Picture Pelham Road a historic thoroughfare. It winds along the Long Island Sound shoreline. This road connects Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx to New Rochelle and Pelham Manor in Westchester County. Its story begins long before cars and even paved roads. It started as a Native American trail. This trail linked villages on Davenport Neck and Pelham Neck. These waterfront villages thrived. They used the many small coves secure harbors and abundant springs.
For a time the section of Pelham Road from New Rochelle to the Pelham town line was known as the “way to Mr. Pell’s” or “Road to Pell’s Manor”. This was because it ran through the Pell family’s manor. The manor was private property. It wasn’t vital to New Rochelle settlers unless they were tenants.
The Huguenot settlers of New Rochelle crossed the trail. They used it to access waterfront lots. Commercial activity grew along the shore. Cooper-shops were established. More trades emerged turning this area into a bustling business district. Ferries were established in the 1700s. These connected Pelham Road to Cow Neck on Long Island.
Pelham Road competed with the Boston Road. The Boston Road was the main route between New York City and Boston. It was the main route for stagecoaches and mail. However Pelham Road held its own. Steamboats arrived in 1829. They landed at Town Dock Road before moving to a new dock on Neptune Island by 1833. The Neptune House hotel opened there in 1837. A bridge across Eastchester Bay improved access. This connected Pelham Road to Westchester Village West Farms Morrisania and New York City. Pelham Road was now a major thoroughfare.
The New York and New Haven Railroad opened in 1849. Train travel reduced the importance of Pelham Road. Business shifted towards the railroad route and the Boston Turnpike. After the incorporation of New Rochelle in 1857 the western part of the road became known as Pelham Road. A horse-drawn railway was built in 1886. It connected to ferries to Starin’s Glen Island and Davids Island. In 1898 an electric trolley replaced the horse cars.
The road was widened and straightened in 1928. It became a major route again linking New York City and New England. Today Pelham Road is a densely populated area. It features apartments condominiums and townhouses. It connects residential areas to the downtown business district. The road is lined with businesses parks and recreational areas. Many waterfront businesses still exist. This lively area is a testament to its long and rich history. A history etched along its route a history you walk today.