Ella Fitzgerald
By Mary Hoar, City of Yonkers Municipal Historian, recipient of the Key to the City of Yonkers, President Emeritus Yonkers Historical Society, recipient of the 2004 Key to History, Yonkers Landmarks Preservation Board Member, Founder of Revolutionary Yonkers 250 and President Untermyer Performing Arts Council
Monday, February 16th
February 16, 1929: A new record in the number of penniless men forced to seek lodging at Police Headquarters was set when 40 men asked to be accommodated. Usually, the number was no more than twenty.
February 16, 1936: Yonkers own Jack Alexander performed on the Major Bowes’ Amateur Hour; his talent, doing barnyard imitations, went so well, he did not get one single gong!
Tuesday, February 17th
February 17, 1914: The Yonkers Teachers Association petitioned our Board of Education to provide rest rooms for grammar schoolteachers; apparently most Yonkers elementary schools did not have facilities for teachers!
February 17, 1933: Captain George Fried of Colonial Heights, hero of several rescues at sea, was given command of the Washington; the new ship officially would be commissioned for sea service on May 9th. At the time of the announcement, Fried commanded of the United States Liner Manhattan.
Wednesday, February 18th
February 18, 1931: Willard Van Derveer of Midland Avenue escorted Rear Admiral Richard Byrd when he addressed more than 1,000 people crowding the Roosevelt High School auditorium.
Van Derveer traveled with Byrd on his Antarctic Expeditions, documenting the discovery of mountain regions in the South Pole by taking “extraordinary motion pictures.” Some of the more spectacular film showed a bitterly cold snowstorm that stopped their progress with what seemed like unending snow, damaging their plane and radio. Four marooned men had to be rescued by a second plane.
At the third Academy Awards in 1930, Van der Veer and Joseph Rucker won the Academy Award for Cinematography for the film With Byrd at the South Pole.
Mount Van der Veer in Antartica is named after him!
February 18, 1932: Health, civic and community associations throughout Yonkers were outraged over the contemplated ouster of Health Commissioner Dr. Clarence Buckmaster; rumors circulated Yonkers that he was to be replaced by a Democrat.
The Yonkers Academy of Medicine sent a strongly worded resolution to Mayor Joseph Loehr, urging him to reappoint the Commissioner immediately.
Thursday, February 19th
February 19, 1937: Yonkers-raised and educated vocalist Ella Fitzgerald was officially welcomed home by Mayor Joseph Loehr!
Ella, considered by many to be one of the nation’s most popular vocalists, was well known on stage and radio. She returned to Yonkers to sing at the Paradise Boys’ Club Annual Dance, held at the Polish Community Center. The event, benefiting the Club’s Welfare Fund, was attended by more than 1,500 people, including many state and city officials.
February 19, 1942: The US Navy Department added the names of two Yonkers civilian defense construction workers to the list of probable Japanese prisoners of war. The Navy believed forty-four-year-old Clarence Calkins of Van Cortlandt Park Avenue and Raymond Montagriff, 36, of Lee Avenue, were captured during the siege of Wake Island.
Friday, February 20th
February 20, 1910: Health Officer Dr. William Coons urged tapping the New York Aqueduct of the Croton Reservoir for Yonkers. He stated the Yonkers water would never be “absolutely pure” as long as got ours from the Nepperhan River.
February 20, 1920: George Thomas, alleged leader of the policy slip racket in Yonkers, attempted to escape after Judge Boote ordered his arrest.
In the courtroom to see how one of his henchmen fared in court, Thomas was recognized by the judge and ordered Captain Ford to arrest him. Thomas bolted out of the court.
Court Interpreter Henry Friedman grabbed him in the hallway and marched the escapee back into the court by the scruff of the neck. Friedman recognized the man since Thomas had been arraigned on similar charge the previous September, when he was given a suspended sentence. Boote ordered he start the sentence immediately.
Saturday, February 21st
February 21, 1904: Henry Baker of Hudson NY sold Claverack
College and Hudson River Institute to John C. Havemeyer of Yonkers.
Claverack College, a coeducational school in upstate New York, was founded in 1779 during the American Revolution by Reverend John Gebhardt of the Dutch Reformed Church. It became known as Washington Seminary. Renamed Claverack Academy in 1830, and renamed Claverack College in 1854. Three years later, its Hudson River Institute was founded for girls. About 300 students from wealthy families attended both schools, including future president Martin Van Buren, author Stephen Crane, and women’s rights pioneer Margaret Sanger. By 1891, women outnumbered men in the school. The school later closed in 1902.
February 21, 1914: The Audubon Society of Yonkers High School created feeding places for birds unable to get food because of the heavy snow.
February 21, 1940: The Finnish Forward, the largest Finnish daily newspaper in the country, moved its editorial offices and plant to 445 Saw Mill River Road; they also moved the Women’s Banner, the Forward’s weekly companion publication.
Sunday, February 22nd
February 22, 1893: The Prohibitionists of Westchester County held a conference in Yonkers; Reverend F. Massick delivered an address on the “Importance of the Principle and Policy of Prohibition” and led the meeting.
February 22, 1943: Four hundred-fifty Yonkers dress company union members donated one day’s pay to support relief agencies. Half of the fund was designated for national relief agencies; the rest went to local agencies including the Community and War Chests.
Employees donating a day’s pay worked at: Bob Dress Company, 95 Riverdale Avenue; Danmore Dress Company, 25 North Broadway; Geneva Dresses, 11 St. Casimir Avenue; Lemore Dress Company, 27 North Broadway; Slymlyne Undergarments, 289 Nepperhan Avenue; and Woodworth Dress Corporation, 69 Warburton Avenue.
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.
