By Mary Hoar, President Emerita, Yonkers Historical Society, recipient of the 2004 Key to History and President Untermyer Performing Arts Council
Monday, October 4th
October 4, 1909: Colonel Matt H. Ellis was Chief of Staff for the Yonkers Hudson-Fulton Parade. Reviewed by Governor and Mrs. Hughes with mayors and presidents of Westchester cities and villages on the reviewing stand, the parade was the “largest and finest procession” in the history of the city. Thirteen thousand people marched and rode in eleven divisions, with the added attraction of a few of the historic floats from the NYC parade, the procession was almost three miles long and took more than two hours to pass the Washington Park reviewing stand. One thousand students from the Yonkers Public Schools wore red, white and blue costumes and were arranged on a stand in front of Yonkers High School to form a living flag. The four-mile parade route went from McLean Avenue and South Broadway, up Broadway, past the reviewing stand in front of the new City Hall, through Getty Square, and continued up North Broadway to Shonnard Place past the Grand Marshall’s reviewing stand at the end of the parade. That evening, young Jennie Mooney, held up by her mother, pressed the button that turned Yonkers into a dazzling blaze of electric glory; thousands of white electric bulbs were strung along the streets and buildings of Yonkers. The NY Herald estimated “upwards of 200,000 strangers” visited Yonkers during the celebration week, pretty much without an incident!
Tuesday, October 5th
October 5, 1909: Yonkers’ Automobile Parade continued the Hudson-Fulton Celebration. Dozens of cars from Yonkers and neighboring communities drove from Lawrence Street and Broadway through Getty Square. Led by Grand Marshall Dr. Clarence Buckmaster and the Yonkers Motorcycle Police, the cars were organized in four divisions. Albert Reeves’ car took first place; his two sons were dressed as Admirals Peary and Cook; Colonel Brown of Dobbs Ferry took first for out-of-town division for decorating his car as a replica of Henry Hudson’s ship the “Halve Maen.” Otis Elevator took first for commercial cars, with young ladies dressed as living pictures.
October 5, 1955: Sixteen-year-old Dan Miller of Sunlight Hill was responsible for Post Street’s Mrs. Armand Nadaski receiving Rosh Hashonah greetings from son Private Kenneth Nadasdi, stationed someplace in Korea! Dan, an amateur radio operator was more than happy to assist, and to return New Year greetings from his mom back to Kenneth.
Wednesday, October 6th
October 6, 1909: Yonkers held a Hudson-Fulton Civic Parade, with one thousand municipal city employees from all departments and elected officials marching behind Grand Marshall Matt Ellis and Mayor Nathan Warren. The parade was followed by a banquet at Philipseburgh Hall, catered by the Park Hill Inn; each guest was given Hudson-Fulton Manor Hall medals and a papier-mache globe with two figures at the North Pole—Cook and Peary– with an American flag.
October 6, 1942: Former Mayor William Walsh was sworn in as Yonkers’ second City Manager; he immediately plunged into reorganizing the government and working on the 1943 budget. He pledged himself to do everything “in his power to meet the expectation” of the community. .
Thursday, October 7th
October 7, 1909: Band concerts were held at St. Mary’s Church, the City Pier and parks around Yonkers to continue Old Home Week and the Hudson-Fulton celebration.
October 7, 1943: J. Howard Falk, Executive Director of the Community and War Chest, vowed he would pay $100 each time anyone saw him smoking his pipe, having a cocktail or eating candy during the duration of the Yonkers Chest campaign. His reason? He listened to the presentation by Private Bernard Murray at the JCC; Murray was badly wounded during the Battle of Sicily. Falk said hearing the speaker made him realize that his small sacrifices were nothing compared to ones made daily by our men in battle.
Friday, October 8th
October 8, 1909: Schools in Yonkers held special historic exercises to celebrate Hudson-Fulton Week.
October 8, 1944: St. John’s Church, Getty Square, celebrated its 250th anniversary with a community evensong service. Keynote speaker was the Most Rev. Henry St. George Tucker, presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church and President of the Federal Council of Churches in America. Also taking part of the service were Rev. Lang, rector of St. Peter’s Westchester in the Bronx and Rev. Weigle, rector of St. Paul’s Church Eastchester in Mount Vernon, the National Shrine of the Bill of Rights. Both churches had been part of the original Parish of Westchester, Eastchester, Yonkers and the Manor of Pelham, organized by the Assembly of New York. Reverend Warham Mather conducted the first service in 1694; the good reverend added Yonkers to his other duties in the very large Parish.
aturday, October 9th
October 9, 1909: Yonkers held a water parade of floats accompanied by Native Americans; this was followed by a festive fireworks display, beautiful decorations and rgw illumination of public buildings, parks, businesses, homes, and main streets, creating a truly festive air to Yonkers Hudson-Fulton Celebration.
October 9, 1934: Police Chief Edward Quirk received a subpoena to testify at a Philadelphia murder trial. Quirk had caught the alleged murdered in a Yonkers hotel.
Sunday, October 10th
October 10, 1899: Noted portraitist and Hudson River artist Bayard H. Tyler moved to 31 Belmont Terrace; he later bought a home in Park Hill on Marshall Road.
October 10, 1943: More than thirty thousand people came to the US Army’s opening of their two-day “Action Overhead” Aerial show at Empire City Racetrack and experienced a simulation of a dreaded air raid attack. US Army Air Corps warplanes flew over the track, dropping flares, missiles and mock bombs on structures especially built for the demonstration. The audience was enthralled with the simulation of an actual air assault, with fires, fury and “bombs” igniting and exploding.
Our Civilian Protection forces came through brilliantly, dealing with the debris and destruction, showing how necessary their squads, wardens, first aiders and auxiliaries were to our safety and survival.
Questions or comments? 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 yhsociety@aol.com.
Saturday, October 9th
October 9, 1909: Yonkers held a water parade of floats accompanied by Native Americans; this was followed by a festive fireworks display, beautiful decorations and rgw illumination of public buildings, parks, businesses, homes, and main streets, creating a truly festive air to Yonkers Hudson-Fulton Celebration.
October 9, 1934: Police Chief Edward Quirk received a subpoena to testify at a Philadelphia murder trial. Quirk had caught the alleged murdered in a Yonkers hotel.
Sunday, October 10th
October 10, 1899: Noted portraitist and Hudson River artist Bayard H. Tyler moved to 31 Belmont Terrace; he later bought a home in Park Hill on Marshall Road.
October 10, 1943: More than thirty thousand people came to the US Army’s opening of their two-day “Action Overhead” Aerial show at Empire City Racetrack and experienced a simulation of a dreaded air raid attack. US Army Air Corps warplanes flew over the track, dropping flares, missiles and mock bombs on structures especially built for the demonstration. The audience was enthralled with the simulation of an actual air assault, with fires, fury and “bombs” igniting and exploding.
Our Civilian Protection forces came through brilliantly, dealing with the debris and destruction, showing how necessary their squads, wardens, first aiders and auxiliaries were to our safety and survival.
Questions or comments? 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 yhsociety@aol.com.
