An early postcard of Roosevelt High School, issued a short time after the school opened at the corner of Central Park Avenue and Tuckahoe Road in 1925. When the school opened there were remains of an old farmhouse on the property, no sidewalks, and the future athletic field was a mud hole.
By Mary Hoar, City of Yonkers Historian, President Emeritus Yonkers Historical Society, recipient of the 2004 Key to History, Yonkers Landmarks Preservation Board Member, Revolutionary Yonkers 250 Chair and President Untermyer Performing Arts Council.
Monday, June 16th
June 16, 1936: After receiving Federal bonus bonds for their war service the night before, hundreds of Yonkers veterans lined up at the Armory before 7:30 am to get them certified. The men and women had waited 17 years for these long-promised bonuses.
The Armory opened at 9 am; Acting Postmaster William Cronin quickly added 25 more clerks to assist the regular staff, and extended closing hour to 9 p.m. Staff worked as quickly as they could… but couldn’t accommodate everyone. Hours were extended to 9 pm for the 1,000 people lined up; they certified bonuses totaling $171,000.
Acting Postmaster William Cronin, Assistant Postmaster Clarke, Superintendent of Mails Ball and Assistant Superintendent of Mails Hurley immediately began signing checks for certified claims to get money into circulation. That night, four hundred checks were put in the mail for next day delivery.
June 16, 1943: After eight months in the European theater, the Memphis Belle was back in America! Original crew member Staff Sergeant John Quinlan, Truman Avenue, was on the plane when it landed at Washington’s National Airport. The Belle was the first combat bomber to fly back from England under its own power. After a short visit to families, the ten-member crew began a national War Bond and Stamp Sales Tour.
Tuesday, June 17th
June 17, 1936: While William Cronin was busy signing war bonus checks, the US Senate confirmed President Roosevelt’s recommendation to appoint him Yonkers Postmaster. Cronin indicated he would officially assume the role as soon as he was notified by the Post Office Department.
June 17, 1942: A sign in Yonkers City Hall Rotunda featured the leering, sneering faces of “international gangsters” Hirohito, Hitler and Mussolini! Why? It was the kickoff of the Yonkers’ Scrap Rubber Collection! The sign read, “A speck in Hirohito’s eyes from Yonkers—pile ‘em up!”
Wednesday, June 18th
June 18, 1936: Bonus cash distribution to veterans reached $750,000, after 15,000 bonds were certified at the State Armory! The “Boys of 1917” streamed into the five banks willing to accept their checks. Some cashed the checks and went shopping; others kept the bonds in their bank safe deposit boxes.
June 18, 1942: After being asked to help by the Yonkers War Council’s Salvage Committee, 1300 Yonkers Boy Scouts kicked off their house-to-house weeklong. Because of the large numbers of Scouts, it took few days to organize, but all troops participated.
Thursday, June 19th
June 19, 1935: The Yonkers Chamber of Commerce’s second Better Homes Show, which brought thousands of people to the State Armory, drew a record crowd to its closing night.
The biggest attraction was the 11 pm drawing for the “Home of Tomorrow” on Cumberland Drive! The new home, valued at $8,400, was ready to move in and furnish. More than 100,000 people had inspected the home since it opened two months earlier.
The August Jorgensen family of Halstead Street won the “House of Tomorrow!” A Greenwich Savings Bank bank teller in Manhattan, the family purchased their home just four years earlier. The family planned to remain on Halstead and sell the new home.
June 19, 1936: Certification officials at the State Armory announced their offices authenticating World War veteran bonuses would close June 20th. The bonuses passed the million-dollar mark! Postmaster William Cronin announced they mailed most veterans their bonds, but 100 men were “out of carriers’ reach.” Although the office was closing, Yonkers men still could certify their adjusted service bonds at local post offices.
Friday, June 20th
June 20, 1922: Henry Collins authored a new book called “Old Yonkers” to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the City of Yonkers. It featured the history of Yonkers.
June 20, 1942: Alexander Smith and Sons Carpet Company announced it was adding a waterproofing plant. The company planned to waterproof the duck cloth manufactured for government contracts. Plans were filed with the Building Department to build a brick fire wall and concrete dikes and supports for tanks in Nepperhan Avenue. The wall and tanks were to be removed from the existing building because of solvents used for waterproofing. Although the company already was manufacturing duck, the material had to be sent elsewhere for waterproofing. After new equipment was installed, Smith would produce waterproof duck totally in Yonkers.
Saturday, June 21st
June 21, 1907: A Yonkers Avenue trolley came to the assistance of a horse drawn truck, heavy with sand. The truck was caught in a rut at the top of the hill at Nepperhan Avenue, and the driver could not budge the wagon. The trolley pulled carefully up to the truck… gave it a shove and freed it. Driver, horse and truck went on its way after thanking the trolley man.
June 21, 1923: Tristam Metcalfe, School Editor of The New York Evening Mail and Chairman of the Committee of Northeast Yonkers High School, addressed the North Yonkers Citizens’ Association. He criticized School Architect Howard Chamberlin for the perceived delay in preparing plans for the Northeast Yonkers high school. He explained each delay increased building costs and asked the Common Council to investigate. He was concerned the school would cost more than the appropriated budget.
Sunday, June 22nd
June 22, 1927: Every member of the 60-member Roosevelt High School senior class graduated, setting a record of excellence as the first school in Yonkers to do so! The graduates donated $100 to purchase the Abbey “Holy Grail” series, continuing a tradition started by the Class of 1926.
June 22, 1945: Employees of the Yonkers Post Office held a bond rally at Loew’s Theater. The Post Office Glee Club entertained the audience. Mails Superintendent Charles Brady was Master of Ceremonies, and postmaster William Cronin addressed the crowd. Eight uniformed letter carrier volunteers sold $35,600 of War Bonds to audience members.
Questions or comments on this column? 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 info@yonkershistoricalsociety.org.
