WEST PITTSTON — Bill Hastie, Sr., a lifelong resident of West Pittston, has witnessed a lot of history in his lifetime, especially since his life has spanned 10 decades.
Born May 28, 1919, Hastie is a veteran of WWII and the last remaining survivor of the Knox Mine Disaster. He is widely known in Greater Pittston for his incredible mind regarding local history.
Hastie celebrated his 100th birthday Monday with family and invited guests at Frances Slocum State Park in conjunction with the Hastie family reunion held Memorial Day.
As a special surprise and to Hastie’s delight, bagpiper Richmond Johnston, of upstate New York, entertained attendees. Johnston also performed at Hastie’s 90th birthday.
“My dad was enthralled with the bagpiper, singing, conducting and requesting songs,” said Megan Hastie, the youngest of Hastie’s children and organizer of his birthday celebration.
A resident of New York, Megan has temporarily moved back to West Pittston to care for her father.
“I’m here almost all the time with him daily because I love him dearly,” she said. “I’m also aware that he’s beloved by a lot of people – family, friends, neighborhood, community. I’ve been with him to community events and so I’m very aware of the connection he has with so many people.”
Megan believes this year’s family reunion was the largest in years due to her father’s 100th birthday.
“I felt it’s important for my dad and it’s also important for those people that there would be an occasion for them to get together and be with him and for him to enjoy their company and, hey, my dad is 100.”
Former area resident, filmmaker David Brocca, now living in Los Angeles, produced a 10-minute video chronicling Hastie’s life that was shown at the reunion, along with a slideshow prepared by Megan.
Brocca directed the Knox Mine Disaster Documentary, a feature-length movie that prominently features Hastie and others from the mining disaster of Jan. 22, 1959, off the shoreline of the Susquehanna River at Pittston. Twelve men perished in the disaster. Hastie aided in rescuing 69 miners that day.
Over the years, Hastie has been quoted in a number of author Robert P. Wolensky’s books about the Knox Mine Disaster. The two co-authored a book entitled “Anthracite Labor Wars.”
The elder Hastie has deep roots in West Pittston Borough and, over the decades, has been asked to speak to many organizations about not only the history of West Pittston, but the local mining industry and the area that surrounds Greater Pittston.
An open invitation was offered to the community by Hastie’s family to attend a second celebration Tuesday on the actual day of his 100th birthday at the Community Living Center Pavilion at the WilkesBarre VA Hospital, where Hastie has been a guest over the last two years.
Unfortunately, Hastie took ill earlier in the day and the party has been postponed until he’s well enough to receive guests.
Hastie and his late wife Betty Jane (Groves) were married in 1950 and, along with Megan, are the parents of William Jr., of Alabama; Christina and Trevor, both of West Pittston.
