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Local sought toys for Vietnamese kids in ‘66
In 1790, Necho Allen, a hunter whose campfire accidentally ignited a nearby outcropping of the coal, discovered anthracite in Pottsville, Pennsylvania. What local resident proved with his invention that anthracite had a use not pr ... -
Lacomis awarded Silver Star 41 years ago
The National Holiday, honoring all veterans was not always known as Veteran’s Day. Originally, it was named after a temporary agreement signed in 1918. What was the agreement and who was involved. -
WA junior made solo flight 41 years ago
According to the Duryea Website, the borough sits on 14.45 miles of road and has a population of approximately 4,634. -
Rocky Castellani visited school in 1954
According to the United Stated Census Bureau, the borough of Hughestown sits on 0.9 square miles of land and has a population of 1,541. In 1934, the borough was brought to national attention. What incident involving a Hughestown r ... -
The miracle of the Mother of the Rosary statue
The Federal Government implemented a “new plan” in October of 1960. Several locations from Avoca to West Wyoming were set up and ready to help area residents register in order to take part. What was the new plan and for what purpo ... -
Homer LoPresto set Wilkes record 30 years ago
In 1959, the growing popularity of television was listed as the reason for so many theatre closings in the Greater Pittston Area. The former Lincoln Theatre in Dupont was up for sale as well as The Palace in Avoca. The Liberty The ... -
Local Yankees fans took ribbing in ‘55
The New York Yankees and the Brooklyn Dodgers were pitted against each other in the 1955 World Series. Pittston area business owners engaged in some good-natured teasing while in support of their favorite teams. In what year did t ... -
Cefalo rushed for 310 yards 36 years ago
An article in the Sunday Dispatch in 1953 warned that the operation of private clubs, the “sanctuary of local males” was threatened due to the ban on slot machines. -
Bainbridge debuted as Rams coach in 1960
Thirty-three National Guardsmen were killed in a train accident near Cochocton, Ohio on September 11, 1950. Local soldiers listed were members of the 109th Field Artillery Battalion on their way to Camp Atterbury before being depl ... -
McDonald-Murphy a double play combo in ‘71
In 1971, President Nixon imposed a national mandatory freeze on wages and prices. The measure was unprecedented in peacetime. What did the government hope to achieve with this action? -
Pittston By-pass opened 50 years ago
In September 1959, Governor David L. Lawrence urged residents of Pennsylvania to drive safely and enjoy the Labor Day holiday citing drinking, speed and fatigue as three leading causes of accidents. The use of seat belts was not m ... -
Pittston said to have 52 churches in 1948
The August 29, 1948, issue of the Sunday Dispatch listed several little known facts about Pittston. One fact stated that Pittston was 600 feet above sea level; the current mark differs, but by how much? -
Begliomini had 9-ft. tomato plant in ‘75
In August of 1965, a local attorney purchased a classic six cylinder, 80 horsepower, 1921 Packard. What was the original purchase price of the Packard when it rolled off the production line in 1921? -
‘Teenager’ had negative connotation in 1957
In August of 1967, Rocky Glen Park was in its 81st year of operation. The various owners of the park changed its name more than ten times. What were just three of the names adopted over its 101-year history? -
Pittston swimmers, 6-0, tops in 1973
The August 1953 edition of the Pittston phone book contained more of one item and less of another making it one ounce lighter than the 1952 edition, what were the items. -
William Weiss wounded in Vietnam 40 years ago
In August of 1959, Exeter Borough reported they were in the enviable position of being free of a curse that plagued other areas of Luzerne County. What was the curse borough officials felt was a parasite on the regio ... -
Ky Levin headed C of C campaign in ‘61
Officers and enlisted men of the 28th Division 109th Infantry Regimen of the National Guard departed for a two-week training camp in Virginia in July of 1961. -
Fasciana struck out 14 for Moose Club in ‘65
