By Mary Hoar, President Emerita Yonkers Historical Society and President Untermyer Performing Arts Council
Monday, May 16th
May 16, 1937: Just as Chief John Reilly was about to address members of the YFD’s Holy Name Society for the first time as the head of the department at their annual communion breakfast, he was called to a fire at the Habirshaw Wire and Cable Company plant! Firefighter John Dempsey, President of the society, also rushed out to the fire; he was Reilly’s chauffer. Neither returned to the breakfast held at Gene’s Restaurant at 33 South Broadway.
May 16, 1940: James Moseley, Chairman of the Committee of 100, accepted the Exchange Club Achievement Trophy for Yonkers Man Outstanding Achievement for 1939, stating not only was it a “symbol of civic consciousness,” but also recognized the Committee’s efforts to create “an awakened Yonkers citizenry.”
May 16, 1940: George Chisholm, Superintendent of Greystone, the estate of the late Samuel Untermyer, introduced the “topato,” a hybrid of the tomato and potato. He claimed the creation was non-fattening and combined the best parts of both.
Tuesday, May 17th
May 17, 1944: Wendell Wilkie ’s book “One World” quickly was becoming a best seller in Yonkers! Why? Leo Cooper, President of White Swan Uniforms, was so inspired by the book he wanted everyone to have a copy. He purchased the book by the dozens, and gave it to anyone he met who had not read it. By the way, at the time White Swan Uniforms was the world’s largest manufacturer of nurses’ uniforms.
May 17, 1944: A member of the Union of Orthodox Rabbis of the United States and Canada delegation, Rabbi Alexander Rosenberg of Congregation Ohab Zedek met with American and British officials to discuss the possibility of rescuing Jewish people from Europe. Officials at the meeting were Under Secretary of State Edward Stettinius; Secretary to the President David Niles; Director of the War Refugee Board John Pehle; and British Consul Sir Ronald Campbell. Upon returning to Yonkers, Rosenberg reported the delegation received “great encouragement.”
Wednesday, May 18th
May 18, 1945: The Benjamin Franklin Junior High School Flag Day ceremony featured the display of the school’s service flag. One blue star represented the 1,586 former students serving in the military, and 42 gold stars represented the Franklin students who had died in the service.
May 18, 1960: Joannah Felicity Touchet Clapton, the heiress who inherited a fortune from the woman who brought her to the US during the Nazi bombings of London, officially returned to classes at Sarah Lawrence College. Although not attending classes, Clapton kept up with her work. To avoid publicity, she was able to campus before graduation as the college agreed to mail her degree.
Thursday, May 19th
May 19, 1923: The Common Council approved the plans drawn by Eleventh Ward’s O. J. Gette for the new bathhouse on Linden and Poplar Streets.
May 19, 1932: Although gotten out of bed by the noise, Patrolman John Glus chased after two men who stole his car, firing his revolver at the fleeing car. Although barefoot and wearing his pajamas, he managed to arrest both perpetrators and retrieve the car!
May 19, 1955: Yonkers Raceway filed plans to build a new clubhouse to cost more than $1.5 million, plans that were immediately rejected! Yonkers Building Superintendent John Balint stated it was turned down because the four-story building with a penthouse was an “extension of a non-conforming use.” He had no choice as the track was in a two-family residential zone and extensions were not permitted.
Friday, May 20th
May 20, 1931: The newly organized Yonkers Funeral Directors’ Association went on record as being in favor of a city morgue. At that time, police took bodies to various funeral homes on the word on the County Medical Examiner.
May 20, 2015: After reports of a black bear sitting in a Yonkers tree at Desmond and Dewitt Avenues for close to 17 hours, NYS officials shot it with a tranquiller dart. It fell onto a pile of cushioned pads the officials had placed below the tree. The bear, estimated to be about 200 pounds, was brought to New Paltz to be checked and then released in Putnam County.
Saturday, May 21st
May 21, 1934: Chamber of Commerce James Garrity and Chamber Exposition Company President William Katz officially opened the “Own Your Own Home Exposition” at the State Armory. Thousands of people were expected to visit the dozens of booths erected by the exhibitors; each booth had a 24-lamp chandelier, with 100-watt bulbs. It would last a week, with the Model Home at St. John Avenue and Midland Terrace, a French Norman six room house, awarded on the last night. Many of the products were made in Yonkers.
May 21, 1952: Yonkers own Frederick Hill was elected President of the State Association of School Business Officials at the organization’s annual convention; he succeeded William Dixon of Syracuse.
Sunday, May 22nd
May 22, 1922: Supreme Court Justice Joseph Morschauser announced an appraisal commission had valued the John Brennan property on North Broadway at $117,300. The property, 400 feet north of Ashburton Avenue, was to be used to build a high school. Yonkers built the first Longfellow Junior High School here; it later was converted to Commerce High School. Today the facility is Palisades Prep, soon to be Barack Obama High School.
May 22, 1940: The Municipal Housing Authority named a street in the Mulford Gardens area Loehr Place in honor of former Mayor Joseph F. Loehr, mayor of Yonkers from 1932 to 1939.
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.
