Charles Wilson Peale’s portrait of George Washington in 1776
By Mary Hoar, City of Yonkers Historian, President Emeritus Yonkers Historical Society, recipient of the 2004 Key to History, Yonkers Landmarks Preservation Board Member, Chair of Revolutionary Yonkers 250 and President Untermyer Performing Arts Council
Monday, August 4th
August 4, 1886: Samuel J. Tilden died at his Yonkers’ Graystone estate. Tilden purchased the estate in 1879, three years after his run for the presidency. He loved living in Yonkers, making it his main home; he only returned to his Manhattan home in the winter.
August 4, 1926: Supervisor James Sullivan, Democratic Minority leader of the county board, had a major clash with the other members on the board when the once again delaying paving Yonkers Avenue for another year. Sullivan strongly reminded them that Yonkers paid 27% of the county tax, yet did not get nearly its share of improvements.
August 4, 1935: Native Americans pitched a teepee on the shores of the Hudson to relive the days when their tribe ruled the area; this was in commemoration of the 296th anniversary of the transfer of the Yonkers area land to Europeans.
Tuesday, August 5th
August 5, 1916: Reverend Richard Hughes, pastor of St. Denis Church, rose to defend striking trolley men, declaring in a sermon “$18 a week is not a living wage,” adding no man should be forced to work more than eight hours a day. He paid tribute to the conduct of strikers, asserting they had “behaved well.”
August 5,1927: The trial of Yonkers Alderman and President of the Westchester County Building Trades Council William McGeory and others began before Federal Judge Jacob Trieber in New York City on government charges of conspiracy. The government alleged the defendants did not “permit others to set any cast stone manufactured outside the district,” stating this purported monopoly cost NYC builders more than $1,000,000 a year. Boston attorney James Vahey represented McGeory.
August 5, 1946: Thousands of Yonkers residents listened to Councilman Edith Welty being interviewed on CBS national radio about our tercentennial celebrations. Mrs. William Gibbs McAdoo, widow of the former Yonkers resident, interviewed her in an informal chat.
Wednesday, August 6th
August 6, 1781: George Washington wrote in his diary he reconnoitered the land between the Bronx River and the North (Hudson) River to the Philipse home, including Valentine’s Hill and the deep ravines between our hills created by the Saw Mill River. He noted Widow Babcock’s home, the St. John’s Glebe, now the site of St. John’s and Oakland Cemeteries on Saw Mill River Road.
August 6, 1927: Contractor Thomas Larkin accepted the designation as the Democratic Mayoral nominee. He declared himself a “free agent with no promises asked or made.”
August 6, 1941: Alderman Robert Goodwillie’s “Little Hatch Act,” his attempt to take politics out of Yonkers government by preventing political activity by city employees, was voted down by the Council.
Thursday, August 7th
August 7, 1941: Thomas Tobin, Chairman of Yonkers Defense Council’s Enrollment Committee for Auxiliary Police and Air Raid Wardens, announced 268 people signed up for one of the two. Eleven of those who registered were assigned special duties as they were over the maximum age but really wanted to help.
August 7, 1943: “Little Jack” Little of 700 North Broadway, “someplace in the South Pacific,” was busy entertaining “our boys in service” with Broadway comedian and dancer Ray Bolger! A widower, orchestra Leader Little had two children, a five-year-old daughter and a four-year-old son; his parents were taking care of the children and his North Broadway home. Little sold his restaurant on Tuckahoe Road, the former Grassy Sprain Golf Clubhouse.
August 7, 1943: Betty Jane Blair, ten-year-old daughter of Arthur Blair, Blair Shipyards President, christened the 108-ton, 68-foot diesel powered Port Ewen, the first of four ships built for the US Maritime Commission at the Blair Alexander Street Shipyards.
The ship was launched with great fanfare; hundreds cheered as it slipped into the Hudson.
In Yonkers for little more than a year, Blair, operated seven days a week, 24-hours a day. With more than 1500 employees on its payroll, it could quickly repair ships damaged in combat by enemy submarines and air forces… and build new ones.
Friday, August 8th
August 8, 1923: The owners of four leading Yonkers theater companies banded together to form a new company to bring their theaters under one management. The newly incorporated Terrace City Amusement Company officers were Michael Walsh, president and co-owner of the Strand Building; Guy Graves, Secretary and co-owner of the Strand; and Harry Roth, Treasurer and co-owner of the Strand Mathew Chrystmos, Vice President and owner of the Hamilton, Broadway and Orpheum Theaters.
August 8, 1942: Roosevelt High graduate Ensign Robert Dudley of Normandy Road survived the Japanese attack on his ship, the transport USS George F. Elliott, destroyed in the Solomon Islands. He lost all personal effects when the ship went down.
Saturday, August 9th
August 9, 1908: An unidentified man marched up to Second Precinct Police captain Hugh Brady and demanded a pail of beer; he thought the Precinct was a saloon!
The gentleman promptly was told the saloon was next door.
August 9, 1914: Inspector J. Sims Bartley received sketches of the six-story building Masonic Temple to be built at South Broadway and Guion Street.
Sunday, August 10th
August 10, 1929: Westchester County union delegates went on strike because of the employment of New York steamfitters; this temporarily halted construction of the new Park Building on South Broadway and Longfellow Junior High School on North Broadway.
August 10, 1943: Lucy Monroe, “Star Spangled Soprano,” visited Otis Elevator on her nationwide tour of war plants on her quest to entertain “soldiers of the industrial army.” She sang “Let Me Call You Sweetheart” with Frank Clark, winner of an Otis employee song contest.
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.
