By Mary Hoar, President Emerita Yonkers Historical Society, recipient of the 2004 Key to History and President Untermyer Performing Arts Council
Monday, May 9th
May 9, 1940: In an effort to rid Yonkers of the unlicensed peddlers causing problems in the Yonkers, the Common Council passed an ordinance increasing license fees on peddlers; it also required them not remain on a block longer than ten minutes.
May 9, 1946: Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Mautner of Crestwood ran away from home and moved to a NY hotel! The couple created a beautiful and unusual terraced hillside garden on the side of their Brookdale Drive home, one that attracted a lot of attention. Such a constant line of cars and pedestrians streamed by their home, a police detail was assigned to monitor the traffic, and temporarily turned Brookdale into a one-way street to eliminate traffic issues.
Tuesday, May 10th
May 10, 1937: Prescott Street’s Alexander McKechnie won the Westchester Poetry Society’s first prize for his poem “A Highland Maid.” McKechnie was a color chemist for Alexander Smith & Sons Carpet Company, former President of the Manhattan Literary Society, and a member of the Westchester Poetry Club, publishing for many years under the penname “A. McLane.” The Scotland native was devoted to his Scottish heritage, and served as president of the Yonkers Kilty Band, past Chief of Clan MacGregor 106, and a member of Thistle Lodge. He later was named Honorary President and Life Member of Kilty.
May 10, 1946: City Manager Montgomery and Mayor Frank asked Yonkers residents join a “voluntary brownout,” and make cuts in our use of gas and electricity. Because of the dwindling coal reserves, they feared our “health and safety would be jeopardized.” They asked operators of electric signs, billboards, theaters and stores to start immediately. Postmaster Cronin reminded postal customers mailed packages could not weight more than 11 pounds, a restriction instituted because train service was reduced because of the coal shortage.
Wednesday, May 11th
May 11, 1946: Local engineer Louis Hoff of Nepperhan Avenue appealed to City Manager Montgomery, Mayor Frank and Councilman Welty to clean up Nepperhan Creek! Hoff reported some of the items he saw in the river between the Ann Street bridge and Elm Street were a car body, hot water boilers, car seats, chairs, stoves and oil cans. He stressed the importance of cleaning the creek to prevent damage to the aqueduct under city buildings, suggested trash cans be placed on the Ann Street bridge to suggest people to stop dumping into the Creek, and requested Yonkers plant willow, maple and birch trees along the creek to enhance its scenery. Hoff stressed the historical value of the Creek; for that reason, it “should be landscaped to improve the aspects of this section of the city.”
May 11, 1947: Local boaters rescued two Yonkers flyers after their seaplane overturned and capsized while landing in the Hudson 300 feet south of the Ludlow Dock. Marinus Koch of Park Avenue Extension and George McIntosh of Van Cortlandt Park Avenue, owners of the plane, held onto it until rescued by John Mirsky and Donald Davidson, from Mirsky Launch Service. After bringing the men to safety, their rescuers tied a line on the plane and tried to tow it to the Westchester Service Company Dock nearby; it filled with water about 40 feet away and sank in 40 feet of water.
Thursday, May 12th
May 12, 1918: Dr. Paul- Felix Armand-Delille, a major in the French Army and a member of the French Academy of Medecine, visited the Yonkers unit of the Speedwell Society; he was studying methods of preventing the spread of infection among children.
May 12, 1956: Robert Jennings of Roosevelt HS took fourth place in the National Science Fair in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma! What project won first prize? An experiment called “Antibiotic from an earthworm,” presented by Susan Hopkins from Iowa.
Friday, May 13th:
May 13, 1925: Ten Yonkers golfers qualified for the National Open Golf Tournament: George McLean from Grassy Sprain Golf Club: John Fedor, Mike Ford and Tommy Harmon from Hudson River Country Club; unattached competitors were Walter Baker, Jimmy Farrell, Johnny Farrell, William Lupine, Paul Nevins, and John Soltis. These golfers would compete against 259 other players. None of our players won.
May 13, 1947: City Manager Francis Heafy held an auction at the old Yonkers High School for desks, chairs, bookcases, books and anything movable still in the school; the building was being converted into 64 Veterans’ apartments. Joseph Garan of Saw Mill River Road won with a high bid of $200.
Saturday, May 14th
May 14, 1928: Acting on a tip from neighbors on Hart Avenue, Yonkers Police forced their way into a home at 47 Hart Avenue and found a 100-gallon still filled with “alleged alcohol.” Captain James Cashin, Patrolmen Austin Ball and Frank Kesick arrested Salveri Bunora and seized the still to turn over to the Federal Prohibition Department. Bunora was released on $1000 bail.
May 14, 1936: Reverend Wilbur Caswell, Rector of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, expressed the hope in a year, the Episcopal diocese of New York would allow women to serve as vestrymen.
Sunday, May 15th
May 15, 1926: Public Works Commissioner Goldsmith announce the would ask the Common Council to appropriate $5000 to transform the old Lake Avenue Reservoir into a public swimming pool; he planned to use the pumping station for dressing rooms. The plan had the approval of Mayor Wallin and Alderman Edward Murray.
May 15, 1949: Yonkers native Reverend Vincent Hetherington, OFM Cap., served at the 11 am mass at St. Anthony’s Church on Willow Street. Hetherington, an Army chaplain, spoke about his experiences serving overseas with our GIs. He left for Yokohama the following month.
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.
