Question #1 There was a moblike atmosphere on North Main Street in Pittston on July 2, 1947. What was going on?
Peeking into the past With Judy Minsavage
1947 – 64 Years Ago Upon the 50th reunion of the Twin Shaft Disaster of June 28, 1896, a July, 1947, issue of the Sunday Dispatch contained the names of miners killed in the accident that shook the town like an earthquake. Fifty-eight men and boys were killed when the roof of the tunnel gave way trapping the miners. Rescue attempts were futile, therefore the miners are still entombed on the site. A marker signifies the event and location. To read all the names and the account of the mine accident go to www.gendisasters.com/data1/pa/mines/pittston-minecavein1896.htm. Professor Peter Pace of the Oregon section of Pittston set about arranging the revival of the Greater Pittston Concert Band in order to present public performances. Mr. Pace hoped to find past members and gain new. The American Federation of Musicians supported free public concerts and the Holy Name Society of St. Rocco’s Church hoped to sponsor some events. The Yearling, staring Gregory Peck and Jane Wyman, was screened at the American Theatre. The Farmer’s Daughter, with Loretta Young and Joseph Cotton, was showing at the Liberty in Exeter and Palace in Avoca.
1977 – 34 Years Ago Not to be outdone, Greater Pittston held their first Fine Arts Festival. Many musical groups were scheduled to perform with local artists Marie Mastruzzo, Michael Perry, Mary Coleman and Juanita Miller, Josette Borzik, Rich Suchocki, Debbie Lynn, Linda Busch
and Marion Marrow displayed their original works. Steven LaTorre of Harding displayed his Winchester rifle and antique clock collection, Tom Civiletti and Jim Rauh demonstrated wood carving, Denise Faleski offered to silk screen t-shirts. Don Cassetori and Pat Sciandra provided tennis mini-lessons. Question #2 Greater Pittston laid claim to having two of the rarest of these in the world. What were they? 1997 – 14 Years Ago The following memorial books were donated to the West Pittston Library in 1997: In memory of Sidney Bugelholl, Chronicles of the Great War, The Western Front 1914-1918 presented by John and Beverly Williams. In memory of Carlo J. Saporito: Stephen Spielberg: a Biography, presented by Attorney and Mrs. Michael J. Cefalo. In honor of John Markarian: John Muir; Nature Writings, presented by Helen B. Platten and Minnie B. MacLellan. Answer #1 Nathan’s, a dress shop on North Main Street, held a large clearance sale with the “best prices in town.” Noticing the huge response to the sale, other businesses joined in by quickly posting sale notices in their windows. Police were dispatched to the area as some women stormed the shops causing injury. Answer #2 Mrs. and Mrs. Ed Rees of Exeter and Mr. and Mrs. Michael Cefalo along with their children Michele and Mark of West Wyoming each owned a rare breed of dog. The Rees’s Egyptian Pharaoh Hounds, capable of running at speeds of 52 miles per hour are excellent hunters and were once thought to be extinct. The Cefalo’s Chinese Shar-Pei was listed in the 1976 edition of the Guinness Book of World Records as “one of the rarest dogs in the world,” with a history dating back as early as 206 B.C. Read more and see photos of these two extraordinary breeds of dog at westminsterkennelclub.org. We on this continent should never forget that men first crossed the Atlantic not to find soil for their ploughs but to secure liberty for their souls. Robert J. McCracken Let’s celebrate our precious freedom this 4th of July!
