By Mary Hoar, President Emerita, Yonkers Historical Society, recipient of the 2004 Key to History, President Untermyer Performing Arts Council
Monday, January 10th
January 10, 1938: The frantic barking of “Doc,” an English Spaniel owned by Reverend William Hicks of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, saved not only the clergyman’s life, but his wife! Doc, sleeping in the kitchen, started barking frantically about 1 am. When Hicks went down to see what the problem was, he found flames and fumes pouring out of the refrigerator, with the wall behind the appliance ablaze!
January 10, 1944: Nepperhan Avenue’s Corporal Leo Biegay, a mechanic in the First Army Field Artillery, was bombed with propaganda pamphlets while serving overseas. He sent samples to his sister Mrs. Lewis Morrison so she would have an idea of what the Germans were trying to say. The five pamphlets made some interesting statements, such as “Although you had victories in France, your leaders know you will be slaughtered in Germany and still send you forward,” “You are dying for Britain,” and “your leaders are already involving you in a Third World War.” Biegay told his sister no one took them seriously.
Tuesday, January 11th
January 11, 1938: NYS Supreme Court Justice Marsh Taylor declared Francis Heafy to be the legally elected City Clerk, succeeding William McCabe. Democrat McCabe had refused to acknowledge Mr. Heafy’s election by the new Republican majority on the Common Council.
January 11, 1955: The Yonkers General Hospital Women’s Auxiliary inaugurated a new service; they photographed each newborn! Of course, copies of the photographs, taken for identification and record purposes, were given to the babies’ parents.
Wednesday, January 12th
January 12, 1943: Two thousand-eight hundred-fifty helmets finally arrived for the Yonkers civilian protection forces; this was four months after the Yonkers War Council was told they were on the way.
January 12, 1950: Yonkers held its second water holiday, dubbed “Thirstday Thursday,” to try to cut down and conserve our dwindling water supply. Our city was very successful and matched the success reached “Dry Friday,” the first water holiday shortly before Christmas.
Thursday January 13th
January 13, 1938: Mayor Joseph Loehr vetoed the city budget passed by the Republican majority in the Common Council, stating the were “deliberately endangering the life, health and property” of Yonkers citizens by cutting more than $800,000 out of his 1938 city budget. He then summoned the Aldermen to a special session at 11 am on January 15th, stating “a default now exists with respect to the adoption of an annual estimate” required by Section 75 of the Second Class Cities Law; it had been more than 90 days since Loehr sent the budget to the Council. Republicans claimed Loehr did not have veto power on a budget estimate. Especially in question were raises granted to city workers the mayor had included in his budget.
Friday, January 14th:
January 14, 1911: Well known Yonkers baseball star Dave Fultz was signed to a second year as Coach of the Columbia University Baseball Team. During Fultz’s first year at Columbia, the team had its best season in more than ten years.
January 14, 1931: Supreme Court Justice Joseph Morschauser announced he would inspect the flume built by the City of Yonkers to change the course of the Nepperhan River. Former Mayor Wallin asked for an injunction on behalf of Peene’s Wharf Corporation; the company alleged $150,000 damage was done to their waterfront holdings. According to the filing, debris from the flume blocked one side of the company’s dock.
January 14, 1952: Pianist Toba Brill of Edgecliff Terrace performed at Carnegie Hall with the National Orchestral Association. A child prodigy, she made her debut at Town Hall at the age of 14.
Saturday, January 15th
January 15, 1938: Assured by lawyers Mayor Loehr had “exceeded his legal power” by vetoing the Common Council’s slashed 1938 budget, the seven Republican Alderman on the Common Council did not attend the special session called by the Mayor. It was expected the GOP coup would end up in court to force adoption of the original budget. Because of the unpassed budget, 2,000 city employees received their first 1938 paychecks with the raises Republicans cut out of their revised budget.
January 15, 1953: Television, radio and stage star– and Yonkers resident– Morey Amsterdam appeared at the Commander’s Dinner of the Second Battalion, Auxiliary Police Corps, held at the American Legion’s Bregano Post on Crescent Place.
January 15, 1955: Otis Elevator Company’s President L. A. Petersen held a meeting for all employees and their wives at Brandt’s Theater on South Broadway. He discussed the conditions management needed to keeping operations in Yonkers. Although claiming no decision to move had been made, he clearly stated the company could not remain in Yonkers unless costs were cut, while dangling the possibility of a mid-Western plant as the alternative.
Sunday, January 16th
January 16, 1915: After Vaudeville comedian Gus Williams of Waring Place met with his New York booking agent, he sent his sister-in-law a telegraph from the Getty Square Train Station, asking her to tend his wife Emma. After leaving the telegraph office Williams pulled out a pistol and shot himself. There was no suicide note, leaving family and friends to speculate why he ended his life; they assumed health issues and career concerns might be the reason. Besides being a nationally known entertainer, he had served in the Civil War, was active in the GAR Kitching Post No. 60, and frequently performed at Yonkers organization fundraisers.
January 16, 1947: Sixteen-year-old Doris Wish was installed as Secretary of the Treasury of the world’s smallest republic, the George Junior Republic. The first youth community in the country, it was established by William George in 1909; it had a constitution, legislative body and judiciary. Still in existence, George Junior Republic now is focused on helping at-risk youth become responsible, well-adjusted and successful adults.
Questions or comments? Email YonkersHistory1646@gmail.com.
For information on the Yonkers Historical Society, Sherwood House and upcoming events, please visit our website www.yonkershistoricalsociety.org, call 914-961-8940 or email yhsociety@aol.com.
