By Mary Hoar, President Emerita Yonkers Historical Society, and President Untermyer Performing Arts Council
Monday, August 15th
August 15, 1940: The Major Edward Bowes Original Amateur Hour saluted Yonkers! Twenty-seven million listeners tuned in to the coast-to-coast broadcast, not only to hear talented Yonkers people compete, they heard the Major pay tribute to Yonkers, our history, cultural achievements and accomplishments. Yonkers residents called a special number set up by our local phone company to vote for their favorite contestants; Major Bowes regularly updated results throughout the show. Although national tallies were not reported, he announced 13,828 Yonkers people voted. The Yonkers Kiwanis Club Barbershop Quartet topped our vote with 3450 votes, and Yonkers Avenue’s Squier Twins received 3250 votes. Civic and industrial leaders attended the broadcast, representing the Chamber of Commerce, the Junior Chamber of Commerce, Yonkers Merchants Association, Habirshaw Cable, Refined Syrups and Smith Carpet Company.
Tuesday, August 16th
August 16, 1924: Officers of the Yonkers Yacht Club announced they organized a river patrol to protect members’ boats from “river pirates.” They believed it was necessary once Yonkers Public Safety Commissioner Alfred Iles announced the elimination of YPD’s river patrol. Twenty-five members participated in the patrol, guarding the river every night; many on the watch were armed. The club purchased a fast motorboat to chase and capture marauders; raiders apprehended were turned over to Yonkers Police. Besides stealing boats and items from the boats, one group of thieves tried to steal gasoline and set the boat on fire! Founded in 1879, the Club originally was at the foot of Main Street; they moved to Point Street in 1889. Habirshaw Cable Company bought thier site in the 1940s, so the club moved to its current location at 1203 Warburton Avenue.
Wednesday, August 17th
August 17, 1941: The Building and Construction Trade Council registered a “vigorous protest” against the Yonkers School Board’s decision to repair schools using the WPA (Work Progress Administration) instead of local contractors.
August 17, 1953: Because of the fifteen percent tax on admission to Yonkers Raceway, Yonkers became $4200 richer after a record breaking opening night attendance!
Thursday, August 18th
August 18, 1932: Marshall Road’s Edward Hart was notified he would preside at the Civil Service Assembly of the United States and Canada meeting in Baltimore. Hart, President of the Yonkers Civil Service Commission, was President of a local clothing company and father-in-law of Jacobson’s Pharmacy founder Arthur Jacobson.
August 18, 1956: The Yonkers Keys, our American Legion Junior Baseball Champs, defeated two teams to win the Region 2 American Legion Junior Championship! First they beat the Stamford team by 16-2: the second game, against Trenton Junior Champions, was a one-hit, 3-0 victory. Winning Pitchers were Romeo Fields and Hank Fischer.
Friday, August 19th
August 19, 1942: YPD Patrolman Tom Brooks, Yonkers first African American police officer, was assigned to a post outside of the main NY Central train station during a daytime defense test. He guided people to shelter during the drill, except for one man. The man just brushed past him, although told to stop. Brooks directed him again to stop. No response. The good officer quickly ran over to him, grabbed him by the shoulder, and asked why he had not stopped. Why? The man was deaf! Brooks escorted him to the shelter, where the man remained until he was told the all clear sounded.
August 19, 1946: While on a callback for a show, Interior Decorator and occasional stage accordionist Arthur Lange of Yonkers spotted a beautiful, flashy, custom-built black and white sport roadster. What caught his eye was the front license plate proudly sporting the word “Yonkers.” He asked… and learned… the car belonged to another Yonkers resident, none other than orchestra leader and top drummer Gene Krupa! Krupa used it to drive around the country when traveling with his band.
Saturday, August 20th
August 20, 1943: Several leaders in the war veterans organizations wanted to combine all 19 organizations into one large veterans’ group. The sponsors thought the knowledge and experience of the men who served in previous wars would be invaluable to those returning; a combined organization would “bear more weight and have more influence than the 19 separate ones.” At the time, Yonkers had nine American Legion posts, five VFW posts and garrisons of the Army and Navy Union. It was not expected to happen as too many posts were considered “community posts,” such as the Dunbar in Crestwood and Bajart in McLean Heights.
August 20, 1945: Former Glenwood Avenue resident Lt. General Levin Campbell, was assigned to the Office of Reconversion to help dismantle the wartime economy. During the war, Campbell served as Army Chief of Ordinance, helping to organize “history’s biggest war-production job;” for his efforts, he received the Distinguished Service Medal twice. After retiring May 1946, he served on boards of several civilian businesses and was Executive VP for International Harvester.
Sunday, August 21st
August 21, 1945: The Yonkers Chapter of the American Red Cross announced Yonkers residents donated 8,546 pints of blood during World War II, more than 4 times our quota and setting a new record for our city! Our original donation quota was 2,000 pints.
August 21, 1945: Four of Yonkers major industries, as war contract cancellations and terminations began to slow down, were optimistic as reconversion plans for peacetime industry were advanced. Arthur G. Blair, Inc., said they had no cancellations of the War Shipping Administration, and believed repair work from the Navy and the WSA (War Shipping Administration) would continue. Smith Carpet Company was negotiating to purchase “substantial stock” of materials needed to manufacture carpets. Otis Elevator already had increased production of elevator and escalator parts. Refined Syrups and Sugars, Inc., had not received any cancellations of supplies for Army, Navy and Lend-Lease commitments.
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.
