John Corry: Twenty-Five Years Ago in Bronxville: November 1989
Written by John A. Corry
Nov. 5, 2014: Attempted Armed Robbery. On November 3 an armed man unsuccessfully tried to rob Lange's Delicatessen owner Dieter Mangels as he was leaving to go home with the day's receipts. As the would-be robber was fleeing, he shot at Mangels with a sawed-off shotgun but missed. However, a pellet did hit and damage a parked car with a child in the back seat. Merchants petitioned for a reversal of the recent decision banning sodium lights, at least in the business district. In an editorial the Review-Press Reporter argued that "the shooting is a vivid reminder" that Bronxville, "insular as it may sometimes seem, is not really removed from the increasingly violent ambience of the New York metropolitan area."
Bronco Championship. Co-captain John Priesing's 29-yard field goal broke a scoreless tie and gave undefeated Bronxville a 3-0 victory over previously unbeaten Dobbs Ferry and the Class III league championship. It was the Broncos' first outright league title since 1974. However, the team's winning streak was broken by a 21-0 score in the Conference III bowl game by Nanuet High, which was reported to be the only team in the country to have denied scores to all its opponents.
Bigotry Accusation. In an article in the New York Review of Books, Bronxville resident Brendan Gill accused then-recently deceased longtime Sarah Lawrence professor and mythologist Joseph Campbell of bigotry. The attack was in response to a favorable discussion of Campbell by Bill Moyers in his TV program and the resulting surge in sales of Campbell's books. Several of Campbell's former students rallied to his defense. (Gill's wife and two of his daughters were Sarah Lawrence graduates.)
Eastchester Election. Dorothy Brennan and Jim Doody were re-elected to the Eastchester Town Council. Brennan was a Bronxville community activist and Doody served for nine years as Eastchester town supervisor.
Station Pay Phones. A letter to the editor complained about the absence of a telephone at the railroad station. As a result, in that pre-cell phone time, the writer was unable to call someone to pick him up and had to pay a taxi to take him to his destination.
Historic Place Designations. It was announced that the buildings of The Reformed Church of Bronxville and The Bronxville Women's Club had been placed on the county's list of historic buildings. They had been nominated by then-village historian Mary Huber.
Atwood Death. The Review-Press Reporter announced the death of village resident and former MetLife president James Atwood at age 62. During his seven years heading the company, its revenue grew by more than three and a half times. In Bronxville, he had served as a member of the board of education and of the consistory of The Reformed Church of Bronxville.
School News. Superintendent William Greenham announced that for the first time there were more girls' athletic teams than boys' teams and that 65% of the student body had played on at least one team. He also reported that the school had finished the previous academic year with a $56,184 surplus, down from $184,844 the prior year. In other news, the middle school had been named a New York School of Excellence.
Sheila Stein. As the Bronxville Rotary Club's president, Dr. William Greenham presented Mayor Sheila Stein with its annual Service Above Self award. He praised her, saying, "She always thinks of others first."
Pictured here: John A. Corry.
Photo by N. Bower
Government & History Directory
Bronxville is a quaint village (one square mile) located just 16 miles north of midtown Manhattan (roughly 30 minutes on the train) and has a population of approximately 6,500. It is known as a premier community with an excellent public school (K-12) and easy access to Manhattan. Bronxville offers many amenities including an attractive business district, a hospital (Lawrence Hospital), public paddle and tennis courts, fine dining at local restaurants, two private country clubs and a community library.
While the earliest settlers of Bronxville date back to the first half of the 18th century, the history of the modern suburb of Bronxville began in 1890 when William Van Duzer Lawrence purchased a farm and commissioned the architect, William A. Bates, to design a planned community of houses for well-known artists and professionals that became a thriving art colony. This community, now called Lawrence Park, is listed on the National register of Historic Places and many of the homes still have artists’ studios. A neighborhood association within Lawrence Park called “The Hilltop Association” keeps this heritage alive with art shows and other events for neighbors.
Bronxville offers many charming neighborhoods as well as a variety of living options for residents including single family homes, town houses, cooperatives and condominiums. One of the chief benefits of living in “the village” is that your children can attend the Bronxville School.
The Bronxville postal zone (10708, known as “Bronxville PO”) includes the village of Bronxville as well as the Chester Heights section of Eastchester, parts of Tuckahoe and the Lawrence Park West, Cedar Knolls, Armour Villa and Longvale sections of Yonkers. Many of these areas have their own distinct character. For instance, the Armour Villa section has many historic homes and even has its own newsletter called “The Villa Voice” which reports on neighborhood news.
Village of Bronxville Administrative Offices
337-6500
Open 9:00am - 4pm excluding holidays and weekends
Bronxville Police Department
337-0500
Open 24 hours
Bronxville Parking Violations
337-2024
Open 9:00am - 4pm excluding holidays and weekends
Bronxville Fire Deparment
793-6400
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