1949 – 68 YEARS AGO
The headline in the Sunday Dispatch read, “Communism Clause Hampers Mayor in City Labor Dispute.” The dispute in question between the American Party Favor Company and 53 of its employees at the North Main Street plant was getting increasingly dangerous with Pittston police being summoned on four occasions to stop disturbances. Pittston mayor John J. Allardyce hoped to remedy the situation by asking union representatives of District 50 of the CIO to meet with him and company officials at city hall to end the pay dispute. After Allardyce summoned Sam Rosenthal, head of the company, Rosenthal countered, “He would not sit down with the union representatives of District 50 because the union had refused to renounce Communism in accordance with government regulations.” As altercations continued at the plant, the situation remained deadlocked. A federation of unions of organized workers, the Committee for Industrial Organization (CIO), was founded by John L. Lewis in 1935. It separated from the American Federation of Labor in 1938. The Taft-Hartley Act of 1947 required union leaders to swear to the fact that they were not Communists. Many refused to obey that requirement. Eleven communist influenced unions were expelled from the CIO in 1949-50. In 1955, the CIO rejoined the American Federation of Labor and formed the AFL-CIO.
Leo T. Hall, of West Pittston, was awarded the American Campaign Medal at the Naval Mine Warfare School in Yorktown, VA. Hall served in the Pacific stationed on the battleship New Jersey, which saw action at the Marshall Islands, Palau, Hollandia, New Guinea, Marianas, Philippine Sea, Leyte, Cebu, Mindoro, Okinawa and Formosa. The Battle of Leyte is considered to be one of the largest naval battles in World War II and the first time that organized Japanese kamikaze attacks were known to be carried out.
1950 – 67 YEARS AGO
Leo Tierney, former Pittston chief of police and commander of Pittston’s Battery B in World War I, attended the wedding of his nephew in Washington, D.C. Before leaving on his trip, he advised the Sunday Dispatch he was going to try to meet with President Harry Truman to discuss the World War I Battle of the Argonne, a conflict in which both men played important roles. With the help of Congressman Dan Flood, Tierney managed to set up the meeting. Upon arrival at the White House, Tierney and Flood were told the president could see them for five minutes, but after a short conversation, Truman cancelled other appointments so the two could extend their visit. A Silver Star Medal holder, Tierney, was able to thank the president personally for hos and his unit’s ability to eliminate a German stronghold between Montainville and Apremont, France, which had Tierney and his men trapped. According to the American Battle Monuments Commission, “More than 1.2 million Americans took part in the 47-day offensive at Argonne. Of those, more than 26,000 lost their lives.” Argonne ranks as one of the most significant battles in World War II in terms of American men and equipment engaged.
In an effort to garner interest in purchasing U.S. savings bonds, a replica of the Liberty Bell arrived in Pittston. At the unveiling of the bell, Esther Merlino, the wife of Pfc. John Merlino, purchased a $1,000 bond in memory of her husband who, in 1944, was killed in action in World War II. During the Korean War, 55 replicas of the bell were commissioned by the U.S. Treasury and cast in Annecy-le-Vieux, France. After the bond marketing drive, the treasury gave one bell to each state for permanent exhibit. Pennsylvania has a replica of the Liberty Bell displayed at the Zion’s Reformed United Church of Christ in Allentown, the location in which the real bell was hidden from the British during the American Revolution.
1953 – 64 YEARS AGO
Mr. and Mrs. Sam “Bing” Busacco, of Pittston, were surprised when two Navy men appeared at their door. The young seamen, Russell Stout and Albert Endres Jr., f West Pittston, explained they had been serving aboard the battleship USS New Jersey with their son Seaman Ray Busacco. While on the ship, the three men discussed their hometowns and shared many memories. Busacco requested the two men visit his parents upon their return to the United States. Stout and Endres agreed and kept their promise.
1960 – 57 YEARS AGO
Weeks of preparation went in to the Greater Pittston Junior Chamber of Commerce 11th annual Miss Wyoming Valley Pageant, The winner of the contest earned the right to compete in the Miss Pennsylvania Pageant. Contestants Brenda Hale, Marie Bamba, Ellen McHugh, Kathy Prokopchak, Connie Zanta, Barbara Piledggi, Gloria Barkovitz, Mildred Deganich, Nancy Rosar, Joan Kurtz, Jean Collacchi, Ann Gronchick and Gloria Jones were judged on beauty, poise, talent and intelligence. This was the first year the event would be held at the Lakeside Ballroom at Rocky Glen Park due to the ever increasing number of people attending each year. Nancy Rosar was named Miss Wyoming Valley and went on to compete with 19 other young women for the Miss Pennsylvania crown. Miss Reading, Priscilla Hendricks, was named Miss Pennsylvania that year.
The Sunday Dispatch Inquiring Photographer asked, “What advice would you give to high school seniors who are scheduled to graduate soon?” Mrs. Sam Tremont, of Pittston, answered, “I would tell them to get as much education as they can. Learning certainly never hurt anybody.” Joseph Rugletic, of Pittston, added, “Education is big, the U.S. is making an effort to keep ahead of the Russians in all fields and we’ll have to have more of our high school graduates keep up with their education.” Martin Micklas, of Exeter, stated, “I’d tell the male graduates to join one of the branches of the armed forces and the girls should make every effort to go to college.” William Carey, of Pittston, answered, “I’d tell them to find a job and stick to it. “
1976 – 41 YEARS AGO
Matt LoPresto and Carlo Saporito, both of Pittston, won the Class B Doubles Championship at the Wilkes-Barre Indoor Tennis Club. With only one season under their belts as doubles partners and un-seeded prior to the tournament, the two men wowed the competition with successful first serves and coordinated play.
The West Pittston Bicentennial Committee placed 69 commemorative plaques on borough homes that were over 100 years old. A plaque was placed on the home of Mrs. J. Malcolm, the first mansion to be built on Susquehanna Avenue. The home was previously owned by Theodore Strong. Committee members were Mrs. Carlton Stauffer, Mrs. Thomas R. Davis Jr., Mrs. John C. Williams, Clayton Kinsey, James Melberger and Aaron Hastie.
This date in history
1533 – England’s Archbishop declared the marriage of King Henry VIII to Anne Boleyn valid.
1934 – The Dionne quintuplets were born near Callender, Ontario, to Olivia and Elzire Dionne. The babies were the first quintuplets to survive infancy.
1957 – National League Club owners voted to allow the Brooklyn Dodgers to move to Los Angeles and that the New York Giants could move to San Francisco.
1998 – Dr. Susan Terebey discovered a planet outside of our solar system with the use of photos taken by the Hubble Space Telescope.
2015 – The Observatory at One World Trade Center officially opened.
“History never really says goodbye. History says, ‘See you later.’” Eduardo Galeano
