Crown Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands visited Yonkers in 1959
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, September 8th
September 8, 1933: Mayor Joseph Loehr celebrated the opening of “Gold Diggers of 1933” at Loew’s Theater; instead of a blue ribbon, he cut a special golden cord at the theater! The first Gold Digger film, the pre-code Busby Berkeley musical starred Joan Blondell, Dick Powell, Ginger Rogers and Ruby Keeler. The musical told the story of chorus girls starring in a Depression era musical, fight to keep the show open and end up with rich husbands!
“Remember Your Forgotten Man” was the movie’s tribute to the out-of-work WWI soldiers. Veterans, unable to find jobs during the Depression, set up “Hooverville” camps in Washington to punctuate their request for early payment of promised service bonuses.
President Hoover ordered Federal troops led by Generals Patton and MacArthur to evict the veterans; they drove the men and their families out using tear gas and bayonets.
Public outrage at this treatment of veterans led to passage of the GI Bill. Bonuses were paid in 1936 when Congress overrode President Roosevelt’s veto.
Tuesday, September 9th
September 9, 1935: After losing redesignation by two votes, Supervisor Joshua Fiero upset the Eleventh Ward Republican Committee, charging they illegally gave the nomination to opponent Chauncey Kingsley.
Fiero reminded them the new Sixth District was not official until October 1st; the Republicans had allowed two men representing the Sixth to participate in the election, both voting for Kingsley. Another vote was a proxy for an absent member; the member casting the absentee proxy vote voted for Kingsley, although the committee member instructed her proxy be cast for Fiero!
Fiero demanded the ward committee meeting reconvene immediately and retake the vote; the absent member had returned. Ward Leader Edward Winslow “could not be reached for comment.”
September 9, 1940: Charges were presented to the Common Council indicating DPW employees were fired because they refused to make payments demanded by ward political clubs.
Wednesday, September 10th
September 10, 1854: Rudolph Eickemeyer and George Osterheld started a machine work and repair shop in Yonkers. By the end of his career, Eickemeyer had more than one hundred patents ranging from industrial sewing and harvesting machines to electromagnets and electric trolleys. His hat making innovations revolutionized the hat industry.
September 10, 1942: A Herald Statesman reporter was told to leave the War Council meeting after attending for more than two hours!
The Council adopted a resolution to censor the reporter’s account of the meeting to prevent “secrets” from being “disclosed.” The resolution was passed after Mayor Barnes ordered the reporter to leave.
First National Bank President Frank Xavier told Barnes they needed the press to “get certain information out,” and they “could not get very far without the help of the media.”
Thursday, September 11th
September 11, 1941: After the American Red Cross gave our Yonkers Chapter a new quota to produce 25,000 surgical dressings for victims of war-torn Europe, chapter members sprang into action, planning with members of all the Yonkers Chapter Production teams on how to expand their efforts. More than thirty-five auxiliary teams met at churches and schools throughout Yonkers to make dressings.
September 11, 1941: The US Government announced six Yonkers companies received government contracts. Cameo Curtain would manufacture Mosquito Bars and Campbell Hat Company’s contract was to make Army hats, Otis Elevator Company’s would produce gun recoil mechanisms, elevators, steel castings and plane engine parts. US Industrial Chemicals contract was to manufacture ethyl alcohol, and the NY Guild for Jewish Blind received a contract to make more than $53,000 worth of pillowcases!
Friday, September 12th
September 12, 1801: Dr. John Ingersoll borrowed $1,500 from Frederick VanCortlandt to buy Sherwood House from Jabez Fowler; he opened Yonkers’ first Doctor’s Office at Sherwood House.
September 12, 1939: The Yonkers Chapter of the American Red Cross opened a workroom specifically for volunteers to make clothing and bandages for hospitals and civilian victims of the European war.
Saturday, September 13th
September 13, 1910: Yonkers Chamber of Commerce members discussed the proposed merger of Yonkers, Mount Vernon and New Rochelle into a borough of New York City. Speakers at the meeting did not favor the plan, originated by the Mount Vernon Taxpayers’ Association.
September 13, 1959: Crown Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands visited Yonkers to celebrate the 350th anniversary of Henry Hudson’s discovery of Yonkers.
Sunday, September 14th
September 14, 1904: A band of gypsies chose Fisher’s Grove to be their winter home! They arrived with everything necessary for every outdoor need. The 40 people, adults and children, slept in beautifully decorated wagons. They had tents to tell fortunes, discussing the past and the future.
They purportedly came from England and traveled with the 73-year-old Queen of the Gypsies and her 88-year-old husband. The Yonkers Herald labeled the group neat and clean, remarking their campground was in “a sanitary condition.”
September 14, 1951: The 135th Street Branch of the New York Public Library was renamed the Countee Cullen Branch Library in honor of the late Yonkers poet and author. This was the first time in the history of New York City a library had been named solely for a person’s achievements and not for a monetary gift.
An exhibit mounted for the occasion included 50 illustrations from “the Lost Zoo;” Cullen’s story for children told of animals lost forever because they did not get on Noah’s Ark. There also were pictures of the author, manuscripts, and illustrations for other books he had written.
Cullen lived at 41 Grandview Boulevard in Colonial Heights; his widow Ida presented the collection of her late husband’s manuscripts and other materials to the library.
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.
