History of Pelham Parkway
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Pelham Parkway
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Pelham Parkway’s official name is the Bronx and Pelham
Parkway since it connects Bronx Park and Pelham Bay Park; it is also an
integral part of the Mosholu-Pelham Greenway. Pelham Parkway was
established in 1911 and was originally only one lane which is today’s
westbound lane. The parkway was lined with trees on both sides and had a
strict building code. Nobody was allowed to build within 150 feet of the
center. No railroads were allowed to cross over the parkway; this is why
the roadbed of the New Haven Railroad had to be laid in a tunnel
underneath the parkway which is now the Dyre Avenue subway line. Bars and
hotels are also prohibited from being built alongside the parkway. Land in
1900 cost between $3500 and $5000 for one lot; near Bronx Park the prices
were even higher. Today’s parkway was constructed in the 1930s and is
2.3 miles in length and 400 feet wide and features wide expanses of lawn
with full canopies of trees. The center of the parkway, prior to WW II was
closed off on Sunday mornings for professional bicycle racing; today,
there is a bicycle path along the westbound lanes of the parkway.
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Pelham Parkway/White Plains Road Station
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Built in 1916, the Pelham Parkway Station is part of
the #2 White Plains Road subway line. This station is unique within
the New York City Transit System in its appearance and siting and
has been cited for these features by New York State’s Office of
Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. The structure,
decorated with tile work patterns and banding set into concrete
facades, spans Pelham Parkway’s greenbelt making it an imposing
piece of civic architecture. It is the only station within the NYC
Transit System that is built over parkland. |
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Bronx Park
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Bronx Park is a 718 acre recreational facility that runs along
both sides of the Bronx River and the Bronx River Parkway. As the entire
borough, it is named after Jonas Bronck who settled the area in 1639. In 1891,
250 acres were allotted to the New York Botanical Society (The New York
Botanical Garden) and another 250 acres were allotted to the New York Zoological
Society in 1895 (Bronx Zoo); these areas are located on the westside of the
Bronx River. Bronx Park’s additional land is dedicated to recreational areas
including playgrounds, bicycle paths, tennis and basketball courts and baseball,
soccer and football fields for the use of the local residents.
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Bronx Zoo
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The Bronx Zoo is a subsidiary of the Wildlife Conservation
Society which was founded in 1895 as the New York Zoological Society. The Bronx
Zoo opened to the public in 1899 and still adheres to its original mission to
advance the study of zoology, protect wildlife and educate the public. The zoo
is a leader in the care, feeding and exhibition of animals–including mammals,
birds, reptiles and amphibians from around the world. With the award winning
Congo Gorilla Forest, Tiger Mountain, Jungle World and Baboon Reserve, the Bronx
Zoo has earned its place as one of the foremost zoos in the world.
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Bronx River
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The Bronx River got its name from Jonas Bronck who owned much of the land around it. The
name for the borough, which became part of New York City in 1898, was taken from this
river. The Lenape, Wackquaskeck and Sivanoy Indian tribes used the Bronx River for travel.
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Dr. Cadwalder Colden
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Dr. Cadwalder Colden came to the Bronx in the late 1880's to study Indian habits. He later
became an active member of the city council and wrote a book entitled, "History of
Indian Nations". Colden Avenue, which is named after the doctor, passes by three
schools: P.S. 89, The New York Institute for Special Education and Christopher Columbus High School.
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Morris Park Race Track
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When the Jerome Park Race Track was torn down to make way for
the Jerome Reservoir, the Morris Park Race Track was conceived and built by
Leonard Jerome and John A. Morris in what was then Westchester County and opened
in 1889. The race track would have been bounded by what is today Pelham Parkway
South, Williamsbridge Road, the Dyre Avenue subway tracks and Bronxdale Avenue.
The track prospered in the 1890s because it was easily accessible by the New
Haven Railroad (original owner of the subway tracks). The Belmont Stakes were
run here. However, upon the opening of Belmont Race Track and the transfer of
the Belmont Stakes to that track along with a major financial setback suffered
by Mr. Morris the Morris Park Race Track started to go downhill and in 1903
declared bankruptcy. New York City annexed it and kept it open for auto racing
and aircraft shows. On May 9th, 1910 a huge fire fed by high winds engulfed the
track and its buildings and sealed its demise.
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Pelham Parkway/Williamsbridge Road Station
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The subway station is a one-story building containing two stores
and the subway entrance. Formerly part of the New York, Boston and Westchester
Railroad, a commuter line that went bankrupt in the depression, this station was
built specifically by the New Haven Railroad to deliver passengers to the Morris
Park Race Track. A four mile stretch of the railroad was acquired by New York
City Transit in 1941 and became part of the #5 Dyre Avenue subway line.
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Tracts of Land
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Land around Pelham Parkway was owned by large landowners. The
Pearsalls owned a large tract on the southeast side of the parkway near
Williamsbridge Road. Adjoining it, on the northeast, was the suburban settlement
Westchester Heights. On the northwest side of this area was the land tracts
owned by John Jacob and William Waldorf Astor. Hence, Pearsall Avenue, Astor
Avenue, Morris Park Avenue, etc. A large tract of land on the southwest side of
the parkway was owned by the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad Company
and was used as a freight yard.
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Bronx Municipal Hospital
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Bronx Municipal Hospital is really two hospitals, Jacobi Medical
Center and Van Etten Hospital; these hospitals are part of the NYC Health and
Hospitals Corporation (HHC). It is located at the intersection of Pelham Parkway
South and Eastchester Road.
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Pelham Heath Inn
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At the junction of Eastchester Road and Pelham Parkway South was
the famous nightclub, The Pelham Heath Inn. Top bands
played here and were broadcast from coast to coast.
The inn closed in 1952. Aging in America now stands on that site.
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Pelham Bay Park
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Pelham Bay Park is New York City’s largest park at 2,700
acres. It was originally home to the Siwanoy Indians
but was sold to the Dutch West India Company in 1639 and later
purchased by Englishman Thomas Pell in 1654. In 1888, thanks to the efforts of John
Mullaly, Bronx resident and founder of the New York
Parks Association, the city acquired the land. Today,
the most popularly known sections of the park are The Bronx Victory
Column and Memorial Grove, Orchard Beach, The Bartow-Pell Mansion and Museum,
and the Pelham-Split Rock Golf Courses. In addition there are several significant
natural habitats which serve as refuges to a diversity of wildlife.
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This history was compiled by Michael Prospect as his
Eagle Scout Service Project in December, 1975. (Eagle
Scout Project Committee members: Gary Armocida, Allan Beller, Eric
Bomze, Richard DiTomasso, Nicholas Pipolo, Ted Prospect, Eddie Sherwood, Michael Sherwood, Steven Tellm
ar and Eddie Tishelman. Special
thanks to Andrew Wolf, Shirley Bomze, Louis Sullo, Jr. Additional
material supplied by the Bronx
Historical Society, Bronx
Zoo, The New York Botanical Garden,
New York
Department of Parks and Recreation. Horseracing.about.com,
NYC Roads and Wikipedia.
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