By Mary Hoar, President Emerita, Yonkers Historical Society, recipient of the 2004 Key to History, President Untermyer Performing Arts Council
Monday, March 15th
March 15, 1930: Anita Stewart, heroine of the silent screen, attempting to make a comeback through a different medium, vaudeville, appeared at Loew’s. At the Yonkers theater for four days, she made her debut at Loew’s as a “speaking stage actress” in a “musical diversion” created especially for her by Edgar Allen Woolf.
March 15, 1944: Marine Sergeant Hugh Lynch of Livingston Avenue, someplace in the Pacific Ocean, reported on activities on a newly captured South Sea Island. After being treated to a native feast, the Marines proceeded to teach a group of children the Marine Corp Hymn. The Chief of the island overheard the children, and asked the Marines if they would like to sample the local entertainment. The men were brought to the village, where the natives were sitting in a circle and singing. After more than an hour of wonderful singing, the Marines were asked to sing. What did they sing? “Old MacDonald Had A Farm” and “You Are My Sunshine,” to the delight of the island residents.
Tuesday, March 16th
March 16, 1930: Members of the Westchester County Historical Society chose a 10-ton boulder, found when building a road near Central Avenue, to mark the site of the old Thomas Valentine homestead on Valentine’s Hill. The farm was used as a camp several times by General George Washington.
March 16, 1946: Army Nurse Corps Captain Rose Benedetti of Hiscock Place sent a letter to Yonkers Mayor Curtiss Frank. An Assistant Superintendent of the Army Hospital in Las Vegas, New Mexico, she worked thirteen years at Yonkers’ City Hospital for Communicable Diseases before entering the service. Although not in Yonkers, she continued to read Yonkers papers; she wrote. “I want to congratulate you, Mayor Frank, on all your successes and achievements that you have made in our 300-year-old lovely city… knowing we have a good Mayor, whose interests are for the people, makes our loads lighter while we are away from home.”
Wednesday, March 17th
March 17, 1910: Yonkers own Samuel Untermyer objected to a comment made by opposing counsel in a case being heard in the NYS Supreme Court. When he rose to protest, Justice Newburger, who apparently agreed with our man’s point of view, said, “Never mind, you needn’t speak, Mr. Rosenthal.” Untermyer sat down.
When Untermyer rose a second time to object, the Justice stated, “That’s all right. I understand your point, Mr. Rosenthal.” Other lawyers in the room snickered as Untermyer flushed. When the opposing lawyer concluded, Untermyer again rose and cleared his throat to speak. The good justice stated, “There’s no need of your making an argument, Mr. Rosenthal. I shall deny this motion.” The New York Times reported Untermyer did not look entirely pleased with his victory.
March 17, 1931: William Hetherington, president of the Alexander Smith and Sons Carpet Company, announced the firm would “abandon its lower mill” at Palisade Avenue and Elm Street to concentrate its activities in the upper of Moquette Mills.
Thursday, March 18th
March 18, 1923: Vowing to “fill the jails with speeders rather than have one more child injured,” City Judge Charles Boote joined the traffic violations drive by jailing an eighteen-year-old caught speeding 35-miles an hour on North Broadway. Arresting officer was Patrolman Alex Reid.
March 18, 1930: Churches of every denomination throughout Yonkers held special services to pray for all victims of Russian religious persecution, and to end all atheistic activities in that country.
March 18, 1944: Word came from an Eighth Army Air Force bomber station in England Technical Sergeant F. J. Capobianco of Green Place had received an Oak Leaf Cluster to his Air Medal for “meritorious achieve on ten combat missions over enemy Europe. Radio operator Capobianco’s citation read, “The age, coolness and skill displayed by this enlisted man on these occasions reflects great credit himself and the armed forces of the United States.” He was awarded the prestigious air medal two months earlier.
Friday, March 19th
March 19, 1910: The New York Central Railroad Company purchased land at the foot of Glenwood Avenue; the company planned to move the station at Point Street to this new location at the bottom of Glenwood.
March 19, 1925: City Judge Charles Boote declared the new bill giving Acting Judge David Gorfinkel and himself the power to padlock any place in Yonkers selling liquor was ineffective.
March 19, 1925: In his effort to consolidate departments in state government, Governor Alfred E. Smith placed Manor Hall under the jurisdiction of the new State Parks Council.
Saturday, March 20th
March 20, 1943: Mrs. Burke’s Third Grade class at School 24 won first prize—one dollar—for having the most mothers at the school’s February PTA meeting. As soon as they received the money, the discussion on how to spend it was rather short. It went into an envelope with a letter addressed to Justin McCarthy, Yonkers Red Cross Chapter Chairman, with the note, “We hope this small donation will help to carry on your work… We want to help win the war.” McCarthy was quite touched, and said “Such graciousness in giving could well be an example to all of us.”
March 20, 1945: Councilman Edith Welty, lobbying for permanent appointment of two Yonkers Policewomen, publicly praised the work of Helen O’Lear and Helen Murphy, the first policewomen in the history of Yonkers. Appointed during the war emergency, the women were able, according to Welty, to “see things that some patrolmen look at, but never see!”
Sunday March 21st
March 21, 1931: Two cedar trees from Wakefield Virginia, birthplace of George Washington, were planted on the lawn in front of the Manor hall in observance of the Bicentennial of Washington’s birth
March 21, 1933: After taking a tour of Germany, Arthur Lawrence of Yonkers, the President of the Westchester County Park Commission, recommended establishing open air beer gardens at the county’s parks, golf courses and along Westchester parkways. Lawrence felt German beer gardens were a “cultural center” for hundreds of people.
For more information on the Yonkers Historical Society, Sherwood House and our upcoming events, please visit our website www.yonkershistoricalsociety.org, call 914-961-8940 or email yhsociety@aol.com.
