Question:
In 1947, Santa was late in arriving at the children’s Christmas party at the Moose Lodge 1207 in West Pittston. Over 300 kids were worried Old St. Nick would not show up. Why was he so late?
1947 – 69 years go
Angelo Loyack, of Port Griffith, addressed the Jenkins Township School Board in a meeting regarding what he considered unfair employment practices adopted by the local coal collieries. He took notice that workers in Jenkins Township and Pittston were the first to be laid off while workers who lived miles away seemed to retain their jobs. Loyack asked that board members contact the Pennsylvania Coal Company, operators of the Ewen Colliery and Jermyn Green Coal Company, operators of the No. 6 Colliery. The board agreed it could try to help but had little faith in a positive result. William Moore, board member, stated they had tried influencing the coal companies prior to his request, but with little success. Joseph Lebashousky and Walter Bechtold agreed. At the insistence of board secretary, Al Smelster, members of the board agreed to try again.
In a letter to the editor, a Sunday Dispatch reader was extremely upset that a friend he knew could not find the radiators and piping necessary to run an Anthratube boiler. The boiler system was offered in opposition to the newer oil burners and promoted the use of anthracite as fuel for heating homes and businesses. At the time, a movement was adopted by locals to reject the use of oil for fuel as it was blamed for upending the mining industry. Many businesses were boycotted and names of those buying oil burners were published in an effort to stop the increased number of users.
1948 – 68 years ago
Matthew Farrell, of Pittston, served four years in the Army but retained his desire for music and the entertainment field. While in the service, he was given the assignment of entertainment specialist and composed scripts and songs for show in military theatres. He also organized and directed a band. During that time, his original compositions written before entering the service were recorded by Tommy Dorsey Band vocalist Denny Dennis and big band singer Morton Downey. After the war and under his professional name, Larry Miller, Farrell and his orchestra played engagements in New Jersey and New York. A new song, “When Two Lonely Hearts Get Together,” was due to be recorded.
In 1948, Dupont Council members liked an idea promoted by the City of Pittston leading them to investigate initiating the same promotion. The City of Pittston named William P. Bonser as the Man of the Year in 1948 and George Bone in the previous year. The citizens of Dupont felt it would be beneficial to their community to adopt the program and bestow the honor on one of their citizens. Currently, the Sunday Dispatch is taking nominations for the 2016 Person of the Year and the Joseph Saporito Lifetime of Service Award.
1950 – 66 years ago
Corporal Eugene Donnelly, of Pittston, was listed as missing in action in Korea. Donnelly, a light weapons infantryman with Company L, 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment 1st Cavalry Division was posthumously awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge, Korean Service Meal, National Defense Service Meal, Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, Republic of Korea War Service Medal and the United Nations Service Medal.
Customers at Radio City in Pittston were encouraged to give as a Christmas gift the “world’s most useful radio,” the GE clock radio. Known for its ability to wake even the most sound sleeper with soothing music, the radio, would also automatically turn on a coffee maker, or any of a dozen other electric appliances all for the low price of $34.95, no money down and a weekly payment of $1.25.
1961 – 55 years ago
The Sunday Dispatch Inquiring Photographer asked, “What do you think of the new dance, the Twist?” Anita Pupa, of Pittston, answered, “I think it is one of those fads, give it a few months and you won’t even hear of it again. I think it’s just a middle aged version of rock and roll.” Anthony Zelinski, of Dupont, added, “I thinks it’s the best dance that has come along in a long time, I wouldn’t recommend it for older people, unless they want to lose weight.”
1962 – 54 years ago
In honor of the recent passing of American hero astronaut John Glenn, we are taking the opportunity to spotlight three local Navy men who participated in the recovery of Glenn’s space capsule, Friendship 7. John A. Paznoski, of Sebastopol, radio man, third class, aboard the USS Randolph and Richard J. Cieslak, of Duryea, seaman, and Walter H. Zelinski, of Wyoming, sonar second class, both serving aboard the USS Hugh Purvis were stationed in the Atlantic on Feb. 20, 1962 participating in the first Project Mercury space flight recovery. Glenn’s capsule launched at 9:47 a.m. EST, orbited the Earth 3 times and landed at 2:42:23 p.m. EST. A total of 4 hours and 55 minutes and 23 seconds.
Answer:
Santa was scheduled to visit Moose Lodge 1207 in West Pittston to hand out gifts to 300 anxious children, Prior to his arrival, Santa learned of three youngsters who could not make the party because of illness. He quickly enlisted the driving services of lodge member Art Lumley and proceeded to visit Betty, Carol and Virginia Gibbons in their home. After visiting the sick children, Santa returned to the lodge to a throng of worried youngsters. Each girl attending received an electric iron and each boy a dump truck.
Today in history:
1865 – Slavery is abolished in the United States. The 13th Amendment is formally adopted into the U.S. Constitution, ensuring that “neither slavery nor involuntary servitude… shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.”
1941 – Defended by 610 fighting men, the American-held island of Guam falls to more than 5,000 Japanese invaders in a three-hour battle.
1941 – Japan invades Hong Kong.
1956 – Japan is admitted to the United Nations.
1965 – U.S. Marines attack VC units in the Que Son Valley during Operation Harvest Moon.
1970 – An atomic leak in Nevada forces hundreds of citizens to flee the test site.
