Nobel Prize Winner Dr. John Mott lived on North Broadway
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, August 10th
August 10, 1934: More than 200 committee members from several different countries nominated Dr. John Mott of 293 North Broadway for the Nobel Peace Prize!
Mott was the long-time Secretary of the International YMCA
August 10, 1945: Yonkers waited for word Japan was ready to capitulate, while quietly making plans for an unrestrained celebration. It would be a citywide shutdown of business, industry and offices for prayers of thanksgiving at our houses of worship, accompanied by the sound of our bells, whistles and sirens! YPD was readying itself to meet any and all emergencies that could arise from our celebrations of the anticipated V-J Day.
The Yonkers Service Clubs Sendoff Committee said farewell to Yonkers’ last group of WWII Selectees minutes after reports indicated Japan was ready to surrender and accept the Allies terms.
Tuesday, August 11th
August 11, 1940: President Adolph Friedman announced the Jerome Knitting Mills at 71 South Broadway doubled the number of their employees; the company received an order from the Army Quartermaster Corps to supply 6,000 dozen gloves.
August 11, 1945: A Yonkers resident was featured in the weekly newsreel! Dr. Thomas Broderick, Resident at St. Vincent’s Hospital in NYC. He was filmed caring for victims of the Empire State Building plane crash into the 78th floor. Broderick served during the war with the Army Medical Corps in the Pacific.
August 11, 1945: Merchant Seaman Constantine Korwatch, Van Buren Street, was featured in the movie short, “Snapshots of Boys in the Merchant Marines.” He spoke about his experiences delivering supplies, munitions and the men needed to win the war. His personal appeal for experienced seamen to join the Merchant Marines was impassioned!
August 11, 1947: City Manager Montgomery filed legislation with the Common Council to authorize a five year lease of Cook Avenue field from Westchester County. He hoped Yonkers could pay $2500 the first year, then $1 for each of the next four years.
Westchester County had spent $5000 to renovate the field.
Wednesday, August 12th
August 12, 1865: Isaac Singer of Yonkers was issued a patent for his innovative sewing machine design. His design enabled better thread control, creating tightly drawn stitches.
August 12, 1920: George McLean of Dunwoodie qualified for the national professional golf championship tournament by winning on the Flossmoor links at Chicago. He went on to represent the New York district.
August 12, 1933: Samuel Untermyer pledged to buy $100,000 stock in the new First National Bank… if depositors pledged to purchase $700,000 of the $800,000 in stock needed to establish it. Mayor Joseph Loehr announced $520,000 already was pledged.
Thursday, August 13th
August 13, 1940: Supreme Court Justice Raymond Aldrich ordered Yonkers to give the Board of Ed $64,000 to buy the Elks’ Clubhouse on South Broadway. Aldrich found Education Law made it obligatory for the Common Council to borrow money to make a lump sum payment to the Yonkers Lodge of Elks but did not order them to do so. Instead, he ordered Corporation Counsel Leonard McAneny to certify that the contract between the Board of Education and the Yonkers Lodge was valid.
August 13, 1947: Police Chief William Kruppenbacher announced the early morning fire at the Kimball Theater that destroyed 15,000 feet of film was “of suspicious origin!” Firefighters found a film reel had been unwound in the film vault; its end was carried through the theater to the office and lit. The fire traveled the length of the film back to the vault, where it set off the other films.
Friday, August 14th
August 14, 1914: Monsignor Lings, pastor of St. Joseph’s Church on Ashburton Avenue, cut his European vacation short to return home. War had broken out in Europe.
August 14, 1933: YPD Detectives Robert Philp and Patrick Sullivan solved a burglary more than three hours before the victims discovered they were robbed! Former San Quentin inmate Arthur Avalos betrayed himself “by his greed.” He robbed the Stuber home on Huntsbridge Road of $1,000+ of jewelry and property, packing it into three suitcases. The Yonkers detectives became suspicious as they watched him walking down the street, struggling with heavy bags. His story? He was helping “some lady” move from Yonkers to New York City! Searching him, they found several watches and pieces of jewelry. Once in custody at the Central Avenue Station, he admitted the crime.
Saturday, August 15th
August 15, 1916: The Chamber of Commerce and Merchants’ Association announced the Yonkers Carnival, scheduled for early September, was postponed indefinitely because of the paralysis (polio) epidemic. One of the special guests scheduled to attend had been New York Governor Charles Whitman.
August 15, 1934: After the USS Salt Lake City anchored in the Hudson River, just off Yonkers, Yonkers held a block dance in Larkin Plaza, the first of a series of events to welcome them!
Sunday, August 16th
August 16, 1776: Colonel Tupper, using the few naval resources he was given, courageously attacked the British warships Phoenix and Charlotta; other British ships quickly took refuge in the Nepperhan Harbor near Philipse Manor Hall.
The Phoenix escaped, but Tupper succeeded in burning the tender Charlotta. They salvaged a six-pound cannon and three smaller canons from her charred remains.
August 16, 1923: Former Socialist candidate for President Allan Benson of Hawley Terrace, published a 300+ page biography of Henry Ford.
August 16, 1929: To speed up the work pace, Yonkers Electric Light and Power Company increased the number of workmen installing wires underground in the Getty Square area.
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For information on the Yonkers Historical Society, the Sherwood House Museum on Tuckahoe Road or their upcoming events, please call 914-961-8940, visit their website www.yonkershistoricalsociety.org, or email info@yonkershistoricalsociety.org.