Recently Digitized Film Reels Opens Door to the Past
Photo by Joe Panella/City of Yonkers)
Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano announced today the discovery of historic film reels stacked inside a storage area of the Yonkers Department of Planning and Development formerly located at 87 Nepperhan Avenue.
“Our City is full of amazing, rich history and we now are fortunate to get a glimpse of our past with these new-found artifacts,” said Mayor Spano. “When our team discovered the reels, we couldn’t contain our curiosity. We immediately digitized them to see what was on them and it was like opening a time capsule into the early 20th century of life in Yonkers.”
The reels are between five and fifteen minutes long and shows the paving of Yonkers Avenue, one of the City’s busiest thoroughfares. It also takes viewers to City Hall and a groundbreaking ceremony of what is the present day 87 Nepperhan Avenue. Another reel also shows the fashion of everyday Yonkers residents walking along the storefronts of Getty Square and the early days of the City’s fire department.
“I encourage our residents to take a peek at these reels, especially our longtime residents,” said Mayor Spano. “It’s possible someone’s grandparents or great grandparents who worked for the City may be on these videos.”
All of the videos have been uploaded and are available on the City’s YouTube page.
