1948 – 71 YEARS AGO
Exeter Borough celebrated its 64th anniversary of incorporation. The town was originally part of Exeter Township. It received its charter as a borough in 1884. This section of the township was known as Sturmerville, the development of which came about through the enterprise of Captain Solomon Sturmer, of West Pittston. James Scoville Slocum, a veteran of the Civil War, was the first burgess. The first borough council consisted of J.T. Kern, Isaac Carpenter, Colonel A.G. Mason, J.J. McCauley, Mathew Dougher, Abraham Hoover.
1949 – 70 YEARS AGO
There was a “moving wall” at the rear of the Eagle Hose Company building on the corner of Kennedy and Spring Street threatening the fire company’s structure. According to reports from “old timers” in the fire department, the wall moved three feet in 20 years. The men recalled there was a 3-foot walk between the Eagles building and the wall, at one time, was large enough to hold the Erie Railroad tracks. In 1949, the wall, which was about 35 high, was pressing into the bricks of the fire station. Engineer John Reilly suggested the wall be removed immediately to prevent further destruction threatening the building.
1957 – 62 YEARS AGO
A contest held at the West Pittston High School saw 35 senior girls competing in a national scholastic aptitude examination in the field of home economics. The exam was sponsored by General Mills of Minneapolis, and it was reported in the high school news column of the Sunday Dispatch it was “under the supervision of Betty Crocker.” Test questions ranged from personal problems and proper etiquette to foods, sewing, furniture and general duties. It was announced that Helen Alpaugh had been selected as the individual winner. She received the highest score and her award was based on her rating in the general quiz section and her essay on the question, “What do you believe the future homemaker will be like?’” According to bettycrocker.com, Betty Crocker was a fictional character developed in 1921 to personalize the General Mills products. Because of its friendly sound, the name Betty was adopted and the surname Crocker was chosen to honor a retired director of the company, William G. Crocker. The All-American Homemaker of Tomorrow contest began in 1954 and continued to 1977. High school seniors competed for scholarships and a trip to the national awards ceremony. Betty Crocker got her voice when the character was featured on radio shows. In the early 50s, she became a television personality with an actress posing as Crocker who taught celebrities to bake and cook.
1958 – 61 YEARS AGO
In 1958, Governor George Leader stated, “I think the time has come when we must face a blunt fact; our country is in the midst of a national recession gravely affecting Pennsylvania.” While visiting his Pittston store, J.C. Penney, founder of the J.C. Penney stores, described the recession as, “Merely a leveling off period for business.” In realty, the recession of 1958 affected global economy, credit debt and housing. During his visit, Mr. Penney was honored at a dinner hosted by The Greater Pittston Protestant Laymen’s Association. Paul Riffle, manager of the Pittston store, introduced Mr. Penney at the event.
1962 – 57 YEARS AGO
Nineteen young men took advantage of a National Guard program allowing them to serve six months of active duty and complete their military requirement as members of their local National Guard unit. Those enlisting were William Pagnotti, Robert Pagnotti, Joseph Grasso, Joseph Bevilaqua, James Burnside, Anthony Seidito, Joseph Shane, Samuel Collella, Raymond Plis, Joseph Chroback, Robert Sheehan, Thomas Obrzut, Tony Patte, James McNulty, Edward Orlosky, Frank Nahlen, Martin Cirelli, Leonard Spinelli and Ross DeNisco.
1969 – 50 YEARS AGO
The Pittston Area Patriots captured second-place honors for the first half of the season in the Lackawanna Basketball League on Jan. 28, 1969 by defeating Wyoming Area, 85-63. West Scranton captured first place-honors with a 74-64 victory against Dunmore. Wyoming led Pittston, 34-32, at the half, but Pittston, last season’s champs, ran wild in the second half to go out front. Bachkosky had 12 of his 20 points in the second half while LoPresto made 12 of his 22 in the opening half. But it was the work of Rostock in the final period that turned the tide. He had 11 of the team’s 34 points in the quarter while DiMaggio came through with seven.
