1960 – 59 YEARS AGO
In his weekly column on the history of Greater Pittston local historian Charles McCarthy focused on the history of public education in the area. He noted, “In 1896, there was a total of 30 classrooms in the Pittston City School District. The school term was nine months. The faculty consisted of one male teacher who was paid a salary of $112.50 per month and 30 female teachers each paid a salary of $44.68 per month. Student enrollment was 1,531 boys and 344 girls. Average daily attendance was 1,164 or 76 percent. City schools were numbered One through Six, but soon after, the schools were named after Presidents of the United States: Jefferson, Lincoln, Washington, Jackson, Garfield and Cleveland. By 1934, the net enrollment of students in the city schools totaled 4, 402 and in 1940, 3,564.”
Ronnie Greb, of Duryea, toured Europe and Asia as a drummer with the Jack Teagarden Orchestra. While in high school, Greb received musical training from Charles Mustinski. After graduation, Greb studied with world-reknowned drummer Gene Krupa. Greb participated in early releases of Teagarden’s band under the name of “Big T’s Dixieland Band” on the Capital Records Label.
1962 – 57 YEAS AGO
Guy Burgio, of Pittston, accepted a position with the National Security Service in Washington, D.C. as an electronic technician. A 1960 graduate of Pittston High School, Burgio planned to continue his education at George Washington University in D.C. According to declassified documents, in February 1943, the U.S. Army’s Signal Intelligence Service, the precursor to the National Security Agency, began a secret program later codenamed VENONA. The mission of this program was to examine and exploit Soviet diplomatic communications, uncovering spy networks and traitors in the U.S. In 1962, the agency played a key role in intercepting communications leading to the Cuban Missile Crises.
1965 – 54 YEARS AGO
A plaque honoring the late Dr. Albert Biederman was placed in the cardiology room of the Pittston Hospital. Dr. Biederman championed the Heart Fund and worked tirelessly as the chairman of the local heart crusade. Present at the event were Atty. Thomas F. Burke, Mrs. Albert Biederman, Herbert J. Morris, of the Heart Association; Joan Poplawski, recipient of the Dr. Albert Biederman nursing award; Agnes Burns, director of nursing services; Mrs. Harold Salsburg, Dr. Leonard Towlen, James J. Lydon, Dr. Martin Walsh, Margaret Loux Tonrey, director of nursing services; Mildred Sayers and Elaine Davis.
1967 – 52 YEARS AGO
Four deserving young women were awarded scholarships by members of the West Pittston Junior Women’s Club. Each year the club donated proceeds obtained during the club’s spring project to young women recommended by principals and guidance counselors at their respective school. In 1967, the recipients of the scholarships were Suzanne Hammon and Loretta Reddington, of Pittston Area High School; and Janice Romanowski and Barbara Memory, of Wyoming Area.
1975 – 44 YEARS AGO
Melanie Liquori, of Exeter, liked to be called Mimi, even by her fellow Little Leaguers. Mimi, 12, was the first girl to participate in Little League baseball in Exeter and was known to be able to play just about any position. Mimi’s father, Sam, well known WARD radio announcer stated, “She’s okay and fits right in.”
1979 – 40 YEARS AGO
It was more important than ever that the Pittston Library annual auction and flea market fundraiser was a success. The library needed increased support from the public since it would no longer be eligible for state financial assistance. Since 1974, the library was in the process of being rebuilt with help from annual grant money from the state. After renovations were completed, the monies needed for operating the library would come from city grants and fundraising efforts. Maria Capolarella, board chairman, was assisted by Ida Anzalone, Mary McNalley, Sara Ruddy, Rosemary Butera, Irma Azaravich Jasmine Mikita, Dr. Robert Bishop, Jennifer Morgan, Atty, Joseph Lakowski, Carlotta Adonizio, Lucy Murtha, Florence Palermo, Fail Senece, Cathy Boney, Marion Giraldi and Elaine Marriggi.
Over 400 people attended the 58th annual dinner meeting of the Greater Pittston Chamber of Commerce. President Paul Cadden gave the annual report and presented a plaque to Immediate Past President Frank J. Barbera. According to the chamber’s website, the Greater Pittston Chamber of Commerce was incorporated on June 26, 1920. In its 99th year, current officers are Michelle Mikitish, executive vice-president; Brandi Bartush, administrator/events coordinator; Patricia F. Stella, immediate past president; Rick Kazmerick, president; Bill Joyce, Jr., first vice president; Christine Jensen, second vice president; Girard Mecadon, Esq., third vice president; John Serafin, treasurer; Samuel A. Falcone, Esq., solicitor.
1985 – 34 YEARS AGO
Joseph Pupa III, president of Interstate Window and Door Company in Pittston Township, learned that an architectural firm in Clarks Summit was handling the Statue of Liberty restoration. He and his father Joseph Pupa Jr. offered to donate a total of 32 vinyl windows and rolling doors for the restoration of the pavilion in the New York harbor. Originally known as Interstate Home Improvement, the company was founded in 1939 by Joseph Pupa Sr. The restoration was completed in 1986 and the statue’s centennial was celebrated on July 4 with fireworks and fanfare. On July 5, a new Statue of Liberty exhibit opened in the base of the pedestal. According to statueofliberty.org. in 1982, “Fundraising began for the $87 million restoration under a public/private partnership between the National Park Service and The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, Inc., to date the most successful public-private partnership in American history.”
1986 – 33 YEARS AGO
Wyoming Area students Joseph Jeffery and Thomas Kolessar participated in the National Science Olympiad. Jeffery received the Olympiad Medal for excellence in physics and Kolessar received the medal for excellence in chemistry. The first recorded Science Olympiad was held on Saturday, Nov. 23, 1974 at St. Andrews Presbyterian College in Laurinburg, North Carolina. Dr. Donald Barnes and Dr. David Wetmore were the originators of this event. The program has expanded over the years with 60 teams present in each division at the United States National Competition.
1997 – 22 YEARS AGO
Throughout the school year, members of the Pittston Area fourth and fifth grades studied the Civil War under the direction of their teacher Phyllis Biga. Going the extra mile, students were asked to immerse themselves in the subject matter and take on the roles of soldiers, families, doctors and nurses to better understand the effects of the war on people living in both the North and South. Biga designed her curriculum to reflect a “different aspect of American History by applying field trips, demonstrations and contests,” as well as a trip to Gettysburg. The year ended with students Kevin Musto, Brianne Smithonic, David Morreale, David Spak, Alexis Jesikiewicz and Steven Martin winning awards for their participation.
THIS DAY IN HISTORY
1774 — The Quartering Act, requiring American colonists to allow British soldiers into their houses, is reenacted.
1883 — The first baseball game under electric lights is played in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
1886 — Grover Cleveland becomes the first American president to wed while in office.
1924 — The United States grants full citizenship to American Indians.
1942 — The American aircraft carriers Enterprise, Hornet and Yorktown move into their battle positions for the Battle of Midway.
1954 — Senator Joseph McCarthy charges that there are communists working in the CIA and atomic weapons plants.
1969 — The Australian aircraft carrier Melbourne slices the destroyer USS Frank E. Evans in half off the shore of South Vietnam.
BORN ON THIS DAY
1731 — Martha Dandridge, the First Lady of the United States; widow of Daniel Park Custis, she married George Washington in 1759.
1840 — Thomas Hardy, English poet and novelist (“Far from the Madding Crowd,” “Tess of the D’Urbervilles”)
1904 — Johnny Weissmuller, American gold-winning Olympic swimmer who portrayed Tarzan in films
