Historical drawing of Gen. George Washington in Yonkers at Valentine
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, October 16th
October 16, 1919: The Knights of Columbus reported the first three days of their Memorial Hut Drive raising funds to build a home for ex-servicemen had obtained $34,000 of the needed $125,000. The night before, non-Catholic members of our community met and appealed to all segments of our Yonkers population to support this worthy cause: seventy-eight prominent citizens signed their names to full page ads to run in both the Yonkers Herald and the Yonkers Statesman. The proposed facility, to be built at the corner of South Broadway and St. Mary’s Street, would be open to all “men of Yonkers, regardless of religious creed or faith.” Before the day was over, an additional $4,000 was added to the fund.
October 16, 1939: Yonkers Corporation Council Leonard McAneny filed an opinion with City Clerk Francis Heafy. Not only had Yonkers had agreed to transfer ownership of Frey Park to Westchester County in exchange for land used to widen Central Park Avenue on December 1, 1930, Mayor Loehr signed a quit claim deed. The land in question later was sold to “real estate interests,” to build a Howard Johnson restaurant.
Tuesday, October 17th
October 17, 1919: Thomas McCauley found a skull in the Nepperhan Creek; fearing foul play, McCauley rushed it to the police station! Turns out, it was the same skull found several months earlier near public pier, identified by marks placed on the skull at that time. During the first investigation, they realized it had been used for medical research. As a joke, the officers sent to Yonkers Daily News reporter Norman Orr; Orr, not thrilled with the “gift,” had tossed it right into the Nepperhan Creek.
October 17, 1919: The Knights of Columbus ratcheted up their efforts to build a home for former servicemen with the appearance of Archbishop Hayes at the North Broadway Armory, an event attended by more than 2,000 people. A community sing was held before the Cardinal arrived; speaking besides Cardinal Hayes were Mayor William Wallin, Daughters of Isabella National President Genevieve Walsh, K of C Supreme Grand Knight James Flaherty, Rabbi Tarshish of Temple Israel, and Drive Chairman Dan Nolan. Cardinal Hayes personally pledged $500 to the cause that night, and additionally promised to contribute an additional $500 once the needed total was raised.
Wednesday, October 18th
October 18, 1919: Otis Elevator Company announced they would increase employees’ salaries, costing the company an additional $250,000 annually. Salaries at Otis were high; the company only employed mechanics of superior skill and ability, required because of the need for them to operate the most modern equipment… and the high need for perfection. Company policy required all employees be American citizens, and most were Yonkers residents.
October 18, 1935: The Carnegie Corporation of New York, in observance of the 100th anniversary of Mr. Carnegie’s birth, presented a portrait of Andrew Carnegie to the Yonkers Public Library. Carnegie had donated $50,000 to build the library on South Broadway in 1903.
Thursday, October 19th
October 19, 1895: After the Common Council announced its plans to tear down the Manor Hall and build a new City in its place, an irate citizen placed an ad in The Yonkers Statesman: “in memory of Philipse Manor hall, assassinated in 1895.”
October 19, 1939: After Public Safety Commissioner Denis Morrissey ordered parking behind the First National Building at 20 South Broadway changed to one-hour parking, area lawyers, dentists and other professionals were furious. Tenants from offices at 14, 16, 18, 20 and 30 South Broadway met to plan their protest and created a petition to present to Mayor Loehr, the Common Council, and Commissioner Morrissey. According to Dr. D’Eloia, all supported ignoring the Public Safety Commissioner’s order if they did not get relief; he stated, “The Commissioner may have a tough time fighting us as 95 per cent of the lawyers in town are affected by the order.” Alderman Salvatore Cerone attended the meeting and promised assistance.
Friday, October 20th
October 20, 1919: Dan Nolan, Knights of Columbus Memorial Hut Drive Chairman, announced the total raised was more than $42,000 of the needed $125,000. The “Crippled War Veterans” studying at Yonkers High School, men wounded during the World War, all donated to the cause because they were grateful for the work of the K of C during the war.
October 20, 1929: The Yonkers Branch of the Westchester County Historical Society announced they would erect a memorial tablet marking the site of the old Valentine homestead on the grounds of St. Joseph’s Seminary, at the rear of Valentine Street and
and Seminary Avenue.
Saturday, October 21st
October 21, 1776: Washington established headquarters on Valentine’s Hill while a party of American light horse and infantry took possession of Philipse Manor Hall.
October 21, 1919: At the start of the second week of the campaign, the Knights of Columbus Memorial Hut Drive reported they raised more than $46,000. The Yonkers Herald ran this headline on their front page: “Subscribe to the K of C Fund and Help Keep Anarchy Suppressed in Yonkers.” The day ended with an additional $4000 collected.
Sunday, October 22nd
October 22, 1779: The Kingston Legislature confiscated the estates of the Philipses, and declared them guilty of felony treason, punishable by death.
October 22, 1919: The K of C Memorial Hut Drive passed the $55,000 mark. The front page headline on The Yonkers Herald read, “The Disabled Soldiers at the Trades’ School Have Shown by Their Contributions Why Every One Should Aid the K of C Memorial Hut Fund.” They ran this headline several days.
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.
