, purchasing eight properties (including the two on
tively solicting owners of empty store fronts to display old pho- Larchmont Avenue) between 1889 and 1897, with one additos and historic information of old Larchmont. The next installa- tional purchase in 1900. This same deed history reveals that she
tion will be at the old Buck's Pharmacy. Interested store owners was not alone in her family in having a penchant for Westchester
should contact Colette Rodbell, President of the Larchmont His- real estate, her grandfather, Robert Bolton, Jr., for one, having
torical Society at 914 834 5631.
–Carolyn Brown Okay purchased roughly ten properties in the 1840s and 1850s, as well
as a number of aunts, uncles, and siblings.
Philip Severin Collection now on
display at 1989 Palmer Avenue
Page 5
From census and directory records, we know that Anne lived at a
ladies boarding school in Pelham in 1870. After her father died
in 1877, she remained at the ladies boarding school (a resident of
New Rochelle on the Pelham border, first at Bolton Priory and
later at 220 Pelham Road). She and her mother were listed as
teachers in 1880. Following the sale of the Bolton Priory in
1883, Anne continued to reside with Aunt Nanette and later
Aunt Adele (both sisters of her father).
Anne was born in Queens in November 21, 1854, one of the
eldest of some twelve or thirteen children born to her father,
Robert Bolton and his second wife Josephine Woodhull. Anne
came from a long line of clergymen throughout her family tree,
including both her father and grandfather (also Robert). However great-grandfather, Robert Sr. had been and prominent and
successful merchant in Savannah. While grandfather Robert
apparently lacked the merchant savvy, and lost some of his
wealth in a business endeavor in London in the 1820s, he was
able to build an impressive house in Pelham, the Bolton Priory,
upon moving his family to Westchester to pursue the ministry.
Her father was also an author and scholar, publishing several
volumes. His earliest publication was, 'A Guide to New Rochelle,' in 1848. In the same year he also published his great
work, 'The History of Westchester County,' in two volumes.
The latter years of his life were devoted to the preparation of a
new edition of this work. This he leaves almost completed. In
1855 he published a 'History of the Church in Westchester
County,' and in 1862, 'A Genealogical and Biographical Account
of the Family of Bolton, in England and America.'
At first it would seem that having a father who was such a prolific author would provide tremendous insight into this family
and their lives, especially given the titles of his works. Sadly,
and interestingly, after wading through these painfully wordy
works, we know little more about Anne than before. These
books did reveal our homeowner‘s father to be quite the pious
fellow, seemingly with little interest beyond the pious nature of
others. His ―Bolton Family History‖ did list the education and
professional successes of her brothers, two of whom became
doctors, and her uncle William Jay Bolton is widely regarded for
his mastery of stained-glass, but of the girls not a thing.
Despite this lack of literary legacy, it would seem that this family was encouraging of some level of female accomplishment, as
the Bolton Priory was used as a boarding school for young ladies, founded by her father and continued by her aunt Nanette
(given name Anne), until the family sold the home in 1881.
According to the 1910 census, she remained at 220 Pelham
Road, New Rochelle with aunt Adele, as well as a sister, Arabella. We can only assume that this aunt must have benefited
financially from the sale of Bolton Priory, providing not only a
means of living for the ladies, but presumably their investment
bank roll as well. On this 1910 census the three ladies were
listed as having ‗private incomes‘ and had a cook who lived with
them. In addition to her real estate investments, we have record
of Anne as one of the founding stockholders in the New Rochelle Electric Railway, owning a rather large 8 of the 800
shares, issued at $100 each (her aunt Adele purchased an additional 2 shares) in October, 1897.
While she continued to live on Pelham Road, we have yet to
learn more about her until her aunt Adele passed away in 1912,
and the protracted settlement of the estate as she and a sister
Arabella quarreled over the ownership of some valuable paintings, one thought to be byGainsborough and another by Etty.
We know that Anne remained alive in 1924 and was at that time
residing in Brooklyn (from court documents pertaining to the
painting ownership and inheritance tax issues), but to date that is
our last evidence of her.
This Anne Jay Bolton most certainly is shaping up to be a character worth knowing and remembering: a single woman who
was raised in a highly pious and likely rather frugal surroundings
of a scholar, priest and teacher father becoming in her 40‘s and
active real estate and perhaps stock investor. While more personal details of her life elude us at the present, now that we have
been introduced to her we are sure that our paths will cross
again, as we are confident that she left a greater legacy behind
which we are only in the early stages of unearthing.
Our town has so many fascinating, forgotten chapters, which our
Century Homes Club applicants are leading us to re-discover.
The houses are vehicles of introduction to the people who built,
inhabited, bought and sold them. But more than that, they open
the doors to lives, many of which are long forgotten, which are
extraordinary and taunt us into learning everything we can from
evidence which they left behind. 41 Larchmont Avenue is one
of our most recent additions to the Century Homes Club, and has
given us the Bolton Family to delve into and broaden the ever
evolving story which is Larchmont.
- Stacy Caffrey
Page 6
Engine One: A Restoration in Process
changes that were made as the engine was built.
If you think village government in 1922 must have been a model
of efficiency, these records will change your mind. The original
order was dated October 10, 1922 and change orders came in on
November 7, 10, 11 and 13! Change orders always announced
to the factory workers ―All data now specified is annulled. The
following MUST be installed.‖ Larchmont ordered changes to
the transmission, the pump, the rear fenders, and even the length
of the rear step at the back.
Was Engine One Painted Red or White?
Engine One in Washington State with the Cooper family
Engine One is a 1922 American LaFrance pumper that
served Larchmont until 1948. The Historical Society is undertaking a restoration of the engine back to its condition in
the 1920s. In order to complete an historically accurate restoration, the Historical Society‘s Fire History Committee has
conducted an extensive research project about the origins of
Engine One and the original technical specifications.
