YONKERS

NEW YORK

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John Baba begins the Yonkers footage at a central location, the church. As the Assyrian Presbyterian congregation emerges from Sunday service, Qasha Marshall Yacoe and the parishioners gather.

From the church, John Baba visits with the Benjamin family, merging his American life with the bonds from his home village of Seir, Persia.

Follow Baba as he celebrates Yonkers musicians, a police officer, an attorney, a dentist, and one of the first woman-owned businesses, Lucy’s Knitting Studio. He also visits the Yonkers Assyrian American Association to meet with some of the men who helped organize the Assyrian Federation, known today as the Assyrian American Federation.

Celebrate with him as he visits home parties, businesses and family gatherings, all while taking in the architecture of nearby Manhattan.

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Hungarian Presbyterian Church

Timestamp: 00:11

In 1937, the Hungarian Presbyterian Church, 35 Jackson Street, shared space with the Assyrian Presbyterian Congregation.
After purchasing its first church building in 1961, the congregation moved to its new location at 355 South Broadway in Yonkers. In 2002, that building was razed. The remaining church members joined South Presbyterian Church prior to the destruction. Much of the congregation had passed away and their children had moved to other locations.

Ford Model A in front of church

Timestamp: 00:30

Yonkers parishioners exit church.

Timestamp:00:33

L-R (center group): Emma Moorad Kambar, Florence Lazar, Sue Nweeia, Irene Baba

Left: Irene Baba

Timestamp: 00:54

Center: Florence Lazar

Timestamp: 01:05

Sheffield Farms truck

Timestamp: 01:10

Nick Benjamin's truck. During the Great Depression, he lost his employment and the friendly milk man got him a job.

Julia George Nasir (or Nassar) Benjamin

Timestamp: 01:13

L-R: Yonan Kambar, William Kambar, unknown, and Emma Moorad Kambar

Timestamp: 01:23

L-R: Bessie Baba, Nathaniel Baba

Timestamp: 01:33

Bessie Baba’s Memoir can be found in the Assyrian Studies Association (ASA) Archive.

Emma Moorad Kambar

Timestamp: 01:35

L-R: Elizabeth Baba and Qasha Yacoe

Timestamp: 01:39

L-R: Elizabeth Baba and her son, Norman Baba.

Timestamp: 01:55

Beatrice (Betty) Benjamin

Timestamp: 01:56

Beatrice, daughter of Theodore Benjamin and Almas Sargis (or Joseph ) Benjamin

Clarence Samuel Jacobs

Timestamp: 02:30

Clarence Jacobs, owned a Liquor store in Bronxville. Son of Samuel and Louise Jacobs.

James Jonathan Jacobs

Timestamp: 02:44

Son of Jonathan and Nazlu Jacobs

Florence George

Timestamp: 02:46

Agnes Ameer and her son, John Pierre Ameer

Timestamp: 03:39

63 Stanley Avenue.
John Ameer attended Yale and Harvard Universities and published a memoir, "Assyrians in Yonkers."

L-R: Married couple Lucy Solomon Aivaz Benjamin and Nathan (Nelson) Benjamin

Timestamp: 04:02

Lucy Benjamin purchased a store and named it Lucy's Knitting Studio, at 409 South Broadway for $300.00. The men took bets, for $5.00 each, that the business would fail. Lucy's Knitting Studio was a success.

L-R: Beatrice (Betty) Benjamin, Julia George Nassir (or Nassar) Benjamin, Louise Benjamin Jacobs, Reverend David Jacob Benjamin

Timestamp: 04:23

Rev. David Jacob Benjamin was the first Assyrian Missionary to the Dutch Reformed Church, serving in Persia and in Russia. He was ordained in the Lutheran Church and assisted Rev. Fossum on his Kurdish Bible in Soujbulak (modern-day Mahabad, Iran). He was the first minister to serve the Assyrian/Persian Mission at Gaston Presbyterian Church, PA, in 1913. In Yonkers, he preached on Riverdale Avenue at the Assyrian Church. The Reverend David Jacob and Julia Benjamin are the parents of Louise Benjamin Jacobs and the grandparents of Beatrice (Betty) Benjamin.

St.John The Divine Episcopal Cathedral

Timestamp: 04:30

St. John the Divine Episcopal Cathedral, Amsterdam Avenue at 112th Street, New York, New York.

The Synod Hall/House of St. John the Divine Cathedral

Timestamp: 05:25

1021 Amsterdam Avenue, Manhattan, New York.

The Former St. Luke's Hospital

Timestamp: 05:25

30 Morningside Drive, between 113th and 114th Streets, Manhattan, New York

Mt. Sinai Hospital Nurses' Residence

Timestamp: 05:30

Amsterdam Avenue and 114th Street, Morningside Heights,. Manhattan, New York

Morningside Heights Neighborhood

Timestamp: 05:34

Amsterdam Avenue, Manhattan, New York.

Mike Yohannan

Timestamp: 06:17

Church trustee, husband to Esther and father to Arthur. The couple lived on South Broadway. Mike worked for the Alexander Smith Carpet, repairing carpets and responding to problems with them. When Esther died, Mike moved to Turlock to be with his son, who had moved earlier.

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Additional Information

For more on Assyrians in Yonkers:

John Pierre Ameer , Assyrians in Yonkers: Reminiscences of a Community, Gorgias Press, 2008.

Ruth Kambar, Assyrians of Yonkers, Images of America Series: Arcadia Publishing, 2019.

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INTRODUCTION
FILM
SECTIONS
CITIZEN HISTORIANS
FILMMAKER
STORY OF THE FILM

ASSYRIAN STUDIES ASSOCIATION
HOME PAGE

Supported by the Assyrian Studies Association’s Preserving Assyria program, Assyrians in Motion is a living document that can be developed, altered, and expanded through multiple voices and contributions.

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YONKERS

NEW YORK

HOME / FILM / SECTIONS / CITIZEN HISTORIANS/ FILMMAKER / STORY OF THE FILM

YONKERS

Let us know.

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Additional Information

Assyrians in Motion Copyright, ASA 2023

INTRODUCTION FILM SECTIONS CITIZEN HISTORIANS FILMMAKER STORY OF THE FILM

ASSYRIAN STUDIES ASSOCIATION HOME PAGE

Supported by the Assyrian Studies Association’s Preserving Assyria program, Assyrians in Motion is a living document that can be developed, altered, and expanded through multiple voices and contributions.

ADDRESS

PHOTO CREDIT

CONTACT

SOCIAL MEDIA

DONATE

EMAIL SUBSCRIPTION

INTRODUCTION
FILM
SECTIONS
CITIZEN HISTORIANS
FILMMAKER
STORY OF THE FILM

ASSYRIAN STUDIES ASSOCIATION
HOME PAGE