Over 12,000 spectators were on hand when Pocono Downs opened in 1965.
                                 Times Leader file photo

Over 12,000 spectators were on hand when Pocono Downs opened in 1965.

Times Leader file photo

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Plenty of people wanted to be part of history when Pocono Downs opened for the first time in 1965.

A crowd of 12,469 attended the first night of harness racing. Traffic was bumper-to-bumper on Route 315 and Fox Hill Road two hours before the scheduled 8:10 p.m. race time.

More than 5,000 vehicles were crammed in the parking lot. Cars were also parked along the road and in outside lots not designated for the track. Some fans had to walk over a mile to the facility.

Tables in the 700-seat clubhouse were reserved two months in advance.

Pocono Downs cost $7 million to build. It was the fourth harness racing oval sanctioned by the Pennsylvania Harness Racing Commission. Construction was behind in January, but track officials were confident of opening July 15.

Betters wagered $16,000 on the first race. Satin Queen won and paid $7.40. Over $324,000 was wagered on the first night.

The track was scheduled to hold 49 more race dates Monday-Saturday, with no racing on Sundays.

The second night didn’t draw as well with 5,298 in attendance.

1959

Former Swoyersville star Adam Sieminski was named the new football coach at Coal Township. Sieminski had a three-year contract which also including teaching social science and physical education. He was a three-year letterman at Michigan State, where he was a lineman.

Sieminski coached Coal Township for two years before taking the head coaching position at Berwick. The Purple Demons were 2-9 in 1959 and 9-1-1 in 1960. Coal Township merged with Shamokin to form Shamokin Area in 1965.

Sieminski was also the head coach at Hazleton and Freeland. He was Freeland’s final coach in 1991 before the school became part of Hazleton Area. He finished his coaching career running the Jim Thorpe program.

1971

Central Catholic grad Christine Konnick was selected Miss UNICO for the annual football game to be played Aug. 13.

Plains’ Karen Kachmarsky was the first runner-up. Dallas’ Patricia Koeb was second runner-up.

1981

Boston Celtics starting guard Chris Ford was the guest instructor at the Pace Setters Basketball Camp at the Watres Armory in Scranton.

1999

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission announced it would be voting on a proposal to lower the statewide creel limit on trout from eight to five. The commission voted in 1952 to reduce the number from 10 to eight.

A survey on the topic produced 1,353 comments, with 58% in favor of the new limit and 37% opposed. The other 5% offered either an alternative proposal or were classified as miscellaneous.

2005

Four local field hockey players were named to the Olympic Developmental Squad after competing in the National Futures Tournament in Virginia Beach.

Three were from Wyoming Seminary – Kat Sharkey, Kelsey Lloyd and Tara Puffenberger. Wyoming Valley West’s Kelsey Kolojejchick was also chosen.