1948 – 69 YEARS AGO
Of the 273,762 Armed Forces World War II war dead buried overseas, almost all were returned to the United States by the end of November 1948. An estimated 30 war dead were returned to the Pittston area for re-internment and another 12 bodies were expected to arrive within a few weeks. After World War II, families were contacted as to their wishes on the final resting place of their loved one. In 1948, there were still 16,000 next of kin not found. There were 14 permanent American military cemeteries overseas and two national cemeteries established to serve as the final resting place for those bodies not claimed. The military cemeteries were established in Cambridge, England; Henri Chapelle, Belgium; St. Laurent, Epinal, St. Avold, St. James and Draguignan cemeteries, France; Nettuno, Italy; and Carthage, Tunisia. The remaining military cemeteries were established at Margraten, Holland; Hamm Luxembourg; Neuville-en-Condroz, Belgium; Fort McKinley, Philippines; and Florence, Italy. National cemeteries were created in Honolulu, Hawaii and San Juan, Puerto Rico. The cemeteries are under the supervision of the American Battle Monuments Commission. The ABMC oversees 26 permanent American military cemeteries and 29 federal memorial monuments in 16 foreign countries.
Several robberies and break-ins were causing Pittston business owners concern, but city Police Chief Francis Linnen was sure his crack team of officers, including Anthony Levenoskie, Bob Rowan and John Korick, would find the perpetrator. Upon inspecting one of the crime scenes, officer Levenoskie noticed an odd heel mark in the soft mud and made an impression of it. After discovering most of the money reported missing had been coins, the officers checked local restaurants and taverns to see if someone tried to change the coins into bills. They were in luck as one proprietor remembered a young man wanting to exchange $10 in silver for paper currency. Following the victim’s description, the thief was apprehended and a match of the man’s heel print cinched the case.
1949 – 68 YEARS AGO
Much to the chagrin of Pittston High School students, the State Department of Public Instruction made it known it required high school students to attend full-day classes. Up until that time, senior high school students attended morning classes, leaving boys and girls able to obtain employment in the afternoon. The school board announced the full-day program would begin in September 1950.
It was noted as a sign of progress as John Ciannelli, of Hill Park Avenue in Pittston, applied for a permit to erect a new home in Pittston. The home would be the first newly constructed dwelling in the city in over a decade and was to contain four rooms, two bathrooms, measure 14 x 22 feet and cost Ciannelli $5,500 to build. G.J. Lanunziata, of Exeter, was named as the contractor for the project. According to the US Inflation Calculator, with the cumulative rate of inflation at 931.6 percent, the home would cost $56,737.58 to build today.
The Sunday Dispatch Inquiring Photographer asked Pittston residents, “If you have one more hour to live what would you do?” Crystal Eichman answered, “I think the best thing would be practicing one’s religious training and teaching.” Mary Theresa Wagner stated, “I’d like to have a good time with my girlfriends and forget the whole matter. “ Rosetta DeVita added, “I guess I’d want to spend it at home with my family joining me in refreshments.” Evelyn Skordinsky said, “I would want to have my books in order when I go to heaven. Otherwise, I might not be permitted to stay in heaven after I arrived.”
1953 – 64 YEARS AGO
Consumers Sales and Service Company in Pittston advertised a six passenger 1953 Studebaker with a long-wheelbase could be purchased for $1,838.49. During World War II, the Champions were noted for their high mileage during times of gas rationing. The Champion was replaced with the Studebaker Lark model in 1959.
Roy Stauffer’s car dealership notified residents that a new “sports car” would be on display in West Pittston. The Corvette, the first automobile produced with a plastic body by the American automotive industry, was noted as being manufactured at a rate of three per day at the Chevrolet factory in Flint, Michigan. The initial reaction to the new style of car was mixed and sales were not as high as expected. The program was nearly cancelled, but Chevrolet felt its new model would catch on. All 1953 models had “Polo White” exteriors, red interiors and black canvas soft tops. Only 300 were produced in the car’s inaugural year.
1960 – 57 YEARS AGO
The Pittston Redevelopment Authority received a $201,960.00 check from the state. The authority members agreed the amount was the largest ever to be received by the city of Pittston.
The Sunday Dispatch announced the high school reporters who would be supplying news to the paper throughout the school year. Those listed were John Nattras, West Wyoming High School; Jean Whyte and Joan Skechus, Pittston High School; Barbara Dziak, St. John’s High School; Patricia Popish and Eileen Barrett, Hughestown High School; Beatrice Michaels, Exeter High School; Patricia Pokorney, Duryea High School; Mary Claire Gallagher, Pittston Twp. High School; Patricia Burke and Andrew Belaus, Jenkins Twp. High School; Joan Porzucek and Florence Timinski, Dupont High School, Susan Levin, West Pittston High School; Maureen Selenski, Wyoming High School; Judy Durkin, Avoca High School.
The Sunday Dispatch Inquiring Photographer asked, “Who do you favor to win the World Series?” Eugene Salvatore, Pittston, answered, “I look for the Pirates to sweep the series in four games. They’ve been waiting a long time for this chance. Joseph Testa, of Pittston, added, “I have to go along with the Pirates, I look for the series to go for seven games.” Nick Gattuso, of Yatesville, stated, “The Yankees will win it in five games. The 1960 World Series was played between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the New York Yankees. Game 7’s exciting ninth-inning home run, hit by Pirate Bill Mazeroski, was the only time a series game ended with a walk-off home run cinching a series victory for a team.”
1974 – 43 YEARS AGO
Linda Cappellini was chosen as the Homecoming Queen at Wyoming Area High School. Her court consisted of Ann Yurek, Judy Wendorf, Sharon Parry and Sharon Littzi.
This date in history:
1908 — The Ford Model T, the first car for millions of Americans, hit the market. Each car cost $825. Over 15 million Model Ts were eventually sold, all of them black. The Model T automobile cost $850 when it was first introduced to the public.
1919 — In baseball’s World Series, the Chicago White Sox faced the Cincinnati Reds in a best of nine games. The White Sox intentionally threw the series to satisfy gamblers in what became known as the Black Sox Scandal. Eight players were banned from baseball for life. In 1963, Eliot Asinof described the events in his book “Eight Men Out.” The 1988 baseball film “Eight Men Out” was directed by John Sayles.
1946 — The diary of Hitler once held by Nuremberg prosecutors as evidence vanished after the trial. Nuremberg prosecutor Robert Kempner was long suspected by U.S. officials of smuggling the diary back to the United States. In 2013, the U.S. government recovered 400 pages from the long-lost diary.
1957 — The motto “In God We Trust” began appearing on US paper currency.
1962 — Johnny Carson succeeded Jack Paar as regular host of NBC’s “Tonight” show. Carson received an on-air introduction from Groucho Marx. The guests on his debut program were Joan Crawford, Rudy Vallee, Tony Bennett, Mel Brooks and The Phoenix Singers.
1996 — The first phase of a US minimum wage 50-cent increase to $4.75 took effect. Phase 2 to $5.15 was scheduled for Sept. 1, 1997.
