1948
The body of World War II hero Staff Sergeant William E. Roat arrived at the Lehigh Valley Railroad Station and was transported to Leonard Funeral Home on William Street. Roat received a Silver Star for his action in saving his company from being wiped out on D-Day. The citation he received stated, “On June 13 1944, Sgt. Roat’s company was advancing toward its objective. Strong enemy resistance prevented the company from rejoining its parent organization. It was necessary that someone work his way through the enemy lines to bring reinforcements. Staff Sergeant Roat volunteered, without regard to personal safety. He worked his way through enemy lines despite heavy fire and brought reinforcements to the company. The company was able to fight its way through to the main body after being in grave danger of being wiped out.” Roat later commented that receiving the Silver Star “was the greatest thrill of my life.” On July 20, 1944, Roat was seriously wounded in France and died in an English hospital on July 28, 1944. He was the nephew of John C. Kehoe Sr., publisher of the Sunday Dispatch and Pittston councilman Thomas Kehoe.
The bodies of 4,383 Americans were returned to the United States transported aboard the United States Army Transport Oglethorpe Victory. Under a US program, the next of kin of World War II dead could elect to have remains returned to the United States for burial in a private or national cemetery, or may request interment in a permanent American cemetery overseas or a private cemetery in a foreign country which is the homeland of the deceased or next of kin. Four hundred and seventy-four remains were returned to the next of kin residing in Pennsylvania. Of that number, two were returned to Pittston from Italy at the request of their families, Pvt. William E. Barrett, US Army and Pfc. Harold E. Sekusky, US Army.
The Sunday Dispatch grappled with fake news as one reader complained about an embarrassing paragraph published about him by an anonymous source who claimed that the reader had taken a long trip. The Dispatch, in smoothing over the problem stated, “Such carrying on by a small group, and we could name a lot of them, angers a newspaperman more than it does the person embarrassed. You can bet if we get an item about the one who fed the false information, we will guarantee to give him proper publicity. He is asking for it.”
1949
Workmen began excavation for the St. Rocco’s Catholic School on Tompkins Street and when completed, the school would house approximately 200 students. The Sisters of the Filippini Order were in charge of instruction. Funds for the two-story structure were obtained through a parish drive. The school was expected to cost $125,000 to build. According to the US Inflation Calculator, the building today would cost $1,285,362.39 to construct.
Nine-year-old Jean Hastie and two other girls, Jessie Howard and Irene Conkey, both 12, were enjoying a day of swimming at the New Rail Dam in Pittston Township. Hastie ventured out a little too far into the water and began screaming for help, Howard and Conkey dove in to rescue the girl, but efforts to help her were hindered as Hastie panicked and struggled with her rescuers. Howard and Conkey soon found their efforts fruitless. A young man watching from shore realized their plight and dove in to help bring Hastie and Conkey to shore. Howard was able to swim back to shore on her own. The young man left the area before anyone could discover his identity or thank him for his heroic act. The girls were taken to their homes, but grateful to the stranger who saved their lives.
1950
The entry committee of the first Miss Greater Pittston Pageant announced the first seven contestants approved for participation in the pageant scheduled for the American Theater in Pittston. The first entrants chosen were Celia Brocci, Pittston Township; Ann Marie Butera, Shirley Ann Pizano, Lois Holschuh, Rita Drexinger, Jean Mariani and Joan Hannon all of Pittston. Recognized as the “first event of its kind” to be held in the region, committee chairman Paul Bianco noted that seven additional names would be added to the list of contestants after approval. Featured to perform at the two-hour pageant were Glen Michaels and his orchestra and the Lions Club Choral Group directed by Prof. Bronis Voveris. Samuel Falcone, chairman of the ticket committee, reminded readers to purchase tickets ahead of time to avoid waiting in line the night of the performance. The winner of the pageant was Rita Drexinger, who went on to compete for the Miss Pennsylvania title. Miss Chester County took the title of Miss Pennsylvania and went on to compete for the Miss America title.
