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Peeking into the past

May 31

Farewell dinner for Filippini Sisters in 1971

With Judy Minsavage

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 only exchange? And what was the alphabetical prefix for Pittston?

48 years ago – 1961

Urban redevelopment of the City of Pittston was major news in the last week of May of 1961. The Urban Renewal and Development Administration in Philadelphia gave the final go ahead on the revitalization project after final legal issues involving the Lehigh Valley Railroad and the Pittston Gas Company were resolved.

The plan involved purchasing 120 properties in a 40-acre area in the heart of downtown Pittston. Construction of a new highway extending from Fort Jenkins Bridge along the Lehigh Valley’s right-of-way to Columbus Avenue and Extension of William Street to connect with North Main Street. Meetings were held with the Pennsylvania Department of Highways on the planning and construction of the Central City by-pass, later named Kennedy Boulevard. Construction was to begin the summer of 1962.

Before and after photos of the Duryea Little League Field and stadium appeared in the May 25, 1961 issue of the Sunday Dispatch. With the total effort of the Community of Duryea, the field was cleared leveled and ready for use by excited Little Leaguers that summer.

There was a mystery in the County Courthouse involving the County Salary Board.

Forty-two clerks were hired by the commissioners to make the official vote count after an election held on May 19, 1961, but when the official count was made, 43 clerks did the job of counting. Confusion over the hiring of the 43rd mystery counter was debated at a meeting on May 24.

Dr. Robert H. Stroh, a salary board member, agreed all 43 counters should be paid $15.00 each for the day, and the motion passed unanimously.

However, the mystery of how the 43rd counter was hired was never resolved.

Charles Petrillo, owner of the Sunoco Service Station on South Main and Market Streets, reported that his business had been robbed during the night. Burglars entered through a garage door after breaking a glass panel to unlock the door. After ransacking the establishment, the burglars took $8.00 in coins

Pennsylvania Power and Light selected two local outstanding high school seniors to receive scholarships. Kenneth J. Myers, a graduate of Moosic High School and Thomas L. Pirnot, a graduate of Dunmore Hugh School. A total of ten winners were selected from 400 applicants.

Julio Motors, 295 South Main Street increased its telephone facility in order to facilitate better service due to increasing business demands.

The new phone number was listed as OL5-2295.

Radio City, 55 Broad Street, Pittston, advertised the New 1961 GE Consolette T.V. with New Daylite Blue Picture, shaped like a move screen. The model had picture width control, automatic gain control and up-front full fidelity sound, all for $228.00

Abate Brothers Sea Food, 211 N. Main Street offered fillet of haddock for 89 cents a pound and grab patties, two for 35 cents.

Question #2

Of the times the steam whistles atop the coal collieries blew, morning, noon, evening and nine o’clock, what did the last one denote?

38 years ago 1971

The front page of the May 30, 1971, issue of the Sunday Dispatch held photos of the Avoca Centennial Celebration. Thousands of people visited the borough during the weeklong celebration. Mayor Joseph Hannon received congratulatory telegrams from President Richard Nixon, Senator Hugh Scott, Congressman Daniel Flood and Governor Milton Shapp. A short history described Avoca as influenced by Old King Coal, and railroads. The breaker wheels turned, the locomotives chugged, and the steam whistles atop every colliery told the time of day.

A measure signed into law by Governor Milton Shapp caused great concern to area Senior Citizens. Joseph S. Tirpak, Wyoming Borough Tax Collector, stated his office had been receiving many phone calls concerning filing for tax relief benefits provided under the Senior Citizens Property Tax Assistance Act. . The measure signed into law in March of 1971, provided cash benefits of up to $200 per person. Those with household income between of less than $1,000 a years would receive 100 percent of real estate tax paid on the homestead.

The nuns of the Filippini Order were honored at a farewell dinner at the Mayfair Supper Club. The nuns taught at St. Rocco’s Parochial School during its 25-year history. The sisters were unable to continue staffing the school, which lead to its scheduled closing in June of 1971. The school had 118 pupils in grades one through six. Special guest were Sister Sophia, Sister Felicia, Sister Marie Caroline of Mount Carmel Church, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Scarantino, Mr. and Mrs. John Mikolaczyk and son Dave. Mr. Scarantino and Mrs. Mikolaczk were lay teachers at the school.

Glenn Chevrolet advertised the new Monte Carlo during its sale days, the “Monte’s” in stock were priced from $3,895.84 to $4,105.00.

A beautiful three bedroom, bi-level home with garage was advertised for sale. Located on Route 92, West Pittston, Hex Acres the home, had wall-to-wall carpeting, plastered walls, paved driveway, ceramic tiles and landscaping all for $21,500.

