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, March 20th
March 20, 1918: A contingent of Yonkers women wearing red badges went to Albany to lobby for passage of the Lawson-Kiernan legislation, permitting professional baseball games after 2 pm on Sundays. Most of the opposition to the law were clergymen; our women, with backing of labor and baseball fans, did not hesitate to heckle them for trying to stop “a clean and healthy sport from being played on workers’ day off.” Reverend Colby stated the bill would “breakdown the sanctity of the Sabbath.” Although most speakers supported the bill, supporters did not believe the bill would pass either State house.
Tuesday, March 21st
March 21, 1927: Yonkers Police captured four girls who escaped from the New York Training School in Hudson NY three days earlier. A motorist notified Patrolman Frank Sullivan two young teens entered a lunchroom on Saw Mill River Road 3:30 am. Sullivan notified the Second Precinct, who sent Patrolman George Milne. He found a 13-year old in the area. She told him of their escape, how they hitched their way to Yonkers, and slept in the woods behind Oakland Cemetery. The other three girls were picked up a few hours later, arraigned in Children’s Court, and returned to the home. Five years later, Yonkers First Lady of Song Ella Fitzgerald was committed to the Hudson Training School for being “ungovernable.” She, too, ran away from the school.
Wednesday, March 22nd
March 22, 1933: Two Yonkers men were saved from serious injury or worse because they were arrested by six Federal agents! Just a few moments later, their still in MIllerton NY exploded, wrecking the barn where the operation was housed. Both prisoners and agents ran to safety, with no injuries. The raid was at a Millerton NY still; both Yonkers men, Milton Thomas and Paul Genithereaux, lived on Riverdale Avenue. The men were arraigned in Poughkeepsie; several agents remained in Millerton to deal with the 10,000 gallon still, five 15,000 gallon vats of mash, 10,000 gallons of “alleged alcohol,” and a variety of other equipment.
Thursday, March 23rd
March 23, 1939: A two-year-old monkey created an uproar after escaping from its home on Palisade Avenue! Neighbors, police, children and WPA workers tried for hours to capture the little pet. How did it finally get captured? Eight-year-old Arthur Chambers, grandson of the former Fire Chief, saw it run into an enclosed porch at another Palisade Avenue home. Young Arthur simply closed the door! As soon as it was trapped, owner Blanche Atherton picked up the little adventurer and carried it home.
March 23, 1955: Kenneth Russo accepted a $47,000 settlement after falling off the City Hall roof. In 1951, while working for the Fort Lee Roofing Company, Russo tripped on a peg left near the edge of the roof and fell four stories. He landed on the stairway on the east side of the building, breaking his back and fracturing both legs in the fall.
The roofing company’s insurance company paid the total award. The original suit charged Yonkers with negligence for not providing scaffolding or other types of protection, but that was dropped.
Friday, March 24th
March 24, 1927: Shocking the state basketball world, Yonkers won the first round of the New York State Basketball Championship, defeating favored Buffalo’s Lafayette High 30 to 27! A constant battle the entire game, the final rally by Captain Johnny Acropolis and a center court field goal by Al Smith won the game for our Yonkers boys.
March 24, 1947: Fortified Avenue’s William Collyer and Edith Kelley of Odell Avenue, cousins of recluse Langley Collyer, were present while NY police began searching the Fifth Avenue home for the missing man. Both cousins stated they had not seen their sixty-one year old relative for many years, adding he was “very peculiar.” Langley was known to hide behind piles of newspapers for days at a time. His body was found in the apartment 16 days later, after 84 tons of junk was removed from the house.
March 21, 1954; According to State Department records, a Yonkers woman was in a Communist China jail, Adele Rickett of Kingston Avenue. Rickett was married to Fulbright Scholar Walter Allyn Rickett, in China to study modern Chinese history. The couple were held on charges of espionage and imprisoned until 1955.
Saturday, March 25th
March 25, 1927: The Yonkers High Basketball team and foul shots won the semi-final round of the New York State Championship, beating Fairport 25 to 22. Yonkers took the lead early in the game, and never lost it. Mayor Walsh sent the team a telegram reading, “You’re doing great work. Keep it up. Congratulations.”
March 25, 1927: According to J. Stuart Blackton, fencing instructor and WWI aviator Gerard De Merveaux cowered before light blows from his toy riding crop, and begged for mercy. Blacktop had gone to the instructor’s room in the Blackton home after he saw Mrs. Blackton’s bruises and swollen arms.
Sunday, March 26th
March 26, 1927: Former Bruce Avenue resident J. Stuart Blackton’s attorneys labeled Lieutenant Gerard De Merveaux, who claimed to be a World War hero, as a “ladies’ underwear salesman with a Romeo Complex.” De Merveaux sued Blackton for $25,000 for an alleged horsewhipping. Closing arguments were scheduled two days later.
March 26, 1927: The Yonkers High School Basketball team reached the final round of the NYS Championship in Buffalo… and defeated Elmira, the 1926 State Champions, 35-34!
Tournament referees named team Yonkers teammates Captain Johnny Acropolis and guard Dave Smith to the All State team.
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
