1948 – 71 YEARS AGO

With the job market flooding as students graduated from area high schools, it was reported in the Sunday Dispatch that factory work was the “only hope for girls.” With nearly 500 girls set to seek employment, according to the Pittston Employment Office, they were the last in line to be considered for employment behind veterans and the male graduates. The Pennsylvania State Employment Service was administering aptitude tests to determine what types of position graduates were best fitted.

Hundreds of people from Greater Pittston gathered at the “Jail on Wheels” exhibit created by J. Edward Slavin, a former sheriff of New Haven County, Connecticut in order to discourage crime. Pittston Mayor John J. Allardyce was pleased with the number of children who visited the display saying, “It is very obvious that the crime-fighting equipment displayed in the Jail on Wheels creates an impression for good living on the minds of the children who visited.” Most children and adults were particularly interested in the authentic electric chair and guns on display. According to “Vans Show Juveniles Prison Life Kids Sit In ‘Hot Seat,’” by Ralph L. Cuvette, Slavin believed if children saw the conditions of confinement or perhaps sat in an electric chair, which they were encouraged to do, they would choose not to break the law. The touring vehicles contained “sawed-off shot guns, handcuffs, revolvers, drunk-o-meters, police radios, the electric chair and a bucket-type cell.” As of November 1948, Slavin had two Jails on Wheels operating. His plan was to have at least six vehicles touring the country.

1965 – 54 YEARS AGO

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Francis Kocelnak, of Tompkins Street, Pittston served as an MP guard at the New York World’s Fair. Francis was stationed in the Pennsylvania Pavilion at the fairgrounds located in Queens, New York in which he guarded the replica of the Liberty Bell during the run of the fair. The original bell began traveling across the country in 1885 and, due to its fragile nature, made its final trip to the San Francisco World’s Fair in 1915. In the 1950s, each state was presented with a replica of the bell; however, the crack was painted on.

1975 – 44 YEARS AGO

West Pittston Little League Association was notified it would host the second annual Pennsylvania State Little League Girls Softball Tournament. The league consisted of 12 teams with 200 plus girls. In the first tournament in Downingtown, the West Pittston All Stars took second place. In 1966, West Pittston hosted the boys state tournament, thus giving the combined league the distinction of being the first to host both boys and girls tournaments.

Anthony D’Elia, of Pittston, was awarded Prudential’s Community Service Award for his work with the Jefferson Park Association, sponsor for Pack 345 and the Wilkes-Barre Chapter of Unico International. Anthony was one of 41 recipients chosen out of 7,000 people from Maryland, Delaware, Washington, DC and Pennsylvania.

1979 – 40 YEARS AGO

St. Mary’s Assumption School in Pittston needed $60,000 for state-mandated renovations which included new steps, ceilings, fire doors, sprinkler system and other safety requirements. Joseph Frank, general chairman, along with Carman Uritz, Betty Yeremsky, Michael Loncoskie, Margarite Moran, Mary Redding and Donald Humphrey embarked on a fundraising campaign to secure the monies so the school could open in September. Father Gerald J. Bishof, pastor, related the fact that “many students who graduated from the school had gone on to higher education, becoming doctors, lawyers and business and professional leaders.” The first St. Mary’s School building was built in 1890 on the corner of Church and Sand Streets. In 1924, construction of a new school building began. Due to restructuring, St. Mary’s School closed June 15, 2011.

1985 – 34 YEARS AGO

Franceen Pisano, of Wyoming, was crowned Miss Pennsylvania National Pre-Teen in Harrisburg. She would go on to represent the state of Pennsylvania in the National Pre-Teen Pageant in Florida. Pisano was judged on scholastic achievement, leadership, appearance, poise, personality and talent.

Over 800 Pittston Area students put on a spring concert to raise funds for the Statue of Liberty renovation. Four “Sing for Liberty” concerts were held, raising over $2,300 for the restoration project. Marianna Smith, music teacher at Pittston City Elementary School, knew that, since the district had sponsored a concert every spring during the past seven years, doing concerts for the fundraising effort would be a good idea. Over 3,000 adults turned out for the four concerts. Sixty members of the Wyoming Valley Barbershop Chorus and 25 members of the Pittston Area Community Chorus participated. The statue restoration project was completed in 1986 and the statue’s centennial was celebrated on July 4. On July 5, a Statue of Liberty exhibit opened in the base of the pedestal.

