By Mary Hoar, President Untermyer Performing Arts Council, Landmarks Preservation Board member, President Emerita, Yonkers Historical Society
Monday, September 14th:
September 14, 1927: The cornerstone of the new million-dollar Federal Post Office was raised into place at a ceremony attended by Mayor Walsh, Congressmen Fairchild and Fitzpatrick. This ended thirty years of tribulations for a new Yonkers facility.
September 14, 1945: Trustees of the Yonkers Board of Education won praise after appointing William Williams Superintendent of Schools. Williams had shown himself to be an excellent educator and administrator, as well as a friendly and thoughtful person. May Henry, Yonkers Teachers Association President, commented, “It is a glad day for all of us.”
Tuesday, September 15th
September 15, 1944: The editor of the Herald Statesman received a newspaper clipping of a Yonkers serviceman from Private Charles Panicali. Panicali, who at one time worked for cousins owning “a fleet of buses in Yonkers,” saw the article while at Fort Ord. He hoped the editor would send the clipping to New Main Street’s Private First Class Joseph De Freitoc’s parents. What was De Freitoc doing that was photo worthy? Making a snack dressed in a camouflage suit, between battles in a French Village! Panicali commented his brother had been killed in battle; he knew his own family would have loved a picture like the one he sent.
September 15, 1946: Jailer James Buckley foiled an attempted jailbreak from Yonkers City Jail. Twenty-year old Charles Richard of Boston hatched the plot to escape with forty-two-year-old Bronx native John Orach. Richards slugged and beat Buckley, who still managed the thwart the attempt.
Wednesday, September 16th
September 16, 1945: Representatives of all CIO unions in Westchester met with Congressman Gwinn, New Rochelle’s Mayor Church, and Yonkers’ Mayor Frank’s representative at Sokol Hall on Yonkers Avenue to discuss security of peacetime employment. Although it a short time since the war ended, Maurice Cesarotti, President of the Westchester Industrial Council, announced millions of war workers already were laid off or received wage cuts. Cesarotti added, “Our returning veterans have a right to peacetime jobs. Congress must pass measures at once guaranteeing maintenance of America’s buying power and protecting the interests of labor and industry in the transition period.” They asked for $25 a week unemployment benefits for 26-weeks, a 65-cent minimum hourly wage, improved GI Bill of Rights, and enforcement of price control.
September 16, 1946: For the first time since the US entered World War II, the Westchester County Canoeing Championships were held at Tibbetts Brook Park. The Yonkers Canoe Club, 1946 National Champions, swept the competition.
Thursday, September 17th
September 17, 1908: President of the American Real Estate Company Edwin Martin announced his retirement. An organizer of the Park Hill Country Club, he was credited by many to be responsible for the development of Park Hill.
September 17, 1947: City Manager Montgomery and City Comptroller Kennedy announced their decision to withdraw from the merger of Yonkers Laboratory with the County Laboratory. Elsie Hochgraf, chair of the Laboratory Board of Managers, was credited with revealing the county was getting ‘extraordinary benefits” by using the Yonkers equipment at Yonkers’ taxpayers’ expense. The county rent for the space in the Health Center was low—50 cents a square foot. To make it worse, the county used less than half of the equipment they insisted Yonkers buy for the lab. The Common Council fully supported the decision.
Friday, September 18th
September 18, 1942: Yonkers Republicans officially launched their campaign against Proportional Representation. At a meeting held at 20 Pelton Street, many speakers condemned the system, claiming it prevented voters from “the proper exercise of their franchise.”
September 18, 1946: Trustees of the Village of Tuckahoe were in the midst of preparing to thank Yankee announcers Mel Allen and Russ Hodges for their words praising Yankee Infielder George Stirnweiss of Tuckahoe, and enhancing the image of their village. The whole thing was stopped dead in its track when Village Trustee George Whyte investigated and discovered Stirnweiss actually lived in the Crestwood section of Yonkers!
Saturday, September 19th
September 19. 1928: Less than twenty minutes after the airplane Roma took off from Old Orchard Beach, Maine, attempting a non-stop flight to Rome, it was forced to return with engine trouble. On board was medical observer Dr. Leon Pisculli of Park Hill Avenue. When the flight finally was made a few weeks later, it took off without Pisculli.
September 19, 1942: Editors of the yearbook “We The People” notified well known traveler and lecturer Howard McDonald of Ravine Avenue his letter submitted to a New York newspaper was selected as one of their outstanding newspaper letters of the year, and would be reprinted in their 1943 edition. The topic of the letter? Good use of time spent riding on trolleys and subways with lights dimmed! McDonald said he used the time for rest and meditation, especially in subways, and explained he sat quietly, closed his eyes, and thought of a beautiful or inspiring topic.
Sunday, September 20th
September 20, 1918: Yonkers designated this day to be “Clean the Furnace Day.” All homeowners were urged to clean their furnaces to prevent wasting coal!
September 20, 1939: Sara McPike, a Yonkers’ leading proponent for women’s suffrage, President of the St. Catherine Welfare Association, and member of the Women Investors in America, urged Yonkers women to support the latter organization’s efforts to keep America out of war. WIA had organized a committee to reach out to every woman in the US to aid their mission. According to McPike, “The women of American must understand they cannot save their husbands, sons and brother from being blown to bits on European battlefields if they do not strive to prevent American from taking part in a war that would undoubtedly destroy our American form of government.”
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