Yonkers, oklahoma is but a fading memory for most people in this part of the state and a footnote in wagoner county history. His fine book will likely make many feel the same way. Origins of the decline of american railroads, 18971917. A thriving farm village within the town township of yonkers established in 1788, yonkers was connected to new york city by railroad in 1849. The official shield of the texas railroad commission, taken by the author at the railroad commission. The yonkers power station was completed in 1906 to enable the first electrification of the new york central railroad, built in conjunction with the redesign of grand central terminal. Lucius beebes 20th century describes the history of new york centrals crack streamliner. Groundwork hudson valley, a community organization in yonkers, often gives walking tours of these sites.
It was in their memory, and the memory of every officer who has served this department, that the yonkers police museum renamed in 1996 as the george e. The city of yonkers, new york, located on the majestic hudson river, is the fourth largest city in the state of new york and is the largest city in beautiful suburban westchester county with a population of nearly 200,000 according to the 2000 census. The society strives to preserve and promote the rich history of yonkers through the preservation and maintenance. Forgotten railroads through westchester county new york.
On july 2, 1868, the west side and yonkers patent railway the citys. Streetcars had a rocky history in new york city, losing favor by the 1930s. Search census records 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940, 1890 veterans. The infamous younger brothers of jackson county, missouri, sons of a prosperous slaveowning farmer, would grow up to become some of the most wellknown civil war guerrillas and outlaws in history when they joined up with frank and jesse james to form the jamesyounger gang. Yonkers borders new york city to its north and is only minutes away from midtown manhattan and the. The southern portion of old yonkers was annexed to what later became the bronx in 1874. Delivering the reliability of the kawasaki brand to the united states. Elsewhere, the seach will be visibly opened after this button is selected. We have plucked from obscurity 30 fascinating books most of them outofprint about railways from cairo to new south wales to yosemite encompassing engineering, history, industry, photography, policing. I was disappointed, however, that the book had no photos of the ethnic neighborhoods polish, slavic, italian, etc. But those memories are revived in the book yonkers, oklahoma, recalling the good old days, which will be released at the wagoner city historical. Abebooks 100 million books from independent booksellers, including thousands of railroad titles. The caryl station spot is now a parking lot, but caryl avenue is still a bridge covering the railroad tunnel below. Since it began operations in 1906, the company has produced a succession of vehicles that have left their mark on railway history, including japans first privately made steam locomotive and first aluminum alloy train.
Oxford times above it all is the pioneering vision that grips the reader. The african american experience presented by the erie county historical society at the watsoncurtze mansion. Other cool vestiges of the railroad still exist, if you know where to look. Forgotten railroads through westchester county covers some very interesting railroadsall now relegated to historyand does it in a way that brings them to life. Incorporated in 1896, the yonkers railroad company was the consolidation of the yonkers railroad, the north and south electric railway, and the yonkers and tarrytown electric railroad. The northern pacific railroad, the sioux, and the panic of 1873 by m. The society strives to preserve and promote the rich history of yonkers through the. The new york and putnam railroad was a railroad line that operated between the bronx and brewster in new york state.
Although the railroad played a significant role in the transportation of both passengers and freight during the 19th and early 20th cent. The ten best history books of 2019 history smithsonian. It was incorporated in 1869 as the new york and boston railroad. History of new york citys elevated train curbed ny. Individual lines, such as the yonkers railroad, the westchester electric railroad, the. Amtrakmetronorth station 5 buena vista avenue yonkers, ny 1070544. This group of dedicated citizens also assumed the records and membership of the yonkers branch of the westchester historical society and formed the yonkers historical society as we know it today. A study in contrasts, yonkers, a sprawling city 20 miles north of midtown manhattan, traces its roots to early dutch settlers. I grew up in yonkers and the book brought back many memories. Jun 27, 2018 new yorks transit revolution began, inauspiciously, with a delay.
