Question:
In 1948, why was there skepticism among readers of the Sunday Dispatch that they would receive the January 25 issue?
1948 – 69 YEARS AGO
One thing was held as unusual about how Pittston native Bucky Harris, manager of the world champion New York Yankees won the famed Bill Slocum Memorial Award. Normally, voting on a winner took hours. However, this time it was reported Harris was chosen by a landslide decided in five minutes. Harris had a long career in baseball as a player and manager. William J. Slocum, whom the Slocum Award is named in honor of, was a well-known sportswriter in New York City during the Roaring 20s. The Slocum Award is presented annually by the New York Baseball Writers Association to a person judged to have a long and meritorious service to baseball.
In 1946, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas O’Malley, of Chapel Street in Pittston, placed an order for a new Plymouth with Joe Grace. The car was delivered in 1948. The only problem was that the O’Malleys had to make arrangements for a mechanic to drive the auto to a rented garage since no one in the family had a driver’s license. It was reported that all members of the family were making arrangements to learn how to drive. After the Dec. 7, 1941, bombing of Pearl Harbor, the last civilian cars rolled off the assembly lines, and auto plants converting to military-only production of arms, munitions, trucks, tanks and planes. Detroit didn’t resume civilian production of automobiles until the war ended in 1945. The back log of orders must have been immense.
1949 – 68 YEARS AGO
A Sunday Dispatch reporter made a visit to the Rex Shoe plant in Exeter to help quell the doubt local residents had regarding the opening of the new plant, which was erected with public funds. The unexpected closing of the former Mercury Shoe Plant left residents wary that another shoe plant was not a good fit for the area. Frank Eisenstein, general manager of the Exeter facility, hoped to quickly expand the Exeter operation. The only problem was a lack of experienced stitchers. Eisenstein put a call out for applicants with a starting wage of $24 per week, noting that experienced workers averaged $45 per week. From 1983 to 1993, many area shoe manufacturers disbanded. Among them were Prestige Shoe, Wilkes-Barre; Heavenly Shoe, Hanover Township; Frye Boot, Wilkes-Barre; Faith Shoe Co., Wilkes-Barre; and Rex Shoe in Exeter. Rex Shoe plants were also located in New York and Massachusetts.
Edward Maziarz, representative of the Displaced Persons Bureau Pittston office, reported accepting 15 applications from persons who wished to bring a displaced person from Europe to the United States. The federal government would take care of the cost of the displaced person from the port of embarkation in Europe to New York. The sponsor would then be responsible for the traveling expenses and to care for the person so they would not become “a ward of the government.” After World War II, President Harry S. Truman asked Congress to enact legislation that would allow wartime refugees to enter the United States. The law passed in 1948 authorized the entry of 200,000 displaced persons over the next two years, all within the quota system. When the act was extended for two more years, in 1950, it increased displaced-person admissions to 415,000. It was the first time in U.S. history, refugee immigration was addressed.
1950 – 58 YEARS AGO
Of the two television owners in Exeter Borough, both were finding a bit more success in reception from a new station operating out of Binghamton, NY. John Konicki of 278 Main St. stated, “On certain evenings, the picture was clear, and this, he thought, due to favorable air currents. By checking with the C.A.A. station at the Avoca Airport, Konicki claimed he “could tell a day ahead just how the reception will be.” Mr. Blattner of 416 Liberty St., the first to own a television in the borough, erected a tall high frequency antenna that allowed him to pull in Philadelphia. He planned to add another smaller antenna in the spring to get even better reception.
Pittston High School’s “Football 11” of 1949, champions of the Luzerne County conference, were honored at a banquet at the Pittston YMCA. After a concert with various local sports figures performing, the trophy was presented to Coach Cy Gallagher. Eighteen seniors were presented with jackets, Eddie Bochniak, John Sekusky, Nick Sanguedolce, Nick Rizzo, Donny Welliver, Robert Groves, Richard Mirisola, Larry Delaney, Paul Leonard, Louis Dominick, John Morgan, James Kelly, Frank Horan, Jasper Butera, Fred Davis, Michael Marranca, Ross Sciandra, John Toole, Philip Russo and Harry Ardoline.
1961 – 56 YEARS AGO
One of the premier events of the new year was the Greater Pittston Junior Chamber of Commerce annual Miss Wyoming Valley Pageant. Serving as a preliminary to the Miss Pennsylvania and Miss America pageants, the event was scheduled to be held in Wilkes-Barre. In its 12th year, the the event was being held in a more central location. Three Greater Pittston women were listed as contestants, Connie Zanta of Wyoming; Betty Jayne Marek, Plains Township; Joanne Cortegerone, Wyoming. Prizes included a scholarship provided by Senator Martin Murray and a scholarship to the Wilkes-Barre Business College, provided by the Chamber.
Sgt. First Class, Eugene Leonard Homschek finished his 20 years of service in the Army. Homschek was wounded twice while in service. He fought in the European Theater and was wounded in action in Germany. He sustained wounds early in 1950 while serving in the Korean War. A brother, Joseph, was killed in action in India, and another brother, Harold, served in World War II.
Duryea School District was ordered to close three public schools because of mandated fireproofing measures that would require an extreme amount of money. Although the State Department of Labor and Industry ordered Duryea Junior High School, Washington School and the Wilson school to close, a special permission was granted to remain open until mid-year examinations were complete.
In the “Meet the Varsity” section of the Sunday Dispatch, Hughestown High School in the East Anthracite League was highlighted. Coached by John Roberts, team members were Gerald Grassi, Joseph Gaughan, Ed Herbert, Howard Bauman, William Mullarkey, Daniel DeLuca, Michael Orleski, John Prosachick, David Brodbeck and John Shea.
Answer:
The Sunday Dispatch was set to print its Jan. 25, 1948 issue, but in the midst of putting it together, the offices and plant were being moved from an upper floor of the Kehoe Building at the corner of South Main and Dock Streets to a lower floor in the same building. Many felt the upcoming issue would not be printed. However, with a tremendous effort from everyone working with the paper, an issue arrived on the doorstep of each subscriber without hesitation. Managing Editor Bill Watson apologized, saying the issue was not “up to its usual standards as far as news content” but assured readers, “Next week the Dispatch will be a much larger paper, printing in its present format on a newly installed modern press capable of supplying the copies demanded by subscribers.”
This date in history
1863 – In an attempt to out flank Robert E. Lee‘s Army of Northern Virginia, General Ambrose Burnside leads his army on a march to north Fredericksburg, but foul weather bogs his army down in what will become known as the “Mud March.”
1879 – Eighty-two British soldiers hold off attacks by 4,000 Zulu warriors at the Battle of Rorke’s Drift in South Africa.
1930 – Admiral Richard Byrd charts a vast area of Antarctica.
