First Posted: 1/13/2015
Question:
In 1948, students of the G.I. Vocational School in Pittston planned a protest by making up posters that stated, “We fought once before and we can fight again.” What were the veteran soldiers willing to fight for?
1948 – 67 years ago
The mobile rescue training unit of the State Department of Mines was stationed at the Kehoe-Berge Coal Company to train a crew in the operation of tanks and equipment worn in rescue operations. Louis Bonfante, David Dennis, Joseph Liskosky, Joseph Hines, Alex Hodakowski, George Alford, George March and William Thompson were the first of many that would receive the training, enabling them to participate in rescue operations. By 1990, and due to an increase in mine safety incidents in the ‘80s, the Mine Safety and Health Administration developed the Mine Emergency Response Development Drill (MERD) program to improve performance during mine emergency situations. With a number of training facilities in the United States, rescue workers now receive standardize training.
1968 – 47 years ago
The Avoca Lions Club honored Dr. Lewis C. Druffner Sr at its 18th anniversary Charter Night dinner. Druffner was presented with a plaque honoring his 50 years of service in Avoca. Those presenting the honor were Paul Hart, Frank Hayden, Dr. Lewis C. Druffner Jr., Joseph Wroblewski Jr., Austin O’Malley, Dr. Leonard Towlen, Harold Davies, James McLane and John Coffee Jr. A poem written by Charles Golden was recited. To see a copy of the poem and the photo of the presentation published in the Sunday Dispatch in 1968, log on to www.psdispatch.com and click on Peeking into the Past.
Mrs. Donald Booth, Mrs. James Bell, Mrs. Martin Melvin, Mrs. Ronald Helreigel and Mrs. Clarence Hensley Jr. were announced as new officers for the Hughestown Hose Company Auxiliary.
Kresge’s on North Main Street advertised womens “Shifts” for $2.96 and fish net nylons for 37 cents. The P.X. Meat Market in Exeter offered 2 lbs of sliced bacon for 89 cents. Charles Vullo Tire in Dupont promoted a Goodyear tire sale with any size white walls or black walls 2 for $22.
1978 – 37 years ago
Dupont Mayor Stanley Piechota swore in Michael Sompel, Frank Lasota, Ed Kuzynski, Edward Zurek Jr., Michael Nesgoda Jr. and Stanley Snopkowski as new members of the borough police force.
In 1978, NFC champs the Dallas Cowboys and AFC champs the Denver Broncos were headed to New Orleans for Super Bowl XII. The Sunday Dispatch Inquiring Photographer asked West Pittston residents, “Who will win the Super Bowl and by what score?” Ralph Salerno answered, “With Tony Dorsett, Dallas 34-17.” Frank Kushuda predicted, “Dallas 27-20.” Sam Chairge stated, “I’ll go out on a limb and pick the Broncos, 21-17. The Dallas Cowboys won Super Bowl XII by a score of 27-10. The halftime show was “From Paris to Paris of America” featuring performances by the Apache Band and Apache Belles Drill team from Tyler Junior College, jazz musicians Pete Fountain and Al Hirt.
Pittston Library sponsored a raffle offering as the top prize a Sweet Blossom Doll. Winner JoAnne Dileo of Pittston received the doll which today is listed online as an “adult collector’s doll” and “not a toy.” The doll was crafted by Artisan Emily Jameson.
1988 – 27 years ago
Members of the Knox Mine Memorial Committee Onofrio “Pep” Orlando, Sam DeAlba, Nora Murtha, Jean Mangan, Michael Cotter, Jean Talipan and Alfreda Suchocki established a perpetual fund to cover the maintenance of the five-year-old stone monument commemorating the lives of the 12 men who were entombed mine disaster. Those who lost their lives on Jan. 22, 1959 at the Port Griffith mine were Samuel Altieri, Hughestown; John Baloga, Port Griffith; Benjamin Boyer, Forty Fort; Francis Burns, Pittston; Charles Featherman, Muhlenburg; Joseph Gizenski, Hunlock Creek; Dominick Koveleski, Pittston; Eugene Ostroski, Wanamie, Frank Orlowski, Dupont; William Sinclair, Pittston; Donald Stefanides, Swoyersville and Herman Zelonis, Pittston Township. Amadeo Pancotti was awarded the Carnegie Medal for heroism. Sixty-nine miners escaped the disaster that occurred 56 years ago.
Answer:
In 1948, local G.I.s planned a mass protest by carrying lighted railroad fuses and placards in disagreement of the Joint Board of the State Department of Public Instruction decision to ban sports at the G.I. Vocational School on Tunnel Street in Pittston. Efforts by the board to force students to call off the demonstration and limit protests were not heeded, upon which board directors threatened students with dismissal from the school.
1644 – First UFO sighting in America – The UFOs seen over Boston Harbor are described as two lights with sparks flying between them. These are believed to be the same UFOs that had appeared earlier in 1639.
1967 – Boston Strangler Albert DeSalvo is convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment on charges unrelated to the strangulation victims. Although he confessed, he was never tried for the murders due to lack of evidence.
1991 – Closest recorded approach of an asteroid to Earth, 105,700 miles.
