The origin of a decorated Christmas tree is credited to Germany. German settlers brought the tradition of the Christmas tree to Pennsylvania in the 1800s but the decorated trees were looked upon by the puritans as a pagan symbol. It was brought to popularity in England through Queen Victoria, who was married to Prince Albert, a German Prince. After exhibiting the tree in her royal palace, it became fashionable for families to do the same. Members of society in the United States began decorating trees with homemade ornaments, while most copied the German tradition of using apples, berries and nuts. Today, in many families, an ornament is either purchased or hand-made every year behind which is a story of perhaps an important event that may have happened during the year, such as a birth, a marriage or the purchase of a new home. Doing this, every Christmas exhibits the milestones each family share and leaves a physical history for the next generation.
1947 – 71 YEARS AGO
Most likely people were scratching their heads in Pittston as they witnessed a taxi cab drive by with California license plates. The men operating the cab were Joseph and Charles Falcone, ex-servicemen living in California who wanted to spend the holiday season with their parents on East Railroad Street. The young fellows didn’t have to pay for cab fare as both were owners of the cab which was part of a fleet of 20 cars operated by Veterans Cab Company in Glendale, California. The two men decided to make the journey which took three and a half days, leaving their brother Anthony at the helm in California.
A woman reportedly lost her wallet in Woolworth’s Department Store. It contained all of her Christmas funds. She’d left the store and noticed her dilemma while trying to make a purchase at another store. Panicked, she returned to Woolworth’s and began running through the aisles, hoping to get a glimpse of the lost item. People watched, not knowing what was wrong with the woman. Suddenly, she spotted the wallet lying on the floor. She rushed to it, opened it frantically and found all the money still inside. Promptly, she let out a scream and fainted. Still unaware of her plight, patrons flocked to help her. As she gained consciousness, she politely explained her situation, thanked everyone and went on her way to continue shopping, most likely cherishing the gifts she was able to choose a little more.
1960 – 58 YEARS AGO
What some Greater Pittston residents wanted for Christmas:
Mrs. Web Lawler, Pittston — An invitation to the inauguration of John F. Kennedy
Joe Adamitis, Exeter — A starting post on the George Washington University basketball team
William A. Watson, Pittston — A crisp new ticket for his first airplane ride, preferably in a jet
Sam Alba, Pittston — A new bowling ball weighing a little less than the regular size, so he could resume bowling
Leo Sperrazza, Pittston — A new kind of sandwich to surpass his fine hoagies
Paul Zambor, Pittston sporting goods shop operator — Bigger and better fish stories to tell
George Vergilius, service station operator — An adding machine to keep up with the changing gasoline prices in Pittston
1964 – 54 YEARS AGO
The Sam Sperazza Orchestra visited patients at the Pittston Hospital and provided music to entertain the children during the Christmas holiday. The performance was provided by the Music Performance Trust Fund of Local 140 American Federation of Music. Musicians first began the union in 1880.
1985 – 33 YEARS AGO
The Sunday Dispatch Inquiring Photographer asked area children, “What have you asked Santa to bring you this Christmas?” Chuck Smith, of Wyoming, answered, “One huge fire truck.” Mercedes Fereck, of Duryea, stated, “A Wuzzle and a Pound Puppy.” Michael Burk, of Exeter, said, “Two Transformers games like Wheel of Fortune and a book bag.” Brendon Burke, of Exeter , added, “Transformers and Webster the He-Man,” Jennifer Brogan, of Suscon, asked for “A raincoat, rain boots and a Sleepy Real Baby.” Rachel Brogan wanted “A raincoat, Upsy Baby, and BIG toys.”
1995 – 23 YEARS AGO
The Sunday Dispatch Inquiring Photographer asked area children, “What would you like from Santa this Christmas?” Angelo Best, of Pittston, answered, “I’d like search light, a book and a toy crane. Candace Levanavage, Pittston Twp., added, “A Baywatch Barbie that comes with a dolphin, a Rosie doll, Baby Coochie. R.J. Orr, of Hughestown, asked for “a Tonka tractor with a flat bed and bull dozer, new waterproof boots. I’d also like Santa to bring a tractor trailer for my little brother Cody.” Elise Miller, Suscon, wanted, “A surprise for me, maybe a Barbie boat and for my brother some cars and trucks.” Jeffrey Peters, of Pittston, asked for, “A remote control truck, Mortal Combat Sega game.”
Seven historical events that took place on Christmas
This year, we observed the 100th anniversary of the Allied victory in World War I. The war which was fought from July 28, 1914 to Nov. 11, 1918, was interrupted once during those years to celebrate Christmas. On Dec. 7, 1914, Pope Benedict suggested a cease fire to observe a day of peace. The leaders of Germany and England did not comply, but the soldiers on both sides along the Western Front decided to take the matter into their own hands and, on Dec. 24, 1914, German and Allied troops started singing Christmas carols across lines. Each side had their favorites and, as time went on, the Allied soldiers heard instruments playing along with the German soldiers voices. As dawn broke on Christmas Day, it was said German soldiers left their trenches unarmed and began retrieving their fallen comrades. Allied forces joined the task and, before long, both sides were wishing each other Merry Christmas in their native tongues and sharing cigarettes. Unfortunately, the truce was never again seen during either world conflicts.
THIS DAY IN HISTORY
800 — Charlemagne is crowned Holy Roman Emperor.
1066 — William the Conqueror is crowned King of England.
1776 — George Washington and the Continental Army cross the Delaware River.
1814 — Treaty of Ghent ends the War of 1812.
1868 — President Andrew Johnson issues a final pardon to Confederate soldiers.
1968 — Apollo 8 orbits the moon.
1973 — U.S. astronauts onboard the Skylab Space Station take a seven-hour walk in space and photograph the comet Kohoutek.
1976 — Over 100 Muslims, returning from a pilgrimage to Mecca, die when their boat sinks.
1979 — Egypt begins a major restoration of the Sphinx.
1991 — Mikhail Gorbachev, the Soviet Union’s first and last executive president, resigns. The Soviet Union no longer exists.
2006 — James Brown, the “Godfather of Sou;,” dies at age 73.
BORN ON THIS DAY
1642 — Sir Isaac Newton, English mathematician and scientist who enunciated the laws of motion and the law of gravity
1841 — Clara Barton, founder of the Red Cross
1870 — Rosa Luxemburg, Polish-born founder of the Spartacus League which later became the German Communist Party
1907 — Cab Calloway, band leader; the first jazz singer to sell a million records
1918 — Anwar Sadat, Egyptian president (1970-1981) and Nobel Peace Prize winner
1924 — Rod Serling, screenwriter, producer; created “The Twilight Zone” TV series
1946 — Jimmy Buffett, singer, songwriter, guitarist, producer, actor (“Margaritaville,” “Cheeseburger in Paradise”)
1948 — Barbara Mandrell, country singer; twice Country Music Association’s Entertainer of the Year (“Sleeping Single in a Double Bed”)
1949 — Sissy Spacek, actress; won an Academy Award for Best Actress portraying country singer Loretta Lynn in Coal Miner’s Daughter (1980)
1950 — Karl Rove, White House Deputy Chief of Staff in the George W. Bush administration
1954 — Annie Lennox, Scottish singer, songwriter, activist; a member of The Eurythmics band; winner of eight Brit Award, four Grammys, an MTV Video Music Award, a Billboard Century Award; won a Golden Globe and an Academy Award for Best Original Song for “Into the West” in the soundtrack of the film “The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King”
1954 — Steve Wariner, country singer, songwriter, musician (“All Roads Lead to You,” “Life’s Highway”)
