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Peeking into the past

Turco batted .512 for Legion team in ‘68

With Judy Minsavage

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?

1948 – 61 Years ago

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Mayor Robert Loftus, who died June 22, 2009, at the age of 90, is shown signing a proclamation making the week of June 11-16, 1962 “Little League Foundation Week” in the City of Pittston. Assisting Loftus are, seated left, Rev. Harold Story, and standing right, Fred Sickler, a Pittston Little League official. Players, left to right, are Daniel Bidwell, Joseph Lakowski, Albert Kridlo and John Wrubel.

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The Soviet Union’s food blockade of Berlin was the headline of the July 4 issue of the Sunday Dispatch. Allies, England, France and the United States were airlifting food into the distressed city, while negotiations with Russian officials were breaking down.

The post war division of Germany among the allies and the Soviet Union created a conflict over establishment of a neutralized Germany that would no longer be able to encroach upon its neighbors. The Russian stance was that Germany pay restitution to them for its aggression in World War I and World War II. Joseph Stalin, General Secretary of the Communist Party in Russia, believed that if not rendered financially unable, Germany would be capable of waging another war by 1960.

A Duryea man was shocked to have a visit from his brother, whom he thought had been dead for 30 years. The last time Jack Loughney had heard from his brother Tom, was in 1918 when he received a letter from him while serving in France during World War I. Tom was stationed in Mercedes, Texas, with the 16th Cavalry Regiment. Tom spent 24 years in the cavalry and six years in the Coast Artillery.

He fought bandits lead by Poncho Villa along the Mexican Border as well as serving at the battle of Progressive Ford before settling in Oregon. Jack was thrilled to see his brother.

The article made no mention as to why Tom never tried to contact Jack at their family home in Duryea, after the war.

Economic demands were sited as the reason for the Pittston Township School board to vote to adopt a resolution based on the Act of May 29, 1931 of the State Legislature. The Act set the retirement age for teachers at age 62, and enabled the dismissal of all teachers who had attained that age. Teachers Nellie Martin, Fanny Bilbow, and Principal Grace O’Malley were immediately dismissed. The resolution allowed for automatic termination for any teacher once they reached their 62nd birthday.

1958 – 51 years ago

Parishioners of St. Joseph’s Church, in Port Griffith were in the process of planning their annual August picnic. Committee members Rev. Skurski, Edward Levack, Walter Dzieczic, Mrs. Pauline Grasavage, and Florence Luravage were for proceeds from the picnic would to go for the construction of a new church, replacing the one damaged by mine subsidence. Members of the church were attending services in a small chapel near of the building site of the new church.

Officers of the Borough of Wyoming estimated that hundreds of dollars were lost due to council’s failure to press for payment of the occupational levies. Fees for permits, amusement machines, building and fines bolstered the borough income, while the occupational levies remained uncollected. Officers also sited people in public employ and borough workers as being the worst violators of those non-paid taxes.

Goodwill Hose Company of West Pittston threatened legal action to force borough council to recognize and allow the Hose Company a share in funds received for firefighters’ relief. A motion to reject the company’s request was passed on a six to one vote. Councilman John Pugliese cast the dissenting ballot. Majority council made argument that if Goodwill Hose Company was recognized, any additional hose company formed would have to be recognized and the cost to taxpayers would be enormous.

In response to the question of the week asked by the Sunday Dispatch Inquiring Photographer regarding changing the American Flag design reflecting the approved statehood of Alaska by the Senate, Andy Dominick of Duryea commented, “The less they change the flag, the better I’ll like it. Jo Sperrazza, Pittston beautician, said, “Leave it alone would be my first statement, but I guess we’ll have to include Alaska some way.” Don Coolbaugh, musician, stated, “As long as Hawaii is still trying to become a state I think we ought to hold off.”

