1947 – 71 Years Ago
John Allardyce was chosen to succeed retiring Pittston mayor, Frank T. Horan. He was set to take office on January 1, 1948. Allardyce, a former city police officer, was active in the political scene and was largely responsible for the election of Mayor Horan and two city councilmen, giving control of city government to the GOP.
Angelo Loyack of Port Griffith attended a meeting of the Jenkins Township school directors with the purpose of shedding light on the area’s unemployment situation. Loyack stated in his address that collieries in the township were employing far too many men from the Scranton area. He emphasized the lay-offs of workmen seem to be mostly from the Greater Pittston area while employees outside the area seem to retain their jobs. He asked the directors to contact Pennsylvania Coal Company and the Jermyn-Green Coal Company to investigate the seemingly unbalanced employment practices. Members of the board agreed to look at the situation to see if there was preference given to certain individuals.
1963 – 55 Years Ago
Duryea Post 1227 marked the end of the 30-day national mourning period for the late President John F. Kennedy by placing a wreath at the base of their flagpole and sounding taps. Congressman Daniel Flood attended the event. Believed to be the first of its kind, the Duryea Borough council approved a resolution to mark the death of President Kennedy every year thereafter by lowering the flag to half- staff from sunrise to sunset.
Dupont native, Al Michaels, opened a “men’s and boy’s furnishings shop” in the Newman Building in Dupont. Michaels originally planned to become a radio disc jockey, but after working at a job in the Scranton department store he decided to invest his future in the clothing business.
1983 – 35 Years Ago
John Marino of Dupont Monument Company began work on a plaque that would contain 215 names of servicemen who lost their lives while serving overseas. Captain Leo Tierney spearheaded the project and Major Ray McGarry chaired the fund drive. The names represented veterans who lost their lives either during combat in World War I, World War II, Korea and Vietnam or in peacetime. Upon completion, the plaque was to be placed at Pittston Area High School. The names supplied by residents of Greater Pittston were as follows: Edward Adrian, Ray Alford, Kenneth Atwell. Francis Balconis, John Baranousky, Alphonsus Barba, Edward Barnak William Barnhardt, Francis Battista, William Barrett, Armando Bianco, Joseph Bodner, William Bolin, William Brennan Charles Bressler, Earl Brown, Robert Brown Bernard Bryk, Anthony Burke, James Burke, Walter Busch, George Butler, Aloysius Cavley, Charles Cella, Frank Chesnousky, John Chichilla, Ambrose Chodnicki, Peter Cielesz, William Clarke, Michael Clifford, James Colarusso, Robert Coleman, Stanley Czerw. John Dabbieri, Leonard DeLuga, James DePaul, Darwin Dively, Eugene Donnelly, Thomas Dougher, George Evancho, Peter Evancho, Alan Evans, Charles Evans,
Charles Falzone, Eugene Felter, Joseph Fleming, Russell Francis, Irwin Freed, Edward Gibbons, Dr. John Gibbons, Thomas Gilmartin, Edward Gilroy, Peter Golya, George Gompertz, Albert Gregalis, Joseph Gregori, Martin Gregorski, Joseph Guarnieri, John Hannon, Malcolm Havard, William Havard, Harry Hill, Vincent Holleran, Joseph Homschek, Robert Homschek, William Howley, Joseph Houston, Joseph Hunt. Albert Insogna, John Jones, Richard Johns, Charles Jordan, James Jordan, George Joyce, Joseph Joyce, Stanley Karkut, Edward Kasmarski, William Kause, Vincent Kelly, Stanley Kleyanek, Frank Knick, Peter Knick, George Koscelansky, Edward Koscelnak, Frank Kovaleski John Kovaleski, George Kraft, Thomas Kulik, John Kuna, Andrew Kundla, Stephen Kundla, Michael Kundrat, John Kundratic. Joseph LaPorte, Walter Lambert, Frank Legezdh Jr. Sylvester Lello, Edmund Lokuta, Peter Loncala, William Long, James Luvender, Thomas Maciorowski, George Mangan, Zigmund Maron, Edward Marsh, Kenneth Martin, Joseph Martone, Joseph McAndrew, Michael McDermott, Patrick McGarry, John McHale, Bernard McPhillips, Vincent McDonald, John McLean, Robert Memory, Robert Micklas, Frank Mehock, George Mikolosko, John Minzak, Charles Montagna, Anthony Montante, Alphonso Morreale, Byron Morrow, Walter Moskowitz, Joseph Motiska, Walter Murphy, Henry Murzinski, Americo Nanni, Arthur Newton Jr., Raymond Novak, Robert O’Boyle, Michael Ogurek, Joseph Olenik, William Ostrowski, Peter Panetski, Harry