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William Green, Somers |
Photograph by Gray Williams |
Historic Properties Listing
| Property | Bolton Priory |
| Municipality | Pelham |
| Community | Pelham Manor |
| Street Number | 7 |
| Street Address | Priory Lane |
| Historic District Name | |
| Local Landmark Status? | Yes 01/05/88 |
| Local Landmark District Status? | |
| National Register District Status? | |
| County Register Status? | |
| National Register Status? | Yes 06/28/74 |
| National Historic Landmark Status? | |
| National Historic Landmark District Status? | |
| State Register Status? | Yes 06/23/80 |
| Eligible for National Register? | |
| Owner | Ms. Harry George |
| Institutional Owner | |
| Tax Map Available? | |
| Tax Map Image Available? | |
| Tax Section Tax Block Tax Lot | |
| Architect | Robert Bolton, Washington Irving |
| Builder | Robert Bolton and sons |
| Building Type | Single Family Dwelling |
| Building Type, Details | |
| Architectural Style | Other (describe) |
| Architectural Style, Details | Early Gothic Revival |
| Current Use | Single Family Dwelling |
| Current Use, Details | |
| Original Use | Single Family Dwelling |
| Original Use, Details | |
| Structural Condition | Excellent |
| Neighborhood | Residential |
| Threats to Building | |
| Site Integrity | Original Site |
| Date Moved | |
| Year Built | 1838 |
| Structural System | Masonry Load-Bearing |
| Structural System, Details | |
| Photograph Available? | |
| Alterations | Restored after a fire in the early twentieth century, the addition of an attic story is the most significant changed from the early appearance of the Priory. |
| Date of Alterations | Early 20th century |
| Significance | Bolton Priory (1838) is a particularly fine reflection of the life style and tastes of a cultivated influential family in mid-19th century rural Pelham as well as the romantic theories of architectural design then emerging in America. The building was originally the home of Robert Bolton, a minister at St. Paul’s in Eastchester, that also housed religious services and later served school for girls (which is believed to have been the first public school in Pelham). In addition, Washington Irving, a close friend of Robert Bolton, was intimately associated with the plans for the dwelling that Robert Bolton and his sons constructed. For more information on the significance of Bolton Priory refer to the files maintained by the Westchester County Historical Society. |
| Description | Bolton Priory stands upon a wooded tract, overlooking Pelham Bay. The once large estate of Robert Bolton is now diminished to 3.7 acres but the plot still retains the old formal gardens. A stone and brick structure, the Priory is composed of a variety of geometric forms, asymmetrically arranged to produce a highly picturesque silhouette as well as the illusion that the dwelling is the product of natural growth over a period of many years. The house is, in fact, composed of a long two-story block intersected by a gabled two-story wing, with a crenellated four-story octagonal tower at the northern angle of that junction and a crenellated three-story square brick tower at the southwestern end of the main block. The main block that is covered by a gable roof for about two-thirds of its length, was originally crenellated for the remainder of its length. However, early in the 20th century a third story was added to this segment of the house now covered by a hipped roof. The exterior and interior remain essentially unaltered in form. The interior contains 39 rooms. The craftsmanship attributed to Robert Bolton’s sons is exhibited in the richly detailed woodwork such as mantels and built-in bookcases. |
| Property | Christ Church at Pelham |
| Municipality | Pelham |
| Community | Pelham Manor |
| Street Number | 1415 |
| Street Address | Pelhamdale Avenue |
| Historic District Name | |
| Local Landmark Status? | Yes 03/20/89 |
| Local Landmark District Status? | |
| National Register District Status? | |
| County Register Status? | |
| National Register Status? | |
| National Historic Landmark Status? | |
| National Historic Landmark District Status? | |
| State Register Status? | |
| Eligible for National Register? | |
| Owner | |
| Institutional Owner | Parish of Christ the Redeemer |
| Tax Map Available? | |
| Tax Map Image Available? | |
| Tax Section Tax Block Tax Lot | |
| Architect | Robert Bolton and sons |
| Builder | Robert Bolton and sons |
| Building Type | Religious |
| Building Type, Details | |
| Architectural Style | Gothic Revival |
| Architectural Style, Details | |
| Current Use | Religious |
| Current Use, Details | |
| Original Use | Religious |
| Original Use, Details | |
| Structural Condition | Excellent |
| Neighborhood | Commercial/ Woodlands |
| Threats to Building | |
| Site Integrity | Original Site |
| Date Moved | |
| Year Built | 1843 |
| Structural System | Masonry Load-Bearing |
| Structural System, Details | |
| Photograph Available? | |
| Alterations | The Nanette Bolton Memorial Building was constructed to the east of the church in 1885; in 1910 the church was considerably enlarged, the nave turned from north/south to east/west, and the chancel extended to intersect with the Memorial Building. The Hall of Fellowship was constructed in 1928. Twentieth century alterations include a large gable roofed east façade dormer and a rear addition. The Colonial Revival style two-story gable roofed rectory with attached one-car garage was constructed of stone and clapboard in 1941. |
| Date of Alterations | Various years |
