Question:
In 1948, residents were extremely suspicious about the proposed appearance of something that had not been seen in Greater Pittston for 21 years. What was it?
1948 – 69 years ago
In his weekly column, “ As Kehoe Knows It,” John C. Kehoe, Sr. publisher of the Sunday Dispatch, recollected the events that led up to the June 28, 1896, Twin Shaft Disaster in Pittston. Fifty-eight men and boys were lost in the mine cave-in, including Kehoe’s father, brother, Frank; and uncle, Thomas Barrett. Operated by the Newton Coal Company, the mine’s roof timbers were showing signs of sagging and cracking due to faulty mining practices. Men were sent into the mine during the night shift to shore up the roof with supports. As they worked into the early morning hours, the miners’ attempts seem to be failing. After deliberation, mine bosses decided to send men who had remained on site after their earlier shift back into the mines to help the struggling miners. At 3 a.m., tons of rock and timber collapsed, entombing the miners. A formal investigation revealed that reports of “squeezing” or cracking of the pillars were reported two weeks prior to the accident. The investigation commission concluded pillars of coal should be left standing for support and that maps of mines and air tunnels be provided to inspectors.
The Sunday Dispatch was the only newspaper in Luzerne County to receive a AAA rating from the American Weekly Newspaper Publishers Council. The honor was based on a newspaper’s volume of local news, advertising, circulation and advertising rate. Only in its second year, the Dispatch added new features to its local content as residents and businesses recognized the importance of the weekly newspaper in listing social news such as weddings, birthdays and anniversaries, community events and business advertising. The Sunday Dispatch is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year.
1949 – 68 years ago
Owning a television set was newsworthy as most people only experienced the new technology in bars and department store windows. John P. Konicki, of Dupont, was noted as the second resident of Dupont to have a television in his home, Frank Blattner, being the first. Both men erected large antennas but only received reception from Channel 3 out of Philadelphia. Both men claimed channels transmitted from further distances were unrecognizable. According to tvhistory.com, electronic television was perfected between 1935 and 1941. Several countries began broadcasting, but a limited amount of the sets were in the hands of the public. After World War II, with the increase in the number of births, families recognized the benefit of having a television in the home for entertainment.
1952 – 65 years ago
In a letter to the Sunday Dispatch, a self-described “Bunch of Disgusted Salesgirls” complained that Pittston merchants should give their workers a break once in a while. Upset by the fact that the business owners voted against closing their stores on Saturday nights during the summer, the sales clerks were beginning to think unionizing was the only way out. Citing the heat as a primary reason for their needed break, the salesgirls offered to take time off in the morning or afternoon if evening hours were not negotiable.
The Globe Store advertised the Globe Bank Plan to help consumers finance a purchase. Here’s how it worked: The customer would choose the appliance and it would be delivered. Then “for the convenience of paying,” the store would “install” a bank. The customer would drop as little as 25 cents a day into the bank. Once a month, the customer was to bring the bank to the store and the coins would be counted and a receipt given with “no need to stay at home waiting for a collector.” an Admiral combination television set was advertised for $299.95, a deluxe gas range for $89.95, a Universal Deluxe Ironer for $169.95 and a Bremen Spinet Piano for $399.95. According to the US inflation Calculator these items today would cost $3,075, $884, 1,717, and $4,113 respectively.
1967 – 50 years ago
Leo Cravatta Jr., of West Pittston, had a winning net score of 42 with 40 teams entered at the Father and Son Golf Tournament at Emanon Golf Club. In 1964 and 1965, Cravatta won the Anthracite Junior Tournament in the 7-8 age bracket.
“Casino Royale” was the new James Bond movie showing at the American Theatre. Earlier in the afternoon, the American featured “Battle of the Drag Racers” with “Road Runner” and “Speedy Gonzales.” All seats were 35 cents.
Sunday night television shows consisted of “Lassie,” “Walt Disney,” “Ed Sullivan,” “Let’s Make A Deal,” “Smothers Brothers,” “Bonanza” and “The Saint.”
Army Private First Class Joseph L. Osenkarski, of Duryea, received an “expert rating” with the M-14 rifle while in basic combat training at Fort Knox, KY. The rating is the highest mark a soldier can achieve in the qualifications test. According to vietnamwar.wikia.com, “The M14 remains in limited front line service with the United States Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard, and is also used as a ceremonial weapon. It was the last American “battle rifle” (a term applied to weapons firing full-power rifle ammunition) issued in quantity to U.S. troops. The M14 also provides the basis for the M21 and M25 sniper rifles”
Answer:
In 1948, the R.L. Polk Company was contracted to publish a directory which would include 30,000 listings of individuals and thousands of professional and business listings for Pittston, West Pittston, Pittston Township, Hughestown, Dupont, Avoca, Duryea, Jenkins Township, Yatesville, Exeter, Wyoming and West Wyoming. There was a 21-year span between Pittston’s previous directory and the 1948 project. R.P. Pellam, of the Polk Company, in discussing the obstacles encountered when his “enumerators” would knock on resident’s doors, cited the unfamiliarity of such projects as the key issue. Most of those gathering information were greeted with suspicion at giving private information about themselves and their property, leaving Pellam to believe the original target date for completion of the project would have to be extended. According to company-histories.com, R.L. Polk and Company was established by Ralph Lane Polk in 1870 after serving in the Union Army during the Civil War. Computers were first used by the company in 1956.
This date in history
1503 — Christopher Columbus beached his sinking ships in St. Anne’s Bay, Jamaica, and spent a year shipwrecked and marooned there before returning to Spain.
1630 — The fork was introduced to American dining by Gov. Winthrop.
1788 — Virginia ratified the U.S. Constitution.
1941 — Joe DiMaggio ran his hitting streak to 45 straight games.
1950 — The Korean War started as forces from the communist North invaded the South.
1951 — The first commercial color telecast took place as CBS transmitted a one-hour special from New York to four other cities. CBS tried a version of color TV with a design that featured a mechanical rotating color
1980 — The Associated Press chose 11 major newspapers to launch a cooperative experiment to deliver news electronically to computer-equipped homes.
“History is a kind of introduction to more interesting people than we can possibly meet in our restricted lives; let us not neglect the opportunity.” ~Dexter Perkins