List of books and articles about railroad history online. Tuesdays texas railroad commission hearing will be one. There followed several changes of name as the line went through mergers and a bankruptcy. Their village of nappeckamack meaning rapid water settlement was located where the neperah stream the present day saw mill river flowed into the hudson or shatemuck river. It was connected to new york city by rail in 1849, and while the city has maintained its own industries and culture, it has been a new york city suburb since the rail line allowed commuting. In 1862, the central pacific and the union pacific railroad companies began building a transcontinental railroad that would link the united states from east to west. Railroads, the pioneers building americas transportation backbone, and more. Yonkers an 11thhour campaign to save the 79yearold carnegie public library building in south yonkers from demolition is gaining momentum, even as the state of new york, its present owner, is. Much has been written about the underground railroad in both history books, special publications and in documentary films. The two platforms of yonkers station, which service both metro north and amtrak trains. This photo looks north, with the hudson river about 200. Maps by kids discover geography by kids discover archeology by kids discover what is history by cobblestone maps by faces timelines by liam collins ny land and resources shaping the growth of ny by greg roza yonkers and its people a pictorial story america is by louise borden.
Metropolitan new yorks third avenue railway system. Many books on the railroad focus on the big four and the barons of the up, he says. Developed along the hudson river, it is the fourthmost populous city in the state of new york, behind new york city, buffalo, and rochester. Search the worlds most comprehensive index of fulltext books. Yonkers, westchester county, new york genealogy genealogy. History of yonkers featured in locally authored book. Mindspark, one of the leading app developers on the web. The name of yonkers is derived from the name of the dutch settler who received the first land grant here from the new netherland government. The first historical society in yonkers began in 1882 as the committee on the historical records of yonkers.
Workers, including the irish, receive little attention. It was the literal engine of the industrial revolution, and it played an instrumental role in putting the united states on the. Good historical book on grand central terminal and its predecessor depots. The first residents of the city of yonkers were native americans of the algonquin, mohegan and manhattes tribes. Seabiscuit, the legendary racehorse, once stood in the winners circle at yonkers raceway. Beeline bus 6, 7, 9, or 32 to yonkers railroad station. Nov 19, 2005 there is an excellent 10 page article on the yonkers getty square branch of the punam div. For nearly half of the nations history, the steam locomotive was the outstanding symbol for progress and power. Metropolitan new yorks third avenue railway system recalls the bygone street scenes of manhattan, as well as some of the carbarns and work cars and the carscrapping yard. The society continues to research the departments proud history, and locate. Yonkers s excellent transportation infrastructure, including three commuter railroad lines now two. Westchester county new york directories family history library. The otis elevator works was established there in 1854.
As he did for global railroad history in his blood, iron, and gold, wolmar masterfully condenses the history of american rail into a lively and lucid work that is highly recommended to all. Scott yaeger, sugar land, texas a must read for anyone wanting to know how railroads have evolved in the u. A centennial celebration of grand central terminal. The line was operated by third avenue railway and consisted of nine routes serving new york states third largest city. The population of yonkers was 195,976 as enumerated in the 2010 united states census.
The club has been in existence since 1939 and has maintained a permanent train layout in the administration building at tibbetts brook park in yonkers, new york since 1969. The book that i feel is the best railroad history ever published goes to don hofsommers the quannah route. But those memories are revived in the book yonkers, oklahoma, recalling the good old days, which will be released at the wagoner city historical museum on nov. Rutledge museum, after the president and founder of the yonkers police historical society, was established in 1978. Metropolitan new yorks third avenue railway system images of. It is a 15minute drive from manhattan and has numerous prewar homes and apartment buildings, yonkers s manufacturing sector has also shown. Bessettes rods down and fires dropped and john stovers history of the illinois central railroad. The history of new york citys famous railroad terminal. Yonkers weighs effort to revive putnam rail line the. The yonkers power station, knocking at the gates of hell. The four brothers thomas coleman, james hardin, john harrison, and. Included also is a good bibliography including internet resources.
