By Mary Hoar, President Emerita Yonkers Historical Society, recipient of the 2004 Key to History and President Untermyer Performing Arts Council
Monday, October 3rd
October 3, 1946: A Yonkers bride, married for just fifteen months, was among the 39 people killed in a transatlantic air crash. Harriet Harder Van Houten of Lee Avenue, a Roosevelt HS graduate, was on her way to join husband Lieutenant Richard Van Houten in Germany when her plane crashed in flames in Newfoundland. The lieutenant was to meet his six-month-old daughter Janet for the first time. The couple, married two days after he graduated from West Point, were separated when he went overseas with the US Army of Occupation. The loss of 39 passengers and crewmembers made this the worst tragedy in commercial aviation’s history at the time.
October 3, 1946: Notified by Federal Public Housing Administration Director John Kervick the agency refused to upgrade the exterior walls of the veterans’ emergency housing on McLean Avenue, Mayor Frank jumped into action, sending telegrams to National Housing Administrator Wilson Wyatt and NY Senator James Mead, demanding the decision be changed.
Tuesday, October 4th
October 4, 1935: Two hundred-fifty men, women and children were lead safely out of the building after fire erupted at the Lido Theater at 89 Riverdale Avenue. Although the fire was contained to the booth, projectionist William Cahill was badly burned. Engulfed in flames after he cut power, he jumped out of the booth to escape. Two good Samaritans, Joseph Weicher of Riverdale Avenue and Charles Thompson of St. Mary’s Street, carried Cahill to the Engine 3 firehouse a few doors north of the theater for help. Fireman John Figura and Patrolman Edward Keehan were credited with preventing a panic, with the aid of DPW Foreman George Paul, restaurateur Joseph Jacobs and Alderman Brian Shaefer who helped usher the crowd to safety. Thousands of people, attracted by the commotion, watched the progress of the rescue efforts. The audience was watching the movie “Ginger,” starring Jane Withers.
October 4, 1945: Lau Hong Luke of Warburton Avenue filed his petition for US Citizenship, the first Westchester resident born in China to apply for citizenship. Luke took advantage of the Magnuson Act, or the Chinese Exclusion Repeal Act of 1943. President Roosevelt signed the law December 17th 1944, enabling Chinese nationals to become naturalized citizens.
Wednesday, October 5th
October 5, 1929: William Boyce Thompson of North Broadway purchased the Savarona, the largest yacht ever built in America! Renamed Alder, its rumored price was two million dollars; Thompson used the 294-foot yacht to sail around the world, visiting Monaco, Corsica, Constantinople, the Riviera and other places. The family donated the ship to the US Navy in 1940, who renamed it Jamestown PG-55 and converted to a war ship.
October 6, 1929: The School Twenty-two PTA complained to the Board of Education about their new building! Only a year old, not only did its roof leak, the plaster in classrooms was so defective, it was a “menace to the children.”
Thursday, October 6th
October 6, 1912: Hiram W. Johnson, Governor of California and the Progressive Party candidate for Vice President, spoke at a rally at the Warburton Theater.
October 6, 1916: Frank Whitridge, president of the Third Avenue railroad Company, told union men he would have no further communication with them and would not allow any union members to work on the company cars.
Friday, October 7th
October 7, 1947: Mount St. Vincent celebrated its centennial with a Pontifical Mass of Thanksgiving, a centennial luncheon and an academic convocation! The college was founded by a small group of nuns under the leadership of Mother Elizabeth Boyle, at the request of NY Bishop John Hughes. Originally located at McGowan’s Point, the geographic high point of Fifth Avenue, it purchased the 70-acre estate Fonthill in the Town of Yonkers from famed Shakespearian actor Edwin Forrest in 1855 when New York City began buying up land for Central Park. This property now lies in Riverdale.
October 7, 1949: School Superintendent Benjamin Willis had a serious discussion with School Trustees about procedures for enforcing the new Feinberg Law; this law banned members of any subversive group from teaching in public schools.
Saturday, October 8th
October 8, 1926: Stating the use of police cars made it unnecessary to create a fifth Police Precinct, Mayor William Walsh pledged he never would approve the proposal while he was in office.
October 8, 1949: “Sis” Haas Kessman of the Rolynn Dance Studio at 67 South Broadway announced Joe Price, one of the top acrobatic dance teachers in the country, was teaching at her studio. Price had taught for more than 25 years, with thousands of teaching hours under his belt, had taught many well-known dancers, such as Ruby Keeler, Ella Logan and Sydney Fox. Price had created more than 200 acrobatic dance tricks.
Sunday, October 9th
October 9, 1924: Literacy tests for potential voters were held at Yonkers High. Before citizens could register to vote, they were required to present proof of literacy.
October 9, 1936: Thousands of Yonkers residents got their first view of the giant dirigible Hindenburg as it passed over Yonkers.
October 9, 1942: The Civil Part of City Court was installed in its own quarters in City Hall, a move hailed by City Manager William Walsh as the realization of a 40-year-old plan at the ceremony marking the separation of the Civil and Criminal parts of the court. The Yonkers Lawyers’ Association presented judicial robes to City Judges Charles Boote and Martin Fay.
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.