1968 – 41 years ago

A request for a gesture of good will was requested by community of Pittston from Pennsylvania Coal Company. The Cleveland School Building in the Oregon Section of Pittston had become and eyesore, and was labeled unsafe to the residents of surrounding neighborhoods. The Urban Redevelopment Program had been able to provide improvements of properties surrounding the school, but ownership of the school property prevented razing the building, as ownership of the land would revert to the coal company upon demolition of the school. City officials hoped the coal company would cancel its claim on the land.

William “Butch” Knox, 59 of Exeter, made his 43rd annual dive off the Coxton Bridge. The former boxer dove from the bridge once a year since 1926. Although the river was shallow in the area of the dive, Mr. Knox came up without a scratch.

Eight players from Pittston Area, helped thrust the Old Forge American Legion team into a third place slot. Charlie Turco, batting .512 led the team in five batting categories; Lou Loquasto came in second with .343 Other exceptional members of the team were Eddie Murphy, Mike Pasquariello, John Chimento, Al Kridlo, Paul Tylawski, Mike Sperrazza, and Richie Rava.

An article in the July 7, 1968, issue of the Sunday Dispatch announced that construction on a new highway would begin. The planned work on the John F. Kennedy Boulevard, which would run from the Fort Jenkins Bridge to West Columbus Avenue, was to start within four weeks and was expected to be completed within three months.

The Wyoming Theatre’s feature movie was The Graduate; The Comerford Drive-In, Dupont hosted Yours, Mine and Ours, and an ad for the American Theatre was asking, “We set our time machine to 1999 and travel billions of miles into space beyond the sun to terrifying unknown worlds”. Along with transporting viewers 31 years into the future via the 2 1/2 hour movie, Battle Beyond the Sun, the theatre offered free ice cream sundaes to the first 100 kids provided by Joe the Dairy King, and admission of 50 cents,

The July Clearance at Rosedell, 36 N. Main Street Pittston offered shift dresses for $5.98 and $6.98 and Maharajah Jackets for $10.98.

1978 – 31 years ago

On June 12, 1978, Pope Paul VI had approved a decree on the heroic virtues of Joseph Marello and granted him the title of Venerable Joseph Marello. This decree advanced the cause for sainthood of the founder of the Oblates of St. Joseph. 1978 marked the 100th anniversary of the Oblates and preparations were underway for celebratory festivities. A statue of St. Joseph was designed and carved from white Carrara marble by the Studios of Artist Luigi Giannoni in Pietrasanta, Italy.

Lorraine Turant, Frank Slapar, Shirley Malloy, John Bubblo, Jack Brislin, Barbara Begliomini and Jim Dennis, members of the West Wyoming Recreation Board, announced they would be sponsoring a Family Day to be held at the Shoemaker Avenue Field. Games, refreshments, music and a softball game pitting the men from the borough against employees of FM 107 WEZX was featured.

Businesses that were advertising with the Sunday Dispatch in July of 1978 were Reliable Spring and Welding, Pittston, Slatky Roofing, Duryea; Louie Spiccioli, Painting; Michael G. Soricelli, Concrete Contractor; Smith and Miller Roofing, West Pittston; La Sota’s Electric and Appliance Service and Dave Pavlico, Piano Tuning.

Reed Realty, William Street, Pittston advertised a four year old ranch in Stauffer Heights, 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths, extra large living room, family room, large eat in kitchen, fenced yard for $57,900.

A 75 x 100 building lot in Stauffer Heights was going for $7,700 with all utilities

The Sunday Dispatch was in its third year of sponsoring The “Dispatch Cup” Tennis tournament. The Dispatch along with the Greater Pittston Tennis Association invited all residents of Greater Pittston to enter. The tournament, held at the Wyoming Area School District courts, offered competition in men and women’s singles and for the first time added, doubles and mixed doubles. Fast becoming a social event, as well as a competition, a banquet was planned for the Gramercy Ballroom, Pittston.

Answer:

Congress voted the Alaska territory, purchased from the Soviet Union in 1867, to become the 49th state on July 7, 1958. The star was added to the flag on January 3, 1959. Hawaii, a US territory since 1898, became the 50th state on August 21, 1959, and its star was added on the 4th of July 1960.