Dr. Leo Baekland on the cover of Time magazine 1924
By Mary Hoar, City of Yonkers Municipal Historian, 1977 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, August 31st
August 31, 1939: The Directors of Union Carbide and Carbon Corporation voted to acquire the Bakelite Corporation, founded 30 years earlier by Dr. Leo Baekland, from the Harmony Park section of Yonkers! Before the deal could be consummated, Bakelite company stockholders had to approve the transaction.
Bakelite Corporation President Leo Baekeland announced creation of Bakelite in 1909, thirty years earlier.
Bakelite Stockholders did approve the sale.
Tuesday, September 1st
September 1, 1941: Ben Dwight, 201 North Broadway, the longtime Chairman of the National Tennis Umpires, died suddenly at the West Side Tennis Club at Forrest Hills. At the tournament to ensure umpires were properly assigned, he died suddenly. The match continued; the 8,000 audience members had no idea something had happened.
Sixty-nine years old, Dwight was considered the outstanding tennis official in the country.
Class of 1895 Yale graduate, this Wall Street Baring, Magoon and Company broker developed his interested in tennis as member and President of Yonkers’ Amackassin Club! He also served as Secretary of the YMCA and Board Member of Prospect House. As a member of the Community Service Commission, he was credited for the excellence of the playing surfaces at Trevor Park.
Wednesday, September 2nd
September 2, 1986: The idea of community activists Dr. Bob Morrow and Ronnie Austin, the “Hands Across Yonkers” banner began its journey across Yonkers! “An open letter to Yonkers,” it traveled to several churches where clergy prayed for peace and patience during the implementation of integration of Yonkers schools.
Through sermons, discussions and prayers, Yonkers clergy promoted peace and unity to calm the fears of some members of the Yonkers community. Reverend Charles McManus, President of the Clergy of Yonkers and pastor of St. Bartholomew’s Church, said it was a “quiet attempt to pull the community together.” The banner journeyed to local houses of worship where parishioners signed the banner at places as varied as Mt. Carmel Baptist Church, St. John’s Episcopal Church, St. Bartholomew’s Roman Catholic Church, Temple Emanu-El, and Asbury Methodist Church.
September 2, 1938: Much to the relief of the men in the YPD Detective Division, Dinny, the Bureau’s cat, returned “home” after being missing for a month! Known as an excellent mouser, he showed up without a word of explanation for going AWOL, just got right back to work.
Thursday, September 3rd
September 3, 1938: Yonkers Professional Hospital brought another innovation into use, one that eliminated spanking babies to start them breathing after birth! The Hospital introduced the infant resuscitator and inhalator, specifically designed to give newborn babies their first breath of life. Used by some of the larger American hospitals, Yonkers Professional extended its use to surgical and ambulance cases needing stimulation of normal breathing. They had two mobile units ready for emergencies. Although expensive, these machines could be the difference between tragedy and joy; the staff felt the cost was worth it if one baby was saved.
Under Dr. Flagg’s leadership, Yonkers Professional was the first area hospital to create a department specializing in anesthesia, resuscitation and oxygen therapy.
Friday, September 4th
September 4, 1950: The new Yonkers Branch of the “Organization in Defense of the Four Freedoms of Ukraine” voted to support the Ukrainian Underground Army and adopt several anti-Communist resolutions!
It was organized earlier in the year both by seventy Ukrainian refuges who became American citizens and citizens of Yonkers. President Nicholas Choly reported the membership unanimously voted to support the UPA (Ukrainian Underground Army).
Former Ukrainian professor John Wowchuk, who escaped the “iron curtain,” advocated offensive tactics to “destroy Russian imperialism” and create “a self-governing nation.”
Saturday, September 5th
September 5, 1943: Two Yonkers soldiers, Corporal Technicians William Fennel and Frank Vivians, were selected by their commanding officers to attend the Pan-American Premiere of Deanna Durbin’s new release, “Hers to Hold.” Presented at the Corozol Army Post Theater in the Canal Zone, the celebration marked the third year of the Coast Artillery Command’s occupation of battle stations. During the occupation, a group of soldiers dubbed the “Jungle Movie Circuit” provided 16-mm movies for the military even under difficult circumstances; these films were the only source of entertainment for our armed forces serving there.
September 5, 1950: City Clerk Francis Heafy received official notice from the County Board of Elections of pending litigation over the Brogan-Cooney contest in the August Primary. The notice came with instructions to closely guard the ballot boxes of the Second Assembly District to keep them “intact in every respect” for delivery to the Board of Elections. Heafy had read about the litigation in the Herald Statesman before receiving the official notice, so he went to the Tuckahoe Road building where the ballot boxes were stored. He checked every box to determine they all were satisfactory and then relocked the storeroom.
Sunday, September 6th
September 6, 1952: One of the six friars ordained priests into the Capuchin priesthood at the Monastery Church of the Sacred Heart was Reverend Randolph Nowak of Edwards Place, the first Sacred Heart School graduate to be ordained at the Church!
Also ordained was former Japanese soldier Reverend Peter Baptist Ishigami, born Tadamaro Ishigami. He was the first Capuchin priest who was a Ryukyu Islands native; his parents were the first Islanders who converted from Shintoism to Catholicism. After returning home after the war, Ishigami assisted the Capuchin missionaries; working with them led him to decide to enter the order.
After completing his studies here, Father Ishigami returned home to the Ryukyus to do missionary work among his people.
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 call 914-961-8940, visit their website www.yonkershistoricalsociety.org, or email info@yonkershistoricalsociety.org.