History of Yonkers, New York, USA

Elisha Graves Otis opened a small factory on the banks of the Hudson River in Yonkers, New York, on September 20, 1853, to make elevators, fully equipped with his newly invented automatic safety device. Having received an order for two freight elevators with the new device, Otis abandoned his plans to join the California Gold Rush. But after six months, he hadn't received a second order. Otis staged a public demonstration. He climbed on top of his elevator in New York's Crystal Palace exhibition, and while hoisted to the ceiling, ordered the rope cut. Seeing how his safety brake kept him from falling, people realized the importance of his invention. Though in 1856, Otis's sales totaled just 27 elevators, his performance launched the passenger elevator industry. The world's first safety elevator for passengers, installed in 1857 in a New York store, rose at a speed of 40 feet per minute.

Yonkebs, a thriving post-village in Yon- ker's township, Westchester county, New York, on the E. bank of Hudson river, and on the Hudson river railroad, 17 miles N. by E. from New York. It contains churches of 4 or 6 denominations, several seminaries, a good hotel, and numerous stores and factories. It has several landings for steamboats and vessels sailing on the river. Many merchants and others engaged in New York have fine country seats in the village and vicinity. Population in 1853, estimated at 4000. Population of the township in 1850, 4160.

1888-11-14 - St Andrews Golf Club, Yonkers NY, opens with just 6 holes
1889-03-30 - John T Reid opens 1st US golf course (Yonkers, NY)

to cave in on the workmen, six of whom lost their lives.

Yonkers, yönk'erz, a city of Westchester co., N.Y., on the Hudson River, opposite the Palisades, and on the Hudson River Railroad and the New York & Northern Rail road, 15 miles N. by E. of the Grand Central Depot in New York. It contains 16 churches, 11 schools, a superior hotel, 2 national banks, 2 savings-banks, numerous handsome villas, 5 newspaper offices, an academy, 2 machine-shops, 3 silk-factories, 3 hat-factories, and manufactures of carpets, mowing-machines, and elevators. In 1890, according to the census, Yonkers had engaged in its various industries capital to the amount of $11,503,074, and the product was $23,024,028. Many merchants of New York City reside here. Pop. in 1880, 18,892; in 1890, 32,088.

NINE-YEAR-OLD BOY WITH FATHER AND FRIENDS ON FISHING TRIP - MOTHER NEARLY CRAZED.

Special to the New York Times.
Yonkers, Oct. 22 - A boat in which were four men and a boy suddenly sank in midstream in the Hudson River off Fernbrook Street this morning, and all five occupants were drowned. The accident was witnessed by persons on the Yonkers shore, but before a boat could reach the spot the men had gone down.

Three of the victims were members of one family, the husband, son, and brother of a woman who is left a widow. HENRY NELSON, HENRY, JR., 9 years old, and his brother-in-law, CARL THOMSON, all of 113 1/ 2 Cliniton Place, with BENJAMIN BENSON of 114 Herriott Street and P. SIMPSON of 54 Herriott Street, had set out for a day's fishing on the river.

The men were all members of the Hudson Boat Club and owned a large rowboat which had been fitted up with a sail. The craft was heavily ballasted with old iron and was unsafe.

The party left the boathouse, at the foot of...

Yonkers, a city of Westchester co., N.Y., on the Hudson River and on the New York Central and Hudson River R., 15 miles N. by E. of the initial station in New York. It Is beautifully located, its verdant heights commanding charming views of the river and of the cliffs called the Palisades on the opposite shore. The venerable Phillipse Manor House serves as the city-hall. Yonkers is the seat of various charitable and benevolent institutions (including a Hebrew Home for the Aged and Infirm and the Leake and Watts Orphan House) and has several academic and collegiate institutes. Its varied and important industries are represented by sugar-refineries, carpet- mills, foundries and machine-shops, sash- and door-factories, and manufactories of hats, malted liquors, chemicals, etc. Steamboats ply regularly between this city and New York, many of whose merchants reside here. Pop. in 1880, 18,892; in 1890, 32,088; in 1900, 47,931; in 1905, upward of 60,000.