A Moment in Time
You can find a lot about the history of The Bronx on the internet. A Google search will display many pages of websites you can visit, including The Bronx County Historical Society and Wikipedia.
The northeast portion of the Bronx was annexed from Westchester County in parcels during the 1890s to become part of New York City. We are concentrating on that tiny area of what we know as Baychester east of the Hutchinson River. The Bronx became a borough and was annexed to New York City in 1898, becoming part of New York County. By 1912-1914 it became part of the newly established Bronx County. The area of this study has been severally referred to as the "Historic Village," "Fishing Village," and "Village of Baychester."
The northeast portion of the Bronx was annexed from Westchester County in parcels during the 1890s to become part of New York City. We are concentrating on that tiny area of what we know as Baychester east of the Hutchinson River. The Bronx became a borough and was annexed to New York City in 1898, becoming part of New York County. By 1912-1914 it became part of the newly established Bronx County. The area of this study has been severally referred to as the "Historic Village," "Fishing Village," and "Village of Baychester."
In 1893 there was an auction sale of approximately 100 acres of land in Westchester County known as the Given Homestead. Attendees numbered 1500, purchasing 261 lots, at an average sale price of $194 per lot. Several of the lots sold were on Main Avenue [Baychester Avenue, today], Central Avenue [Stillwell Avenue, today]; St. Mary's Avenue [DeReimer Avenue, today]; and St. Agnes Avenue [Palmer Avenue, today].
In 1903 about 57 acres of Given Homestead, Westchester County, was sold to Isabelle Montgomery, who sold it to Martha J. Mason of Brooklyn, who sold it back to Isabelle Montgomery. This area was perhaps in Pelham Manor. I'm sure there's a story behind that to be uncovered.
By the 1900 census there were residents living only on Baychester Avenue.
In 1905 the neighborhood still consisted of only Baychester Avenue, with planning in the works for two more blocks. It was built along the marshes. The marshes and water line of the Eastchester River met the land at what was then known as St. Agnes Avenue - later to be renamed Palmer Avenue. The railroad had built a train station at the corner of St. Mary's Avenue (later renamed DeReimer Avenue) and Bassett Avenue. The neighborhood side of the railroad tracks had a landing and crossing area. The main railroad station was on the other side of the tracks. Over there next to the station was an inn named Baychester Inn and several boat houses. The railroad at that time carried passengers. Today the railroad is still there, but it is a commercial railroad. The train station is no longer there, nor are the boathouses. In place of the railroad station landing area, an iron works factory had been built, which was demolished during the development of Co-Op City, and is now part of Erskine Avenue.
By 1910 census there were a few more residents in the neighborhood for the census enumerators to count. The neighborhood that we are tracking here was still only two blocks by two blocks. Lots of land were for sale by auction on DeReimer and Palmer Avenues by Stillwell Ave. The neighborhood was still in expansion mode. The subway connecting Manhattan to The Bronx was being built.
Prior to January 8, 1914 there was a plot of land owned by Mrs. Agnes K. Murphy-Mulligan, a real estate mogul. It consisted of 55 plots situated in Baychester, Edson, Palmer, DeReimer, Stillwell, Waring and Mace Avenues. On January 8, 1914 she put the property up for sale, in 19 lots, to be sold by auctioneer Herbert A. Sherman. [New York Herald, January 6, 1914]
In February 1916 we find mention of Givans Basin in the Minutes of the Board of Estimate and Apportionment of the City of New York wherein they discuss the ownership of the land under the Eastchester Creek water. The land above the water of the creek in that area consisted of DeReimer and Palmer Avenues.
On December 20, 1916, investor Steven B. Ayres, another real estate mogul, purchased from the Franklin Society Bank the entire block bounded by Stillwell, DeReimer and Palmer avenues, and the frontage of 200 feet at the station plaza at the Baychester Station of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad. [New York Herald, December 20, 1916]
On June 19, 1918 lots near the Baychester Station of the New Haven Railroad were sold in a liquidation sale. A block of six lots on DeReimer Avenue brought $220 each; two corners on Stillwell Avenue brought $200 each; and two corner lots at Waring and DeReimer avenues were sold for $155 each. Corner lots on Baychester and Mace avenues were sold for $155 and $200 each, and inside lots at $190 each. [The Evening Post, NY, June 19, 1918]
In addition, The Sun published an article stating "The Baychester station of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad, in The Bronx, is the scene of great activity on Sunday, because it is from this point on the Hutchinson River that all the fishermen set forth for their favorite sport.
Many hundreds of boats leave this Baychester station each Sunday morning and return at night laden with the result of the day’s success.
As soon as the city of New York completes its plans for the great docks that are to be erected at the junction of the Hutchinson River and Givan’s Creek then fishing boats will have a more advantageous place from which to make their start."
In addition, The Sun published an article stating "The Baychester station of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad, in The Bronx, is the scene of great activity on Sunday, because it is from this point on the Hutchinson River that all the fishermen set forth for their favorite sport.
