Postcard of the National Sugar Refinery in Yonkers, still in operation
By Mary Hoar, City of Yonkers Historian, President Emeritus Yonkers Historical Society, recipient of the 2004 Key to History, Yonkers Landmarks Preservation Board Member, Revolutionary Yonkers 250 Chair and President Untermyer Performing Arts Council
Monday, May 5th
May 5, 1928: Former Mayor William Wallin, attorney for Smith Carpet Company, warned Yonkers it was “rapidly taxing the Carpet Company out of Yonkers… if it were not for family pride, a large portion of the plant would be immediately moved to the South.”
May 5, 1943: The Yonkers Republican Party launched its drive to repeal Proportional Representation, the first party attack on PR! Although Democratics had criticized it, they did not produce a plan to change it. Republicans advocated the Wallin Plan, electing city-wide and district-based representatives.
Only the City Manager Party still supported Proportional Representation.
Tuesday, May 6th
May 6, 1944: Phelps Dodge announced it was quickly converting the former National Sugar Refinery, foot of Main Street, into Yonkers’ fourth Habirshaw Cable and Wire subsidiary. Besides the Point Street works, they had the McLean Avenue unit and the bare wire plant on Saw Mill River Road.
May 6, 1953: Bookman Associates of NY released “Monarchism In The Weimar Republic,” written by Locust Hill Avenue’s Walther Kaufmann. The first comprehensive study of the rise and decline of the Weimar Republic, it discussed parallels between the Republic and the resurrection of clandestine organizations in Western Germany. Born in Germany, Kaufmann, an intelligence officer in the Army Reserve, taught German at Roosevelt High School.
Wednesday, May 7th
May 7, 1935: “Moon Over Manhattan” opened at Proctor’s, the dramatic debut of two Gorton seniors, Hayward Street’s Loretta Brandon, and Eleanor Deemer, Lefferts Road. Both girls were circumspect about pursuing acting careers after graduation.
May 7, 1943: Aranya Smart, Women’s Chair of the Yonkers War Saving Staff, announced Yonkers children surpassed the goal of “buying” one fleet of Army jeeps… they sold enough bonds to “purchase” six fleets!
The schools raised $560,200, enough to finance more than 600 jeeps. St. Casimir’s led the schools with bond purchases of $45,000, School 21 was second with sales of more than $36,000. The Halsted School community purchased bonds worth $33,000 and Yonkers High families bought a total of $31,000. Five other school communities purchased bonds worth more than $20,000.
Thursday, May 8th
May 8, 1947: DeWitt Mackenzie of Normandy Road, syndicated columnist and dean of the AP foreign correspondents, authored “The Associated Press News Annual 1946,” published by Rinehart and Company. A running account of the events of the world, the book featured articles and pictures submitted by AP correspondents. MacKenzie wrote a foreign affairs column published around the world.
May 8, 1969: Yonkers native and Roosevelt HS graduate Yoichi Okamoto received the Syracuse University School of Journalism’s Newhouse Citation for distinguished photography! Okamoto, the first Presidential Chief Personal Photographer, served President Lyndon Johnson.
Begun in 1961, the award only was presented to outstanding photographers such as Gordon Parks and Margaret Bourke-White.
Friday, May 9th
May 9, 1919: Yonkers HS Graduate Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Stilwell was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for his “exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service,” for his service during the St. Mirfhiel offensive and the Woevre operations.
May 9, 1922: Yonkers negotiated buying part of St. John’s Episcopal Church property to widen Hudson Street and Riverdale Avenue to relieve traffic in Getty Square. If the deal was successful, the Church parsonage and Home for the Aged would be demolished. However, since Cochran family members had given property to the church, their wills and deeds were being reviewed to ensure there were no restrictions preventing the sale.
Saturday, May 10th
May 10, 1954: City Manager Charles Curran asked the Thruway Authority to reimburse Yonkers for the money it had to spend buying water from New York City, since Thruway construction was dirtying Yonkers’ chief source for water, the Saw Mill River. So much dirty construction water was being dumped into the river, it forced the closing of the Tube Water filtration beds.
Curran stated, “I cannot impress upon you too much the severity of the health hazard… an immediate and positive solution (must) be found for this problem… causing pollution and increased turbidity in the Saw Mill River.”
At the conference between the contractor, Thruway Authority and local officials, Curran was told “… there was no real solution… the condition would continue for a period of two to three years.” Curran suggested immediate action and a definitive written agreement remediating the situation. In the meantime, the NYC Board of Water Supply asked permission to take more water from the Delaware River.
Sunday, May 11th
May 11, 1894: Future US Ambassador Ellsworth Bunker was born in Yonkers. Bunker became President of the National Sugar Refining Company founded by his father and served as President of the American Red Cross for three years.
After retirement, he served as Ambassador to Argentina, Italy, India, Nepal, and South Viet Nam, advising presidents Truman, Eisenhower and Johnson.
May 11, 1931: The directors of the Hollywood Inn voted to dissolve its corporation; the jump in Yonkers taxes from $1600 to $8000 was a major factor in the financial crisis the center faced.
Started in 1896, the Inn had been one of the leading facilities for young men, and responsible for the success of many of Yonkers sports stars.
May 11, 1954: C. H. Lang of the Albany office of the State Thruway Authority sent a letter assuring City Manager Curran it was investigating his complaint and would cooperate to alleviate the condition. BUT. There was no way to stop mud and clay from washing into the river; it would continue throughout construction. Even worse, Curran was warned more damage would be done by plans to move part of the river 50 feet west into a new channel being built from Tarrytown to Tuckahoe Road.
Questions or comments on this column? Email [email protected]. 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 [email protected]
