'Mapes Avenue on the north east corner of 178th Street, ca. 1905." Mapes Avenue was named after early settlers to the East Tremont, Bronx neighborhood. Thomas Mapes (1628-1687) and his wife Sarah Purrier (1630-1697) were the first to arrive sometime in the mid 17th century. By the end of the 18th century, the Mapes family owned a general store (later a small chain of stores) and were large landowners. The stores were operated by the family into the early 20th century.