It’s been a busy week since I penned my last column, starting with the cross-town rival football game.
With so many families scattered on both sides of the river, the big rivalry doesn’t seem as big as it was many years ago. The line in the sand was always clearly the Susquehanna River.
My dad was a Pittston native who raised his family on the west side of the river.
There has to be a winner and a loser but, in the end, we all want to support both teams from Greater Pittston versus the rest of competition.
I love seeing both teams do well and it’s great they are in different divisions, especially when it comes time for playoffs.
Pittston Area is scheduled to play Valley View Friday while Wyoming Area has a bye weekend.
You learn something new every day
This past week, local resident Gary Dziak spoke to a group of people at the Pittston Memorial Library regarding two books he wrote on local history.
It’s fascinating to hear about local history because there’s always something new to learn.
One of Dziak’s books is about the Battle of Wyoming. If you poll most people in the area, you’ll find they think that battle took place where the Wyoming Monument stands. But, it didn’t happen there, at all.
The battle actually took place in Exeter where the current streets of Schooley Avenue and Cedar and Valley Streets stand.
Really, if the streets of Wyoming Valley could talk, we’d be surprised at what we would hear.
When you think of a battlefield like Gettysburg, you think of acres of empty, sacred ground. I’m not sure when it happened, but houses now occupy the battlefield of Wyoming.
I’m sure you’ve driven past this monument noting the battle a million times, but probably never realized that on the west side of Wyoming Avenue at Valley Street there’s a marker noting the battle. It’s not often you stop to read historical markers, but I did recently.
Dziak spoke of our area prior to the local Industrial Revolution when coal became the number one industry. Farming was the call of the day back in the mid-1800s and earlier.
The Greater Pittston Historical Society sponsored Dziak’s visit that night and plans to do more over time so keep an eye out for announcements about future speakers.
After Dziak spoke, Ron Faraday, the historical society’s president, addressed the audience about a project he’s working on.
Ron came across a manuscript from an E. Johnson that is an historical account of Wyoming Valley and Greater Pittston during the 1800s. Although Mr. Dziak’s presentation was enlightening, my ears perked up when Faraday talked about Johnson’s manuscript.
As Faraday learned in his research, E. Johnson was actually Ella Roberts Johnson, a transplant from New York State landing in what was then called Pittston Ferry in the mid-1800s – 1844, to be exact.
The manuscript is over 400 pages and chock full of information about life in Greater Pittston.
This find is a gold mine. I know Ron has painstakingly gone over every page with a fine-tooth comb, transcribing and translating every word and term used in the mid-1800s.
No doubt he’ll add his personal touch to the book he plans to publish and dedicate to Ella herself.
Think about that, if you will. You write about your local history from the time you were born that includes a 100-year history and, over 100 years later, someone stumbles across your work and will eventually print a book from it. That’s mind blowing.
Ella never got to finish her life’s work that she started in 1910 because she died two years later.
Ron will pick up the baton from Miss Ella and do her proud. I can’t wait to see the final product, even though Ron says he’s not in a hurry to get the book to print. I don’t blame him; I know he wants to do Ella and the book justice as they both deserve it.
First Responders Day
I’d like to congratulate St. John the Evangelist Church, along with Fr. Elston and Sr. Williams and all involved in marking the first Mass in honor of First Responders celebrated on the day set aside nationwide for them.
In case you missed it, Oct. 28 was deemed National First Responders Day.
It takes a special person to drop what they are doing to go into an unknown situation and battle a blaze or free someone from a wrecked car or face someone with a firearm.
Kudos to all who keep us safe, help us in need, come to our rescue or provide comfort when needed.
Birthday acknowledgements
I’d like to wish Theresa Hannon a happy 70th birthday. Theresa is the former Theresa Kolmansperger, of West Pittston, and is in the fight of her life against cancer. If there’s anyone determined enough to beat that beast, it’s Theresa. I’ve known Theresa for most of my life and there are none finer. I’m pulling for you, as I know many, many others are, as well.
I’ll close by wishing my Uncle John Callaio a happy 92nd birthday.
Quote of the week
“I have loved the stars too fondly to be feared of the night.” – Sarah Williams, English poet
Thought of the week
“Poetry is what happens when nothing else can.” – Charles Bukowski, American-German poet
Bumper sticker
“All knowledge hurts.” – Cassandra Clare, American author