1971 – 48 YEARS AGO
Joyce Adonizio, Rita Lawler, Philomae Starna, Patty Naples, Laurie Gavigan, Vivian Ruda, Rose Gavigan, Grace Anzalone, Susan Wanelista, Ann Gavigan, Debbie Wieczorek, Janie Frank, Mary Catherine Finan, Marian Weiscarger, Mary O’Malley and Rosemary Venerucci, members of the St. John’s cheerleading squad, were prepared to compete in the Annual Luzerne County Community College Cheerleading Contest. The girls were in the finals for the second year. Criteria for the contest were grooming, poise, uniforms, coordination, originality, difficulty, spirit and enthusiasm.
1988 – 31 YEARS AGO
In honor of Valentine’s Day, the Sunday Dispatch Inquiring Photographer asked, “Do you believe in love at first sight?” Robert Smith, of Exeter, Ralph Dickson and Tina Miller, of Pittston, all answered yes. Margorie Zielinski, of Pittston, said, “Yes, it happened to me.” John Zambricki, of Pittston, added, “Yes, she looks like my wife.” But Frank Pupa, of Pittston, Township, disagreed saying, “No, I think you would have to get to know the person first.”
1995 – 24 YEARS AGO
As the West Pittston Rams mini-football and cheerleading program began its 24th year, the A-Team cheerleaders distinguished themselves in competition by taking top honors at the Universal Cheerleading Academy Competition. Members of the team were Desiree Dymond, Leah Chikowski, Mara Pagnotti, Kristen Manganiello, Kristen Serena Scatena, Candice DeLeo, Becky Mattei, Megan Pagnotti, Jillian Milcavage, Krystal Begliomini, Melissa Koytek, Amanda Rood. Michelle Funt, Lindsay Rock, Jolene Blank, Alana Smith, Tiana Lavelle, Jenn Burgess, Louise Lanunziata, Angela Dwyer and Jackie Dwyer. The Universal Cheerleaders Association was founded by Jeff Webb in 1974. According to its website, during any given summer, the Universal Cheerleading Academy trains over 180,000 cheerleaders across the country.
Jennifer Griglock, of Pittston, won the “Vocalathon Award” at a Talent Olympics competition held at the Mountain Laurel Resort in White Haven. The event draws talented contestants from several states from age 3 to adult. The annual competition was founded by David Blight and his wife, the former Mary Alice Reddington, and continues today. It is one of the oldest competitions in the area and attracts performers from the Mid-Atlantic and some New England states. Categories for the competition include tap, ballet, jazz, modern, lyrical, pointe, hip hop, ethnic, acrobatic/gymnastic, vocal, pantomime, novelty, production, lyrical improv and cheernastics.
THIS DAY IN HISTORY
1763 — The Treaty of Paris ends the French-Indian War. France gives up all her territories in the New World except New Orleans and a few scattered islands
1840 — Queen Victoria marries Prince Albert.
1846 — Led by religious leader Brigham Young, the first Mormons begin a long westward exodus from Nauvoo, Il., to Utah.
1863 — P.T. Barnum’s star midgets, Tom Thumb and Lavinia Warren, are married.
1915 — President Wilson blasts the British for using the U.S. flag on merchant ships to deceive the Germans.
1955 — Bell Aircraft displays a fixed-wing vertical-takeoff plane.
1960 — Adolph Coors, the beer brewer, is kidnapped in Golden, Colo.
1966 — Protester David Miller is convicted of burning his draft card.
1979 — The Metropolitan Museum announces the first major theft in its 110-year history, a $150,000 Greek marble head.
1986 — The largest Mafia trial in history, with 474 defendants, opens in Palermo, Italy.
BORN ON THIS DAY
1890 — Boris Pasternak, Russian novelist and poet (“Dr. Zhivago”)
1893 — Jimmy Durante, American comedian and film actor
1927 — (Mary Violet) Leontyne Price, opera singer
