On This Day in Yonkers History….

By Mary Hoar, President Emerita Yonkers Historical Society, recipient of the 2004 Key to History and President Untermyer Performing Arts Council

Monday, May 2nd
May 2, 1910: Edward Payson Weston left Yonkers to complete the final leg of his cross-county walk. He had left Santa Monica on February 1st and arrived at New York City Hall at 3:10 pm.

May 1, 1916: William Saunders, Manager of D. Saunders’ Sons, Inc., announced to company employees as of June 5th they would work nine hours per day instead of ten, but receive the same pay, reducing their work week from 55 hours to 50 hours. The company, founded in 1852 by the late David Saunders, was located on Atherton Street and manufactured cutting and threading machinery.

May 2, 1916: After announcing he was moving to Yonkers, New York Yankees’ Captain Roger Peckinpaugh purchased a home at 14 Lattin Drive, and lived there for several years.

Tuesday, May 3rd
May 3, 1942: Seven Getty Square merchants, all who agreed to close their businesses early the first four days of the week to cooperate with dim out regulations, picketed a Getty Square auto and radio supply store. The merchants claimed the owner kept the store open until after 8 pm every night.

May 3, 1957: Eleven-year-old John Flora Jr. of Whitman Road received the National AAA School Patrol Lifesaving Medal from Vice President Richard Nixon at a ceremony in Washington. John, a member of the School 29 Safety Patrol, was on his way home when he saw five-year-old Patricia Seador step off the curb to cross the street. Seeing a car heading right for her, John ran into the street, grabbed her, pulling her to safety.

Wednesday, May 4th
May 4, 1924: The Reverend John Dunn, Auxiliary Bishop of New York, was met at the city line by an automobile escort and a delegation of parishioners led by Alderman Edward Murray, Deputy Corporation Counsel John Broderick and Procession Grand Marshal Christopher Lennox. As they neared Palisade and Ashburton Avenues, the Knights of Columbus Color Guard and a police escort of 14 of Yonkers Finest led them to to St. Joseph’s. Once there, Bishop Dunn cemented and blessed the cornerstone of the new St. Joseph’s Parochial School on St. Joseph Avenue. The new facility was three stories high, had 16 classrooms, a gym and an auditorium that seated 600 people.

May 4, 1957: John Flora Jr. was an honorary Grand Marshal at a parade of 35,000 members of the School Safety Patrol that marched down Constitution Avenue; this parade was believed to be the largest annual parade held in Washington.

Thursday, May 5th
May 5, 1956: Four young Yonkers stamp collectors won awards in the International Philatelic Exhibition junior division: Barry Ettinger won first in the Latin America Category; Kenneth Florey received first in Miscellaneous groupings; Carole Johnson took third in the United States category; and Martin Weisel won third in the Europe group.

May 5, 1962: The first record golf cart accident in Westchester County happened on the Dunwoodie Golf Course in Yonkers. Two people were injured when their cart flipped over going up an embankment; an Eastchester man broke his ankle and a Yonkers woman, Olga Minchak of Central Park Avenue, received bruises and abrasions. It was the first year carts were in use on county courses.

Friday, May 6th
May 6, 1936: A group of Crestwood mothers who listened to radio programs decided to rate their family’s radio experience. They rated many children’s favorites—such as Uncle Don Carney (from Yonkers) and Buck Rogers– only as fair, and some—such as Orphan Annie—were “poor but well liked by children.” They added, “There is recognized everywhere a growing feeling intelligent use of radio for children should be led in constructive guidance by parents in the selection of programs best suited to individual needs.”

May 6, 1957: Mayor Kristen Kristensen presented eleven-year-old John Flora, Jr., a School 29 Safety Patrol member, with the Distinguished Service Medal of the Automobile Club of New York in a ceremony held at City Hall. After the ceremony, Flora, who had saved the life of a five-year-old girl, was guest of honor at the Polo Grounds, where the Giants played the Chicago Cubs. Joining him were 5,000 members of the Safety Patrol from the NY area, a reward for their service to their schools.

Saturday, May 7th
May 7, 1957: The School Thirteen Parent-Teacher Association elected Theodore Ruzow as their first male President!

May 7, 1957: Lt. General Garrison Davidson, Superintendent of the US Military Academy at West Point, was the main speaker at the Yonkers District “Scouters Recognition Dinner” held at Steve Phillips Restaurant on Yonkers Avenue. Davidson not was only a former Eagle Scout, but also held the Silver Beaver award of Scouting. During WWII, he served in the European Theater as an engineer officer under General Patton, and also served in Korea. The Herald Statesman also received a Community Service award for its “Service to Boys.”

Sunday, May 8th
May 8, 1945: Yonkers celebrated V-E Day by blowing air raid sirens, ringing church bells and blaring factory whistles! Although City Hall, Woman’s Institute and the Public Library closed as soon as they heard President Truman’s announcement at 9 am, most of Yonkers war workers kept working. Banks, post offices and Yonkers Schools stayed open. Civic Court Judge Boote heard all motions, and then adjourned court in observance of V-E Day, but the Special Sessions Court stayed open. That night, almost every church and synagogues held V-E Day services

May 8, 1947: Police Captain James McCue announced thieves had taken more than one ton of metal statuary and other objects from the former Untermyer Estate, now owned by the City of Yonkers.

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.