And the nominees are…

Christmas trees on sale until Dec. 24

First Posted: 10/16/2014 1947 &#8211; 67 years ago
James Lawrence Kilgallen was born in Pittston in 1888. As a young boy, he moved with his parents to Chicago and, as a young man, became a renowned journalist. Kilgallen covered national and international stories, including the 1919 World Series Black Sox Scandal, the Hauptmann trial for the kidnapping of the Lindbergh baby, the surrender of Germany at Reims, France in 1945, the Bikini Atoll atomic bomb tests and the Alger Hiss trial in 1948. Because of those initial ties to Pittston, the Oct. 19, 1947 edition of the Sunday Dispatch announced that Kilgallen&#8217;s daughter, Dorothy, won $500 in a &#8220;Big Story&#8221; contest for her ability to garner a jailhouse confession from accused murderess, Janet Graham. Dorothy Kilgallen went on to became one of the most famous newspaper columnists in America and claimed to be the only person to ever interview Jack Ruby, the killer of Lee Harvey Oswald. After revealing to friends that she had information that would lead to the biggest scoop in history in regard to the Kennedy Assassination, Kilgallen died, under mysterious circumstances, on the third floor of her five-story brownstone on Nov. 8, 1965, just hours after she had appeared live on the popular game show of the era, &#8220;What&#8217;s My Line?&#8221;
1957 &#8211; 57 years ago
A valuable mare, owned by Samuel Alaimo, of Yatesville, was shot and killed and police had a mystery on their hands. The mare, one of three thoroughbred breeding horses owned by Alaimo, was valued at thousands of dollars. The horse appeared to have been shot at close range so a stray bullet theory was questioned.
A sketch was revealed for the proposed Jenkins Township Hose Company Building to be erected at the corner of Spring and Second streets in Port Griffith. A fund drive was underway for the new hose company home that would house the fire truck, hose dryer, police department, truck driver quarters and storage. Also planned was a meeting room and modern kitchen to accommodate events.
The Sunday Dispatch Inquiring Photographer asked, &#8220;If space travel becomes a reality, could you be induced to take a trip to the moon?&#8221; Charles Aquilina, of Pittston, answered, &#8220;I&#8217;ve been in airplanes, ships, cars, buses and in a submarine during Korea, but the moon business in too uncertain for me.&#8221; Tony Rossi added, &#8220;If I could get a leave of absence from my job, I&#8217;d go.&#8221; Jack &#8220;Valley&#8221; Valvonis stated, &#8220;Why should I go? Leave that to Captain Video. The top of an oily garbage truck is high enough for me.&#8221;
1967 &#8211; 47 years ago
The Wyoming Area Booster Club sponsored its first homecoming football game and dance. Thomas Martin, chairman of the events, announced that homecoming queen Lisa English, of West Wyoming, and her court would participate in a parade from the school to the stadium for the game. A semi-formal dance was also held. Cost was $2.50 per couple.
Receiving the first award of its kind Duryea Little League Manager of the Year, Arthur Kunigel was &#8220;a much surprised gentleman.&#8221; The award was created by the youngsters of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Little League team managed by Joseph &#8220;Woody&#8221; Wudarski. The pennant win in 1967 gave Kunigel nine consecutive championship wins since the inception of the Duryea league. Kunigel was instrumental in organizing the league and had the distinction of being the oldest active member.
1977 &#8211; 37 years ago
William Miller, John Walsh, Lee Havard, Elmer Weiskerger, Chester Newhart, Morgan Williams and Raymond Crisci, members of the West Pittston Borough Council, enlisted the help of Robert Gibson, a hydraulic engineer of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources, in their efforts to obtain flood protection for the borough. Facing a deluge of flood protection requests, the department warned that a considerable amount of time may pass before completion of the study.
To see a 1954 photo taken inside of Viola&#8217;s Tavern located at 385 N. Main St., published in an October 1977 issue of the Sunday Dispatch, visit our website at www.psdispatch.com. Click on Peeking into the Past. Pictured visiting the popular location were Tom Conway, James McNevin, Paul Laux, Frank Dessoye, Frank Becker, Joe McHale, Bill Clarke and owners John and Michael Viola.
1987 &#8211; 27 years ago
With shovel in hand, Romaine Campenni, Wesley Village administrator, Keith Chadwick, executive director, and Victor Pollock president of the board, broke ground for a 79-bed personal care facility, the largest in Northeastern PA. The new facility was in addition to independent living, skilled and intermediate long-term care and the Partridge-Tippet Nursing Facilities.
This date in history
1872 - World&#8217;s largest gold nugget (215 kg) was found in New South Wales.
1951 - Babe Didrikson-Zaharias wins the LPGA Texas Women&#8217;s Golf Open.
2005 - Saddam Hussein goes on trial in Baghdad for crimes against humanity.

Peeking into the past