First Posted: 3/19/2014
Question:
What year did the The Pittston Gazette, which was first published in 1850, publish its final edition?
1961 – 53 YEARS AGO
The Sunday Dispatch Inquiring Photographer asked, “What do you think about using radar to make checks on speeding motorists in Pennsylvania? Ronald Dietrich, of West Pittston, answered, “I think it is the best law that could ever be passed proving it’s used with discretion.” Chester Sobuta added, “The cure for speeding lies in the car itself. A governor to regulate the car’s speed would be better.” Jennie Apolski, of Yatesville, said, “ Anything that will reduce the death rate on highways will be a great thing.” Shortly after World War II, an engineer invented the hand-held radar gun. Pennsylvania is the only state in the U.S. that does not allow local police officers to use radar for speed enforcement. Pennsylvania state troopers have been using radar since 1962.
Three Pittston men – Samuel Sanguedolce, George Alaimo and Joseph Warnagiris – were on their way to basic training at Fort Jackson SC. After basic, Warnagiris went on to the U.S. Army Air Defense Command in Pittsburgh and Sanguedolce and Alaimo to the Air Defense Command in Caribou, ME.
1971 – 43 YEARS AGO
The newly-formed Pittston Memorial Library Association was seeing success in its efforts to obtain new books for the library. After forming late in 1970, the group acquired more than $1,000 worth of books either purchased or donated. “The Wizard of Oz,” “Kidnapped,” “Gulliver’s Travels” and “Time Machine” were some of the more popular titles. Members Palma Lenza, Maria Capolarella, Clair Classp Joseph Luke, Jean Linskey and Jean Campbell began the process of cataloging the books.
Veronica Supinsk, of Avoca, Alice Romanoski, of Duryea;, Mary Kutzer, of West Pittston and Ann Brown, of Moosic, were just some of the Topps Chewing Gum employees who traveled to Hershey to attend a performance of the Ice Capades. After the performance, the women were ushered backstage to present a supply of Bazooka Bubble Gum to the skaters.
Top 10 songs of 1971:
1. Just My Imagination – Temptations
2. Me and Bobby McGee – Janis Joplin
3. For all we Know – Carpenters
4. What is Life – George Harrison
5. Proud Mary – Ike and Tina Turner
6. Have you Ever Seen the Rain – CCR
7. Mama’s Pearl – Jackson Five
8. Sweet Mary – Wadsworth Mansion
9. Free – Chicago
10. One Bad Apple – Osmonds
1981 – 33 Years Ago
Leo Tierney, of Pittston, celebrated his 90th birthday by receiving a “long overdue” Silver Star with First Oak Leaf Cluster from the First Battalion, 109th Field Artillery in recognition for outstanding performance. The award is the third highest military decoration for valor that can be awarded to any person serving in any capacity with the United States Armed Forces. The medal is awarded for gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States. The Oak Leaf Cluster denotes subsequent decorations and awards.
After more than a year battling a culm bank fire at the former site of the Seneca Breaker just off of North Main Street in Pittston, Rutledge Flynn, owner of Flynn Fuel Company, announced the fire was 90 percent extinguished. Empire Construction’s method of utilizing a holding pond filled with Susquehanna river water, filling it with burning culm and re-distributing cooled wet material, was a long and tedious process.
1991 – 23 YEARS AGO
Mary Perks, winner of the St. Mary’s School, Avoca, Spelling Bee was set to participate in a Times Leader sponsored bee at Wilkes University. Perks hoped to go on to compete in in Washington D.C. According to the National Spelling Bee official website, “Nine newspapers collaborated to start the spelling bee in 1925. In 1941, E.W Scripps Company took over sponsorship of the National Bee. The program experienced steady growth between the 1920s and the 1970s, Between 1980 and 1990, the number of participants doubled. In recent years, the program underwent a second growth spurt due to live coverage on ESPN. According to several unofficial sources, the use of the word “bee” was derived from two possible sources. The insect is known as industrious, describing perhaps the work necessary to compete in the contest. The other definition attributed the use of the word began early in the 1800s when people would gather to do something, such as a quilting bee, husking bee (husking ears of corn) and razing bee (barn raising).
Answer:
According to “Pittston, 100 Years a City,” a special supplement to the Sunday Dispatch published in 1995 in honor of the city’s centennial celebration, the Pittston Gazette ,“the city’s oldest newspaper,” published its final edition in 1965.
“What saves a man is to take a step. Then another step. It is always the same step, but you have to take it.” – Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Wind, Sand and Stars, 1939, translated from French by Lewis Galantière
