Editor’s note: The Sunday Dispatch is celebrating its 70th year. The following story was first published in the Feb. 23, issue of the Dispatch. It is reprinted here exactly as it originally appeared.
DID YOU KNOW — Jimmy O’Brien, the cop has taken a fancy to Guy Fasciana’s famous mustache. Jimmy always stops to straighten out the handle bars when he meets Guy on South Main Street … Ralph Bond and Jerry Butler, former WBRE announcer, now advertising manager for station WILK, have been close friends since teen age … James Taft (Tavagilone), former president of Ewen local, is back with the Union, working out of Philadelphia … There may be some delay in the opening of the Mercury Shoe plant … Tommy Hennigan and Michael J. Clarke attended the same meeting last week and discussed playgrounds without getting into a hot debate.
IT ALWAYS HAPPENS — Last week, while making the usual calls to Police, Harry Morrisey, desk clerk at Pittston police headquarters said, “Hey, I got a dandy items for Local Chatter.” “Good,” says we, “What is it?” “Ah, Darn it,” says Harry, “I can’t remember it now, but it was a good one.” Chief Turner says he’ll assign Andy Schevets to locate the item if Harry can give him a clue.
WANT TO BET? — Several of the smarter lads in the city, who lunch at the usual place day to day, flouting their intelligence at the poor folks who work for a living, are passing around the information that the Sunday Dispatch, will not last. If they leave their addresses, we will make sure that a copy of the Sunday Dispatch dated February, 1957, will be delivered to their homes.
STREET SCENES — The kids cleaning the snow from the walks around St. John’s buildings and wishing they belonged to a smaller parish with fewer walks … The Bingo crowd gathering at the corner and the usual chatter including “She won $25 and doesn’t need it either. Her husband has a good job, and two of her sons are working. Oh, well those who have money always get more” or “I only needed one number” or “That so and so took my lucky seat.” … Joseph Schiffman with pipe, explaining the “ifs” and “buts” of new industries.
INCIDENTS — When Mayor T. Horan was down South recently, he placed a call through to Pittston from the Southern exchange. The operated came back with the information, “There is no Pittston listed in Pennsylvania.” Frank proceeded to identify himself as Mayor of the unlisted city and to extol its virtues. One Southern operator will never forget Pittston.
MISCELLANY — Frank Bradigan, goes to Atlantic City, March 1 to attend a convention of School heads. He is supervising principal of Jenkins Township … Fred Leppert, former Hughestown burgess and an outside foreman at No. 9 colliery, is having a rough time. Fred moved to North Main Street, and for months now has been bed ridden. Fred was a key figure in local GOP circles .. For interesting answers, ask John Higgins about the Pittston police docket.
Senator Maergie has bought forty-two acres of land along the East-End-Bear-Creek Boulevard. The location is on the level retch between Edwards Hill and Indian Lake, with twelve acres cleared and thirty acres in woodland. The purchase was made following report from Washington that the Veterans Administration really is serious about its plan to erect a hospital in the triangle that joins the Bear Creek and Scranton-Dupont roads; others who have been active in land developments in the neighborhood are the Goreinger Real Estate company and Colonel Sennett, son-in-law of the late Alvert Lewis. The senator has not revealed what his plans are, but friends say he plan ta modern dude ranch or gentleman’s estate for rest and recreation.
