Ambassador Elsworth Bunker, Yonkers native and former president of the National Sugar Refining Company. He grew up at 421 North Broadway; he raised his family at 41 Hudson Terrace.
By Mary Hoar, City of Yonkers Municipal Historian, recipient of the Key to the City of Yonkers, President Emeritus Yonkers Historical Society, recipient of the 2004 Key to History, Yonkers Landmarks Preservation Board Member, Founder of Revolutionary Yonkers 250 and President Untermyer Performing Arts Council
Monday, April 13th
April 13, 1942: Councilman Edith Welty announced she wanted all city officials to explain why they signed petitions asking Jacob Novick’s sentence of 20 months in jail be changed to probation; he had been sentenced to 20 months in jail. Novick was convicted of conspiracy to defraud the federal government of taxes, was found guilty of operating illegal stills in Yonkers, Greenburgh and the Bronx. Welty wanted the officials to explain why they asked for leniency for him, believing their reasons should be made public.
She filed a Common Council resolution to this effect to be voted on at the next meeting. Welty said the City Charter authorized the Council to investigate conduct of city employees, whether appointed or elected.
She identified three people who asked for leniency: Mayor Benjamin Barnes, City Judge Charles Boote and teacher Emmett Burke.
Tuesday, April 14th
April 14, 1894: The St. Andrew’s Golf Club was incorporated; their new home originally was the Odell Farm at Grey Oaks
April 14, 1921: Varsity letters were presented to nine members of the Yonkers High School Basketball Team at a rally; those who earned the letters were Walden Beames, Reynolds Fowler, Charles Greening, William Griffin, Carl Ingrebretsen, Alfred John, William Long, Kent Middleton and William Richards.
Wednesday, April 15th
April 15, 1928: According to the notice received by Corporation Counsel Leonard McAneny, the Public Service Commission ordered the New York Central Railroad to proceed immediately with eliminating the grade crossing near Nepperhan Station.
April 15, 1930: After Census Supervisor James Arbuckle and his staff announced they are having trouble with some people in “the educated class” refusing to cooperate with census takers, he conferred with the US Attorney’s Office to determine how to prosecute those who refused.
April 15, 1955: Kimball Avenue’s Dusty the cat gained a lot of notoriety for his recent daytime adventures! While owner Emilie Nafzieger was having her house roof redone, Dusty decided to exercise his nine lives, and began climbing up the ladder to join the men on the roof! He became so comfortable with the workers, one day he climbed into their truck, picked up one of their lunch bags and made a beeline for the front porch to enjoy his pirated booty! Fortunately, he was spotted before he wolfed it down, and the lunch saved.
Wednesday, April 16th
April 16, 1923: Ellsworth Bunker of Hudson Terrace, son of former hospital board president George Bunker, was elected to membership on the St. John’s Hospital Board of Trustees. Bunker later was ambassador to the O. A. S., Argentina, Italy, India, Nepal and South Vietnam, serving under Presidents Truman, Eisenhower and Lyndon Johnson.
April 16, 1930: Thomas Alonzo was released from St. John’s Hospital, after being on “death’s door” for several days. He had tried to commit suicide after shooting Peregrina Nunez when she refused to run away with him.
Friday, April 17th
April 17, 1930: Thomas Alonzo, recovered from his attempted suicide after trying to kill Peregrina Nunez, appeared before Acting City Judge Gerald Nolan. He was charged with assault with intent to kill.
April 17, 1941: The Yonkers Seaplane Base and Flying Service at the south end of Ludlow Field set down the first plane to try out their new ramp; Manager W. F. Kinser of Rose Hill Terrace did the honors. It was expected the base would be in full operation within two weeks, giving flying lessons and providing “private flying accommodations.”
Saturday, April 18th
April 18, 1915: Reverend Talbot Smith was the keynote speaker at one the largest meetings on women’s suffrage held by the Suffrage Association. Held at Holy Rosary Church at Warburton and Lamartine Avenue, the meeting was led by Mrs. James Gibson; Mayor Lennon was a guest of the Association.
April 18, 1921: The Yonkers Chamber of Commerce was notified Yonkers had been designated as a stopping place for the new Hudson Valley Air Line. The company planned to run hydroplanes between Yonkers and Albany during the summer.
April 18, 1934: Edwin Goodhart, acting for the Eighth Ward Democratic Club, went to White Plains to take part in a spirited bidding for the old Nappeckamack Club on Pelton Street. Although Goodhart had a limit of $5500, he continued to bid in $100 increments above that price, much to the dismay of Abe Shapiro, acting for the Republicans interested in purchasing the building. He secretly had been told the GOP was willing to spend up to $7500 for the facility, and he wanted to push them to the limit. For every $100 increase he made, the Republicans countered with a bid raise of $25.
Sunday, April 19th
April 19, 1917: The Yonkers Lodge of Elks voted to “look after the affairs” of any member who entered the armed forces during the World War; in addition, they donated to the Yonkers Division of the Naval Militia.
April 19, 1947: Eugene Cardinal Tisserant, head of the Congregation of Oriental Churches, visited St. Joseph’s Seminary and College with Francis Cardinal Spellman. While there, a group of students and faculty witnessed the two church fathers planting a pin-oak tree in honor of Cardinal Tisserant’s first visit to an American religious institution! The silver shovel also was used by Cardinal Spellman to break ground for Cardinal Hayes High School, it was used by Archbishop of Westminster Cardinal Griffin and Archbishop of Berlin Cardinal von Preysing, both of whom also planted trees when visiting the seminary!
Any questions on this column, email yonkershistory1646@gmail.com.
For information on the Yonkers Historical Society, the Sherwood House Museum on Tuckahoe Road or their upcoming events, please visit their website www.yonkershistoricalsociety.org, call 914-961-8940 or email info@yonkershistoricalsociety.org.
