By Mary Hoar, President Untermyer Performing Arts Council, President Emerita, Yonkers Historical Society and recipient 2004 Key to History
Monday, June 29th
June 29, 1908: Homes in the Prospect Street area were badly shaken by a series of early morning fireworks explosions in a Riverdale Avenue store. Damage was estimated to be more than $3,000.
June 29, 1923: After witnessing the “tapping of the old Croton Aqueduct,” Water Bureau Superintendent Harry Foley announced all danger of a “water famine” had been removed. The tapping would send 2,000,000 gallons of water into the Saw Mill River each day.
June 29, 1939: Reverend William Nixon, pastor of Holy Eucharist Church, announced their school would not open in the Fall. Opened in 1909, the school operated in a two-story frame building on Linden Street; close to three hundred students attended the school.
Tuesday, June 30th
June 30, 1874: Defendant August Lachman, after a long argument during a Yonkers City Court trial before County Judge Gifford, attempted to assassinate opposing attorney James Sanders just as the court was adjourning! The defendant suddenly jumped to his feet, and fired on Sanders, hitting him in the shoulder. Lachman again fired, hitting the attorney in the left side. He then calmly handed his revolver to the judge. Sanders’ injuries, although very serious were not fatal and he recuperated at home.
June 30, 1919: After baker Solomon Weber’s wagon fell into a street washout on Oliver Avenue, Officer William Kruppenbacher not only barricaded the hole, he filled it with bread, rolls and boxes from the wagon!
Wednesday, July 1st
July 1, 1944: Riverdale Avenue resident and NY Central Railroad employee, Private First Class Thomas Ryan was wounded in action in France. Ryan sent a letter to his sister Catherine announcing he “met with a little accident.” Then a telegram from the War Department arrived a few days later, informing Catherine her brother had a serious chest injury. Ryan’s next letter told his sister he was “feeling fine,” and was “up and about” at the base Hospital in England; Catherine’s next letter from the War Department assured her his progress was normal. Ryan’s Purple Heart was sent to his sister.
July 1, 1944: The Yonkers War Finance Committee was given an unusual assignment—finding two bond winners! John Dran, President of the Yonkers Retail Merchants Association and owner of a Palmer Road grocery store, donated two war bonds as prizes, with winners to be selected at a rally. Problem was he had no way to locate the lucky customers! Dran asked the War Finance Committee to locate the two lucky clients. Hish
Thursday, July 2nd
July 2, 1937: Mike Quill, head of the Transport Workers Union, CIO, successfully lead the effort to have a closed shop agreement signed by the Third Avenue Railway System.
July 2, 1938: Leon LaFleur, Director of Guidance for Yonkers Public Schools, asked to be returned to his previous position as Principal of Hawthorne JHS; he stated he asked for the release because of the total “lack of cooperation from the Superintendent,” Lamont Hodge.
July 2, 1942: Empire City Racetrack Association, to cooperate with conservation of tires and gas usage, stopped their free bus service from area train and subways stations to the track.
Friday, July 3rd
July 3, 1911: The Manor Hall officially passed into custody of the American Scenic and Historic Society. During the first half of 1911, a few officials and departments still operated out of the Manor Hall, including the Board of Contract and Supply, the Comptroller, the City Treasurer and the Assessors.
July 3, 1945: Horace McMahon, known for playing policemen, gangsters, and fighters on the silver screen, visited Liggett’s Drug Store in the Square. He thrilled Joan Hitchcock by asking for a quart and a pint of vanilla ice cream. He had returned to Yonkers to visit friends, as Yonkers is where he got his start in the old Warburton Theater. He performed in more than 40 Broadway productions and more than 150 movies, radio and television shows. One time President of the Catholic Actors Guild, he was an active member of the Knights of Columbus, and hosted an annual show for the La Rabida Council of Yonkers, in honor of the 300 members of the council serving in the armed forces during WWII.
Saturday, July 4th
July 4, 1840: Citizens of Yonkers presented Revolutionary War veteran Captain Joel Cook with a gold medal celebrating his War patriotic services. He was the guest of honor at the Fourth of July banquet; Hon. W. W. Scrugan, afterward a NY Supreme Court judge, acting on behalf of the citizens, presented the medal with this inscription:
“Presented to Capt. Joel Cook, by the citizens of Yonkers, in honor of his patriotic service in defense of liberty at the Battles of Danbury, White Plains, Trenton, Stony Point, Springfield and Tippecanoe.”
July 4, 1911: Electric lights illuminated our new City Hall at Washington Park for the first time.
July 4, 1939: Forty-two people were injured by illegal fireworks and explosives, setting the record for the highest number of Fourth of July injuries in Yonkers. It was estimated several tons of the forbidden materials had been smuggled into Yonkers and given to children by “doting parents or overzealous storekeepers.”
Sunday, July 5th
July 5, 1912: Police, pursing the new campaign to stamp out nuisances, arrested two nude swimmers in the Bronx River by Mile Square Road.
July 5, 1923: After Alexander Smith and Sons Carpet Company won the contract to make carpets for the decks of the new liner Leviathan; the company ran full speed for long hours to ensure the carpets were finished for the ship’s trial run.
July 5, 1931: The Yonkers Common Council authorized paid leaves of absences for all war veterans while they attended state or national conventions. Alderman William Slater objected, asking, “Why don’t we include all men married 25 years? They’re veterans, too!”
For more information on the Yonkers Historical Society, Sherwood House and our upcoming events, visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/YonkersHistoricalSociety. We also are on LinkedIn and Twitter @YonkersHistoric. For information on membership in the Yonkers Historical Society, please call 914-961-8940 or email yhsociety@aol.com.
