Mary Hoar, President of the Untermyer Performing Arts Council, Yonkers Historical Society President Emerita and recipient of the 2004 Key to History
Monday, May 25th
May 25, 1923: Yonkers first responders rush to the Yonkers city line to rescue passengers and crew from a Putnam Division Line train wreck. The train had hit a heavy wooden plank placed across the tracks by a few pranksters. The “prank” cost the engineer his life, and injured eight passengers.
May 25, 1933: While defending Yonkers financial situation, Comptroller James Hushion informed the Democratic City Committee that our borrowing power of $6 million was one of the best in our history. He said, “We are far from insolvent. We are just a little embarrassed.” Hushion had obtained an extension to pay the $500,000 in county taxes Yonkers owed, taxes we couldn’t pay.
May 25, 1945: William Beckman Jr., US Navy Electricians’ Mate, Second Class, reported an amazing find somewhere on Luzon. The island, with an incredible amount of damage from bombing, was mostly in ruins. Beckman, who worked for Otis before enlisting, was astonished not only to find an Otis elevator in one of the damaged buildings, he found the elevator was in working condition!
Tuesday, May 26th
May 26, 1915: Mothers attending the School One Field Day decided to join in the fun; they ran a Mothers’ Race as one of the events. Harriet (Mrs. Henri) Morand of Tuckahoe Road came in first!
May 26, 1931: Assistant Public Works Commissioner John Coyne received a letter from Captain John Clark of the US Volunteer Life-Saving Corps, commending the assistance he gave rescuing Anthony Fusco at the City Pier.
“This effort is one of the finest we have on record,” wrote and Captain Clark, “and I am sure all members of the Yonkers Station of the Corps join with me in congratulating you.”
Wednesday, May 27th
May 27, 1947: Mrs. Alexander Rosenberg, wife of the spiritual leader of Congregation Ohab Zedek, told how there is no such thing as a normal work week for relief workers helping displaced persons in Germany, or their families. She told how her home had become a “hotel for transient displaced persons,“ including her own sister-in-law, who had been a prisoner in one of the DP camps.
May 27, 1949: Joseph McCann, Secretary-Director of the Yonkers Municipal Housing Authority, responded to a state order for all municipal housing authorities to check the incomes of housing project tenants who owned television sets. He reported there were three “video sets” in Cottage Place Gardens, a state subsidized project; all TV owners were within the income limits for residency. They were more than 25 sets in Mulford Gardens, he said, but, as it was federally subsidized, it was not regulated by the State Division of Housing. However, all TV owners were within the income limits for occupancy.
Thursday, May 28th
May 28, 1913: Yonkers contractors James Lynch, Thomas Larkin, Frank O’Rourke, Monny Bittner, and William Colquhoun attended a hearing in Albany; the group addressed Governor Sulzer to express their opposition to the Workmen’s Compensation Bill under consideration by the Legislature.
May 28, 1923: After receiving questions why the chimes of St. Andrew’s Memorial Episcopal Church has not sounded in several days, Reverend Frances Brown explained it was because of illness in the neighborhood.
May 28, 1965: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., addressed the Negro American Labor Council at their fifth annual convention held at the Westchester Townhouse on Tuckahoe Road. The convention, whose theme was “economic freedom and security for the black and white poor,” was attended by labor leaders from all over the country.
Friday, May 29th
May 29, 1937: Police Chief Edward Quirk announced Yonkers residents could wear shorts on our city streets anytime they wanted during Memorial Day Weekend or at any other time; the NY Court of Appeals had killed Ninth Ward Alderman William Slater’s ordinance banning them.
May 29, 1942: The Yonkers Chapter of the American Red Cross received a gift from the British and American Ambulance Corps, an air raid patrol car. Presented by Marie Deems, President of the Corps, it was gratefully excepted by Justin McCarthy, Chairman of the Yonkers Chapter.
Saturday, May 30th
May 30, 1947: Sherwood Park’s Lieutenant Colonel Walter Weitner and the 102nd Light Bombardment Squadron flew over Yonkers Memorial Dday Parade to pay tribute to Yonkers war dead. World War II hero Weitner dropped a wreath while flying; the wreath was placed at the World War Monument. Also in the formation flying from Mitchell Field were Yonkers residents Captain Roderick Reid and Lieutenant Walter Dwyer.
May 30, 1947: The Glenwood Memorial Committee— The American Legion’s Glenwood Post and Holy Rosary Post of the Catholic War Veterans— unveiled and dedicated a memorial in Trevor Park to Glenwood area residents killed in the war. The observance started with a parade from Union Place to Trevor Park; the ceremony included a three-volley salute, Taps, Presentation of Colors by both posts, and a keynote speech from Master Sergeant Hulon Whittington, Congressional Medal of Honor recipient. After the dedication, The Glenwood Post played the Hollow Athletic Club in a spirited baseball game.
Sunday, May 31st
May 31, 1939: Harley Kenney of Ashburton Avenue, Richard Campion of Palisade Avenue and Joseph Conley of Orchard Street were presented Boy Scout Gold Life-Saving Medals for their assistance in rescuing the crew and passengers from the QED, a yacht that burned and was destroyed in the Hudson off the coast of Yonkers. These medals were the first Boy Scout Llife-Saving Medals ever presented in Yonkers.
May 31, 1942: Fire Chief Edward Siller issued a strong warning to Yonkers residents who were “hoarding gasoline and endangering their own lives and the lives of their neighbors.” He promised severe punishment for anyone found guilty.
For more information on the Yonkers Historical Society, Sherwood House and our upcoming events, please visit our Facebook pages. For information on membership in the Yonkers Historical Society, please call 914-961-8940 or email yhsociety@aol.com.