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1957 – 54 Years Ago Exeter resident Vince Yanovitch was the golf pro for Whiteface Inn Golf Club at Lake Placid. Named a rising star in the sport, Yanovitch had formerly been at Shawnee Country Club owned by Fred Waring, a renowned choral director and bandleader in the 1940s and ‘50s. Waring broadcasted his famous radio show from that location hosting many of the top celebrities of the time. After taking the job as pro at Whiteface, Yanovitch tied the course record. He has been a member of PGA Professionals for over 50 years and is the PGA Director of Golf at Great Bear Golf and Country Club in East Stroudsburg. You can also get his golf tips online. It was a big game but all in fun when Detato’s Market challenged the Umpires Association to a softball exhibition. The umps took some good-natured ribbing, and fans were treated to an entertaining game. Members of the
teams were Nick Daley, Val Daley, Bob Linskey, Tony Rincavage, Billy Brill, Jim O’Malley, Joe Cadden, Jack Hoover, Al Amer, Larry Delaney, Dan Forlenza, Tony DeGerolomo, Eddie Leyshon, Joe DeLucca, Paul Pascoe, Jack Thomas, Len Wendoloski, Tony Rossi, Gene Allegrucci and Bob Detato. Detato’s won. Billy Dructor, of Pittston and a local American Legion boxing champion, joined the Air Force and was stationed at Bolling Air Force Base in Washington D.C. but he did not forget his competitive nature. While at the base, he was selected to coach Air Force track and field team taking the Northeast championship. Dructor participated in the event taking second in the 440-yard hurdles, and was on the winning 440yard relay team. He was selected to coach the Air Force World Wide Track and Field Tournament held in Texas. Paddy Fadgen was known as “king of the woods” and lived in the “last house on the right in Paddy’s land just at the foot of mile hill,” according to a Sunday Dispatch reader. The writer further commented that “Paddy would turn over in his grave” if he knew what was happening at Langan’s Settlement in Pittston Township. A police raid uncovered that “upstart teenagers” were using the patch of land once owned by the Irishman for late night beer parties. The writer appealed to local politicians for help in returning the patch of land to a peaceful area. In the Subscriber’s Corner of the Dispatch a young person commenting on the police raid stating, “If there was a party near Langan’s would there be a corpse house out there? It’s so far out in the woods you need a guide to get there and a horse to get back. We’re not bothering anybody. What do you want us to do, drop dead?” Marion Salvo of Pittston, Miss Wyoming Valley of 1957, was to make a guest appearance at a record hop at Holy Rosary Church in Duryea. Marion competed with 22 other contestants in the Miss Pennsylvania Pageant at Longwood Gardens, West Chester, and placed sixth.
1967 – 44 Years Ago Miner’s Savings Bank on South Main and Broad Streets in Pittston celebrated its 98th year. With combined total assets of over $19 million, the bank had five offices in Pittston and Duryea. The bank opened In January of 1869, and in December of 1986 was taken over by First Eastern Bank. Mrs. Coray H. Miller of Wyoming and President of the Wyoming Monument Association gave a detailed history of the monument on the 189th anniversary of the battle of Wyoming. “The battle occurred on July 3, 1778 but the bodies of dead were laid to rest in a field owned by John McDowell some months later. Phillip Jackson located the grave in 1832 shortly afterward a group of citizens met to plan a monument. In the spring of 1833, the bones of 83 solders were disinterred and placed in three large boxes kept in the Swetland Store located nearby. The corner stone of the monument was laid on July 3, 1883. The first officers of association were Mrs. Chester Butler, Mrs. G.M. Hollenback and Mrs. E. Carey.” To find out more about one of the “unknown” officers in the battle read “A Forgotten Hero” of the Massacre at Wyoming, Major John Garret, written by Rev. Horace Edwin Hayden. Excerpts from the book located at the Library of Congress can be found at http://www.archive.org/stream/majorjohngarrett00hayd#page/n3/mode/2up. Four young men out for a day of summer adventure wound up being rescued by approximately 50 volunteer firefighters and rescue workers. The youths attempted to climb area landmark Campbell’s Ledge only to find three quarters of the way and 200 feet above the base, they became stranded. Rescue teams from Germania and Excelsior Hose Companies joined forces to bring the boys to safety. Earlier in the day, Walter Bechtold of Coxton observed the youngster’s plight and notified Patrolman James Steer. Steer notified the firefighters. Two brothers of Excelsior, Dave and Charles Wickizer, climbed the cliff and lowered three of the boys to the ground, the fourth made his way down without aid.
SUNDAY DISPATCH, SUNDAY, JULY 3, 2011
Peter Pace started free concerts in 1947