TimesLeader.com

Peeking into the past

October 5
New Pittston YMCA opened 25 years ago

With Jack Smiles

Question : 45 years ago at the city council October meeting a debate broke out about the birthplace of a late major league baseball player and manager. Both the city and Pittston Township claimed to be the birth place of the famous baseball man. It was argued that he was born in a Lower Browntown section of Pittston Township called Redington’s Patch.

Pittston’s Laura Musto was named Miss Italian American in the mid 1990s.

The city argued that he was born in Brandy Patch which was in Pittston. John Higgins, a writer with the Pittston Gazette, said he had been told by the ballplayers brother Frank, that the ballplayer and manager was born in a house on Tedrick Street that was half in the city and half in the township and that he had been born in the city half of the house.

Who was the ballplayer/manager claimed by the city and township?

25 years ago – 1983

The Pittston YMCA was brand new in October of 1983. The grand opening was on October 9. A pictured of the Y the directors ran with the story: Ruth Melberger, Justine Haddow, Angelo Montante, Henry Hall Jr., George Menn, Bob Luchetti, Jim Yates, Ann Marie Adonizio, Helen Rizzo, Angelo Russo, Mike Mecadon, Armand Filipini, Walter Young, Paul Batisti, Rev. Paul Fitzpatrick, Ray Giraldi, Jack Zielinski, Mike Bruno, Sal Licata and Joe Fedor.

PA and WA both loss in football the first week of October. PA lost to Hanover 21-0. WA lost to Valley West 20-8. Eric Speece returned a kick off 82 yards for the WA score.

Tom Tigue was way ahead of the curve in October of 1983. The then State Representative introduced a bill to legalize casino gambling at resorts in four Pocono counties. The bill said to qualify an establishment would have to have 100 hotel rooms and 15,000 square feet for a casino floor. Games to be legalized: baccarat, craps, blackjack, roulette, big six and slot machines.

The ribbon was cut on a Welsh Street reconstruction project in Jenkins Township, which included resurfacing, curbs, sidewalks, and catch basins. Township supervisors Sam Milazzo and Jim Gubbiotti were pictured cutting the ribbon with Luzerne County chairman Ed Brominski.

An arsonist was at work in Pittston in October of 1983. One vacant building on North Main in the junction was set on fire three different times. The other fires were also in vacant and abandoned buildings.

Angelo Terrana was sworn in as city treasurer after the sudden resignation of Sadie Cosgrove. Terrana had been the winner of the democratic primary in May.

35 years ago – 1973

Pittston Area homecoming queen Patti Dillon and her court were on the front page 35 years ago. Girls on Dillon’s court were Betsy Williams, Margaret Hite, Adrienne Krimowski, and Mercita Patte. 1972 queen Debbie Kelly was also in the photo.

The State Department of Economic Development was in Harding in October of 1973 to deliver a check to Exeter Township for a new municipal building and road paving. The township got $141,165.

The Pittston Area football team lost for the first and only time in 1973, 13-9 to GAR at Charley Trippi Stadium. PA had a 1st-and-goal from the GAR seven after a 53-yard run by Jimmy Cefalo, but GAR held. Cefalo rushed for 112 yards on 16 carries. Starting quarterback Jimmy Castellino went out with an injury in the second quarter.

45 years ago – 1963

The city got a new aerial ladder truck in October of 1963. The truck was pictured on the front page of the October 9 issue. Well, it wasn’t really new. It was a hand-me-down from Wilkes-Barre which got a new one. But the Mack truck was in good condition and needed only minor repairs. The story said the need for the truck was demonstrated when an aerial from Kingston had to be called in to fight a fire on Main Street and another at St. John’s High School.

Pictured with the new truck were Mayor Robert Loftus, Fire Chief Francis McDonnell, city clerk Tony Ferrara and city drivers Bill D’Elia and Paul Fearick.

Rose Stelma of Wyoming moved to California in October of 1963 and her friends at Wyoming Valley Dress where she worked threw her a going away party. Pictured with Rose at the party were Ann Little, Kathryn Hollis, Bert Zale, Annette Little, George Little, Inez Dertinger, Matty Ribaudo, Bernadette Little and Charlotte Little.

Leo’s Restaurant at 76 South Main had a grand opening the first week of October in 1963. Opening Day specials were Turkey Dinner for 75 cents and a meatloaf dinner for 65 cents and free coffee all day. There was also a drawing for a transistor radio. Leo Insalaco was the proprietor. He had previously operated Leo’s Lunch at 93 South Main.

In football Old Forge beat West Pittston 21-18 with Nello Tomarelli – a 6-4 220-pound converted lineman – at running back. He scored twice booted three extra points and intercepted a pass. West Pittston scored on a 65-yard punt return by Joe Cefalo, a 33-yard Ron DeLucca to Cefalo pass and a 33-yard run by Dan Llewellyn. Tomarelli went to Arizona State on a baseball scholarship.

St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Hughestown had its 100th anniversary in 1963. It was founded by Swiss immigrants in 1863.

A Duryea man, Master Sgt. John Raychel, was an Army expert in chemical warfare. He designed gas masks for combat troops.

A double block house at 612-614 Spruce Street in West Pittston with six rooms and a bath on each side was listed at $2,500.

55 years go – 1953

The Pittston Red Devils won the first game of a best of three series with the West Wyoming Skeeters for the Suburban League baseball championship. The Devils won easily 16-2. Earl Dietrick pitched a four-hitter, though he did have his 25 inning scoreless streak stopped.

Rene Lucarella had a triple and two singles, Sammy Galasso had a triple and a single. Billy Williams and Streaky Dardes had two hits each.

In football, West Pittston on the way to a 10-0 season beat Dallas Township 68-0. Quarterback Nick Volpetti scored three touchdowns. “Soupy” Lepore, Bernie Wierbowski, Tommy Evans, and Skip Sheriden also scored.

Avoca beat Pittston Township 25-6. Gabriel Pocceschi, John Kolander, John Shemanski, and Al Lis scored. Billy Kearney threw two touchdown passes.

Kolander threw away a touchdown when he dropped the ball after crossing the 10-yard line thinking it was the goal line.

Answer: Hall of Famer Hughie Jennings.