1923 Pulitzer Prize winner Owen Davis, Sr. of Park Hill. He received the award for his play Icebound
By Mary Hoar, City of Yonkers Historian, President Emeritus Yonkers Historical Society, recipient of the 2004 Key to History, Yonkers Landmarks Preservation Board Member, Chair of Revolutionary Yonkers 250 and President Untermyer Performing Arts Council
Monday, September 22nd
September 22, 1947: The 1,000,000th motorist paid the dime toll at the Yonkers Saw Mill River Parkway toll station. The Yonkers toll station had opened August 28th, less than a month earlier, and averaged 40,000 cars a day.
September 22, 1947: Veteran families began moving into new apartments in the east wing of the “old Yonkers High School” while workers continued creating more apartments in the west wing. The families were greeted by State and Yonkers officials including Mayor Frank, Deputy State Commissioner Haugaard, Mayor’s Emergency Housing Committee Chairman Morton Wekstein, Veterans Services Agency Director Melvin Kempton, Municipal Housing Authority Member Reverend Clinton Hoggard, State Managing Agent Albert Cucinell, State Engineer Irving Silverman and others.
Of the families assigned to the building, fifteen were “separation cases.” They couldn’t find housing large enough for their families and were forced to split up to live with relatives or friends. Ten other families had lived in studio or two-room apartments.
Veterans approved for school apartments had ranks from private to captain and earned decorations ranging from the Purple Heart to Air Medals to Service Medals.
Mayor Frank used the opportunity to lobby for replacement of fifteen Veterans’ apartments destroyed by fire on the old Grassy Sprain Golf Course.
Tuesday, September 23rd
September 23, 1912: The American Real Estate Company sold 322 Park Hill Avenue to Pulitzer Prize playwright Owen Davis. Davis
had written more than 200 plays and was considered by many to be America’s most prolific playwright.
September 23, 1940: Councilman Edith Welty revealed why she wouldn’t sign Yonkers’ response to the Supreme Court inquiry about fired war veterans.
Yonkers’ response stated they weren’t fired for political reasons. After reading the document, she investigated the 45 men fired from Sanitation. Her conclusion? Most were dismissed for political reasons!
Wednesday, September 24th
September 24, 1943: The Herald Statesman received a letter from PFC Raymond Vallely, serving with the US Army somewhere in Europe. Shortly after the Allies had taken Sicily, he sat down to eat; his meal came with nicely paper wrapped “lump sugar.” He was surprised when he read the wrapper and discovered it came from “Golden Glow, Yonkers NY,” a South Broadway restaurant!
September 24, 1947: Author and lecturer Pearl S. Buck addressed the Sixth Annual School in Christian Living Conference at Asbury Church. Buck, who lived in China, Japan and other parts of Asia for most of her life, stated she found racial prejudices in the United States a “shock!”
In Asia, she said, peace and love were taught to children, and no one race was considered superior.
Thursday, September 25th
September 25, 1943: Dr. Lawrence Ashely, Director of the Yonkers War Industries Program, announced 300 trainees from Yonkers School of Aeronautical Manufacturing were sent to the Tarrytown Eastern Aircraft Plant and employed as aircraft workers. More than 70% of students hired were women; several were hired as inspectors.
Although there were few vacancies in school classes, the demand for trained workers for well-paying jobs exceeded the number of people available; the company especially needed women trained in fine precision work, spot welding and metal fusing.
Several women from the school were hired at precision tool manufacturer Wagner and Pye, in the 60 McLean Avenue Varley Building.
September 23, 1943: RKO Strand, RKO Proctor’s, Loew’s and the Park Hill, all South Broadway theaters, kicked off Yonkers’ “Back the Attack” campaign to promote “Free Movie Week!” Anyone purchasing a war bond of any denomination got a free movie ticket.
Friday, September 26th
September 26, 1915: Dayspring Presbyterian Sunday School boys held “an entertainment” to raise money; they bought bibles for Yonkers hotels!
September 6, 1954: Consolidated Edison offered Yonkers a chance to save the old Hicks-Weed farmhouse.
On a lane just off Tuckahoe Road, the 18th century farmhouse was in the path of planned overhead power lines. Con Ed, who bought the property in 1942, notified City Manager Curran it would give the house to Yonkers since it was a historically valuable property… if it was moved.
After history of the property was shared with Con Edison, they changed the path of the power lines to preserve this historic tenant farmhouse, now Yonkers Historical Society’s Sherwood House Museum!
Saturday, September 27th
September 27, 1918: The Yonkers Americanization Committee of Yonkers held a mass meeting in the Common Council chamber “Because the message of democracy must be carried to the 13,000,000 immigrants within our shores.” Featured speakers were Executive Secretary of the National Americanization Committee Edwin Rumball and Supervisor of Immigrant Education William Smith.
September 27, 1943: The Public Relations Office of Blytheville Air Field announced former Yonkers Municipal Housing Authority Chairman Thomas Quinlan was appointed Commanding Officer of their 26th Twin-Engine Flying Training Group. Assigned to
Blytheville for more than a year, his previous assignment was overseeing building the Post swimming pool.
A veteran World War I pilot and flying instructor, Quinlan had served in France with the 12th Observation Squadron. When at his Elaine Terrace home, he was a member of Aviators Post 747 and the Hudson Valley Flyers Club.
Sunday, September 28th
September 28, 1927: According to the report released by the Bureau of Statistics of the United States Department of Labor, more money per person was spent in Yonkers for new buildings and repairs to existing structures than any other city in the country.
September 28, 1941: The Board of Directors of Yonkers Professional Hospital voted to have Doctors George Stanwix and Dr. James Morrissey try one last time to get a favorable lease from the landlord, the Bank of Manhattan.
Questions or comments on this column? Email YonkersHistory1646@gmail.com.
For information on the Yonkers Historical Society, Sherwood House and upcoming events, please visit their website www.yonkershistoricalsociety.org, call 914-961-8940 or email info@@yonkershistoricalsociety.org.
