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Peeking into the past

Air raid drill at Pittston High in 1952

With Joanne Dahms Dispatch Intern

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?

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Rev. Stanley Cituk, back row, center, and the bowling team at Saints Peter & Paul Church, Avoca in 1934.

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Pretending the high school building was partially destroyed from “bombing attacks” the students on pre-arranged instructions were removed orderly. The drill included a rescue squad, ambulance drivers, recon team, Red Cross workers, casualties, litter bearers. The recon team searched the building for casualties. The high school rescue squad, which had received special instructions in basic rescue and firefighting, lowered the “casualties” to the ground by sliding them down a ladder. They were placed into the ambulances and taken to Adonizios’ and Biancos’ yards across the street from the school.

President Truman

President Truman grabbed the spotlight for a few minutes. He passed through Dupont and Avoca on a fast motor tour enroute to Scranton. Then on the return trip to make a speech in Wilkes-Barre, he passed through Duryea, Pittston, Port Griffith and Sebastopol. Throngs were lined along the route to get a view of the President.

Duryea’s “Solid Seven”

The “Solid Seven” was considered the finest collection of linemen ever to sport their wares on a Greater Pittston gridiron. They were the products of Coach Tom Kelly: Alex Pucilowski, Lou Sapolis, Bernard Balchune, Donald Elm, Joe Wycallis (captain), Casmir Ruda, and Joe Chesslock. They romped to their 5th straight victory defeating Exeter 40-6. It was a measure of “sweet revenge” for the Duryea club, the victory coming over the team which took the Luzerne County Championship away from Duryea in ’51 by a fraction of a percentage point.

West Pittston

“Touchdown Tommy” Evans’ performance was one of every high school halfback’s dreams. He scored all three Garden Village first half touchdowns and rushed for 222 yards in one quarter. He ran up 348 yards in the fray. West Pittston 39, Pittston 6.

From Korea

A letter was penned by an Army private serving in Korea who chanced to see a copy of the Dispatch and he wrote:

“While sitting near my tank one day I happened to pick up a newspaper, the Sunday Dispatch which I enjoyed very much. – especially the pictures of the beautiful girls. I am serving in Korea and was wondering if there are any young girls who would like to correspond with me. The reason I am asking is because I don’t receive much mail. If it is possible, would you put this in your paper.”

National Notice

The April, 1953, appearance of Charles Masters Mustinski’s Teen Age Band on the Paul Whiteman TV show brought Duryea more publicity than money can buy. A film showing of the original show was shown in delayed broadcasts throughout the country. An article said this was probably be the first time in the history of Duryea that it has ever received national recognition.

Painters Local 488

Pittston had one of its finest displays of community spirit at Pittston Little League when 31 members of Painters Local 488 turned out to completely paint the park. The high spirited “paint slingers” arrived on the scene at 9:00 a.m. and in about an hour had put a covering of green on the fence and dugouts and painted the huge backboard silver.

Pancho’s Grand Opening

Pancho’s Cleaners hosted its grand opening at 501 Chestnut Street in Dupont. The business was owned and operated by Edward and Stanley Piechota. The synthetic cleaning was the newest and most modern pressing machinery. 24 hour cleaning service was offered.

Invention

A curtain rod invention designed to eliminate snagging and tearing of curtains devised by Santo Giambra, Pittston, was being studied by engineers at Medico Electric Company to determine if it could be manufactured by a Medico firm. Medico said that if the local manufacture proves possible, several hundred men may be employed in the project. Giambra had already patented the curtain rod improvement. The Pittston inventor had refused an offer of $18,000 for the gadget – a price offered to him by a NY firm.

Wedding Backlog

The closing of six weeks of the Lenten season in the spring of 1953 had backed up local weddings. 19 were scheduled to be performed in area churches with 9 taking place on Easter Monday.