The Fortfield Reservoir construction began April 1893. The reservoir, which fronted on Palmer Road in the area of Saunders High School
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 8th:
April 8, 1948: Water Bureau Superintendent James FitzGibbon announced Yonkers residents did not have to worry if they found any tiny fish in their water glasses! Fish had gotten into the distribution system when the screens on the Fortfield Reservoir were removed for cleaning.
FitzGibbon “assured” Yonkers both the Water Bureau and the Yonkers Health Department believed the problem was temporary and the little visitors would not affect “sanitary quality of the water.” How was problem was discovered? People complained about the problem!
April 8, 1950: While on plainclothes duty, Fourth Precinct Patrolman John Favareau nabbed three boys stoning trains from the far end of Trevor Park! He took them to the Shonnard Place station, where Captain Patrick Sullivan questioned them; they admitted causing damage to trains a few days earlier, damage the NY Central claimed amounted to $1900.
Tuesday, April 9th
April 9, 1942: AP Press reported the US Industrial Chemical, Inc., foot of Federal Street, would participate in the War Production Board experiment to make industrial alcohol from 120 to 130 proof beverages. The plan was for the Yonkers Company to redistill the ten-day-output from distilleries in Pennsylvania and Maryland; the beverage alcohol would be transported by tank trunks to avoid adding to railway traffic.
April 9, 1960: The Zoning Board of Appeals received an application from the 98 Ravine Avenue Corporation to convert the old Central Theater on Yonkers Avenue into a restaurant and bowling alley. The change to be made was adding a second floor to create a total of 19 bowling lanes.
Wednesday, April 10th
April 10, 1940: The Yonkers Railroad Company had ninety-five Herald Statesman editorials read to the jury as evidence in its libel trial against the Yonkers paper. The court did not allow the first article published in 1920, as it was “too remote,” i.e., too old.
April 10, 1947: The Upper New Main Street Merchants Association suggested to the Yonkers Planning Board the new parking center in downtown Yonkers be called something else besides Chicken Island! They hoped the area would be called Park Center, saying their proposal was “highly descriptive,” and “would give the district some lass which it sorely needs.” They also proposed wide roads be cut through from Nepperhan to Palisade Avenue and New Main Street to School Street so it would be easily accessible from all parts of the center of Yonkers.
Thursday, April 11th
April 11, 1922: Health Commissioner Dr. Clarence Buckmaster and Deputy Health Commissioner Dr Chauncey Umsted investigated complaints about gypsies camped on the King Estate on McLean Avenue. While visiting, they found 15 adults and 32 children living on the grounds… the owner of the property had rented it to the group for four months!
The gypsies were instructed to build outhouses, keep the area clean, connect the little settlement to the nearby water main, strictly observe sanitary regulations, and properly dispose of trash in “receptacles.” In addition, their school age children had to attend school.
April 11, 1940: M. Heloise Adler, Recording Secretary of the Yonkers Business and Professional Women’s Club, wrote to Harvey Gibson, Chairman of the World’s Fair Advisory Committee to ask Yonkers’ name be put on the official New York World’s Fair map. She pointed out not only were we the fifth largest city in the State, we were “one of the leading gateways to the fair.” She reminded him Yonkers “received no recognition” on the 1939 map!
Friday, April 12th
April 12, 1855: The Village of Yonkers was incorporated. The Village had a waterfront slightly more than a mile long; its average width was barely a mile. The population of the entire township, including Kingsbridge, was 7554. Our first Village President was William Radford and William Post was first Village Clerk.
April 12, 1940: An embarrassing financial history of the Yonkers Railroad Company (YRC) was laid out before jurors in YRC’s $500,000 libel suit against the Herald Statesman. Attorney William Cunningham read documents outlining Justice Joseph Morschauser’s previous order to put YRC in under the “permanent receivership of former Mayor Leslie Sutherland.” Although its operating expenses were 88% of its revenue, it had a “crushing burden” of debt.
Saturday, April 13th
April 13, 1940: Yonkers Health Commissioner Eugene McGillian announced blood tests showed three Yonkers food handlers tested positive to typhoid, tests he ordered as a first action to safeguard the “health and well-being of citizens of Yonkers.” Testing was done at no cost by Johns Hopkins Medical College; Yonkers was the first municipality in the country to have the testing. All who tested positive were removed from their positions to determine if they were typhoid carriers.
April 13, 1953: New York City cigarette manufacturer Benson and Hedges purchased 165,000 square feet of factory space from Alexander Smith Carpet Factory to amplify their New York operations. The Smith executives claimed no company “production facilities or personnel” were affected by the sale.
The tobacco company purchased a four-story steel and concrete factory on Saw Mill River Road, previously used both for offices and mechanical departments. They also purchased three smaller building used as storage and garages.
Sunday, April 14th
April 14, 1917: Scout Executive H. J. Wright announced, the “Every Scout To Feed a Soldier” campaign as an incentive for the 418 Yonkers Boy Scouts to concentrate efforts in the Scouts’ food crusade. Scouts were asked to cultivate a home food garden plot; if any Scout couldn’t, the Scout Organization would furnish him with a plot.
April 14, 1922: Tax Commissioner Timothy Murray appointed Clyde Leslie Sessions of Elm Street as his chauffeur at $1440 a year. But… there was no departmental car for Murray. Apparently, the Board of Contract held up the purchase of the machine.
Questions or comments on this column? 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
