Revolutionary War General Charles Lee, Second in Command to General Washington, spent time in 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, June 2nd
June 2, 1941: Yonkers Police Chief William Kruppenbacher announced 900 Habirshaw Cable & Wire Corporation employees needed to be fingerprinted in one week! Following directions from the FBI, prints would be taken at Habirshaw, then filed with the Bureau’s Washington Headquarters. Three detectives, John Baldwin, Thomas Cunningham and John Heenan were tasked with taking prints.
June 2, 1941: Yonkers Police Chief Kruppenbacher announced no sabotage happened in Yonkers over Memorial Day!
Yonkers had joined the nationwide effort to prevent sabotage during Memorial Day celebrations. Kruppenbacher would not discuss plans publicly, but Yonkers knew foot patrols, radio car officers and detectives were directed to pay particular attention to reservoirs, water bureau facilities, public utilities, Defense Contract factories and the Yonkers waterfront.
Tuesday, June 3rd
June 3, 1942: Genung’s Department Store ran an ad promoting patriotism. The ad advocated using even small change from sales to buy War Stamps, reminding Yonkers, “EVERY 25c STAMP YOU BUY PUTS 12 FIGHTING BULLETS IN A SOLDIER’S GUN.”
June 3, 1945: The Edith Cavell Chapter of W.I.V.E.S. (Wives Insure Victory, Equality, Security) held its first war bond sale at Yonkers’ War Monument in front of City Hall. Marine Private Russell Cooper spoke about the Battles of the Solomons and Guadalcanal; businessman Gilmore Bradford spoke about witnessing the Japanese takeover of Hong Kong and his seven-month-internment there. WAC Recruiting Station’s Lieutenant Catherine Perry and Yonkers War Finance Committee members Edna Aimes and Aranya Smart also spoke
After opening their “tent headquarters,” members sold bonds on Saturdays and Sundays at the monument.
Wednesday, June 4th
June 4, 1789: John Guarenau of “the Yonkers” petitioned George Washington because he was in “an indigent situation” caused by the “late War, having lost all save some ‘cloathing’ and two beds.” His property and buildings were destroyed by the enemy during the Revolution.
His house served as General Lee’s headquarters October 1776; during “this time his honor General Lee, with every necessary he required to the amount of one hundred and seventy six pounds nineteen shillings, the chiefest part of which your Petitioner stands responsible.”
This would amount to $42,306.21 in today’s dollars.
June 4, 1926: The Habirshaw Wire and Cable Company announced plans to build a $16,000 steel and concrete building at Glenwood. Plans indicated it would be thirty feet high and built on the company’s dock.
Thursday, June 5th
June 5, 1918: Charles Easton, President of the Yonkers Board of Education, signed contracts with the US War Department to have 200 soldiers, recent inductees, trained at Saunders Trades School during the summer. Contracts covered soldiers’ food, housing and training. The men would not only would learn their “soldierly duties,” they would receive eight hours daily instruction to learn a variety of special trades. At the end of the summer, the school turned out machinists, gas engine repairmen, carpenters, plumbers and pipe fitters.
Saunders had the right equipment, the proper courses of studies, and experienced instructors.
June 5, 1922: After watching Captain John Cahill’s impressive picked rifle drill square in the Yonkers Jubilee Parade, Public Safety Commissioner Thomas Tobin ordered the other men on the Yonkers Police Force to drill with rifles during their workday.
June 5, 1928: Herbert Pokress of Caryl Avenue, representing a syndicate of American millionaires, acquired the American rights to television!
Pokress researched Yonkers to build America’s first large television station, one capable of broadcasting and receiving transmissions from
around the world. Several area sites were checked out, including the Nodine Hill Water Tower and the Palisades; they determined the Proctor’s Building was best place for the proposed station.
The Baird American Television Company was named after the creator of the world’s first live television system, Scottish engineer John Logie Baird; the company wanted to build two ornamental steel towers that would “shoot into the air to a height of 100 feet,” with tower motors in the building’s penthouse. The proposed Yonkers site would be remote-controlled from New York City.
Building Inspector James Armstrong informed Pokress as far the building code, the plans were fine, but they needed to determine if zoning restrictions were violated.
Friday, June 6th:
June 6, 1944: D-Day began; it was the Allies’ biggest WWII offensive.
Rolling waves of eleven thousand planes supported invasion of Normandy’s beaches during the early morning hours.
Yonkers houses of worship kept their doors open all day for private prayers and group devotions.
Downtown’s St. John’s and St. Mary’s Churches’ noon services filled Getty Square with worshippers praying for the safety and success of our Allied troops. Courts adjourned and closed with a prayer; the Common Council held late afternoon “D Day” prayers at our War Memorial.
Yonkers was united in prayer for Allied victory.
Saturday, June 7th
June 7, 1930: Workers missed capturing some white perch while cleaning Palmer Road’s Fortfield Reservoir. The fish swam into Yonkers’ water system, clogged our water mains and effectively cut off our water supply. Water Superintendent Oscar Barker stopped the work at Fortfield to find and remove fish!
June 7, 1932: John Corkery bought the Park Restaurant for $10,000. The Park Restaurant, once a well-known gathering spot for Yonkers’ prominent citizens, originally was the Hotel Bristol at McLean Avenue and South Broadway.
Sunday, June 8th
June 8, 1930: Globe Wrecking Company began demolition of Getty Square’s Flagg Building; it would be replaced with the more modern Grant’s Department Store.
June 8, 1940: Councilmember Edith Welty accused “incompetent men” in City Hall offices of deliberately attempting to discredit City Manager Raymond Whitney; she believed they were trying to sabotage Yonkers’ Council-Manager form of government.
June 8, 2001: Yonkers native Lieutenant General William Lennox, Jr., assumed duties as the 56th Superintendent of the United States Military Academy, West Point. Lennox attended Yonkers parochial schools until he went to the US Military Academy.
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.
