WEST PITTSTON — Dominic Dempsey has been on a mission. Last Sunday he took the final step towards his goal – to become an Eagle Scout.
The 17-year old Wyoming Area senior fulfilled his final requirement to become an Eagle Scout with Troop 352 of West Pittston by executing and leading a 2.5 mile tour of businesses and industry throughout the borough.
Dempsey collected data from the West Pittston Historical Society, Boyd Hitchner’s book, “A Small Town Treasurer,” WVIA-TV’s Our Town West Pittston video and several clippings from the Times Leader, Sunday Dispatch and defunct Pittston Gazette. He then created a booklet to accompany walkers of the tour complete with color photos of the businesses highlighted with a brief description of their history.
According to Dempsey, all his work for Eagle Scout have to be reviewed before the prestigious honor will be granted to him.
According to Troop 352 Scoutmaster Ryan Foy, “Dominic has to show leadership abilities as they come up through the ranks from joining Scouts through Eagle by teaching and leading and he chose this project to show those qualities to earn the Eagle.”
“It (the walk) was fantastic,” Dempsey said. “It was a nice turnout and didn’t think I was going to get that many people. I’m very happy about it.”
The group started at the corner of Wyoming and Delaware Avenues where the current PNC Banks stands today. In yesteryear, it was the longtime home of Grablick’s Dairy Bar.
The group of approximately 30 participants walked north on Wyoming Avenue, stopping at the corner of Wyoming and Luzerne Avenues, noting several businesses. Antonio’s Restaurant was once the site of popular hangout Top Spot that served hamburgers and fries long before Burger King and McDonald’s came along.
Other businesses located at that corner were the Monarch Casket Co., the current site of Crest Cleaners. Also mentioned was Agolino’s Family Restaurant.
“We didn’t get to all the businesses because it would be too much,” Dempsey admitted. “I really hoped that for some of the people on the hike that it really brought back some memories, like Grablick’s.”
Sixteen current and one-time businesses were highlighted on the tour.
Defunct businesses include in the tour were King’s Market (Luzerne Avenue), Hitchner Biscuit Co. (Exeter Avenue), Vulcan Iron Works (Fremont Street), DL&W Train Station (Fifth Street), Roy Stauffer Chevrolet (current site of Gerrity’s Supermarket), Atlas Chain (Fourth Street), West Pittston Armory (Susquehanna Avenue), LaBarre Printing (Second Street), Consolidated Cigar Co. (Delaware Avenue) and McKetterick-Willams Bldg. (Delaware Avenue).
“I’m not sure, if approved, if the Eagle Scout ceremony would be conducted this year or next, depending if anyone else is close to completing their requirements for Eagle Scout,” Dempsey said.
Dempsey is the son of Amber and Chad Dempsey, of West Pittston.