Patterson, Charles Peacock, Stephen Perkel, George Petritis, George Phillips Jr., William Plisga, William Podrigar, Michael Polka, Peter Poremba, Albert Przybytek, Charles Puma, Thomas Rabbit Jr., Joseph Rafferty, Michael Ratchford, Charles Reap, John Regan, Joseph Regan, Joseph Rindos, William Roat, John Rokita, Daniel Romanko, John Romanski, Raymond Rosato, Joseph Rostock, Joseph Russo, John Saduzky, Stanley Saduzky, Giuseppe Sagliocolo, Andrew Salvo, George Sakocius, Florian Sarfine, Charles Schweitzer, Harold Sekusky, Stanley Serafin, Walter Serafin, Edward Skowronski, Edmund Skunda, Frank Sledzrewski, Frank Smigal, William Smith, Anthony Sokolowski, Albert Sorci, Arby Sorci, John Soroka, John Sroka, George Spierson, Kenneth Stahl, John Stark, Peter Stuckes, Dennis Sullivan, Sylvester Sullivan, Henry Syzmanski, Lawrence Tench, Michael Thomas, James Thompson, Arthur Tinklepaugh, Peter Torosko, John Tullo, Louis Turon Jr., Frank Ulrich, Ronald Urbanski, Joseph Valosky, Robert Venetz, Frank Vigsen, Wellington Vosburg, Robert Wall, Al Walsh, James Walsh, Raymond Walsh, Robert Watson, Albert West, Thomas Whyte, John Widdal, Patrick Williams, William Wintle, Robert Wolak, Donald Wrightson, Stanley Wysokinski, Raymond Young, Stanley Zegelka, Stanley Zdun, Frank Ziantz.
1985 – 33 Years Ago
Members of the Pittston Area Class of 1969 will celebrate their 50th anniversary reunion in August of 2019. They will be sharing senior highlights from the class in our Peeking into the Past column throughout the coming months leading up to their reunion event.
It probably would have rivaled a scene from Rocky as Pittston Area 1969 alumnus, Jim Marinello entered the ring to face former world heavyweight boxing champ, Smokin’ Joe Frazier. Marinello agreed to the matchup for a fundraiser sponsored by the Wilkes-Barre Police Athletic Club held in the Bishop Hoban High School gym. The club hoped to raise $6,000 as the event drew about 500 fans. Marinello, an amateur fighter, Luzerne County probation officer and Athletic League boxing instructor, trained for the fight, but knew he would be out-matched by Frazier. Marinello helped arrange the exhibition bout to raise money in the battle against child abuse. He split a third of the proceeds among the Victims’
Resource Center, The Luzerne County Chapter of Foster Parents’ Association and Parents Anonymous. Frazier donated his third of the money toward the fight against sickle cell anemia, a charity he felt strongly about since his original trainer Yancey “Yank” Durham fell victim to the disease. Another third was donated by Frazier’s agent, Sharon Hatch, to Live Aid which helped famine victims in Africa. At 41, Marinello rose to the challenge and aggressively pursued Frazier with jabs and punches, but after Marinello “accidently” poked Frazier in the eye with his thumb, Frazier retaliated with a shot to the body sending Marinello into the ropes. “He was getting a little too cute out there and I wanted him to know who was champ.” Frazier later commented.
What was the cost of living in 1960?
Average Cost of new house $12,700 – Average Monthly Rent $98.00 – Cost of a gallon of Gas 25 cents – 23 inch Television $219.95 -Average Cost of a new car $2,600 – Piaggio / Vespa Scooter $319.95 – Can of Beef Ravioli 30 cents – Loaf of Bread 20 cents – Mens Electric Shaver $20.30 – Polaroid Land Camera, looking back it seems quite expensive but this was the only way to see your photo nearly instantly Polaroid Camera $93.45 – The latest in Danish contemporary furniture for the 60’s home Danish Contemporary Living Room Furniture $350.00
This day in history:
1861 – Banks in the United States suspend the practice of redeeming paper money for metal currency, a practice that would continue until 1879.
1862 – The draft of the Emancipation Proclamation is finished and circulated among President Abraham Lincoln‘s cabinet for comment.
1972 – After two weeks of heavy bombing raids on North Vietnam, President Nixon halts the air offensive and agrees to resume peace negotiations with Hanoi representative Le Duc Tho.
1976 – Governor Carey of New York pardons seven inmates, closing the book on the Attica uprising.
2006 – Saddam Hussein, former Iraq dictator, is executed by hanging for crimes committed against his own people during his rule.
Born on this day:
1928 – Bo Diddley, blues composer and singer.
1935 – Sandy Koufax, Hall of Fame left-handed pitcher with the L.A. Dodgers
