By Mary Hoar, City of Yonkers Historian, President Emerita Yonkers Historical Society, recipient of the 2004 Key to History, Member of the Yonkers Landmarks Preservation Board, and President Untermyer Performing Arts Council
Monday, February 20th
February 20, 1946: Several Yonkers teachers received a charter naming their group the Yonkers Federation of Teachers, associated with the American Federation of Teachers. Michael Huff of Saunders Trades School was named President.
The day before, another group of Yonkers teachers led by Newell Gilmour formed the Yonkers Chapter of the National Teachers’ Division of the State, County and Municipal Workers of American, CIO.
February 20, 1950: Yonkers residents, trying to reduce their home water bills, began washing personal cars with water taken directly from the Saw Mill River! People parked on “Smith’s Field” on Old Nepperhan Avenue (between Nepperhan Avenue and Saw Mill River Road), dipped their buckets directly into the river behind the field, and washed their cars.
Tuesday, February 21st
February 21, 1930: Yonkers was shocked to learn Parks Superintendent Louis Millet resigned, allegedly after his resignation was demanded by the Fogarty Administration! No explanation was given, but rumors circulated a Parks Department truck was used to bring materials for Milliot’s testimonial dinner at the Farragut Inn in Hastings. At the dinner, the mayor and other city officials commended Milliot for his excellent job with the city parks.
February 21, 1930: An official announcement by Alexander Smith and Sons Carpet Company announced promotion of two men. Frederick Klein was named Superintendent of the Mills, and Maitland Griggs was appointed Assistant Superintendent. Klein was with the company for 25 years, serving as Assistant Superintendent for several years. Griggs was the son of Maitland Griggs, Chair of the Company’s Board of Directors and the late Alexander Smith Cochran’s legal counsel.
Wednesday, February 22nd
February 22, 1938: A two-year mystery, the continuing theft of goods totaling $8000 from the Macy Company warehouse at Herriot and Clinton Streets, was solved! The suspicions of Frank Kilmartin, Assistant Manager of security, led to the arrests. Kilmartin and his in-house team watched the warehouse from a parked car, saw a car drive into the warehouse and leave after half an hour. They followed it to McLean Avenue where they saw men carry boxes into a cellar. YPD arrived quickly; the weekend watchman was arrested for grand larceny and four other men were charged with receiving stolen goods.
February 22, 1940: Former Public Safety Commissioner Denis Morrissey flatly stated Councilman Edith Welty’s statement he promised to reinstate Patrolman Stephen Dankowitz was untrue. Not only was it untrue, he said Welty “threatened to bring the power of the press down on him,” if he didn’t put Dankowitz back on the force. Dankowitz, a Welty supporter, was discharged from YPD in 1935 for drunkenness. He was not rehired
Thursday, February 23rd
February 23, 1947: The US Navy announced Michael Rizzola of Borcher Avenue was cameraman on the plane conducting the first aerial magnetic survey of the Southern Hemisphere!
By coincidence, his parents received a letter from him the same day; he told them he was on the first helicopter flight over the South Pole, and took the official Navy photographs.
February 23, 1955: Vernon Steed of Radford Place, escaped from City Jail on Alexander Street while he was waiting transfer to the penitentiary. On a work detail in the main foyer, he dashed off to his freedom… and was picked up a few minutes later. An unarmed jailer saw the dash for freedom and immediately called the police; four officers grabbed the escapee as he entered a shed on Woodworth Avenue. He said he ran to see his ill wife, who was about to enter the hospital.
Friday, February 24th
February 24, 1936: Common Council President Frank Cotter received a letter from the Homewood Owners Association attacking the Aldermen for their “chicken-hearted attitudes.” They insisted an appraiser immediately be appointed; they wanted the city to recapture the franchise granted in 1911 to the Third Avenue Railway. They demanded the appointment take effect by March 2nd.
February 24, 1947: Monthly trade news magazine Editor and Publisher announced the retirement of its president James Brown, Sr., of Valentine Lane; Brown had been president thirty-five years. The Vice President James Brown, Jr, replaced him; Robert Brown, another son, was promoted to Vice President and Editor; he had been Secretary of the company. The senior Brown continued as a Board Member of the company.
Saturday, February 25th
February 25, 1955: Vandals smashed the windows of Corporation. Counsel J. Raymond Hannon’s home and were believed to be responsible for threats on the life of City Judge Albert Fiorillo. The judge’s threats came at one am, wakening the judge with a phone call filled with vulgarity and abusive language.
February 25, 1955: His ten minutes of attempted freedom after escaping from the Yonkers City Jail cost Vernon Steed an extra year in prison.
Sunday, February 26th
February 26, 1926: Yonkers Police went on a dedicated dog hunt in Sherwood Park, an intensified search for a pack of wild dogs who killed a man. YPD believed the dogs were mad with hunger, due to their inability to find food in the extreme cold and heavy snow. Needless to say, area residents were terrified.
February 26, 1940: Arthur Miller, Secretary of the Board of Contract and Supply, and Alfred Corbin, Deputy Superintendent of School Buildings and Maintenance, were summoned to the Westchester Grand Jury and questioned as the Grand Jury began an investigation of the purchasing policies of the Loehr administration. ADA William Horan was in charge of the investigation set off by a City Manager League attack during the 1925 election; the League had produced a 200-page report on Yonkers municipal affairs and why they were unhappy with the past administration.
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 info@yonkershistoricalsociety.org.
