Scientist Rudolph Schoenheimer, who developed isotope labeling of biomolecules, enabling metabolic studies.
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, Chair of Revolutionary Yonkers 250 and President Untermyer Performing Arts Council
Monday, September 9th
September 9, 1943: Dr. Giuseppe Brancucci, was delighted with Italy’s unconditional surrender!
Brancucci served eighteen years in the Italian Diplomatic Service and was Yonkers’ Italian Royal Consular Agent before assuming a post in San Francisco. After Pearl Harbor, Brancucci immediately resigned his diplomatic post and moved back to Yonkers. Not only did he and his wife begin paperwork to become American citizens, their three sons fought in the American Army during the war
September 9, 1944: Doris Riker of Caryl Avenue had a P-38 plane named after her on an American airfield somewhere in Italy.
Dors was the American Red Cross’ Clubmobile aide for the crew. As a Clubmobile aide, she not only helped bake thousands of doughnuts, she drove through rough terrain and bad weather to bring snacks to combat units every day with a smile. The donuts—and Doris– were a huge morale booster to our men fighting in the cold, damp and muddy Italian mountains.
Tuesday, September 10th
September 10, 1924: Yonkers and Mount Vernon reached agreement on allowing water mains between the New York City’s Hillview Reservoir and Mount Vernon, to supply Mount Vernon with water… for an annual $60,000 payment to Yonkers.
September 10, 1948: Anna Knapper came home from work to find her living room furniture was gone! Seems her son John and a woman he passed off as his wife, sold his mom’s furniture to a second-hand store for $85. The police got involved when Mrs. Knapper argued heatedly with store owner Katherine Moreo. Moreo agreed to return the furniture, and police began looking for the son and his female friend.
Wednesday, September 11th
September 11, 1922: After Alderman Salvatore Cerone fought many months to get public baths in his ward, the Common Council Committee on Public Baths and Health directed the DPW Commissioner to buy land at the corner of Linden and Poplar Streets to build a public bath.
September 11, 1941: Renowned biochemist Dr. Rudolph Schoenheimer passed away after ingesting potassium cyanide at his Wickes Avenue home; he had struggled with depression for years.
Schoenheimer developed the isotope tracer technique in metabolic research, leading to a new view of metabolism, nutrition, and continual regeneration.
Dr. Schoenheimer emigrated to the United States after the rise of Nazism in Germany. and took a position in Columbia University’s Biological Chemistry Department. In 1930, he was Douglas Smith Fellow in the University of Chicago’s Department of Experimental Surgery.
Thursday, September 12th
September 12, 1801: Dr. John Ingersoll borrowed $1,500 from Frederick VanCortlandt to buy Sherwood House from Jabez Fowler.
September 12, 1945: A Navy shore patrol was assigned to supervise sailors and merchant marines in Larkin Plaza; the men were from ships arriving for repair. Seamen were getting in altercations; one sailor punched a girl in the face, and other seamen fought with soldiers. More concerning were groups of young women hanging out on the Larking Plaza benches to “make advances” to men in uniform!
Friday, September 13th
September 13, 1920: At an event chaired by Club President William Boyce Thompson, the Hudson River Country Club’s new clubhouse was christened with a gala dinner dance and 150 members.
The club, once the Saeghill Golf Club, was founded by women and a few enlightened men so women could play golf.
September 13, 1952: The New York State Liquor Authority suspended Dunwoodie Golf Club’s liquor license for 20 days because the club had four 25-cent slot machines!
A few months earlier, Public Safety Commissioner William Comey led a raid on the club, seized slot machines and arrested Assistant Manager Walter Daly on charges of possessing slot machines. Comey retired the next day!
Saturday, September 14th
September 14, 1929: Several tenants moved into the new, unfinished Park Building at 30 South Broadway, the new Yonkers “skyscraper” with two elevators!
September 14, 1944: Lieutenant Walter Werner of Jackson Street, Nazi prisoner for more than a year, finally was on his way home.
Part of the Swedish prisoner exchange, he was one of 233 sick and wounded military personnel returning to America on the Swedish ship Gripsholm.
September 14, 1948: Yonkers Rotary members were the first hosts on Rotary International’s “American Homes tour” for Columbia University foreign students.
Students were entertained at community and family events designed to promote international good will and understanding, During a special Rotary meeting at the Rock House (Warburton Avenue), each student, in his own language, spoke about their interest in the world fellowship project and thanked the Yonkers members.
Sunday, September 15th
September 15, 1775: Fifty-nine residents of Lower Yonkers petitioned the Provincial Congress, asking them to grant John Cock the commission of Captain of the Yonkers Revolutionary Militia.
Frederick VanCortlandt wanted the commission for himself, probably as a “steppingstone” to a higher post. When the sixty members of the Company voted, VanCortlandt only received 11 votes and John Cock received 48. William Betts received the other vote.
VanCortlandt’s crew started a smear campaign, claiming Cock spoke disrespectfully about Congress, asking Congress to withhold the commission. They presented two affidavits of this disrespect. Six days later, 59 Yonkers residents presented their own petition to the Committee of Safety, justifying their action of electing Cock as their Captain. Cock was disqualified by the Commission.
The Yonkers group reorganized and elected John Oakley to the command. Nicholas Berrian was elected First Lieutenant, Isaac Leggett as Second Lieutenant, and Frederic Philipse Stevenson as Ensign.
September 15, 1787: St. John’s Episcopal Church in Getty Square, Yonkers’ oldest church built by the Philipse family, was incorporated.
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
