June, 1997 issue
This Day in Hudson Valley History
June 1
1890 - Frank Morgan, who played the title role in the movie "Wizard of Oz,"
was born in New York City. He appeared in supporting parts in many MGM movies.
Mr. Morgan lived, for a time, in Hastings-on-Hudson.
1995 - A plaque on the top of the Croton Point dump announces that the
landfill was completed and the park returned to the people of Westchester.
June 3
1939 - A fire, which broke out with a series of three explosions with
flames shooting into the air to 60 feet, broke out at the Croton Point dump.
The heavy cloud of smoke, combined with the smell of burning garbage, drove
hundreds of people off the point.
June 4
1795 - Brigadier General Harry Storms, who later owned a mansion on
Cortlandt Street in Beekmantown (Sleepy Hollow), was born in New York City. He
escorted the Revolutionary War Hero, Marquis de Lafayette, much of the way
from New York to Boston, during his visit in 1824.
1899 - Theodore Roosevelt, then Governor of New York, rode on horseback
through Croton-on-Hudson on his way to Peekskill.
June 5
1940 - Miss Anne S. Cortlandt, last lineal descendant of Stephanus Van
Cortlandt, passed away at Van Cortlandt Manor House. She was 91. Miss Van
Cortlandt was described as having had an active interest in colonial and
family history and enjoyed motoring through the countryside.
June 6
1853 - The Birdsall House, Peekskill, which had been General Washington's
headquarters several times during the Revolutionary War, was torn down. In
1931 the Friendly Town Association placed a plaque on Main Street, marking the
site of the house.
June 8
1847 - Mr. William R. Grinnell and Miss Charlotte Irving, daughter of
Ebenezer Irving and niece of Washington Irving, were married at Sunnyside.
Rev. Dr. William Creighton of Christ Church officiated.
June 9
1959 - The main parcel of 137 acres of George's Island, Montrose, was
purchased by the Westchester County Department of Parks, Recreation and
Conservation from the U.S. Government for $24,000.
June 11
1822 - The Westchester Herald reported that a committee had been formed to
survey and estimate the cost of cutting a canal from the town of Sharon,
Connecticut along the Croton River to the Hudson.
1869 - The cornerstone of the Episcopal Church of Divine Love in Montrose
was laid.
June 12
1693 - The Manor of Philipsborough was granted to Frederick Philipse.
Sunday, June 14
1894 - The New York State Society of The Sons of the American Revolution
erected a monument at Dobbs Ferry commemorating the meeting between General
George Washington and Sir Guy Carleton on May 6, 1783, during which they
arranged for the evacuation of the British from American soil. It was later
established that the meeting took place at Tappan, on the west side of the
river.
Monday, June 15
1902 - The Twentieth Century Limited, which was to be called "the greatest
train in the world," made its first run between New York and Chicago.
1978 - The Goebel Collectors' Club opened a gallery and museum in
Tarrytown marked by the largest "Hummel" figurine in the world - an eight-foot
replica of the "Merry Wanderer." It has since closed.
June 17
1697 - The Manor of Cortlandt was granted to Stephanus Van Cortlandt.
1905 - The Croton-on-Hudson Village Board moved that Clerk notify Hudson
River Telephone Co. to place a telephone in Town Hall according to
franchise.
June 18
1890 - Jane Todd was born in Tarrytown. Ms. Todd represented the Tarrytown
area in the state Assembly from 1935 - 1944. She was considered the most
influential Republican woman in the state for many years.
June 21
1957 - The New York State Department of Public Works held a public hearing
at Pierre Van Cortlandt school, Croton-on-Hudson, to hear residents views on
the proposed construction of U.S. Route 9 from the intersection of Route 9A
south of the Croton River northerly to the intersection of Welcher Avenue in
the City of Peekskill.
June 22
1928 - Notice was received that the Village of Buchanan had been
incorporated. The name of the village had been changed from "Centerville"
somewhat earlier, when a post office had been opened.
June 23
1809 - Benjamin Brandreth was born in Leeds, London. Dr. Brandreth
produced millions of pills which he advertised as curing most ailments. He
first purchased property in Ossining in 1836, and proceeded to build an
enormous business.
June 25
1945 - Clifford B. Harmon, real estate man and founder of the Harmon
International Trophies for aviator, aviatrix and spherical balloon, died in
Cannes, France. He left $5,000, in trust, for Alva Newcomer of (Croton)
Harmon.
June 27
1939 - Eric Knight, author of "Lassie Come Home," gave the commencement
address at Croton-Harmon High School.
June 28
1781 - General George Washington spent the night at the Upper Van
Cortlandt Manor House, Cortlandt Manor.
1884 - The Shattemuc Canoe Club
incorporated in Ossining.
1996 - General Motors closed its plant in North Tarrytown after almost a
century of manufacturing cars on the waterfront site.
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