Top five songs of May 1971: 1. Never Can Say Goodbye, Jackson 5; 2. Love her Madly, The Doors; 3. Here Comes the Sun, Richie Havens; 4. I Am I Said, Neil Diamond; 5. Brown Sugar, The Rolling Stones.

Teen Record Revue, written by David Yonki, wrote that WARM Radio would hold a popularity contest between Elvis Presley and Englebert Humperdink.

Listeners were encouraged to listen to WARM Radio for more details; the station claimed Humperdink’s strength was among the elder folks while Presley’s would come from the young people and adults who were teenagers when he was “the thing”. The voting was to take place on June 7, 1971.

28 Years Ago – 1981

Sebastian “Buster Palma” Palmeri, a well-known barber in Pittston, celebrated 50 years in business. Buster and his brother Tony were two popular figures on Main Street for a half century in 1981. Appropriately, Leo Tierney, a steady customer of Buster’s since he opened his shop celebrated by getting a trim.

Another one of Buster’s customers on his 50th anniversary was a female, something that was very unusual when Buster opened his shop. At the time, Buster made occasional house calls with his barber tools, trimming customers who could not travel to his shop.

Announcement was made at a Pittston Area School Board meeting that at the end of the 1971 school year, Duryea Elementary and Garfield Elementary Schools would be closing. School Board President Joseph Joyce said the closings were due to enrollment decreases and the building would be advertised for sale.

Wyoming Borough Officials honored the memory of Wyoming’s own “Unknown Soldier’, buried in the Wyoming Cemetery on Wyoming Avenue. The soldier was returning home, after being severely wounded during the Battle of Lake Erie in the War of 1812.

He was taken in by a family in Wyoming and died there before anyone could determine his name or town. Pictured at the tomb were Robert Wilson, US Army Silver Star winner in World War II, Mrs. Esther Wilson, World War II Army Nurse veteran and Mayor George Metcalfe, a Bronze Star recipient and U.S. Army veteran.

The first annual St. Rocco’s Pancake-Sausage Breakfast was held at St. Rocco’s Hall. Rev. Mario Buttini, OSJ pastor had hoped that the event would become an annual event with proceeds benefiting the youth activities of the parish

Northeastern Pennsylvania TV Cable advertised a whopping list of 13 channels, WDAU, WBREWVIA, WNET, WNEP, WPHL, WOR, WPIX, Public Access, and PENNARAMA.

Three of the channels were to be deleted due to FCC rulings and were to be replaced by three new channels.

Home Box Office was also a channel available.

Luzerne County Community College announced that it would be offering a Lethal Weapons Course designed to meet the requirements set forth by the Legislature of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania relative to Act 235. The course offered all facets of criminal justice, and self-defense, and experience on the pistol range. Students passing the final exam would be able to move onto their desired profession in the security field.

18 Years Ago – 1991

Wing walkers, Blue Angels and Leapfrogs were the attractions to behold at Air show ’91 at the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport.

All who attended would witness the traditions of early barnstorming and breathtaking aerobatics. Wing walker Pat Wagner standing on the top wing of an airplane flown by her husband Bob provided a thrilling performance. The Blue Angels demonstrated their fast precision flying and the Leapfrogs would jump out of cargo planes from two miles overhead, free fall, and then land gently under billowing parachutes. Military demonstrations and aircraft were featured as well as civilian flying teams.

Acme Markets donated an IBM PS2 Computer to Mr. Sperazza’s special education class at Pittston Area Senior High School. The class saved receipts and labels, which helped to obtain the computer.

Job Openings that were being advertised through the Pittston Job Center: Dump Truck Driver, $8.00 per hour; Sewing machine Operators, Major appliance repairer, Order picker, part time $4.65 per hour; Security guard $4.75 per hour; Tractor Trailer driver, 20 cents per mile; Air conditioning mechanic, $5.00 per hour and Truck Mechanics at $6.00 per hour

Goodwill Hose Company of West Pittston dedicated its flagpole and a monument in the memory of James Salerno for his unselfish dedication to the community. Councilman Carl Rosencrance read a decree recognizing May 19, 1991 as Jimmy Salerno Day in the borough of West Pittston. Honored guest of the hose company who represented organizations who donated to the memorial were Tom Supey, president, West Pittston Lions Club, Patrick Messina, Jr., scoutmaster Boy Scout Troop 302, Rosalie Messina, Cub Scoutmaster, Cub Scout Pack 302.

Seton Catholic High School Music Department presented “Live From Seton”. Under the direction of Mrs. Judith Samarzis. Some of the students that performed in the annual concert were Jennifer Lokuta and Jamie Kizis, masters of ceremonies, Renee Gemzik sang Music of the Night, Stephanie Corey performed Piano Man, Piano accompanists were Jennifer Osahl and Annie Kaminski, Michael Kamage and Kate Ja ckson sang More Than Words, and All I Ask of You.

Answer #1: 1965

Answer #2: Curfew