One important fact to know about Philipse Manor Hall in Yonkers, one of the oldest buildings in Westchester, is that the Philipse family were loyalists and left for England after the war
By Mary Hoar, City of Yonkers Municipal Historian, 1977 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, June 29th
June 29, 1936: Earl Browder, 30 Post Street, was nominated as the Communist Party candidate for President at its Madison Square Garden Rally! While giving his acceptance speech, the 25,000 attendees gave Browder a rousing 30-minute ovation.
James Ford, from Harlem, accepted the nomination of Vice President.
July 29, 1943: Three thousand, eight hundred thirty-two Yonkers OCP (Office of Civilian Protection) volunteers jumped out of bed at 2:23 am in response to a surprise blackout drill. According to Chief Air Raid Warden John J. Flynn, the drill went extremely well, with few violations noted. The blackout lasted 36 minutes,
Tuesday, June 30th
June 30, 1927: Speaking to a crowded meeting of Yonkers Rotary, Assistant Secretary of War F. Trubee Davison spoke about the progress in developing the Army Air Service, and the planned expansion of that part of our armed forces. He outlined the plan to expand to a force of 15,000 officers and over 2,000 planes of all types. He told the Rotarians Yonkers should be part of this development, as we were uniquely suited for an airport… an airfield would be invaluable to the development of Yonkers and aviation.
He had wanted to fly to Yonkers from Washington but couldn’t. It would have meant landing at Mitchell Field, then traveling by car to Yonkers. It would have taken longer than traveling by train!
June 30, 1929: Nine honorary Deputy Public Safety Commissioners pooled their funds to purchase new regulation summer shirts for Yonkers 42 traffic police officers. Donors were Paul Appenzellar, Max Cantor, George Engle, Stanley Mitchell, Dr. James Morrissey, James Reed, John Reilly, Felix Sarubbi, and William Ward.
Wednesday, July 1st
July 1, 1893: A group of 31 businessmen organized the Yonkers Board of Trade.
July 1, 1944: Staff Sergeant Peter Bodnar of Vineyard Avenue arrived home for a 3-week furlough. An engineer-gunner, he spoke about shooting down enemy planes. His plane had no escort for one mission over Udine, Italy. “Enemy interference” by 50 enemy planes started 30 minutes before they reached their target. His plane was under a tail attack, so Bodnar shot down the plane with a direct hit; he was awarded the Air Medal for his action.
After his leave, he reported to Atlantic City for reassignment.
Thursday, July 2nd
July 2, 1929: GAR leader Major Abraham Hunter Tompkins of Linden Street passed away. Tompkins was born 1844 in New York City and moved to Yonkers when he was twelve. He worked with his dad in a “cabinet shop” on Ashburton Place making base and snare drums. Their drums were famous, and, according to The Yonkers Herald, were prized! Tompkins entered the War with a musician’s commission.
July 2, 1945: Yonkers two largest defense companies closed to give employees a one-week vacation! Alexander Smith and Sons Carpet Company and all the Habirshaw Cable and Wire Company plants closed that Saturday and reopened a week later. Habirshaw’s plants were at Glenwood, McLean Avenue, Saw Mill River Road and the foot of Main Street. All Operation Overlord cable was put together at the Main Street plant!
Friday, July 3rd
July 3, 1781: General Benjamin Lincoln and the Duc de Lauzun’s French landed their troops near Manor Hall; their aim was to attack the British in the Harlem forts. They managed to get through the outer British lines, but not farther. This convinced the French commanders they should NOT attack New York but instead should head to Yorktown, Virginia.
July 3, 1939: Stephen Seredynsky’s quick thinking saved the life of an eight-year old boy! Little John Fasko was exploring a woodshed between Croton Terrance buildings and fell, getting wedged between two structures. His head and neck caught on the wires.
Seredynsky saw the boy’s predicament and immediately took action. He grabbed a chair, stood on it, and supported the boy’s body to release pressure on John’s neck and head. Others heard the commotion and called for rescue assistance. Officers Reichenbach and Hobarth pried boards off the woodshed to free John, then brought him to St. Joseph’s Hospital.
Saturday, July 4th
July 4, 1923: American flags were presented to new citizens at the Americanization and Patriotic ceremonies held in front of City Hall. Speakers were Mayor Taussig, Supreme Court Justice George Taylor, and two new citizens, Claus Setterlund and John Goldi.
July 4, 1966: Mary Croughwell, the first woman Morse code operator in the US, died in Yonkers Professional Hospital at 91. Croughwell lived on Radford Street and was the first office manager of MacKay Radio, forerunner of Postal Telegraph that became Western Union. Ms. Croughwell ended her career as a telegrapher with Western Union.
Sunday, July 5th
July 5, 1944: Regional Civilian Protection Director Colonel Ralph Bishop notified Alexander Smith and Sons Carpet Company it received the National Security Award. They were the first company in the area to receive this prestigious award, the highest award that could be bestowed on an industrial plant for civilian protection and safety measures!
Smith President Fred Smith commented, “I am pleased and proud we received the honor, not only for the company but for the hundreds of our men who have done such a fine job.
“They volunteer their services in civilian protection work at the plant, cooperating in the fullest way possible. Many of them devoted their own time and have done a grand job.”
Smith not only had a complete civilian protection organization, in an emergency, they made themselves available to help other areas of Yonkers.
Any questions on this column, email yonkershistory1646@gmail.com.
For information on the Yonkers Historical Society, the Sherwood House Museum on Tuckahoe Road or upcoming events, please visit www.yonkershistoricalsociety.org, call 914-961-8940 or email info@yonkershistoricalsociety.org.
