1960 – 56 years ago

It was an exciting end to the Pittston Suburban Baseball League season as the Shantytown Sporting Club and Avoca A.C. Teams were set to play the third in a series of semi-final playoff games. The outcome of which would determine who would play the Dupont Rebels in the finals. It was expected to be a pitchers duel betwen Avoca’s Bucky Lavelle and Andy Schultz of Shantytown. Both managers, John Humko of Shantytown and Tony Gilrain of Avoca planned using the players that got them to the semi’s. Shantytown’s team consisted of Joe Silenski, Walt Humko, Jimmy Callahan, Eddie Seprish, John Humko, Bill Humko, Joe Drahus and Frank Wojcik. Avoca’s lineup included Barney Jacek, Jim McAndrew, John Soy, Joe Jacek, Joe Renzi, Duane Naugle, John Robbins, Jim Healey and Leo McGlynn. What was the outcome of this series ending game? Call us at 570-992-6403.

The Holy Rosary Parish in Duryea planned for the establishment of a teeners baseball league within the borough. Organizers wanted to give young boys the opportunity to continue playing the game after leaving the ranks of the Little League.

The Wyoming Diamond Jubilee Committee divided $1,000 to be distributed among four organizations of Wyoming Borough. The surplus was taken from proceeds of the Wyoming Borough 75th anniversary celebration. Recipients of the funds were Wyoming Free Library, Ambulance Fund, Playground Association and Veterans Marker Committee.

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1970 – 46 years ago

On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin landed the Eagle lunar module on the moon. The Apollo 11 mission was a success. A member of NASA’s Manned Flight Support Directorate, Jerome Brennan, of Duryea, was part of a team that worked to make it possible to track the command module and lunar module and monitor the continuity of voice and video communications. In 1970, Brennan received a posthumous award for his service to the mission. John Clark, NASA director at the Goddard Space Flight Center, sent the following message to Brennan’s parents: “I hope this plaque will serve as a measure of thanks and appreciation for Mr. Brennan’s dedicated endeavors in helping this center meet its responsibilities and that it will be a lasting reminder that he took part in that historical achievement.” Brennan did not see the result of his achievements. He died on Dec. 19, 1968, as a result of an automobile accident.

The first annual fishing contest for youngsters was sponsored by the Elm Street Sportmen’s Club in Dupont. Close to 100 youngsters tried to catch a prize winner at the club’s 26 acre lake in Suscon. Some of the many winners were Gary Vogue, Debra Glowatch, John Voytach, David Kaminiski, John Berlenski, Richard Vargo and Kenny Jemiola, all of Dupont.

1980 – 36 years ago

The 569th Bomber Squadron of the 390th Bomber Group was one of the few B-17 Flying Fortress groups to receive the Presidential Citation twice for combat missions in World War II. Paul Argenio of Wyoming flew in 35 of those missions and was planning to participate in a memorial dedication program at the Royal Air Force base in Framlingham, England. The 390th Bomber Group flew B-17s from Framlingham, Suffolk, between July 1943 and the end of the war in Europe. Argenio’s squadron flew three missions into Normandy on D-Day dropping supplies to the French underground. The group bombed important targets in Poland and bombed oil fields and V-2 rocket bases. Argenio was presented with the Air Medal with 6 Oak Leaf Clusters and the Distinguished Flying Cross for meritorious achievement in shooting down enemy war planes in battle.

The Wyoming Area golf team overcame Pittston Area and Seton Catholic to win the First Annual Greater Pittston High School Open at Fox Hill Country Club. Team high scorers were Dan Maszeroski, Jeff Falko, Jay Taddei and Ron Coskey.

1990 – 26 years ago

The Luzerne County Hall of Fame selected three former Pittston athletes as inductees in 1990. Simon Bernosky of Harding started coaching at Hughestown High School in 1949 and then at Montrose High School for 15 years. In 1968, he became the athletic director and boys basketball coach at Wyoming Area. In 1971 his team won the Wyoming Valley Conference and Class A district titles. Arthur O’Malley of Pittston participated in football, baseball and basketball at St. John the Evangelist High School. He was a founding member of the Pittston Athletic Club semi-pro football team in the 1930s. As coach, his team won the A championship in 1932. John Waleski, of Avoca, was a student at Moosic High School in the 1920s. A top football player, he was received an honorable mention to the Little All-American football team. He played on the NFL’s New York Giants team for one year.

This Date in History

1777 – Gen. George Washington and his troops are defeated by the British under Gen. Sir William Howe at the Battle of Brandywine in Pennsylvania.

1916 – “The Star Spangled Banner” is sung at the beginning of a baseball game for the first time in Cooperstown, N.Y.

2001 – In a coordinated attack, terrorists hijack four U.S. passenger airliners, flying two into the World Trade Center towers in New York and one into the Pentagon, killing thousands. The fourth airliner, headed toward Washington likely to strike the White House or Capitol, crashes just over 100 miles away in Pennsylvania after passengers storm the cockpit and overtake the hijackers.

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The Duryea High School Class of 1950 attended its 20th anniversary reunion at the V.F.W. in Duryea. From left, first row, Theresa Polaski Maxim, Eleanor Polaski O’Dell, Jean Yaverski Feduchak, Ruth Wykosky Wintermantle, Jean Galuska Nardone, Jule Bellas Ryzner, Demis Kelty Vogel, Joan Chromey Wzontek, Helen M. Ziembroski Gilroy, Connie Cislo Wash, Claire Wollner Rich. Second row, Mary Rose Kabacinski Poplarchick, Peggy Strupcewski Buctner, Gertrude Wieczorek Cabot, Grace O’Donnell Piragas, Gertrude Yachna, Victoria Mergel Eskra, Esther Moluski Butrim, Ruth Clarke Verdine, Nancy Rutkowski Sheridan, Ann Matt Loughney, Mary Egan Laerence, Jean Gilroy Sables and Pat George Grogan. Third row, Thomas Grogan, Frank Yaverski, George Resavy, Vincent Zinkavich, Thomas McGlynn, Joseph Shimley, William Getson, Raymond Pernot, Francis DiBiasi, Robert Winn and Donald Crossman.
https://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/web1_DURYEA-HS-20-REUNION-1970-1.jpgThe Duryea High School Class of 1950 attended its 20th anniversary reunion at the V.F.W. in Duryea. From left, first row, Theresa Polaski Maxim, Eleanor Polaski O’Dell, Jean Yaverski Feduchak, Ruth Wykosky Wintermantle, Jean Galuska Nardone, Jule Bellas Ryzner, Demis Kelty Vogel, Joan Chromey Wzontek, Helen M. Ziembroski Gilroy, Connie Cislo Wash, Claire Wollner Rich. Second row, Mary Rose Kabacinski Poplarchick, Peggy Strupcewski Buctner, Gertrude Wieczorek Cabot, Grace O’Donnell Piragas, Gertrude Yachna, Victoria Mergel Eskra, Esther Moluski Butrim, Ruth Clarke Verdine, Nancy Rutkowski Sheridan, Ann Matt Loughney, Mary Egan Laerence, Jean Gilroy Sables and Pat George Grogan. Third row, Thomas Grogan, Frank Yaverski, George Resavy, Vincent Zinkavich, Thomas McGlynn, Joseph Shimley, William Getson, Raymond Pernot, Francis DiBiasi, Robert Winn and Donald Crossman. Sunday Dispatch File Photo

Peeking into the Past

Judy Minsavage

Reach Judy Minsavage at 570-991-6403 or on Twitter @JudithMinsavage.