The Putnam Railroad terminal, South Broadway Yonkers
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, April 3rd:
April 3, 1917: Yonkers based Company G, 10th Regiment Infantry, New York Army National Guard, was replaced! They had been guarding the Catskill Aqueduct ever since US diplomatic ties with Germany were broken. Not only were they dismissed from duty after experiencing some of the worst winter weather NY has seen in years, they also were dismissed from the Army and once again civilians!
This was the third time in the past twelve months they had been called to duty; the first was the strike at National Conduit and Cable Company in Hastings; the second was the Mexican conflict after Pancho Villa attacked the border town of Columbus, New Mexico. The third was the water system guard duty.
The men were not off the hook, however. Division Headquarters fully expected the entire NY National Guard would be called to duty when Congress declared war a few days later.
Tuesday, April 4th
April 4, 1915: Officials of the Putnam Railroad announced a new timetable for the Getty Square Branch because of the high demand for increased service on the line.
April 4, 1945: With few exceptions, the hostesses at the YWCA USO went crazy for a handsome male… a wooly, brown and white fox terrier! Two sailors came to the dance after buying the dog and left it with Carolyn Pursche at the front desk. The young furry lad became upset and wanted more company, so Carolyn took him into the dance, where he was a huge hit with all the ladies! Because the puppy was such a sensation, the sailors named him after the favorite dance that evening. Yes, he was named “Hokey Pokey!”
Wednesday, April 5th
April 5, 1923: Major Samuel Hubbard, Jr. of Park Avenue, who served with the American Expeditionary Forces in France during the World War, received the Distinguished Service Medal at a ceremony at Governor’s Island.
April 5, 1953: The Yonkers Railroad Company gave free transportation to people going to Easter Sunday services; all they had to do is tell the driver they were going to church! Approximately 4,000 people took advantage of the free rides, with the highest number of riders on the #1 Warburton route and the #6 Tuckahoe Road route.
Thursday, April 6th
April 6, 1917: Arthur D. Lawrence, a former Yonkers Chamber of Commerce Real Estate Board Chairman, offered Yonkers Mayor James Lennon the use of every plot of unimproved land he owned in Yonkers, including a 70-acres plot, to use for agricultural purposes or other needed purposes, free of charge. President Wilson had signed Congress’ war resolution at 3 am that morning.
April 6, 1926: After being “rapped” by Dan Nolan at the Yonkers Naval Militia’s annual banquet for hiring “outside people,” Mayor William Walsh responded. He stated Commissioner Van Keuren also was on trial in the “undue influence” trial of Captain Charles O’Mara. All Walsh wanted was for people to give his administration “a square deal.”
Friday, April 7th
April 7, 1926: Patrolman David Whalen and Third Precinct Desk Officer Lieutenant William Higgins’ testimonies on the arrest of a beer truck driver was believed to have helped defendant Captain Charles O’Mara.
Public Safety Commissioner Van Keuren accused O’Mara of trying to use influence on behalf of prisoner Isadore Finkel of Lawrence Street; he alleged the captain went to his (Van Keuren’s) home on Purser Place to ask the prisoner be “let off easy” after Finkel was arrested. Whalen testified O’Mara told him to park the truck in the Precinct garage and to have Higgins put a special lock on the garage door. The Lieutenant corroborated his statements during his testimony.
Van Keuren’s daughter ‘s testimony corroborated her father’s version of events. She swore she overheard the conversation between her father and O’Mara, stating the captain tried to get her dad to release the beer runner.
Former Deputy Commissioner Bernard Reardon had resigned his position weeks earlier because he didn’t want anything to do with “the cruel and inhuman machine the commissioner was preparing for YPD.” Reardon appeared for the defense.
Saturday, April 8th
April 8, 1936: Because fisticuffs broke out on the strike line at Hudson Dress Company at 226 South Broadway, Yonkers Police arrested two men involved in a “hand-to-hand tussle” in the middle of the street in front of the plant! Louis Reiff, Westchester Local 143 International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union, attended a conference the day before with Chief Quirk, accused the dress company of hiring thugs to threaten strikers, and charged Hudson Dress President Anthony Vaccaro, also at the conference, threatened to accuse the women of taking relief illegally while employed by him if they joined the strike. Lawyer Irvin Klein and other union organizers backed Reiff’s story. Vaccaro made no comment.
Sunday, April 9th
April 9, 1943: Arthur Doran, President of the Yonkers Lawyers Association (YLA), appointed Anthony Cerrato, Erwin Magenheim and Supervisor Adolf Grossman to a special committee to figure out how Yonkers attorneys could assist local industries in the war effort. The trio would contact Yonkers war plants to determine both manpower needs and how the association could help promote the war effort.
Albert Kelly, Principal of our Yonkers Defense School, told the gathering several Westchester lawyers worked shifts at a area war plants, mentioning Eastern Aircraft and Sonotone Corporation plants.
April 9, 1953: After a series of small fires, vandalism, and health hazards started popping up, YPD began making 24-7 tours of the Veterans’ Housing Project in the former Yonkers High School building on South Broadway, across Nepperhan Avenue from the Carnegie Library.
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
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