Women of the Mt. Zion Methodist Church in Harding were on the front page of the July 21 issue in 1985 with one of two homemade quilts they were auctioning off at their annual yard sale. -
Sheridan Soldier of Month in Korea in 1957
This was a front page teaser on the July 3 issue in 1977: “Two of the World’s Rarest Dog Breeds Living Here.” It led to an inside story about two Egyptian Pharaoh Hounds and a Chinese Shar-Pei. The Pharaoh Hounds were owned byTurco batted .512 for Legion team in ‘68
In celebration of our nation’s 233rd birthday, this week’s two-part question deals with the American Flag: In what years did Alaska and Hawaii become states, and in what years were their representing stars added to the flag?’49 HS grads faced mines, dress factories
In 1969 many of our brave men and women in the armed forces were serving in Vietnam. In what years did the United States actively fight the war and what were the other two countries involved in the conflict?Coxton Yard ‘murder’ in 1963 was a prank
In this week’s Peeking into the Past, you will read about one community whose residents gathered to remember and begin healing from the devastation caused by Tropical Storm Agnes. A year earlier the storm waters damaged 25,000 hom ...‘Lewd’ show shocks Hughestown 62 years ago
In today’s Peeking Into the Past you will read about the cartoon mascot Reddy Kilowatt touting the convenience of the electric refrigerator. Electricity of course was not new in 1947, but many people remembered ...‘Digger’ Phelps spoke at St. John’s fete in 1972
John Reilly, the Pittston City Engineer in 1962, told the Sunday Dispatch City Hall reporter, that a Pittston City Street’s name was based on the fact that it described the street perfectly. What is the street?Farewell dinner for Filippini Sisters in 1971
In an old issue of the Dispatch, a Pittston business advertised an expanded telephone facility to improve their service. The number has letters in the exchange. In what year did the phone company completely switch to a numerals on ...1960: spaghetti & meatballs 50� at Gramercy
Water filled pits at two former mine stripping operations, one in Pittston and the other in Duryea, were the focus of a meeting between State Secretary of Mines, Lewis Evans and local officials. Mr. Evans visited the area and tour ...Topps plant opened in Duryea 44 years ago
Question who was the president of the Joint Board of the Greater Pittston Vocational School in 1955?Major fire on Main Street 26 years ago
Who was the mayor of Pittston in May of 1953?Salk polio vaccine administered here in 1955
Question: What local physician gave the first injections of the Salk Polio Vaccine the students in the Pittston School District in 1955?From the pages of the Dispatch in 1953
Question of the week: In 1953, what was considered the most popular spot in the Greater Pittston area come Saturday night?Week-long fire at Coxton Yards in 1983
Question:Air raid drill at Pittston High in 1952
In the October, 1952, issue of the Sunday Dispatch Pittston High School students were posed this question: What would you do in case of a sudden air raid?Near riot at HS basketball game in ‘52
Questions of the week: Who were the unhappiest children in town (West Pittston) in 1952?More notes on local activities in the ‘50s
Question: What was described as a seasoned traveler, graceful and well designed? It’s a Stratoliner. It was also described as lightweight, comfortable, and superlative. And it sold in 1952 for ...Two locals in All-American Girls Baseball League
Last week, we mentioned various items from the pages of the Dispatch in the 1950s. We continue with that theme this week:1-lb. lobster tail dinner for $1.00 in ’50s
Around this time in the school year, many high school juniors are reading the play, “Death of a Salesman.” “Immerse yourself in the fifties,” is the homework assignment that has been heard in PA halls this week. Peeking into the P ...St. John’s girls b-ball team no. one in ‘76
Question of the Week: Who owned the First Auto in Dupont? What Year ?Hopkins hits winning shot 46 years ago
Question: In 1952 Duryea was rallying to construct a building for the borough citizens to use. The Gamma Club donated 200 cinder blocks. Popular musician Victor Lankowski donated 500 cinder blocks. Art Burnside agree ...Lokuta District wrestling champ in ‘78
