1924 US Olympic Gold Medalists 4x 400 meters relay team Team members Commodore Cochran, William Stevenson, Oliver MacDonald, and Yonkers resident Alan Helffrich on the far right.
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 29th
July 29, 1905: The Yonkers League of the Colored Cooperators of America formally opened five new buildings on its property at Riverdale Avenue and Culver Street. Welcoming speeches were made by Mayor John Andrus, The Rev. Henry Booker, Rev. F. J. Moultrie, and Rev. J. J. Smyer. Reverend Moultrie was the driving force behind the League.
July 29, 1934: Mary Urban announced the Urban Studios on South Waverly Street would be transformed into a sports mecca memorializing her late husband, architect, illustrator and scenic designer Joseph Urban. Before Urban bought the studio, it was home to three Yonkers movie companies: All Star Feature Corporation, Standard Filmprint Corporation, and Terris Feature Film Company.
Tuesday July 30th
‘July 30, 1943: Employees at the Cameo Curtain plant at 45 John Street, with 90% of its work being war production, posted large signs in their workrooms. What did the signs read? “We will be closed the day of Hitler’s funeral.”
July 30, 1943: Accordionist and sailor Frank Alfidi had a happy reunion with movie star Carole Landis, right here in Yonkers at the Shangri-La Rally in Getty Square! He had played during the entertainment tour of North Africa Landis did in 1942.
Hundreds of fans crowded the star; she signed autograph books, pictures, and scraps of papers, just about anything bond and stamp buyers wanted signed. A Marine standing at a distance was invited to the platform. When asked if he wanted an autograph, he said yes… but on his shirt! He got it!
The War Bond and Stamp Committee presented Landis with a beautiful rose corsage, but it did not last long. A young fan shyly asked if she could have a flower from the corsage. Then another… and another, until none were left.
Wednesday, July 31st
July 31, 1934: Welfare Commissioner Nicholas Ebbitt announced maps of local cemeteries showing graves of veterans of all wars would be made by a special crew of work relief men.
July 31, 1962: Well-known recording artist and musician Victor Arden, born Lewis Fuiks, passed away. A long-term resident of Franklin Avenue, Arden was discovered by George Gershwin. He was well known to millions of Americans who danced and sang to his records, radio programs, and musical motion pictures during the 1930s and 1940s. Among his many Broadway musicals were “Lady Be Good,” “Tip-Toes,” “Funny Face,” and “Spring Is Here.” He recorded for the Victor, Brunswick, Vocalion and Okey labels.
Thursday, August 1st
August 1, 1924: North Yonkers resident Alan Helffrich won gold! The graduate of School 16 and Yonkers High School was one of America’s greatest middle-distance runners in the 1920s. He was an alternate for the 1920 Olympics, he won AAU titles for 880 yards in 1921, 1922 and 1925. While attending Penn State, he won NCAA championships in 880 yards in 1922 and 1923 and IC4A championships in 880 yards in 1923 and in 440 yards in 1924.
At the Paris Olympics, Helffrich ran anchor on the American 4×400 meter relay team. The team won gold, with Helffrich breaking the tape for the team, setting a world record of 3:16.
Helffrich was the only runner to defeat Paavo Nurmi when the Finn toured the United States in 1925, scoring victory in the half-mile run at Yankee Stadium, ending Nurmi’s 121-race win streak that started in 1921.
After his running career, Helffrich officiated at New York athletic meets for 25 years. He served as president of the New York Chapter of the United States Olympians until his death at age 93.
August 1, 1949: The Love Dress Company, one of the largest children’s clothing manufacturers in the world, sold its 151 Ludlow Street plant to glove, sweater and sporting goods manufacturer Louis Maiss; Love moved its operation into a large, leased garage on Warburton Avenue.
Friday, August 2nd
August 2, 1893: Fire destroyed more than 20 buildings on the east side of Warburton Avenue and Mill Street, buildings built on piles over the Nepperhan River. The fire was discovered early morning in Barbour’s Grocery, 6 Warburton Avenue, and spread quickly. The Volunteer Fire Department thought the flames were extinguished, but they spread to Acker’s Hardware at 8 Warburton Avenue. A few hours later, fire broke out behind the stores, working its way through John Copcutt’s one-story frame buildings. McManus’ Meat Market, Davis’ Glass & Picture Frame, Gale’s Hardware, Walsh’s Printing, Tompkin’s Coal, Hick’s Candy Store, MacFall’s furniture and Yet Sing’s Laundry soon went up in flames. James McCann lost seven stables on Mill Street; the Peake storehouse on Mill Street was gutted, but its solid brick walls saved the buildings behind it.
Saturday, August 3rd
August 3, 1639: Three Weckquaskeck chiefs who owned Keskeskich– Fecquemeck, Rechgawae, and Packanniens– sold the tract of land called “Nepperhaem,” site of present-day Yonkers, to the West India Company.
August 3, 1954: Horn and Hardart opened its first waitress-service restaurant in Westchester in the new Cross County Shopping Center! The company’s first step of its plan to expand into New York suburbs, it had table seating for 300, and room at the counter for 60 people.
Sunday, August 4th
August 4, 1886: Samuel J. Tilden died at his Graystone estate in Yonkers. Tilden purchased the estate in 1879, three years after his run for the presidency. He loved living in Yonkers, making it his main home; he only returned to his Manhattan home in the winter.
August 4, 1927: A continued rise in the level of the Nepperhan brought another overflow from the construction work on the new Plaza. The river flooded the cellars and basements of industries and stores fronting on Nepperhan Street.
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
