By Mary Hoar, President Emerita, Yonkers Historical Society, recipient of the 2004 Key to History and President Untermyer Performing Arts Council
Monday, December 27th
December 27, 1941: The family of Sergeant Joseph Bruce of Livingston Avenue, radio operator of the first plane shot down in the December 7th Japanese attack, received a letter to let them know not only had he recovered from his wounds, he was back on combat duty to ”catch up with the dogs” that attacked Pearl Harbor. Bruce, in a fleet of Flying Fortresses flying from California the evening before the attack, was admiring the view as they neared the islands when eight Japanese planes attacked, forcing them to go down in flames. As they ran for cover, machine gun fire sprayed the men, killing the flight surgeon and wounding several others
December 27, 1946: Mayor Frank and Yonkers received a birthday card from Janet Yonkers of Freeport, Long Island, celebrating the 300th anniversary of our City of Gracious Living!
Tuesday, December 28th
December 28, 1783: Israel Honeywell, William Hadley and Thomas Sherwood supervised the town meeting at which Town officers were elected. The meeting for Yonkers in the Manor of Philipsborough was held at the home of David Hunt to provide temporary government until the enemy abandoned or was dispossessed of the region. Israel Honeywell, Esq., was elected Supervisor; David Hunt, Clerk; Thomas Sherwood, Constable and Collector; Israel Honeywell, Jr., Esq., Security; and William Betts and Jacov Vermilyear were chosen as Assessors.
December 28, 1916: Judge Beall refused applications from all strikers and employees of the Yonkers Railroad Company to have revolvers. He was afraid Yonkers turn into a “veritable armed camp” if so many people were allowed to carry guns.
Wednesday, December 29th
December 29, 1902: Yonkers resident Gus Williams of Waring Place, well known German comedian and vaudeville star, sent out New Year’s cards with the message, “Father Time Ushering in the New Year and Plenty of Coal.” A Civil War veteran, his first appearance was during the Union Army’s occupation of Huntsville, Alabama; he appeared as Carney in the “The Pirate Legacy: The Wrecker’s Fate.” After the war, he joined Tony Pastor’s vaudeville show and became nationally known. His name at birth was Gustave Leweck, Jr.
December 29, 1938: Academy Award nominated actor Jon Voight was born in Yonkers. Besides starring in several successful movies, Voight may best be known as Angelina Jolie’s father.
December 29, 1942: The United States Army’s Quartermaster Depot ordered a million dollars worth of blankets from Alexander Smith & Sons Carpet Company. Made of 100% wool purchased from our allies, the average price of each blanket was $6.87.
Thursday, December 30th:
December 30, 1914: Park Hill resident Irwin S. Cobb began a national tour speaking on the war in Europe. He was to illustrate the tour with motion pictures and stereopticon views he made while visiting Germany and Belgium.
December 30, 1938: Otis Elevator Company received a $552,950 contract to build 133 elevators for New York City’s Red Hook and Queensbridge housing developments, the first use of elevators on a large scale in low-cost housing projects in the New York metropolitan area. Housing officials believed building six-story buildings with elevators were more economical than building the four-story walkups on a larger area. The elevators were to stop only at the first, third and fifth floors, keeping costs down to meet limits set by the US Housing Authority.
December 30, 1943: Staff Sergeant John Quinlan, tail gunner on the famous Flying Fortress Memphis Belle, made his mother a very happy woman… he arrived at his Truman Avenue home on a long furlough! The Memphis Belle was the first bomber to complete 25 air missions without a casualty.
Friday, December 31st
December 31, 1943: Confined with pneumonia, Mayor-elect Curtiss Frank, took the oath of office in his Rockledge Road home from City Clerk Francis J. Heafy to prevent a lapse between the expiration of Mayor Barnes’ term and the beginning of the new Common Council, elected by Proportional Representation.
December 31, 1946: In a private meeting, Public Safety Commissioner O’Hara “urged” Police Chief William Kruppenbacher to retire. O’Hara, dissatisfied with the way the Police Department was functioning, told the Chief it “would be good for the morale of the entire department. Earlier, Deputy Public Safety Commissioner Francis Duffy scolded Kruppenbacher because gambling operations in Copcutt Lane not only resulted in “nonarrests,” police records allegedly were altered.
Saturday, January 1st
January 1, 1941: FCC assigned Edwin Armstrong’s FM frequencies 40 FM channels and authorized commercial service.
January 1, 1947: The New Year’s rang in with gunshots at an Elm Street tavern. Because his former girlfriend would not be his New Year’s date, a war veteran fired his gun twice. Frank Keegan tried to shoot Betty Thomas after she refused to drop her new boyfriend, but missed and hit an innocent female bystander. William Peace of Greenvale Avenue managed to wrestle the gun away as Keegan tried to shoot himself; the weapon, a German pistol Keegan brought back from the war, was turned to over to Patrolman Ernest Nizicco, walking his beat near the pub and rushed to the scene when he heard the shots.
Sunday, January 2nd
January 2, 1946: At 10:15 am, the new majority on the Common Council fired City Manager Morris Rosenwasser. Norman Henderson was named Acting City Manager; a few minutes later, he made seven appointments, including appointing former City Manager Robert Montgomery, removed by the Democrats a year earlier, as City Comptroller at 10:45 am. After a very short recess, the Common Council returned just after 11:00 am and appointed Mr. Montgomery Acting City Manager. Montgomery officially took over his office as city executive at 11:15. Within one hour, Yonkers had three City Managers! The lame-duck Democratic majority elected Rosssenwasser City Manager 2:08 pm two days earlier on December 31st.
January 2, 1950: Curb collection of refuse began in Yonkers. People lined up their ash and garbage cans to be picked up by one of thirty-seven city trucks; each truck had a crew of four
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.