Question: A steel frame was going up for a new plant in Duryea in February of 1968. A German company was building the plant and expected to have the 42,000 square foot plant in operation by August and to employ 200 w ...Jenkins Twp. doubled garbage fee in 1987
Question: a store opened at 61 South Main Street the first week of February in 1987. The city had been without such a store since the previous October when a store at 48 South Main closed. Mayor Tom Walsh, Senator Ra ...Water experts here in January of 1984
Question: A store on Main Street Pittston was damaged in a fire on New Year’s Eve in 1973. On Thursday, January 24 the company which owned the store announced it would not reopen. The store had been on Main Street fo ...Cefalo home after rookie season in ‘79
Question: A game reached a height of popularity in 1946 and 1947 in Pittston. It was estimated that 2,000 regular patrons attended “parties’ to play the game which offered cash prizes as high a $500, the equivalent o ...Duryea cops stop high speed chase in ‘85
Question: In 1955 the Duryea band, cheerleaders, majorettes color guard, flag bearers and drum major went to Harrisburg on January 18.Locals escaped fire in Puerto Rico in 1987
Question: A company called First American Energy Corporation wanted to build a controversial $140 million plant in Inkerman, Jenkins Township in 1987. State Senator Ray Musto and local residents were opposed to the p ...117 babies born at Pittston Hospital in 1968
Question: In the December 26 issue in 1948 rosters were listed for the West Wyoming, Wyoming, Avoca and Moosic high school basketball teams. See if you can guess within five how many of the 48 boys listed were listed ...‘Mystery Nurse’ saved fire victim in 1979
Question: There was a story in the December 13 issue in 1959 about one of the local boroughs. The story said the borough, which was incorporated in 1917 was the last borough incorporated in Luzerne County, at least a ...Hospital Auxiliary called it quits in 1980
Question: A famous documentary film maker was in Pittston in early December of 1990. Over 300 people came to see and hear him at a Convention Hall luncheon, where he talked about his TV film about the Civil War, the ...Fourth annual ‘Coal Bowl’ 60 years ago
Question: In the December 7 issue in 1958 a high school basketball schedule for The East Anthracite Basketball League was released. There were five teams in the EABL: Pittston Township, Jenkins Township, Hughestown, ...Thieves stole 24 cases of beer 44 years ago
Today’s Peeking items are taken from Sunday after Thanksgiving Dispatch issues from years selected at random.Warriors beat Chris Snee, Montrose 10 years ago
Question – On November 21 in 1958 Bob Lukowicz, a football player for Duryea high school, did something unusual in a game against Blakely. From the story: “A scholastic football rarity was seen at Duryea Stadium. Sel ...Two soldiers decided a school board election in 1953
Question: There was controversy in Wyoming over an appointment to council. By a 3-2 vote the council appointed Harry Zielinski to fill the seat created by the death of a councilman. A lot of people in Wyoming we ...Unbelievable Super Bowl deal in 1975
Question: 25 years ago in November of 1975 Congressman Dan Flood gave Pittston Area a gift. The gift was unveiled at a football pep rally. The vintage item, which was made in 1900, was found by Flood in a Chicago scr ...Nixon made a wrong turn here in 1956
Question – Sixty-one years ago in November of 1947 Avoca high beat Pittston in football 6-0. The story said there was joy in Avoca over the win and citizens celebrated into the night. Why were the Avoca football fans ...Rock pioneer Carl Perkins here in 1957
Question: In October of 1988 a volunteer group began an advertising campaign to promote Northeastern Pennsylvania. The group planned to spend $100,000 raised by donations of $500 from 200 businesses in Luzerne and La ...
Most Viewed PD Peeking into the Past Stories in Past 7 Days
1. Local sought toys for Vietnamese kids in ‘66
2. Salk polio vaccine administered here in 1955
3. WA junior made solo flight 41 years ago
4. Topps plant opened in Duryea 44 years ago
5. Rocky Castellani visited school in 1954
6. Week-long fire at Coxton Yards in 1983
7. Coxton Yard ‘murder’ in 1963 was a prank
8. Homer LoPresto set Wilkes record 30 years ago
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