Pelham (New York)

Pelham is a wealthy town just northeast of the Bronx, with quite a few beautiful buildings and leafy streets.

By train

The trip from Grand Central Terminal on Metro North takes 23 minutes during peak hours and not much more than that off-peak.

By car

The Hutchinson River Parkway and the New England Thruway (I-95) go right through Pelham.

By bus

Several Bee Line bus routes go through Pelham and connect with the Bronx and with other Westchester County cities to the north and west. The fare is $2.75, and you can use a MetroCard and get a free transfer from buses and subways in the Bronx or other Westchester County buses.

• Hike to the Split RockThis natural monument has been part of this region for ages. Its historical significance was enough to have Interstate 95 moved as not to disturb it. It instant as a part of and old Native American trail. Later it was a supposed site of the Indians killing of Anne Hutchison, an exile from the Massachusetts Bay Colony, and eventually a marker on the first Boston Post Road. This landmark is a bit out of the way, but a hike out to see it is a chance to reflect on the many changes in this area.

• Bartow-Pell MansionIn the 1600s the Pell Family bought land from the Indians, which would eventually become part of the Bronx and Lower Westchester County, including Pelham and Pelham Manor. Later descendants built the mansion on this spot in the late 1800s. The mansion and the surrounding gardens have become a New York City Landmark and Museum.

• Saint Paul’s ChurchDesignated a National Historic Site this church was important to early colonial life, part of the Battle of Pell’s Point and involved in the case of John Peter Zenger and the cause of Freedom of the Press. The cemetery has graves dating back to 1704 and there are guided tours, organ recitals, and outdoor concerts available to the public.

• Stained glass at Christ ChurchBuilt in 1843, this granite structure was built by the sons of the pastor Rev. Bolton and features the first stained glass figure made in America.

• Glover FieldNow used as recreational fields for the town and the school Glover Field was part of an important battle of the Revolutionary War fought over many areas in Pelham. At almost any time of year you can find the Pelham Pelicans on the fields for football, soccer, baseball and track. In the winter, visit the nearby Ice Hutch, home of the champion Pelham Ice Hockey team.

• Pelham Memorial High SchoolPelham’s four elementary schools are named for different eras of the town’s past (Siwanoy, Colonial, Hutchison, Prospect Hill). The high school was founded in 1922 as a memorial to those who died in World War I. Check out the Neo-Gothic architecture of the original structure and the WPA murals in the library.

• Pelham Country ClubThis local golf course was designed by the famous golf course architect Devereaux Emmet and hosted the 1923 PGA Championship. This classic duel pitted Gene Sarazen against Walter Hagen in a 38-hole final with Sarazen winning his second straight PGA title. This is a private club and you would need a member to take you as a guest to play a round. There are two good public courses nearby: Pelham Bay and Split Rock.

• Pelham Picture HouseThe Pelham Picture House is undergoing a massive change in form and purpose. Designated a landmark as one of the last remaining classic Art Deco one-screen theatres in the area the Picture House has become a non-profit organization dedicated to cinema education. Screening of documentaries and independent films, lectures and forums with film makers and actors, and film making classes for kids are all part of the restoration and vision for this local treasure.

• New York City is an obvious place to go next, if you didn't come from there in the first place.
• In particular, The Bronx is just south and west of Pelham. Pelham Bay Park, the largest park in New York City (3 times the size of Central Park), is quite close to Pelham.
• To the east are various more or less picturesque towns on the Long Island Sound, starting with the city of New Rochelle and the town of Larchmont and extending into Connecticut.