Assuring the Identity of Engine One
How do we know that the Engine One we have is … for
sure ... the actual engine that Larchmont used on the 1920s?
When the Volunteer Fire Companies were originally contacted by the Cooper Family in Washington, the family sent
photographs including a photo of the vehicle identification
Engine One, as it left Larchmont in 1947, was painted red. However, the Historical Society has a photograph (apparently from
1938) showing Engine One apparently painted white above and
a darker color (presumably red) below. We checked the factory
record, and it clearly specifies that the body, fenders, seat, and
tool box are to be painted white, and the frames, springs, axles
and wheels are to be red.
Finding Parts
An important part of the restoration process involves finding
replacements for missing or broken parts. The specification provides a long list of parts including lanterns, ladders, fire extinguishers and tools, as well as some rather esoteric equipment
such as a ―chemical tank‖ that worked like a large, old-fashioned
fire extinguisher. The tank contained a fluid that was slightly
acidic (like vinegar) and the firefighters had a pouch with pellets
that were a base substance (reactive with acid, like baking soda.)
High school chemistry majors – and Cub Scouts - know that
A digitally-portrait of Engine One and Fire Department volunteers in 2002.
plate – including the factory serial number that uniquely
identifies each American LaFrance fire engine. The American LaFrance museum in South Carolina confirmed that the
serial number was the same as the one in their records for the
1922 engine shipped to Larchmont.
Acquiring the Factory Records
Through the American LaFrance museum, the Fire History
Committee acquired a copy of the original factory records of
Engine One, which translate the details of Larchmont‘s original order when the Engine was purchased, and which records
when you mix baking soda and vinegar, you get a fizzy release
of carbon dioxide. That‘s the way this tank worked, producing
40 gallons of high-pressure water to apply within moments after
Engine One would arrive at a fire. When the Larchmonter
Times referred to Engine One as the ―very last word in fire fighting machinery‖ that‘s what they were thinking about.
How do we locate the parts? Members of the LHS Fire History
Committee have joined historical fire equipment associations
and monitor the publications, and even Ebay.com, for parts.
We‘ve already located some original lanterns, a set of six pistons
Page 7
and a set of pistons. When four original-equipment wooden
wheels became available, our restorer negotiated a fair price and
the Historical Society snapped them up.
Marching Uniforms
When Engine One returns to Larchmont, the Historical Society
will not be responding to fire alarms, but we will be responding
to invitations for local celebrations, parades and educational
events. When we are invited to an event, we want to arrive with
Engine One in our uniforms. Therefore, the fire history committee is researching historical firefighting uniforms from Larchmont, Mamaroneck and the surrounding region.
A 1922 ad for American LaFrance fire engines like Engine One
Funding the Project
Thanks to a generous donation by the Orans family, in memory
of Jacob Orans - a volunteer firefighter in Larchmont, the fundraising campaign for Engine One is off to a great start! However,
as you might imagine, the cost to restore such a complex piece
of machinery is significant, and we need your help. The fundraising goal for the restoration and ongoing care and maintenance of the engine is $140,000. With the generosity of the
Orans family, as well as additional donations from the volunteer
fire companies and a challenge pledge from the Larchmont Gazette, we are two-thirds of the way to our goal.
You can donate online at http://larchmonthistory.org/engineone
and your tax-deductible donation will help close the gap to complete the restoration and bring Engine One back to Larchmont!
- Ned Benton
Santa and his Sidekicks
highlight
December 6th Event
Guests at the members-only St. Nicholas‘ Day event were on their
best behavior. Once they entered the Steely home on Roosevelt
Avenue, there was no doubt Santa had made his list and was
checking it twice. The event‘s host, Bill Steely, took the audience
on a rare voyage into his world of collecting antique Christmas
memorabilia, pointing out legends and lore along the way.
Throughout the Steely home original feather trees stood sentinel in
every corner, decked out with unique ornaments of glass, paper
(including many fascinating Dresden ornaments), tinsel. A favorite was the patriotic tree featuring Uncle Sam and all things red,
white and blue. Fireplace mantels held communities of Belsnickles, the Santa type character originating in southern Germany (the
name is derived from Pelz-Nichol, meaning Fur Clad Nicholas).
These figures are actually candy containers made of papier mache
or chalk between the years 1879 and World War 1. What really
had guests on their toes was the surprising, if not terrifying, legion
of Krampus figures in the dining room. Belonging more to that
holiday at the end of October, Krampus resembles the devil, complete with horns, long red tongue and fiery eyes. This Santa sidekick most likely originated in the Germanic alpine regions and
completes the Yin and Yang of the Winter Season. Krampus still
shows up on the night of December 6th in many countries, threatening to whip the naughty into shape. ( Parents: take note that this
surely works better than the threat of coal in a stocking!)
Although much of Bill Steely‘s collection is put into hibernation
the end of January, Christmas always on his mind as he is on the
board of the Golden Glow of Christmas Past, an organization for
collectors of antique Christmas memorabilia. Go to goldenglow.org for more information.
- Patti Roberts
MEMBERSHIP FORM
WE‘RE ONLINE
Visit us virtually
at
www.larchmonthistory.org
Visit our
ONLINE
PHOTO MUSEUM.
Learn more
about
LARCHMONT HISTORY
Find out
about
MONTHLY PROGRAMS
And
SPECIAL EVENTS
Join LHS, pay dues or make
a donation online.
Find out how to research your
home, join CHC, or Volunteer,
ALL ONLINE!
Send inquiries to:
[email protected]
Please enroll me as a member of the Larchmont Historical Society. My taxdeductible dues for one year are enclosed. Annual membership year is:
September - June.
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P.O. Box 742
Larchmont, NY 10538
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