The Carnegie Library in Yonkers, which was torn down
By Mary Hoar, City of Yonkers Historian, President Emeritus Yonkers Historical Society, recipient of the 2004 Key to History and the Key to the City of Yonkers, Yonkers Landmarks Preservation Board Member, Founder of Revolutionary Yonkers 250 and President Untermyer Performing Arts Council
Monday, January 26th
January 26, 1944: The Common Council voted unanimously to ask state representatives to fight the legislation to end the “Proportional Representation system of voting.” Yonkers Voters had defeated two local propositions repealing our PR system in 1942, “overwhelmingly defeating the propositions.” Resolution copies were sent to Governor Dewey, Senator William Condon, Assemblymen Jane Todd and Malcolm Wilson.
January 26, 1955: East Pakistan Textbook Committee Secretary Ahmed Husain visited the Yonkers Public Library Reference Department to study the Yonkers Library System as a model for a new library in Dacca. Husain was instructed on how to use a microfilm projector and other library equipment by Reference Department Head Beatrice O’Connell.
Tuesday, January 27th
January 27, 1942: Two hours before votes were counted and he was elected President of the Yonkers Police Association, Patrolman James Dalton died in Yonkers General Hospital, passing away after major surgery. The officers received word of his death before the ballot boxes were unlocked and dedicated the meeting to his memory.
January 27, 1942: Yonkers Defense Council’s Traffic and Transportation Committee Chairman Sheldon Pollock recommended to the Air Raid Precautions Service no personal automobiles be allowed to travel during blackouts unless they had “blackout” lights, modeled after the ones used by the Army. The lights worked independently of regular lighting systems, and were available at most auto supply stores
All four Yonkers’ bus lines agreed to install blackout lights on all their buses.
January 27, 1956: Coach of the NY Knickerbockers since 1947, Yonkers resident Joe Lapchick announced his resignation, effective at the end of the season.
Wednesday, January 28th
January 28, 1955: After realizing singer Betty Reed was in seclusion at the home of an Alta Avenue friend after learning her close male friend was murdered, NYPD detectives, news reporters and curious people flooded the Park Hill neighborhood. Hostess Barbara Parsons arranged for Yonkers attorneys Bleakley and Harding to handle the situation. The attorneys escorted Ms. Reed to Manhattan for questioning.
Thursday, January 29th
January 29, 1924: The American Chemical Society named Dr. Leo Baekeland of North Yonkers’ Harmony Park, one of the top 33 chemists in the United States.
January 29, 1942: Yonkers became the subcontrol center to send air raid warning signals to Hastings, Dobbs Ferry and Irvington! A four-way turret would simultaneously flash warning signals to these municipalities at the same time.
January 29, 1951: The 150-pound safe containing money and Regents answer papers was stolen from a Yonkers High School office. Three boys were spotted a few hours later on Linden Street, “lugging their loot!” They were gone by the time YPD arrived.
Friday, January 30th
January 30, 1932: The President Roosevelt, one of the great passenger ships of the United States Lines, was seriously damaged when it was rammed by the Italian deluxe ocean liner Roma in severe fog off New York. Captained by Yonkers own hero captain George Fried, the Roosevelt was anchored and sustained damaged above the water line, damage serious enough to necessitate it to head back to port for repairs. The Coast Guard sent cutters from Staten Island to assist the two ships.
January 30, 1952: The Alice Murray, a $50,000 tug owned by NYC’s Neptune Line, was caught in ice off the Habirshaw Dock; she began taking in water after the ice split the hull. The boat headed to the safety of Con Edison’s Glenwood Power Station dock, where she was tied up securely. It remained there until river conditions were more conducive for the tug to be raised by a special cradle lift.
Saturday, January 31st
January 31, 1880: After Garret Steadman, a North Broadway bartender, appeared before Yonkers Judge Baird after being arrested by Patrolman Nolan for keeping his place open between the hours of midnight and 1 a.m. Not only was he released, the officer who arrested him was charged with false imprisonment!
Yonkers’ local statute prohibited sale of liquor between the hours of 1 and 5 am. Steadman’s lawyer Martin Keogh claimed damages of $1500 for his client, stating Officer Nolan forcibly entered the premises, arrested Steadman and locked him up overnight.
January 31, 1951: The stolen Yonkers High School Safe was recovered! Found by James Cupola in front of 159 Linden Street, the safe had small holes drilled into it to facilitate removing the money in it. Principal Dr. Fred Lena used the combination to open the safe at Police Headquarters, and found no papers were missing, not even Regents exams. The youths seen pushing the safe down the street a few days earlier had not been identified. Yet.
Sunday, February 1st
February 1, 1928: Henrietta Livermore, political activist and suffragist, published the first of her series of articles on South America in The Yonkers Herald. Livermore traveled to South America several times as an official government representative.
February 1, 1943: District Attorney Elbert Gallagher announced he subpoenaed five more witnesses for the Grand Jury investigation of the Yonkers gambling scandal. Witnesses called were: Michael Murphy, a NYC Chief Deputy Police Inspector who worked with City Manager William Walsh to obtain “positive evidence” on Yonkers gambling; YPD Police Captain Charles Ward, who had investigated the gambling; YPD Patrolman John Bishop who might have done some investigations; Sergeant William Tompkins, who had an unknown connection; and Oxie Reichler, Editor of The Herald Statesman. Gallagher previously told former City Manager Walsh and YPD Detective Lieutenant Murphy either to retract statements they had “positive evidence” of gambling, or they would have to testify before the Grand Jury. Walsh and Lt. Murphy had testified the week before.
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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.