New yorks transit revolution began, inauspiciously, with a delay. The history books we loved most in 2019 span centuries, nations and wars. Yonkers has a history of retail, boasting one of the first shopping malls in the united states, but prides itself on its backbone of momandpop businesses. Ive ordered copies of the book for 3 family members.
Westchester county, new york hardcover september 1, 1984 by charles elmer allison author. From womanhood to nationhood, they challenge the construction of. This page provides a directory of websites offering railroad books including new, used, rare, and outofprint books covering railroad history, train operations, railroad photography, and model railroading. The yonkers, ny histories book collection is a group of 9 books that detail the history of yonkers primarily in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The third avenue railway system tars, founded 1852, was a streetcar system serving the. Jul 19, 2017 it takes 28 to 39 minutes on metronorth railroads hudson line to get from the recently restored 1911 yonkers train station to grand central terminal. In 1891, the society, then known as the yonkers historical and library association, helped to preserve historic philipse manor hall.
The yonkers station is a metronorth railroad and amtrak railroad station serving the yonkers. Nothing i had seen or read in the past prepared me for an afternoon touring the exhibit into the light. Aug 12, 20 yonkers has a history of retail, boasting one of the first shopping malls in the united states, but prides itself on its backbone of momandpop businesses. Campaign to save yonkers library the new york times. The club has been in existence since 1939 and has maintained a permanent train layout in the administration building at tibbetts brook park in yonkers. Ask directions to yonkers railroad station a 3 block walk. The society strives to preserve and promote the rich history of yonkers through the preservation and maintenance of sherwood house, ca.
Individual lines, such as the yonkers railroad, the westchester electric railroad, the queensborough bridge railway company, and the union railway, are featured in this book. Forgotten railroads through westchester county covers some very interesting railroads all now relegated to history and does it in a way that brings them to life. West side and yonkers patent railway project gutenberg self. The plant served the railroad for thirty years, but it soon became more costeffective for the company to purchase its electricity rather than generate its own. The new yorker wolmars sweeping history of railroads in america is rich in dramahe makes a good case that the rail system helped create not only americas economy but its character. Yonkers train station offers a glimpse into the grand central that. The west side and yonkers patent railway was built on greenwich street by charles t. Resources edit edit source church records edit edit source online edit edit source. Kawasaki is japans leading manufacturer of rolling stock. Collectible railroad books the car might be king today but thousands of devoted writers have ensured the railroads will never be forgotten.
The yonkers model railroad club is a chartered notforprofit organization of approximately two dozen train enthusiasts. All three came under ownership of the new york central system in 1894. Navigate to the global search form search landmark. On july 2, 1868, the west side and yonkers patent railwaythe citys first elevated trainwas to have its maiden journey. Yonkers weighs effort to revive putnam rail line the new. Philipsburgh postroad present president railroad record regiment. A once thriving farming community with an industrial riverfront, yonkers was founded as a village within the yonkers township in 1788. History of yonkers featured in locally authored book news. Yonkers first newspaper, the yonkers herald, began publishing in 1852, and the yonkers daily was the first daily newspaper published in westchester county, dating back to 1885. Westchester county ny city directories lds genealogy. This presentation of the exhibition is sponsored by the city of yonkers, metronorth railroad, kawasaki and mri usa inc.
Whether powered by steam, diesel or electric, these railroads all shared one common trait. Yonkers, new york, usa history, photos, stories, news. Great book, highly recommendedespecially for traction modelers. Today, the otis elevator factory is home to industry leaders such as kawasaki, which builds rail cars for the mta, metro north, long island railroad and transit systems around the world. Incorporated in 1896, the yonkers railroad company was the consolidation of the yonkers. The city has 38 distinct neighborhoods, each with its own character and identity. The replacement of wooden poles by castiron rails in the late 18th cent. Yonkers arcadia publishing local and regional history books. Bridge railway company, and the union railway, are featured in this book. Seabiscuit, the legendary racehorse, once stood in the winner s circle at yonkers raceway.