Many hundreds of boats leave this Baychester station each Sunday morning and return at night laden with the result of the day’s success.
As soon as the city of New York completes its plans for the great docks that are to be erected at the junction of the Hutchinson River and Givan’s Creek then fishing boats will have a more advantageous place from which to make their start."
On February 21, 1919 sixteen lots forming the block front on Bassett, Palmer and DeReimer avenues, recently purchased from the Wheeler Corporation, whose President was the above-mentioned Steven B. Ayres, by Joseph E. Marx, president of the Happy Home Realty Company [yes, another real estate mogul]. The property was assessed for $8,800. [The Sun, NY, February 21, 1919]
By 1920 the New York city subway Manhattan-Bronx connection was expanding. The man in charge of railway construction was John C. Rodgers; he died in 1919. Where did all that subway dirt go? I don't know for sure, but by 1921 there were additional streets now in the neighborhood where there used to be marsh and water. And the estate of the man in charge of the subway development was now auctioning off parcels of [new] land! Palmer Avenue was no longer waterfront property.
By the 1930 census half of the new area had been developed. People were moving into this fishing village. Docks had been built, row boats were for rent, taverns were built to accommodate the fishermen. Although it was considered a fishing village, the occupations of many of the residents indicate they had regular jobs in other industries.
By the 1940 census three-quarters of the available land had been developed, with mostly cottage-style houses. A few larger houses had been built which accommodated multiple families. People came from all over to live here.
Along with the development came roadway development; the city took some of the existing land and homes to build and expand the Hutchinson River Parkway between 1924-1941, with the section affecting Baychester being completed around 1937-1940. There was also the development and expansion of Eastern Boulevard, renamed in 1942 as Bruckner Boulevard (that section between Third Avenue and the Hutchinson River Parkway and Baychester Avenue); then it became known as Bruckner Expressway, up to the point where it connected to the New England Thruway, from which a connection to the Hutchinson River Parkway was made directly. Today (2020) the access to the Village of Baychester going North is from that Hutchinson River Parkway exit ramp, which splits off - left to the Parkway, right to the neighborhood.
Along with the development came roadway development; the city took some of the existing land and homes to build and expand the Hutchinson River Parkway between 1924-1941, with the section affecting Baychester being completed around 1937-1940. There was also the development and expansion of Eastern Boulevard, renamed in 1942 as Bruckner Boulevard (that section between Third Avenue and the Hutchinson River Parkway and Baychester Avenue); then it became known as Bruckner Expressway, up to the point where it connected to the New England Thruway, from which a connection to the Hutchinson River Parkway was made directly. Today (2020) the access to the Village of Baychester going North is from that Hutchinson River Parkway exit ramp, which splits off - left to the Parkway, right to the neighborhood.
1950s - The neighborhood was no longer expanding. It was completely cut off from the rest of The Bronx on all four sides: The Bruckner Expressway (to become a segment of the New England Thruway) on the west; the Hutchinson River Parkway on the north; the creek on the east; and the train tracks on the south.
1960s - Freedomland - Co-Op City
With the Hutchinson River Parkway being a dividing line, the Village of Baychester was on the east side of the parkway. On the west side of the parkway was the development of Freedomland USA - the world's largest amusement park. Freedomland lasted from 1960-1964. It was then sold and demolished and a huge Co-Op City was developed, which ultimately houses over 50,000 people. It was developed in 5 sections; the last section, section 5, took over part of the remaining 2x4 block neighborhood; filled in the creek and marshes and built on it; eliminated Bassett Avenue for additional housing; all remaining green areas were built up; added a new street named Erskine, altering one of the two ingress/egress areas into and out of the now much larger neighborhood.
With the Hutchinson River Parkway being a dividing line, the Village of Baychester was on the east side of the parkway. On the west side of the parkway was the development of Freedomland USA - the world's largest amusement park. Freedomland lasted from 1960-1964. It was then sold and demolished and a huge Co-Op City was developed, which ultimately houses over 50,000 people. It was developed in 5 sections; the last section, section 5, took over part of the remaining 2x4 block neighborhood; filled in the creek and marshes and built on it; eliminated Bassett Avenue for additional housing; all remaining green areas were built up; added a new street named Erskine, altering one of the two ingress/egress areas into and out of the now much larger neighborhood.
Zip codes were introduced nationally in 1963. The zip code was originally 10469. It is now 10475 - the same zip code as Co-Op City.
In order to preserve the character of this predominant one- and two-family detached home neighborhood, in a push by the neighborhood residents, rezoning was proposed in 2005. In 2006 approval was obtained to rezone the Village of Baychester, consisting of 4-1/2 blocks, to R3A, a Lower Density Growth Management Area (LDGMA). This new zoning provides a minimum lot size for detached one- and two-family houses, with a minimum front yard of 10 feet, a maximum height of 35 feet, and parking requirements.
Copyright ©Susan Vernon Kehr, 2018-2021