By Mary Hoar, President Emerita Yonkers Historical Society, recipient of the 2004 Key to Histor and President Untermyer Performing Arts Council
Monday, September 5th
September 5, 1945: Attendance of more than 17,000 students in Yonkers Public Schools was the largest in years; it was so large, Schools Superintendent William Williams appointed 15 emergency teachers, with the possibility of appointing more as our population increased. While other schools were bursting, School 26’s attendance dropped; with an enrollment of 40, only three teachers were assigned there. The school had been open for ten years, but the attendance never built up. The Board announced it decide whether to close the school at the next School Trustees meeting.
September 5, 1945: Yonkers own General Joseph W. Stilwell, aka “Vinegar Joe,” represented the Allies in Okinawa when nine Japanese officers, representing 105,000 Japanese Army and Navy forces who had served in the Ryukyu Islands, signed unconditional surrender papers. After the signing, the general told the officers, “I hold each one of you personally responsible for carrying out my instructions. That is all. You may now go back to your quarters.”
Tuesday, September 6th
September 6, 1947: Mrs. Alexander Rosenberg, wife of the Rabbi of Congregation Ohab Zedek, and daughter Naomi returned to Yonkers from Germany. The family lived in Germany for two years while Rabbi Rosenberg served with the Joint Distribution Committee, and as the liaison officer between the American Military Government headquarters and Jewish religious authorities. The Rabbi had expected to return with his family, but was detained in Germany a few more days, finishing up his work there.
September 6, 1956: The Yonkers Keys, our NY State and Eastern Junior American Legion championship team, was met at South Broadway and Valentine Lane with a welcome home parade! Although raining, the parade drove through Getty Square, Palisade to Yonkers Avenue, then headed east to the Pasqua Post for ceremonies. All speakers from Mayor Kristensen on voiced their pride in our boys; the evening ended with the Keys team cheer.
Wednesday, September 7th:
September 7, 1911: Speaking from Paris, Samuel Untermyer gave a whole hearted endorsement of Governor Woodrow Wilson’s views on “big money trusts.” Untermyer said the two most difficult problems the country faced were “curbing the concentration of the money power,” and “regulating and controlling the industrial competition engaged in inter-state commerce.” He added, Wilson “did not mistake or overstate the facts or the immediate overshadowing peril from the growing concentration of the money power in America.”
September 7, 1945: Although their son Staff Sergeant David Eckes of Alder Street was reported missing in action March 18, 1944, Florence and Fred Eckes finally received official word David was presumed dead. He was lost while on a bombing mission to Landsberg, Germany. While heading back from the target, his Flying Fortress was attacked by enemy fighters, destroying the plane. Eckes, a former employee of Rex Roofing Company in Yonkers, had received the Air Medal and an Oakleaf Cluster February 1944.
Thursday, September 8th
September 8, 1919: After an examination of ballots in the Republican primary, Supreme Court Justice Tompkins announced Mayor Wallin had won renomination over Ulrich Wiesendanger by 13 votes.
September 8, 1934: Reginald Roberts of Edgewood Avenue, an oiler aboard the Morro Castle, saved from the ship after it burst into flames off the New Jersey coast. Officially, the cause of the fire never was determined, but more than 130 people died in the conflagration.
September 8, 1941: Dr. Ward Cook, Director of the Yonkers Bureau of Laboratories, asked Charles Cox, Chief of the New York State Bureau of Water Supply, to resurvey the Saw Mill River watershed. Cook wanted to increase the daily amount of water in the Yonkers water system.
Friday September 9th
September 9, 1926: Van Cortlandt Park Avenue’s Catherine Kennedy, “Miss Yonkers of 1926,” became the first Yonkers gal chosen to be a Miss America finalist! Kennedy competed against 72 other contestants for Miss America 1926; after more than three hours of questioning, finalists were chosen by secret ballot.
September 9, 1945: Point Street’s William Beckmann, Jr., a former Otis Elevator tester, notified the company their badly damaged plant in Manilla, was still standing! He sent a photo of himself standing outside the building to the “Digest,” the Otis employees’ magazine. In the Navy, Beckmann served as an Electrician’s Mate Second Class.
Saturday, September 10th
September 10, 1945: General Brehon Somerveil, Commander of the Army Service Forces, sent a letter to Alexander Smith and Sons Carpet Company President Frederick Klein stating, “Your company has played a very important part in producing the equipment and supplies which have been such a decisive factor in winning the war. You and your associates… must have a deep sense of satisfaction as you look back on your accomplishments on the war production front. Now that the war is won, I want to express to you the gratitude and appreciation of the Army Forces for the magnificent achievement of your organization.”
September 10, 1955: Administrator Max Manus announced the newly opened Cross County Hospital and Medical Center had admitted its 1,000th patient.
Sunday, September 11th
September 11, 1926: The new Benjamin Franklin Junior High School opened with 1,200 students. Unfortunately, construction had not finished so students walked on hall floors covered with planks and tarpaper to the tune of pounding hammers. The work was finished a few days later.
September 11, 1927: Elizabeth Tomashevsky, was appointed as the YWCA International Institute Worker; Mrs. Tomashevsky was forced to flee her home in Petrograd, Russia, to escape oppressive Bolshevism. While living in Russia, she chaired a large charity.
September 11, 1936: When Republican Congressional Candidate Oliver Carpenter addressed the Sixth Ward Republican Organization, he warned Democrats to “stop Roosevelt or let the party become the Roosevelt Party.”
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.
