TimesLeader.com

Peeking into the past

September 6

Pittston By-pass opened 50 years ago

With Judy Minsavage

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 mentioned. When were seat belts first installed in automobiles and in what year had most states mandated their use?

1949 - 60 Years Ago

Mary Nealon Kearns, a teacher in Pittston Township, had a legitimate complaint when told by Township school board members that she must retire in March of 1949. According to their records, Mrs. Kearns was 62 years of age, but according to the records in The County Superintendent’s office, she had two more years to go before reaching the school district mandated forced retirement of teachers at the age of 62. Complicating matters, official records of births were not maintained in Pennsylvania. Attorney Leo White argued that Mrs. Kearns should be reinstated out of deference to her lengthy service, but board members refused. Mrs. Kearns was deciding whether to proceed with legal action.

The Left Hand Club, headquartered at Komensky’s Caf�, held their annual clambake. Ninety members of the club attended. Jake Barbush, Mae McArdle, Mike Evancho, Bill Norek, Andy Komensky and Arnold Urban planned the event and clarified that being left handed did not automatically mean membership. The name was derived from an emblem on the wall behind the bar at Komensky’s, which contained right and left hand rods. When the left rod was pressed downward, all members were to use only their left hand to lift their drinks. Any member caught violating the rule must place a specified fine in a kitty. Funds were used for the annual event.

Miss Ann Murtha of Main Street, Avoca, had the opportunity to direct the Avoca High School band for the 1949-50 school year. After receiving acceptance of her application for the job, from Thomas Kelly and Joseph Kelly majority members of the board, Miss Murtha unexpectedly withdrew her application. Board members named well-known area musician Henry Lech of Duryea, to the post.

The Sunday Dispatch Radio Log displayed local radio listings for Sunday, September 11, 1949: WGBI 1140 on the dial: 6:30 p.m. Our Miss Brooks; 7:00 Your Hit parade: 7:30 Call the Police; 8:00 Sam Spade and 8:30 Life with Luigi.

1959 - 50 Years Ago

Exeter Constable Joseph Smith, well known for his hard stance on establishments containing slot machines, made an offhanded remark at a Firemen’s Convention in Taylor that caused him some embarrassment. Constable Smith, noticing the firemen had a slot machine at the event, quipped to a bystander, “Stay away from those machines, I just lost $4.00.” A passerby, overhearing the comment, wrote a letter informing the Sunday Dispatch of Constable Smith’s “fall to temptation”. Constable Smith clarified the issue by saying “he was only joking.”

The grand opening of Dente’s Market, 540 Luzerne Avenue, was scheduled for the week of September 6, 1959. The new market was a continuation of one owned and operated from the turn of the century by B.G. Dente of West Pittston.

The Pittston Bypass officially opened September 1 of 1959. A motorcade transported official personnel to a luncheon at the Mayfair Supper Club, Yatesville to celebrate the event.

Exeter High School graduates John Kolis, Jake Brin, Paul Blossi and George Savitsky enlisted in the Air Force. They were to travel to Lackland Air Force Base in Texas for basic training.

Joseph Migliosi, general contractor, West Pittston advertised a newly constructed five room home in Exeter. The home offered three bedrooms, aluminum siding, stone front, oil, baseboard heat, built-in oven and stove, hardwood floors, large basement and concrete patio all for $14,700. John P. Sammon Realtor advertised a six room single home on Maple Street in West Pittston, nice sized rooms, new asbestos siding, storm windows and low taxes for $4,500.

1969 - 40 Years Ago

The Greater Pittston Meals of Wheels began operation on September 8, 1969. At the inception of this program, the service would provide housebound and disabled persons two well-balanced meals five days per week. Both Louise Uritz, coordinator and Rev. Charles Gommer, president oversaw the collecting of the names of those in need. A call for volunteers to deliver the hot meals from the basement of the First United Methodist Church in Pittston was underway.

Pittston Area football fans came under some criticism during the pre-season scrimmages. Fans yelled at coaches and insisted the games be played as though they were competition matches. Radio, TV and some newspapers were covering scrimmages. Coaches insisted that scrimmages were strictly for early training and strategy formation and if not handled properly would result in player injuries.

After spending most of his adult life, working on large passenger ships and serving on a Coast Guard hospital ship during World War II, Charles Nilsen of Exeter retired and was appointed a school guard at Wyoming School crossing. During his years sailing he served many notables aboard ship such as Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman, the Duke of Windsor, Cardinal Spellman and dozens of movie stars.

A meeting was held by Hughestown borough officials to consider the prospect of purchasing an 8.5-acre tract of land, north of Rock Street and east of Center Street. The land was to be used for a recreational activities area for children and adults. Mayor Albert Orlando endorsed the project.

The Teen Record Revue listed the top ten songs for September 1969 as:

1. Laughing, Guess Who;

2. A Boy Named Sue, Johnny Cash;

3. It’s Getting Better, Mama Cass;

4. Sugar Sugar, Archies;

5. I’ll Never Fall In Love Again, Tom Jones;

6. Green River, CCR;

7. Put a Little Love in Your Heart, Jackie De Shannon;

8. True Grit, Glen Campbell;

9. Easy to be Hard, Three Dog Night and

10. Keem-O-Sabe, Electric Indian.

Question #2

In September of 1979 on the first anniversary of the re-opening of the American Theatre in downtown Pittston the theater screened a re-release of a blockbuster movie, with proceeds going to the Muscular Dystrophy fund. What was the ground breaking movie?

1979 - 30 Years Ago

The residents of the borough of Hughestown celebrated their centennial in 1979. The last activity of the yearlong celebration was a dinner dance held at the Mayfair Supper Club. Many Hughestown families attended. Howard Booth and Esther Helriegel were the two oldest native-born residents. A group known as the No. 9 Breaker Boys played a major roll in the festivities.

Dave Marconi, Jerry Zezza Sr. and Jerry Zezza Jr., Doc Fasciana, Carmine Cerza, Vince and Lou Cella and Joe DeLucca were set to compete in the fourth annual West Pittston Italian Open Golf Tournament being held at the Emanon Country Club.

Don Kenia was voted the most valuable player in the National Industrial Softball Tournament held in Louisville, Kentucky. Kenia, who pitched for both the Hill Inn and Leslie Fay teams, was credited with six home runs over the 300 foot fencing, and on the pitcher’s mound he proved his fielding abilities, by striding backwards after releasing the pitch and becoming another fielder.

Answer #1

Seat belts were first installed in automobiles in the early 1900s to prevent ejection during a particularly bumpy ride. By December 1995 every state except New Hampshire had a mandatory safety belt law.

Answer #2

The movie was Star Wars, which produced five sequels and collectively grossed approximately 4.3 billion dollars.