Actress Gloria De Haven had a Yonkers street named after her. She married a developer from Yonkers
By Mary Hoar, City of Yonkers Historian, President Emeritus Yonkers Historical Society, recipient of the 2004 Key to History, Yonkers Landmarks Preservation Board Member, Revolutionary Yonkers 250 Chair and President Untermyer Performing Arts Council
Monday, April 7th
April 7, 1926: The gala opening of the beautiful and artistic Park Hill Playhouse on South Broadway, featured the world premiere of the eagerly awaited picture “Sandy,” starring Madge Bellamy and Harrison Ford. Besides the movie, the theater showed two cartoons, Mutt and Jeff and an Aesop fable, two comedy shorts and an animated short.
Based on Elinore Meheri’s novel “Sandy,” the book was serialized in almost one hundred newspapers throughout the country and was followed by thousands.
Theater owner and Managing Director Harold Eldridge emceed the opening ceremonies; he promised the Park Hill would provide clean, wholesome entertainment for Yonkers’ residents. Mayor Whalen and other officials spoke; music was provided by the Park Hill Concert Orchestra. A special vaudeville program and variety show featuring stage and radio stars, added to the evening’s festivities. The audience’s favorite performer was Yonkers’ own “jolly Jim Macdonald,” who brought down the house with his version of “Mother of Mine.” A reception for invited guests and performers was held after the performance.
The second largest theater in the city, the Park Hill had many modern conveniences: chairs designed for comfort and beauty, good vision from any seat in the house, and a “marvelous ventilating system” to circulate the “proper warmth and clean, good air.”
The Park Hill joined Yonkers Chrisedge Theaters and was planned to be a “sister theater” to the Broadway, just a few blocks south near Lawrence Street.
Tuesday, April 8th
April 8, 1952: President Harry Truman named former Yonkers resident William Draper Jr. as permanent US Representative to the North Atlantic Council. Draper, one of Yonkers five Generals during World War II, represented President Truman, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, and the Director of the Mutual Security Program in Europe. Draper would ensure US activities in NATO and Mutual Security Fields were integrated to “assure the defensive strength of the nations concerned shall be built as quickly as possible on a basis of continuous and effective self-help and mutual aid.”
A Yonkers High School graduate, Brigadier General Draper was appointed Under Secretary of War in 1947. In 1953, President Eisenhower appointed him the first US Ambassador to NATO.
Wednesday, April 9th
April 9, 1942: The Associated Press reported 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 output from distilleries in Pennsylvania and Maryland; the beverage alcohol would be transported by tank trunks to avoid adding to railway traffic.
April 9, 1943: City Hall once again was impacted by the Selective Service; City Manager William Walsh reported six men, three firefighters and three police officers, were called into active duty in the Armed Services.
Thursday, April 10th
April 10, 1904: Former Mayor William Gibson was injured seriously falling off the steps of a bus in London!
He moved to England in 1887 to run Otis Elevator’s American Elevator Company of England and contracted to provide elevators in the Eiffel Tower, and other locations in England, Scotland and the continent.
The third Mayor of our city, he served from 1876 to 1878.
April 10, 1937: Three employees of the Alexander Smith Carpet Factory, fired for union activities, were reinstated with back pay as a result of Supreme Court’s decision in one of the nation’s first tests of the National Labor Relations Act.
Friday, April 11th
April 11, 1933: Yonkers Common Council gave permission to Otis Elevator Company to build an enclosed bridge over Atherton Street 38 feet above street level. The bridge would connect its main manufacturing building with a proposed third story to be added to its shipping and storage building.
April 11, 1953: A Yonkers Street was named after movie star Gloria De Haven!
Originally planned as Adirondack Oval in the Greystone Gardens development, instead was called De Haven Drive at the request of developer Martin Kimmel. Kimmel, “a friend” of Ms. De Haven, married the star a few months later.
Saturday, April 12th
April 12, 1855: The Village of Yonkers was incorporated!
Our 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. The village did not include the Ludlow estate nor the land owned by Shonnard, as neither man wanted their property part of the village.
The first Village President was William Radford; William Post was first Village Clerk.
April 12, 1905: The Colored Cooperative Company broke ground for a three-family house at Riverdale Avenue and Culver Street. Francis Moultrie, who lived at 140 Warburton Avenue, was Treasurer of the company, and Yonkers’ first Black property owner.
Owner of the largest apartment building in our city, he also was one of the largest taxpayers of Yonkers.
Moultrie was one of the most sought-after caterers in the New York Metropolitan area; his specialty was ice cream!
Sunday, April 13th
April 13, 1775: Frederick Philipse signed a petition swearing allegiance to the King; this document later became known as the Declaration of Dependence.
April 13, 1914: S. Francis Quick, builder of more than half of Yonkers factories and many of the more luxurious homes, passed away after surgery two days earlier. He built Yonkers High School, St. John’s Rectory, St. John’s Hospital, and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. A few notable homes he built were Round Oaks (William Allen Butler), Duncraggan (Cochran Residence), and Glenview (Trevor), as well as homes for James Colgate, Percy Pyne, William Dodge, John Andrus, John Havemeyer, David Hawley and many more.
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.
