PEEKING INTO THE PAST originally published on Nov. 29, 2009
Question #1
In 1963, officials in Greater Pittston were complying with government mandates designed to establish fallout shelters in case of nuclear attack. As the threat of nuclear war decreased, the focus on shelters to accommodate survivors of a nuclear holocaust waned. Under what president did the government broaden its Civil Defense strategy on survival of nuclear war to include assistance to victims of natural disasters?
1963 – 46 years ago
In 1963, the threat of nuclear war was a major concern. West Pittston Civil Defense Director James T. Ayre and shelter chairman Warren Strubeck were instrumental in setting up six shelters. The Stauffer Building was the first to be stock-piled with clean water containers, crackers, first aid kits and other items for survival. There were 16 survival units in the borough. Council members John Casey, Michael Chiampi, Fred Moss and Joseph Shultz were responsible for four each. In 1961, President Kennedy, convinced of the continuing need for shelters, proposed a plan to identify existing fallout shelter capacity and provide additional shelters in new and existing structures.
Four anticipated football games were scheduled for Thanksgiving Day in 1963. Pittston and St. John’s would match up for the 43rd time since 1915. Wyoming and West Wyoming were slated to compete for the 31st time, West Pittston and Exeter would line up for the 12th time and Northeast and Kingston Catholic met for the second time.
A drought-imposed ban on hunting was in effect at the beginning of deer hunting season in 1963. Governor William Scranton lifted the ban shortly before Thanksgiving of that year. He extended bow and small game season into January of 1964.
John B. Burns, of Pittston an Army sergeant attached to the Medical Corp in World War II, unexpectedly had to use his expertise as a funeral director in preparing the body of General George S. Patton for burial. While on a hunting trip near Mannheim, Germany, General Patton died when his car was involved in a collision with a truck. Burns was summoned by top brass to handle all arrangements of burial. Burns appeared in various newsreels and in a biographical documentary of Patton’s life.
1973 – 36 years ago
“Sweeny at the Gate” was the title of an original play penned by Mike Cotter of West Pittston. The play began a three-week run at the Great Gatsby Theatre in Scranton. The drama included original music composed by area musicians, James Frushon and Benny Piccillo.
Greater Pittston Slow Pitch teams received trophies for their winning season. Joe Danko of play-off champs Dructor’s, Café and Jim “The Bear” LaNunziata of runners-up Jim’s Recreation, accepted their sponsor trophies. Also garnering trophies were team members Jimmy Fearick, Billy Doran, Buddy Vida, Fritz Kremitske and Ed Grassi.
Congressman Dan Flood used his extensive influence to locate a solid brass bell from an abandoned 1900 vintage New York Central Steam locomotive in a Chicago Scrap Yard fulfilling a request from Pittston Area faculty members Angelo Marcino, Vince Washak and Mary Frances Loftus. The bell was transported to a rail yard in Avoca where it was refurbished and then donated by the congressman to the Pittston Area faculty members, students and football team.
1983 – 26 years ago
Arnold Embleton, of Inkerman, retired LVRR conductor, couldn’t stand by and let history be destroyed, especially local railroad history, So when it was announced in 1963 the old Lehigh Valley Railroad Station was about to be demolished, he remembered some old photos hanging on the interior walls, so he broke into the station and confiscated the photos. He also assisted Michael Kelly and Ed Miller in establishing Southwind Excursions, a passenger rail trip that started from the old South Street Yard in Wilkes-Barre and ended one hour and 15 minutes later at a point just behind Pittston Lumber.
Question #2
Pittston was noted as an active railroad center from the late 1800s to 1960. The Lehigh Valley and Laurel Railroad hauled coal from Northeast Pennsylvania. The Lehigh Valley Railroad also offered the ultimate in luxury passenger travel on the Black Diamond Express dubbed the “Handsomest Train in the World.” In what year did the Black Diamond Express make its final run?
1993 – 16 years ago
Steve Lukasik, Jenny Pesotine, Audra Sciandra, Shea Sartin and Richard Rusnok were five Pittston Area musicians who qualified during auditions to perform in the 1993 District IX Band Festival. The students would again have to audition for chair placement for regional and state competition.
The Pittston Area Key Club was featured in the Keynoter, a monthly magazine published by Key Club International. The club cited officers Lynn Benfante, Christina Calabrese, Mia Scarantino, and Russell D’Elia, for planning a track and field Special Olympics, held at the Pittston Area High School.
Marcario’s Lincoln Inn, Dupont, was celebrating its 57th year in business. Philomena Rossi opened up her living room and kitchen to customers in 1936; she passed the business on to her daughter, Tina Marcario and husband Dominick, in 1963.
In 1993, the owners of Petro Hardware celebrated their 25th year in business. Brothers Tom and Joe Petro and their families credited their friendly service and willingness to go the extra mile in order to keep local customers coming back. Thomas Petro Sr., a contractor, initially opened the Pittston location to display models of bathrooms and living rooms. In 1972, the display room became Petro Hardware. In 1981, the store became affiliated with Ace Hardware Corporation.
Answer #1
In 1981, under Ronald Reagan’s administration, Congress amended the Civil Defense Act of 1950, enabling funds to be used for natural disasters and well as attacks on the homeland.
Answer #2
The Black Diamond Express, Lehigh Railroad’s flagship passenger train and the model for rail travel luxury, made its final run on May 11, 1959, virtually ending area passenger service.
This date in history:
1826: Jedediah Smith’s expedition reaches San Diego, becoming the first Americans to cross the southwestern part of the continent.
1862: George Armstrong Custer meets his future bride, Elizabeth Bacon, at a Thanksgiving party.
2001: Hubble Space Telescope discovers a hydrogen atmosphere on planet Osiris, the first atmosphere detected on an extra solar planet.
