Winter/Spring 2000
| Volume 3 | No. 5 |
History on the Feminine Side | Landmarks Sign Update | 225th Anniversary of the Start of the Revolutionary War | Coming Soon | Dates to Remember | Welcome New Members
Since 1986, March has been the month we celebrate women in history, but history is being made every day and we would be remiss not to mention First Lady Hillary Clinton. Mrs. Clinton is seeking a seat in the U.S. Senate, the 1st First Lady to ever run for that public office. While she is not from New York, she is hoping to represent this state and that fact is significant for New York women, whatever the outcome of the race may be.
During this highly publicized race and other hotly contested races for President of the U.S. (none of them female), it is interesting to look back at the politically significant events in Yorktown’s history which affected women of our own community. The most important of these was the right to vote and New York State was one of the last to grant women that right. The male voters said nay to the women’s suffrage amendment in 1915, but finally passed it in 1917. In October 1918 an enrollment to vote was held for all eligible voters in Yorktown, and a significant number of women turned out!
Three election districts, covering the hamlets of Yorktown Heights, Kitchawan, Croton Lake, Shrub Oak, Mohegan Lake, Amawalk, Jefferson Valley, as well as Peekskill RFD, Mt. Kisco RFD, Ossining RFD, Croton-on-Hudson, East View, and Granite Springs, registered 616 eligible men and 407 eligible women. Of these, 433 men enrolled to vote vs. 253 women. The actual numbers that voted were 451 men and 260 women; more than had enrolled.
Of the 711 people who actually cast a vote that year, 36% were women. More importantly, however, was the fact that of those eligible, 73% of the men and 64% of the women exercised their right. Given the many reasons why women may not have turned out that first year, such as male opposition, dependence on others for transportation, childbirth, or young infants and sick family members to care for (just to name a few), it’s remarkable that such a high number of women took advantage of the new law. Yorktown was a predominantly farming community, yet these women were educated and well informed for their time.
The first woman enrolled to vote in each district were: Helen Rodwell Adams of Mohegan Lake, 5th to enroll in District #1; Rosemond Odell of Yorktown Heights, 8th in District #2; and Edna R. Ford of Croton Lake, 2nd in District #3. Making history that November day in 1918 were the first three Yorktown women to vote: Helen Rodwell Adams, 5th to vote in District #1; Amanda Bennett, 3rd in District #2; and Margaret Wynants, 6th in District #3.
As early as 1927, Alma C. Bennett Smith was appointed Tax Receiver, the first woman to hold a significant position in the town government. In November of 1942 Lillian Millman replaced her husband Hyman as Councilman while he served in the armed forces, only to return the position to him when he returned in July of 1943. Anne K. Janak (R) was the first elected female Councilperson, in 1973.
When Town Clerk H. Stevenson Wyand was called to war in March of 1943, his Deputy Town Clerk and wife, Kathryn Kear Wyand (R) replaced him and subsequently ran for the position that November, unopposed. She became the first female elected official in the history of Yorktown and served as Town Clerk until 1975. In 1989, Alice E. Roker (D) became the first Democrat to be elected Town Clerk and the first African-American to be elected to any office in Yorktown in its 200-year history. She is currently in her 11th year in that position.
The first woman to run for Supervisor was Mrs. Jessie Kelsey (D) in 1951, running against long-time incumbent John Downing ( R) who defeated Mrs. Kelsey 1397 to 527 votes. It wasn’t until Nancy Elliott (R) won her bid for the position that Yorktown had its first female Supervisor, in 1979.
Other first female appointees in Yorktown were: Margaret Guinon, first female police officer, in 1985 and first to become Detective in 1999; Ellen Calamari, first female firefighter, in 1985; Martha Cossum, first female Comptroller, in 1978; Catherine C. Lowery, first female Town Historian, who served from 1956-1966 and is credited with organizing the Yorktown Museum; Leola Hanbury, first female to serve on an Advisory Board, Zoning Board of Appeals, in 1966; Jean M. Turoci, first female Animal Warden, in 1982, and Linda Kiederer (Yorktown Historical Society Vice President and Research/Writer), first Records Management Clerk, in 1990.
