Otis Elevator Plant, still in operation today in Yonkers
By Mary Hoar, City of Yonkers Historian, Chair of Revolutionary Yonkers 250, 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 July 1st
July 1, 1941: As suggested by Councilman James Sullivan at the Committee of the Whole, City Manager Whitney was asked to attempt to repurchase city lots at 777-779 McLean Avenue. Sullivan wanted to preserve the Ninth Ward baseball field and playground. Since the title already had transferred, the property had to be bought from owner Joseph Reitano, who wanted to build sixteen bowling alleys; today, the site is Coyne Park.
July 1, 1944: Yonkers temporarily stopped trash collection and turned to collecting tin cans “vitally needed by the Government.” DPW Deputy Commissioner James Corbalis sent twenty-eight DPW trucks to collect “properly prepared tin cans” at curbside before eight o’clock in the morning.
July 1, 1954: A Fortune magazine article revealed Otis Elevator Company spent nearly $750,000 modernizing and updating the company’s main weakness, “antiquated, high-cost manufacturing” of the Yonkers operation, calling the Yonkers plant a sprawling, multi-storied, “Nineteenth-Century-type job shop.”
The article also revealed not only had the “outdated” Otis company recently won a $3 million contract for the Prudential Insurance Building in Chicago, it also was awarded the largest elevator contract in history, $3.25 million to produce and install elevators and escalators in New York’s Socony-Vac Building.
Tuesday, July 2nd
July 2, 1927: The Yonkers Gold Star Mothers announced they would strongly contest any plans to move the Memorial to Yonkers Heroes of the World War from its site at Washington Park on South Broadway.
July 2, 1929: Major Abraham Tompkins, leader of Yonkers GAR contingency as Kitching Post Commander, passed away in his Linden Street home.
Born 1844, Tompkins moved to Yonkers in the early 1850s and worked with his dad William in a cabinet shop on Ashburton Place, crafting base and snare drums. At start of the “War of the Rebellion,” Abraham entered the frey with a musician’s commission. Tompkins great uncle Daniel, the NYS Governor who signed the 1817 bill ending slavery in the state by 1827, served as US Vice President for James Monroe.
Wednesday, July 3rd
July 3, 1781: General Lincoln and troops landed near Manor Hall with the aim of attacking the British works on Manhattan Island but were discovered.
July 3, 1911: The Manor Hall officially passed into custody of the American Scenic and Historic Society. During the first few months of 1911, a few several officials and departments still operated out of the Manor Hall, including the Board of Contract and Supply, the Comptroller, the City Treasurer and the Assessors.
Thursday, July 4th
July 4, 1845: Citizens of Yonkers presented Revolutionary War veteran Captain Joel Cook a gold medal celebrating his patriotic services in defense of liberty. Cook tried to join the army at 16 when the Revolution began but was rejected on account of his age. Instead, he served a continental officer as a body servant until he was old enough to enter the ranks and bear arms for the remainder of the war.
This resident of Yonkers was guest of honor at the village Fourth of July banquet in 1845. Hon. W. W. Scrughan, later the first NYS Supreme Court Justice from Yonkers, presented Cook a gold medal with the following inscription on behalf of our village citizens:
“Presented to Capt. Joel Cook, by the citizens of Yonkers, in honor of his patriotic service in defense of liberty. July 4, 1845. At the Battles of Danbury, White Plains, Trenton, Stony Point, Springfield and Tippecanoe.”
July 4, 1943: The US Army Air Corps presented a very special noon air show! Two P-47 thunderbolt fighter planes flew over our city! The sky show was arranged by Yonkers Savings Bank to generate enough war bond and stamp sales to finance a P-47 Thunderbolt; they had one week to sell $13,000 more. This campaign was particularly important to the bank; a former Yonkers Savings Bank employee was a squad leader of fighting P-47s! If successful, the Thunderbolt would be named “City of Yonkers, NY.”
Friday, July 5th
July 5, 1781: French troops camped along the Sprain River.
July 5, 1923: After winning the contract to make carpets for the new liner Leviathan, Alexander Smith and Sons Carpet Company ran full speed to ensure the order was finished in time for the ship’s trial run.
Saturday, July 6th
July 6, 1861: The Mozart Regiment of the Union Army, who trained and quartered at Yonkers, left by steamboat for Washington.
The 40th New York, mustered at Yonkers in 1861, was sponsored by the Union Defense Committee of NYC (Mozart Hall Committee) by special authority from the War Department.
Two men of the 40th New York earned the Medal of Honor; Sergeant Robert Boody of Company B carried wounded comrades from the field at the Battles of Williamsburg and Chancellorsville, and Private Henry Klein captured a Confederate flag at the Battle of Sayler’s Creek.
The regiment mustered out June 27th 1865, after the Grand Review of the Armies.
July 6, 1929: Military salutes from veterans of three wars, volleys of rifle fire and taps, honored the late Major Abraham Tompkins, Kitching Post Commander, GAR, at his interment at Mount Hope Cemetery. His funeral at the Central Methodist Episcopal Church on Morris Street, was attended by many dignitaries, including congressmen, mayors, aldermen, judges and famed sculptor Isadore Konti.
Sunday, July 7th
July 7, 1924: George Milton, owner of North Broadway’s Chocolate Shop, sent the very first box of candy by wire to another city. George was a member of the new Candygram Association, just a few weeks old.
July 7, 1942: Believed to be the first woman welder in Yonkers, Ann DelCampo of Purser Place began working as a welder for the Habirshaw Cable & Wire plant at the foot of Point Street. DelCampo graduated from a welding course given by the Metro Welding Institute on Riverdale Avenue, the only female in the class.
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