1989 – 30 YEARS AGO

The weather did not cooperate for the 58th annual John A. Allan Golf Tournament at Fox Hill Country Club in Exeter. Defending team champions Wally Kuharchik and Art Brunn Sr. built a two-stroke lead, regardless of the heavy rains during the first two days of play. Both men were seeking their third consecutive Allan title. In the aftermath of the Great Depression, Fox Hill Country Club president John Allan financially supported the club, ensuring its survival. Allan held the position from 1935 to 1937.

1995 – 24 YEARS AGO

Josette Fedor was named Rotary Club’s Camp Leader of Leaders. The title was given “To the one who got everyone to participate and the one who brings everyone together to work as a team.” Fedor was ranked number one out of 210 students in her class at Wyoming Area High School for her participation in numerous activities. She was on the board of directors of Student Council and Key Club and represented her school at the Hugh O’Brien Leadership Seminar.

The Sunday Dispatch named the Most Valuable Players from each of seven high school spring sports programs. Named were John Dessoye, Pittston Area, one of the best high school runners in the state, winning three district gold medals; Laura Mudlock, Pittston Area, “threw a javelin farther than any other girl in District 2 and farther than all but five girls in the AAA state Championships; Rob Kane, Wyoming Area, excelled as a pitcher, infielder and batter; Sue Barnak, Seton Catholic, excelled in batting and fielding; Adham Rahman, Pittston Area, led the Patriots volleyball team in both assists and kills; Steve Rubin, Pittston Area, was the first tennis team league all-star as the No. 1 seed in singles; Kim Thomas, Pittston Area, was the top local girls soccer player and was a first team league all-star for three seasons.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

1683 — William Penn signs a friendship treaty with the Lenni Lenape Indians in Pennsylvania.

1863 — Confederate forces overwhelm a Union garrison at the Battle of Brashear City in Louisiana.

1865 — Confederate General Stand Watie surrenders his army at Fort Towson, in the Oklahoma Territory.

1885 — Former general and president Ulysses S. Grant dies at the age of 63.

1944 — In one of the largest air strikes of the war, the U.S. Fifteenth Air Force sends 761 bombers against the oil refineries at Ploiesti, Romania.

1951 — Soviet U.N. delegate Jacob Malik proposes cease-fire discussions in the Korean War.

BORN ON THIS DAY

1927 — Bob Fosse, choreographer and director

1940 — Wilma Rudolph, American athlete

1943 — James Levine, pianist and conductor

https://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/web1_Judy-Minsavage.CMYK_-2.jpg.optimal.jpg

Members and officers of Riverside Chapter of the National Honor Society in 1995 were from left, first row, Barbara Brzenski, recording secretary; Samantha Zigmont, president-elect; Paul Tomszyk, treasurer; Judi Talerico, president; Rene Lukasiewicz, vice president; Karen Coolbaugh, corresponding secretary. Second row, Courtney Murphy, Kimberly Rinaldi, Jacklyn Malinowski, Dawn Delgerucio, Michelle Dreistadt, Amy Manley, Stacy Appnel, Crystal Jenkins, Marie Hazelton, Abbey Armstrong, Jessica Morgan, Lori Sledgeski, Amy Patel, Sandra Dructor, Pamela Heckman, Rachel Drazdowski, Kelly Connor. Third row, Keith Davis, Joe Basile, Jared Goul, Ryan Doran, Jeff Hartman, Daniel Walsh, Brian Sweeney, Leo Walfsberger, Craig Keller, Michael Micchiche and Erik Matticola.
https://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/web1_1995-RIVERSIDE-CHAPT-NATIONAL-HONOR-SOCIETY.jpg.optimal.jpgMembers and officers of Riverside Chapter of the National Honor Society in 1995 were from left, first row, Barbara Brzenski, recording secretary; Samantha Zigmont, president-elect; Paul Tomszyk, treasurer; Judi Talerico, president; Rene Lukasiewicz, vice president; Karen Coolbaugh, corresponding secretary. Second row, Courtney Murphy, Kimberly Rinaldi, Jacklyn Malinowski, Dawn Delgerucio, Michelle Dreistadt, Amy Manley, Stacy Appnel, Crystal Jenkins, Marie Hazelton, Abbey Armstrong, Jessica Morgan, Lori Sledgeski, Amy Patel, Sandra Dructor, Pamela Heckman, Rachel Drazdowski, Kelly Connor. Third row, Keith Davis, Joe Basile, Jared Goul, Ryan Doran, Jeff Hartman, Daniel Walsh, Brian Sweeney, Leo Walfsberger, Craig Keller, Michael Micchiche and Erik Matticola.

Peeking into

the Past

Judy Minsavage

Reach the Sunday Dispatch newsroom at 570-991-6405 or by email at sd@psdispatch.com.