By Mary Hoar, President Emerita, Yonkers Historical Society, recipient of the 2004 Key to History, Member of the Yonkers Landmarks Preservation Board, and President Untermyer Performing Arts Council
Monday, December 6th
December 6, 1917: After complaints about ashes and trash not being collected, people of Yonkers were told it was the fault of the Commissioner of Public Works John Brady. Shortly after elections the previous month, he dismissed all laborers in his department. Why? He claimed his budget was not sufficient to pay them for the rest of the year.
December 6, 1943: Private First Class Frank Marsh of Dunston Avenue wrote to The Herald Statesman from “somewhere in Alaska.” Marsh filled us in on all the outdoor sports he had “taken advantage of,” fishing, camera-hunting, and boating; he even landed “two ferocious barracudas!” According to PFC Marsh, besides being away from Yonkers, the hardest part was dealing with the harsh weather.
Tuesday, December 7th
December 7, 1905: The main attraction of “Yonkers Amusements” held at the Yonkers Music Hall was James O’Neill’s impersonation of “The Count of Monte Christo,” his claim to fame. O’Neill, by the way, was father of the up and coming young writer, Eugene O’Neill.
December 7, 1930: A nervous person sent in what turned out to be a false alarm; six trucks responded to a fire on the City Dock, as well as Fire Chief James Mulcahey, police officers and an exceptionally large crowd. Four thousand-five hundred feet of rubber hose removed by federal agents, tubing that carried bootleg beer through the sewers of Yonkers, was being destroyed by the G-men! The estimated value of the hose was $25,000.
December 7, 1934: Yonkers author and lecturer Willard Vander Veer, who also happened to be the official photographer on Admiral Richard Byrd’s first expedition, spoke to the Yonkers People’s Society at the Calvary Baptist Church on “Polar Regions.” Vander Veer had won an Oscar for Cinematography in 1930 for the film With Byrd at the South Pole.
Wednesday, December 8th:
December 8, 1945: The War Department announced Colonel Oliver Troster of Franklin Avenue was awarded the Legion of Merit for his services during World War II as Chief of the Movement Branch, Headquarters, Army Services Forces.
December 8, 1955: A poem written by local author Henry Walsh about a little boy’s fear of the dark was set to music and recorded by fellow Yonkers resident Art Carney!
Thursday, December 9th:
December 9, 1930: Mayor John Fogarty, Health Commissioner Dr. Clarence Buckmaster and President of the Yonkers Academy of Medicine Eugene McGillian, wielded shovels at the ground-breaking ceremonies for Yonkers new $425,000 innovative Health Center in Washington Park.
December 9, 1944: The War Department awarded a Bronze Star Medal to Staff Sergeant Harold Bennett of Linden Street for “meritorious service” for his part in the “military operations against an enemy of the United States in France.” Bennett served with the Medical Battalion of First Army in France from the time the US first invaded France on June 6th.
Friday, December 10th:
December 10, 1953: Fifth Ward Councilmember Aloysius Moczydlowski tabled his resolution asking Butch, an ailing hero dog from his ward, be buried in Hollow Memorial Park as requested by the members of the Hollows Athletic Club. Moczydlowski wanted a ruling from the Corporation Council about any potential conflicts with health laws. Not only was Butch the mascot of the club, he had saved a man’s life. John Fusiak had fallen down a stairway on Center Street; although nine families lived nearby, only Butch heard him and responded. Butch ran home, woke owner John Kubilus and insisted John follow him to the badly injured man. Kubbilus immediately called an ambulance while Butch stood guard over the injured man; Fusiak had fractured his leg and was profusely bleeding. Because of his heroism, the Yonkers SPCA, awarded Butch their very first medal as the Outstanding Heroic Animal in 1948.
Born in 1939, Butch was almost blind and had difficulty walking. He passed away the following May and is buried in the Hartsdale Canine Cemetery. The Hollows AC long time mascot, hero and friend no longer would guard their Walnut Street home.
Saturday, December 11th:
December 11, 1929: Based on investigations done by new Yonkers Patrolman Stanley Figura, YPD arrested fourteen shop and restaurant owners in a series of afternoon slot machine raids. An injunction had been obtained preventing police from seizing slot machines unless they had solid evidence the machines were used for gambling. Because Figura was unknown in those circles, he was able to visit the establishments to get needed evidence. All the defendants pleaded not guilty the next day before Judge Charles Boote.
December 11, 1955: Yonkers soon would have its first bank office in a railroad station! The First National Bank announced it would open a branch in the New York Central Railroad’s Yonkers Station west of Larkin Plaza.
Sunday, December 12th
December 12, 1934: Alois Fuchs, President of the newly formed Yonkers Chapter of the American League of Friends of New Germany, issued a strong statement vigorously opposing the boycott of German-manufactured goods Samuel Untermyer declared at the World Non-Sectarian Anti-Nazi Council to Champion Human Rights two weeks earlier. Fuchs claimed it would “harmful to the recovery plan of our President, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and the American people.” According to Fuchs, the Yonkers branch had more than 100 members who would do everything in their power to “further the friendly relations between the old fatherland and the new homeland.”
December 12, 1934: Abraham Cohen got a bill for a telegram he sent to Senator Huey Long! As NYU’s Fourth Estate Club Secretary, Highland Avenue’s Abraham Cohen sent a telegram to the Senator protesting censorship of the press at Louisiana State University. Although Long received it, read it and kept it… he refused to pay for it! Cohen and the Club protested suspension or expulsion of 30 students on the staff of the Reveille (school paper) for their courageous stand upholding freedom of speech and the press. The Club paid the bill.
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.
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