| Significance | Christ Church at Pelham, built in 1843, was the earliest church structure in the Town of Pelham and the first example of the English parish style church in Westchester County. The Reverend Robert Bolton and his talented sons, Robert and John, built it on property he donated next to the Bolton Priory, the family residence constructed in 1838. Christ Church contains artistic works of national significance: "The Adoration of the Magi," considered the first figured stained glass window made in America, and the wood carved alter, communion rail, and corbels. The Boltons made a significant cultural contribution to the community, building a school for local children, running the Priory School, reputed to be the first girls’ boarding school in the nation and founding two other Episcopal churches in the town. The Boltons were an important part of Pelham for over 100 years. |
| Description | Christ Church is located near the northeast corner of a 4.06-acre site facing Pelhamdale Avenue. The original section is one bay wide, three bays deep, constructed of local fieldstone with a slate-covered gable roof. The windows are gothic-arched leaded stained glass with brick surrounds. The projecting entrance vestibule, now enclosed, has gothic-arched openings on three sides with brick surrounds. The main façade incorporates a tripartite gothic arched stained glass leaded window and a gable roofed bellcote with an 1843 Spanish bell. The Nanette Bolton Memorial Building was constructed to the east of the church in 1885; in 1910 the church was considerably enlarged, the nave turned from north/south to east/west, and the chancel extended to intersect with the Memorial Building. Connected to the Nanette Bolton Memorial Building wing, the Hall of Fellowship, similar in character to the original and later sections of the church, was constructed to the designs of Guy Mariner in 1928. Original 1843 interior of details of note, all executed by sons of Robert Bolton, include nine stained glass windows and the carved altar rail and furniture, communion table and rail, and illuminated five-panel reredos. Also on site are an 1844 fieldstone parish hall/school and a Colonial Revival style rectory. |
| Property | Pelhamdale |
| Municipality | Pelham |
| Community | Pelham Manor |
| Street Number | 45 |
| Street Address | Iden Avenue |
| Historic District Name | |
| Local Landmark Status? | Yes 01/05/88 |
| Local Landmark District Status? | |
| National Register District Status? | |
| County Register Status? | |
| National Register Status? | Yes 11/04/82 |
| National Historic Landmark Status? | |
| National Historic Landmark District Status? | |
| State Register Status? | Yes 09/27/82 |
| Eligible for National Register? | |
| Owner | Drs. Alfred Z. Spector and Rhonda Kost |
| Institutional Owner | |
| Tax Map Available? | |
| Tax Map Image Available? | |
| Tax Section Tax Block Tax Lot | |
| Architect | Unknown |
| Builder | Unknown |
| Building Type | Single Family Dwelling |
| Building Type, Details | |
| Architectural Style | |
| Architectural Style, Details | |
| Current Use | Single Family Dwelling |
| Current Use, Details | |
| Original Use | Single Family Dwelling |
| Original Use, Details | |
| Structural Condition | Excellent |
| Neighborhood | Residential |
| Threats to Building | |
| Site Integrity | Original Site |
| Date Moved | |
| Year Built | c.1755-60 |
| Structural System | Masonry Load-Bearing |
| Structural System, Details | |
| Photograph Available? | Yes |
| Alterations | After a fire (post 1900), the roof of the building was replaced; skylights since have been added. |
| Date of Alterations | |
| Significance | Pelhamdale, constructed about c.1755-60, is a significant example of an early New York State manor house. The building’s interior is exceptional for its intact classical details and formal arrangement, the elements of which mirror the vertical divisions of the front façade. Pelhamdale is also significant for its association with the Pell family, prominent settlers of Pelham Manor, and the property recalls an important episode in the development of the area. |
| Description | Situated on a triangular, three-quarter-acre lot in a twentieth-century residential neighborhood, Pelhamdale is a two-story residence of stone construction. The building is primarily faced in coursed, rock-faced stone ranging in color from muted orange and red to gray. White native sandstone lintels and sills appear around windows. A plain, wide entablature of brick articulates an attic story. The slightly hipped roof with four skylights is not visible from ground level. The building's plan is roughly rectangular and is distinguished by a formal arrangement on both the interior and exterior. Two, two-story bays flank the building's main (south side) entranceway. The balconied front porch features two fluted, white sandstone Doric columns. The window arrangement on the front façade is one of bilateral symmetry. The six, first story windows are nine-over-nine, double hung and span from floor to ceiling on the interior. The seven, second story windows are six-over-six, double hung. On the east side, two garages with a terrace on top span the ground level of the building. The north elevation is five ways wide and was the building’s main façade originally. Window placement on the building's west side is asymmetrical. To the rear of the house is a stone well with a shingled, conical roof. The interior of the building is characterized by exceptional arrangement and detailing. Rooms flank the centralized hallway on each floor. Interior features include fireplaces with marble and wood mantels, indoor recessed wooden shutters, wide molded chair rails and baseboards, and flooring of inlaid mahogany parquet and wide red pine board. |
