By Mary Hoar, President Emerita Yonkers Historical Society and President Untermyer Performing Arts Council
Monday, July 25th
July 25, 1903: In less than 24 hours, more than 50,000 bags of raw sugar arrived at the National Sugar Refinery wharf. Two ships from Cuba brought the cargo; The freighter Straits of Dover brought 20,000 bags and the freighter Dania arrived with 32,000 bags.
July 25, 1912: A fire at the Dunwoodie County Club caused more than $2,000 damage.
July 25, 1930: John Law of Yonkers, Coach of the Manhattan College Football team, announced Manhattan College and Atlanta’s Oglethorpe University would play the metropolitan district’s first night college football game at the Polo Grounds. Powerful lights were used to illuminate the field to daytime brilliance. A former Notre Dame football captain, he later became the head football and baseball coach at Sing Sing Prison.
Tuesday, July 26th
July, 26, 1907: The Common Council came to a dead halt because of “Fisticuffs at Manor Hall,” then our City Hall. While the Aldermen were meeting, a loud argument took place in the hallway, then cursing… and then blows! Contractor James Kearns and Wakefield Park Realty Company President John O’Connor were going at it! By the time the aldermen rushed out, they saw people try to separate the men;
O’Connor had a badly swollen eye, walked into the chamber while the men were holding back Kearns, who was yelling “Let me at him.” The officials condemned the actions of the contractor; O’Connor said he was talking to an Alderman, when Kearns “butted in” to the conversation, then hit him in the eye and knocked him to the ground. O’Connor claimed it was because he refused to join a local contractor’s trust; Kearns yelled, “You’re a liar!” also stating O’Connor called him a loafer. O’Connor said he would swear out a warrant against Kearns; Alderman Cashin advised the courts were open, and he should do it immediately. Meeting attendees said they never had seen such a disgraceful affair.
Wednesday, July 27th
July 27, 1930: Workers began filling the newly cleaned section of the Fortfield Reservoir on Palmer Avenue; the had removed a huge amount of debris and hundreds of fish. As soon as that was completed, they began cleaning the other half.
July 27, 1947: Deputy Public Safety Commissioner William Comey launched a gambling investigation on moonlight cruises from the Yonkers pier on an excursion steamer!
July 27, 1950: Yonkers people pooled together and contributed the largest municipal donation to the Lou Gehrig Memorial Fund at the ceremony held Mel Allen Day at Yonkers Stadium. Our generous citizens donated $1000 to the cause!
Thursday, July 28th
July 28, 1852: The Henry Clay steamboat caught on fire; although there were close to 500 passengers on board, only two lifeboats had been provided and dozens of the passengers perished.
Neptune, a Newfoundland dog, lived in South Yonkers. After seeing the disaster, he swam into the Hudson River and grabbed a drowning young girl by her dress, carrying her to safety on the Yonkers shore.
July 28, 1936: Yonkers College opened its summer session at Saunders Trade School with 40 students. Yonkers College had courses in languages, mathematics, economics, public speaking, philosophy, and psychology. One class studied modern advances in biology, visiting scientific institutions throughout Yonkers. Dr. Crocker, Director of the Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research, offered its facilities. Another course was the historical background of modern society, comparing democracies and dictatorships of today and the past. Courses were no credit, but successful students received certificates.
Approximate 150 high school student enrolled for entrance in the Fall, when the College of the City of New York took up sponsorship of the center and accredited courses.
Friday, July 29th
July 29, 1905: The Yonkers League of the Colored Cooperators of America formally opened five new building on its property at Riverdale Avenue and Culver Street. Welcome speeches were made by Mayor John Andrus, The Rev. Henry Booker, Rev. F. J. Moultrie, and Rev. J. J. Smyer.
July 29, 1936: Alderman Bill Slater, known nationally for his crusade against women’s shorts, was running a boat ride for local Democrats. He became quite upset when the orchestra leader announced, “shorts were being shown on the upper deck.” Slater rushed upstairs, only to find movie shorts being shown.
Saturday, July 30th
July 30, 1931: Health Commissioner Clarence Buckmaster renewed his warning against swimming in the Hudson River, stating it was “virtually an open sewer off Yonkers.
July 30, 1943: Detective Sergeant Patrick Christopher took a lot of kidding because of current events. Christopher took over the Detective Division when his boss Captain Herman Schall went on vacation. Just fifteen minutes after Christopher officially was in charge, Benito Mussolini resigned! The men ribbed him “on getting such speedy results” minutes after taking the reins. Not one to miss a beat, the good Sergeant informed those kidding him that he had just “sent a squad of detectives out to get Hitler!” His terms? Unconditional Surrender!
Sunday, July 31st
July 31, 1942: Suspicions aroused by a foreign man with an accent attempting to sign up for a library card, a woman patron of the Yonkers Public Library touched off an extensive FBI investigation here for the man, suspected of being one of the three German saboteurs the government was searching for.
July 31, 1962: Well known recording artist and musician Victor Arden, known non-professionally as Lewis Fuiks, passed away. He had been a long-term resident of Franklin Avenue before moving to New York a few years earlier. Arden, discovered by George Gershwin, was well known to millions of Americans who danced and sang to his records, radio programs, and musical motion pictures during the 1930s and 1940s. Among his many Broadway musicals were “Lady Be Good,” “Tip-Toes,” “Funny Face,” and “Spring Is Here.” He recorded for the Victor, Brunswick, Vocalion and Okey labels and also played at the Palace,
Questions or comments? 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 yhsociety@aol.com.