Getting back to Hillary, she and the President purchased a
house last year in Chappaqua for reportedly 1.7 million dollars; however, a
30-year Yorktown resident was the first woman to sign a million dollar lease,
with none other than B. Altman in 1914 for space at the corner of 36th St. and
5th Ave. in N.Y.C.! .jpg)
The woman’s name was Fanny Riegel Evans and her company
was the Mary Elizabeth Ltd. Candy Company. She called Wildflower Farm her home
until about 1947 (according to The Yorktowner, March 23, 1967). Other past
notable Yorktown women were opera singers Lydia Locke and Elizabeth Rethberg and
actresses Helen Bernstein and Anne Francis.
Yorktown can also thank a woman for the first telephone service in town. The American Telephone and Telegraph Company wanted to establish a Yorktown office, so in 1908 it asked Mrs. George Vredenberg to set up a room in her house and serve as its operator. This was fine until her house work fell behind, at which time the Yorktown Telephone Office hired a housekeeper to do the work so Mrs. Vredenberg could stay on the job! The first manager/editor of the new Yorktown Herald in 1923 was also a woman, Cornelia A. Pugsley. Cornelia was a resident of Peekskill, but Mr. Gardner (also from Peekskill) chose her to open and man the new local Yorktown paper, which she did as a daily commuter. Cornelia was often seen riding along the streets of Town in her automobile, looking for a story for the paper!
Current women residents of note are: Grace Roma, who was the first woman President elected to the Yorktown Rotary; Joan Fyfe (Yorktown Historical Society Trustee and newsletter editor), who was appointed the first woman representative to the U.N. by Rotary International; Denise D’Amico, first woman President of the New Yorktown Chamber of Commerce; and Mary Rossetti and Kellie Rizzi, who were the first female inductees into the Yorktown Lions, in 1995.
It seems Hillary made a solid choice when she picked northern Westchester for her future home. We’re mighty friendly here and enjoy an afternoon or evening with neighbors, so Hillary…I’m in the Book!
Written by Linda L. Kiederer
Editor’s Notes:
If you’d like to tell us about a special Yorktown woman, click here to go to our Guestbook.
Click here for a list of the names of women who voted in Yorktown in 1918.
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The Yorktown Historical Society and Landmarks Preservation Committee have now completed marking a total of eleven landmarks within the town, nine of which were placed in January. The eleven landmarks are:
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225TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE START
OF THE
REVOLUTIONARY WAR
On April 19, 2000 the nation will celebrate the 225th anniversary of the Battle of Lexington, Massachusetts that led to war with Britain and ultimately a new and separate nation for the American colonies. General Rochambeau of France was instrumental in securing victory over Britain for the colonies, and now a committee has been formed to landmark his trail from its origins on American soil in Newport, R.I. to Yorktown, Va.
The Yorktown Historical Society is participating in this endeavor and is seeking volunteers to assist. General Rochambeau and his troops camped here twice and marched along miles of Yorktown roads, which are still in existence. If you would be interested in such a project, contact Trustee Ralph Rogers at RogersGen@aol.com.
Other volunteer opportunities are at the Yorktown Museum, which has been closed due to renovations and plans to open sometime this spring. They can use help in their gift shop as well as docents, which are guides who lead school and other groups through the exhibits. Training is provided and hours are flexible. Call the Museum at 962-2970 and leave a message.
Also, the Town Clerk’s office is seeking assistance on a Westchester County African-American Trail, which will include Yorktown and will highlight important sites in Town related to the black community. Contact the Town Clerk’s Office at 962-5722 x 209 and ask for Alice or Linda.
Of course there is always a need for people to work on the various committees of the Historical Society and to serve time on our Board of Trustees. All levels of involvement are welcome! Click here for an application form or call Linda at 962-5722 x209.
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COMING SOON!
Volume I "Compiled Feature Articles of the Yorktown Historical Society – November 1998 through December 1999" will be ready sometime in late spring. The cost will be nominal and the book will make a nice keepsake, a handy reference, or a thoughtful gift.
Currently available is John Martino’s book, "Yorktown at War" which can be purchased for $8 by sending a check to Yorktown Historical Society, P.O. Box 355, Yorktown Hts., NY 10598 or leave request in our Guestbook.
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DATES TO REMEMBER
April 19th: 225th Anniversary of the Battle of Lexington
May 14-20th: Historic Preservation Week
May 24th: Yorktown Historical Society annual meeting and program by Gray Williams, noted author, who will give a slide presentation on Westchester County sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 8 pm at Peter Pratts Inn.
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