Question:
In 1948, why were Pittston Township school directors interested in finding out how many planes were landing at the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Airport and how many tons of coal were being mined in the township per day?
1949 – 68 years ago
Avoca High School football team coached by Joseph Kennedy lost only one game in the 1948 season. In the new year, they were honored as champions of the Greater Pittston East Anthracite Football Conference. Members of the team were listed as J. Kosloski, L. Johnson, J. Regan, J. Frew, B. Donovan, J. Clifford, B. Nolan, B. Satkowski, J.Jones, G. Aherns, B. Sickler, O. Smith, A Tetlak, J. McDermott, C. Klimek, J. Black, G. Corcoran, B. Conaboy, M. Marsh, J. Mazur, J. Brunton, J. Shermanski, O. Breymier, J. Bartush. Representatives of the Avoca Cotillion Club, Bob Borthwick, A. Jeffrey and George Roberts, were also scheduled to present a trophy to the team.
The Jenkins Township Women’s Club was formed during the early years of World War II as a civil defense unit. In 1949, the club celebrated its ninth year. Officers of the club were Mary Mangan, president; Mary Lynch, vice-president; Pauline Spadi, secretary; Phyllis Zabretsky, treasurer; Mary Claire Burke, Chaplain; and Nora Murtha, social chairman. A dinner was planned to honor retiring president Lucille Melvin. According to the National Women’s History Museum, women’s organizations formed to enable “a nationwide network that mobilized millions of women to implement a wide range of local projects.” to assist during World War II. Many remained active for many years after the war ended.
The Dupont Hose Company was lauded by residents for its continued courtesy extended to all veterans. Hose company events were offered free to all veterans who arrived in uniform. It was reported the hose company continued the courtesy well after World War II.
Thirty-four men enlisted in the service at the Pittston recruiting center. Included in the group were three members of one Dupont family, brothers, Bernard and Joseph Bryk and their cousin, Peter. Others who enlisted were Howard Posten, Edward Barnak, Frank Mirabelle, John Forgash, Thomas J. Semanick of Dupont; Martin Cellucci, Joseph Mattey of Pittston; Frank Prokop, Daniel Feretti, James Sapack, George Girnas, Donald Herron, Walter Hrycyna, Anthony Rossi, Lawrence Troy, Rudoph Forlenza all of Wyoming; Joseph Granteed, John Kurilla, Joseph Masker, Joseph Martin, Paul Kelly, Geisomino Silviano, Joseph Struccia, James Quenny, Joseph Novack, Joseph McLaughlin all of Pittston and John Koslick, Dennis Lucci and Francis Tirpak of Exeter.
1950 – 67 years ago
The Sunday Dispatch Inquiring Photographer asked Pittston residents this rather interesting question, “Some men often wish they were women and some women wish they were men. Has the thought ever occurred to you and under what circumstance?” Alice Riley answered, “I would wish I was a man because men can get away with more than women.” Carmen Lobrutto, Pittston, stated, “I often wish I was a woman, because as a woman you have the fellows chasing after you while as a man you have to do all the chasing.” Walter McGraw said, “I often made that statement, women have nothing more to do than sit around all day and make themselves look pretty. When they get bored with that, they listen to soap operas.” Catherine Dorbad, Pittston added, “I might of thought I wish I was a man while driving a car, a man pulls out in front of me or if I was married and had to stay home all the time while my husband was gadding about the town.” Pete Adonizio said, “I often said that I wish I was a woman because I don’t think they have the worries and responsibilities a man has.”
1978 – 39 years ago
District Justice Joseph Augello swore in Mayor Robert Loftus to his fifth consecutive term as mayor of Pittston. Mayor Loftus served in the Army in World War II European Theatre and, while he served as mayor, presented keys to the city to several important visitors, including President Jimmy Carter and Governor Robert P. Casey. His service to the community as mayor spanned 20 years.
2001 – 16 years ago
In January 2001, Pittston Mayor Michael Lombardo was selected to receive the very first Sunday Dispatch Greater Pittston Person of the Year “2000” award. A reception was planned for the Gramercy ballroom. The following people were bestowed the honor in the following years: Lori Nocito, 2001; Frank Bartoli, 2002; Fighting Men and Women, 2003; Ron D’Eliseo, 2004; Father Paul McDonnell, O.S.J., 2005; The Joyce Family, 2006; Monsignor John J. Bendik, 2007; Peggy Burke, 2008. Posthumously Pennsylvania State Trooper Joshua D. Miller, 2009; Richie Kossuth, 2010; Those affected by the flood of 2011, 2011; Charles A. Adonizio III, 2012, Stephanie Jallen, 2013; Barbara Sciandra, 2014; Rose Randazzo, 2015. Nominations for the 2016 Person of the Year and Joseph Saporito Lifetime of Service Award are open until Jan. 20. Lombardo recently announced his candidacy for re-election to the office of mayor of Pittston.
Who were recipients of the Joseph F. Saporito Lifetime of Service Award from the time of its inception in 2001? The answer will be published in next week’s Peeking into the Past.
Answer:
Pittston Township school district was short on funds in 1948 and directors proposed taxes on the amount of coal produced from strip mine operations and the amount of planes landing at the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Airport. “If found legal,” a 10 cent per ton tax on coal removed by mining contractors would be levied on all operations. With an estimated 1700 tons of coal removed daily from the mines, the district would receive approximately $175 per day. Because of an existing court decision, many coal operations in the township, as well as in other communities, were not taxed. The decision by the township school district was unprecedented in the Pittston area. School districts were given power by the state to levy a tax on anything not already taxed by the state.
