Editor’s note: This column was originally published in the Sunday Dispatch on Oct. 23, 2011.
1961 – 50 Years Ago
Navy Ensign Aldo J. Casseri of Wyoming participated in the Naval exercise Operation Sea Shell aboard the USS Bennington. An anti-submarine warfare support aircraft carrier, the Bennington suffered two major accidents: a boiler room explosion in April 1953, and a hydraulic catapult explosion and fire on May 26, 1954. The latter cost the lives of 103 men. Forty-eight years earlier, the USS Bennington Naval Gun Boat experienced a boiler explosion on the morning of July 21, 1905, taking the lives of 65 men.
The women of Pittston were ready for a fight. They had collectively planned to attend a school board meeting to complain that the children’s restrooms in the schools needed doors on the “closets.” The night of the meeting only a few ladies showed up. One woman stated, “Forty women were supposed come but were stopped. Somebody ‘talked’ to them.” The Sunday Dispatch asked the question, “Who would have the unmitigated gall to make a police state out of little Pittston?”
Sixteen Pittston students were set to graduate from Wilkes-Barre Business College: Elizabeth Morgan, Geraldine Callaio, Patricia Cicacci, Cecelia Russo, Carmella Puma, Molly Brannon, Dorothy Sherwood, Kathleen Connell, Ruth Kaslavage, Rita Fliss, Mary Grobinski, Carol Schoner, Robert Cebula, Louis Volpetti, Patricia Spatz and Elaine Tirpak.
Due to a heavy volume of requests for assistance, the Pittston branch of the Family Service Association increased its office hours. Among the services offered in 1961 were marriage counseling, elderly assistance, help for single mothers and a homemaker service that temporarily kept families together while mothers were unable to care for their homes and families. According to the Family Service Association of Wyoming Valley website, the Charity Society Organization was founded in 1895.
1971 – 40 Years Ago
The West Pittston Cemetery needed some sprucing up, so Wyoming Area Key Club members Jackie Hoover, Lefty Lefchak, Len “Far Catch” Tarrito, Dave Nerozzi, Louis Palmeri, Willis “Fence” Hapeman, Harry Schmaltz, Gerard Newman, Gerry Kashuda, Paul Pugliese, Joe Jankoviak, and Sam Maira volunteered their time, took brush in hand and painted the cemetery fence.
In 1953, John Moss of Duryea had a dream to start a neighborhood playground that would keep children safe while having fun. In 1971, Moss was presented with a gold wristwatch from the Duryea Healey Memorial Playground Association, as a tribute to his vision. Moss attributed the success of the project to fellow charter members Nellie Dempski, Joseph Gross, Frank “Peck” Pesotine, Senator Pat Toole, Frank Galonis, Bill Medico and Ettore Agolino.
The Sunday Dispatch Inquiring Photographer asked, “What do you recall about old-fashioned Halloween fun?” John Blandina of West Pittston answered, “Tipping over outhouses. People expected it, and would have been disappointed if we didn’t.” Angelo Montante, Pittston, added, “We always went trick-or-treating and most of the times, it was tricking.” Ralph Klein of Pittston remembered, “There was always a big parade. We would go to a party and bob for apples.”
Top 10 songs of 1971:
1. “Superstar,” Carpenters
2. “Maggie May,” Rod Stewart
3. “Sweet City Woman,” Stampeders
4. “I’ve Found Someone of My Own,” Free Movement
5. “If You Really Love Me,” Stevie Wonder
6. “Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves,” Cher
7. “Yo Yo,” Osmonds
8. “Do You Know What I Mean,” Lee Michaels
9. “The Night They Drove Ol’ Dixie Down,” Joan Baez
10. “Ain’t No Sunshine,” Bill Withers
Mo-Ritz Lounge on Main Street in Duryea was the site of the installation dinner of the Auxiliary of American Legion Post 585. The new officers of the auxiliary were Victoria Graboski, president; Anna Saneski, first vice president; Edna Butrymowicz, second vice president; Stella Piorkowski, secretary; Sophie Davis, treasurer; Carmelita Sokolowski, chaplain and Mary Edwards, historian.
1981 – 30 Years Ago
Minors’ Lounge and Restaurant in Pittston held the first Pool Partners Championship with first place trophies going to Michael Kizis and Pat Tracy and second place to Al Kashinsky and Jim Homschek. Many young men participated in the tournament and were impressed by the demonstration conducted by pool champion Leo Galli. A tournament for girls was to be held in the following week. Poolrooms were originally betting parlors for horse racing. Patrons passed the time between races by playing billiards. Over time, the game became synonymous with the term poolroom. The unsavory connotation of “poolroom” came from the betting that took place there, not from the game itself.
Shooting a 73, Sandy LaFoca won the 1981 Wyoming Valley All Star Golf match held at the Wilkes-Barre Municipal Golf Course. While attending Pittston Area High School, LaFoca finished his season with a 9-3 record.
Wyoming Area graduate Cathy Price of Exeter, and Pittston Area graduate Robin Marino-Purves, both were seeing success as members of the Wilkes College tennis team. Price took MVP honors as a freshman. Pittston Area coach Dave Chorba expected good things of Marino-Purves in the coming year.
1991 – 20 Years Ago
Seton Catholic senior Sheileen O’Malley had an opportunity to view the political process up close. She was selected to attend the National Young Leaders Conference in Washington, D.C. O’Malley was scheduled along with 349 other students from across the country to meet with politicians and journalists and participate in discussions and re-enactments. She was selected to attend after demonstrating academic excellence and leadership skills. Founded in 1985, The National Young Leaders Conference gives future leaders a greater understanding of the democratic process. According to the NYLC website, “Through interaction with cabinet secretaries, members of Congress, lobbyists, journalists and academics, NYLC scholars receive direct experience and guidance that cannot be found in textbooks.”
Opened in 1949, the Pittston Library had gone through a series of difficulties during its first 21 years. In 1970, new life was breathed into the effort by original board members Maria Capolarella, Joe Luke, Jean Linskey, Bob Linskey, Jean Campbell and new board members Clair Clapps, Annarose McNulty and Linda Scaz. From sponsoring small fundraisers, the group began to gain notice of politicians and local residents, which led to more well-attended events that generated much-needed funding.
2001 – 10 Years Ago
In 1927, the Wyoming Free Library was born through the efforts of the Wyoming Women’s Club. Kate Pettebone Dickson donated a century-old home on Wyoming Avenue to the cause and by the end of the first year, the library had over 1,600 books on display. Board and staff members Marcella Scott, Sandra Tou, Jack Mills, Peter Podwika, Ellen Davenport, Jonah Aben, Betty Miller, James and Susan Shoemaker, Lisa Barrett, Joseph Olesky, Carol Shemo, and Joan Perconte celebrated the library’s 74th year.
Built in 1847, the Exeter Borough building was slated for demolition, wiping out 107 years of Exeter history. As the wrecking ball made short work of the historical building, Mayor Joe Coyne and councilman Joe Esposito retrieved bricks from the rubble to distribute to residents. A replica of the original bell tower was incorporated into the design of the new borough building and the old flagpole would see new life at the planned veterans memorial.
This Date in History:
1861 – President Abraham Lincoln suspends the writ of habeas corpus in Washington, D.C. for all military-related cases.
1929 – The first transcontinental air service begins from New York to Los Angeles.
2002 – Chechen terrorists take 700 theater-goers hostage at the House of Culture theater in Moscow.
2004 – An earthquake in Japan kills 35, injures 2,200, and leaves 85,000 homeless or displaced.