The Korean War began on June 25, 1950. The Sunday Dispatch asked the opinion of Joseph Dougher, James Lavan, John Donahue, Joseph Menichini, Herbert Schoket and Ross Pirelli, local men who served in various branches of the Armed Services during World War II, how they felt about the situation. All expressed regret that such a thing could “come to pass” but were not critical of the government for stepping in. Although the general feeling was, “If we have to go again, we’ll go,” the men were not looking forward to serving in another war. After North Korea invaded South Korea, the United States, with a resolution from the United Nations, called for the defense of South Korea. With the threat of World War III and use of nuclear weapons hanging over the conflict, President Dwight D. Eisenhower brokered a deal with China, North and South Korea to end the conflict in July 1953.
1952
Twelve-year-old John L. Christie, of Pittston, was selected as a prize winner in an auto design contest sponsored by Gale Hall Engineering. Christie sent his design sketch of a car instrument panel to Petersen Publishing, publishers of Hot Rod, Motor Trend, Cycle and Auto magazines. An avid auto enthusiast, Christie completed his design in 15 minutes. Gale Hall Engineering incorporated in 1952 and dissolved in 1963. In 2014, publishers of Motor Trend and Hot Rod Magazines restructured its automotive titles under The Enthusiast Network, citing a downturn in magazine advertising revenue.
Kehoe-Berge Coal Company announced the closing of the No. 10 tunnel due to hazardous working conditions, citing the cost of continuing mining in the area would be too high to compete due to bad market conditions of Anthracite. John Kehoe Sr., of Harding, and Dr. W.H. Berge, of Avoca, acquired a lease on the property in 1932 and formed their company. The No. 10 Tunnel employed over 250 men with an annual payroll of close to $1 million dollars.
1967
A new photo copy machine was purchased and presented to the West Pittston Library, courtesy of the American Chain and Cable Company. Residents were able to use the machine to copy important documents. The library was the “only place locally to offer this important service.”
The idea of consolidation of local communities was expressed by Pittston Mayor Robert Loftus to the House of Representatives committee at the Luzerne County Courthouse. Loftus believed the consolidation of Pittston, Duryea, Hughestown, Avoca, Dupont, Pittston Township, Jenkins Township and Yatesville would provide a population area of 30,000 residents with industrial growth. Each town would retain a representative in local government and areas would gain police and fire protection with better use of tax money. Asked if he believed consolidation would come to pass, Loftus replied, “I don’t know if it will, but someday the value of consolidation of local towns will become vital to the welfare of the region and independent voters in all the towns will demand such consolidation.”
1974
The Sunday Dispatch Inquiring Photographer asked, “What is your idea of a perfect summer vacation?” Sharon Wasko, of Pittston, answered, “I wouldn’t care what I was doing as long as I was away from my job,” Kathy Herbst, of Inkerman, said, “I would like to spend an entire summer bicycling through Germany.” Mike Restuccia added, “I would like to spend two weeks in the mountains of Jamaica.” Sal D’Amico said, “Where else but on the French Riviera, or perhaps at the Place Pigalle in Paris where the most beautiful girls in the world congregate.”
This date in history
1776 — The Declaration of Independence was read aloud to Gen. George Washington’s troops in New York.
1776 — New York was the 13th colony to ratify the Declaration of Independence.
1815 — The first US natural gas well was discovered.
1942 — Thirteen-year-old Anne Frank, her family and four other Jews went into hiding in the attic above her father’s office in an Amsterdam warehouse.
1943 — American and British forces made an amphibious landing on Sicily. The “man who never was” pulled off one of the greatest deceptions in military history — after his death. In April, Britain’s Operation Mincemeat had landed the dead body of an itinerant Welsh laborer, Glyndwr Michael, disguised as a Major Martin, on the shore of Spain near Huelva. False papers on the body led the Germans to believe the allies would attack Greece and Sardinia rather than Sicily. The idea had been originally devised in 1939 as one of 51 submitted by Lt. Commander Ian Fleming. Operation Mincemeat was kept secret until 1953, the same year that “Casino Royale,” Fleming’s first James Bond novel, was published.
“Remember that all through history, there have been tyrants and murderers and, for a time, they seem invincible. But in the end, they always fall. Always.” — Mahatma Gandhi, “The Story of My Experiments With Truth”
