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<p>On July 4, 1989, a foreign species was introduced into the Susquehanna River ecosystem: The rubber duck. Approximately 7,500 rubber ducks were dumped over the Pierce Street Bridge to start the inaugural Wyoming Valley Duck Derby, which ended further downriver at the Market Street Bridge.</p><p>The derby was held as a fundraiser for American Cancer Society; participants donated and were assigned a numbered duck for a chance to win prizes.</p><style>
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<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/web1_duck-1-resized.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">On July 4, 1989, 7,500 rubber ducks plummeted from the top of the Pierce Street Bridge into the Susquehanna River. The ducks raced to the Market Street Bridge in Wilkes-Barre. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/web1_duck-1-resized.jpg</photo0><caption0>On July 4, 1989, 7,500 rubber ducks plummeted from the top of the Pierce Street Bridge into the Susquehanna River. The ducks raced to the Market Street Bridge in Wilkes-Barre. </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/web1_duck-2-resized.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">In this archive photo, Jenkins Township resident Jonelle Lasky, 2, helps load rubber ducks for the inaugural Wyoming Valley Duck Derby. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/web1_duck-2-resized.jpg</photo1><caption1>In this archive photo, Jenkins Township resident Jonelle Lasky, 2, helps load rubber ducks for the inaugural Wyoming Valley Duck Derby. </caption1><photoCredit1></photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/web1_duck-3-rezised.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Rubber ducks were loaded onto a digger before they were dumped into the Susquehanna River. In this Times Leader file photo, Mary Ann Grandinetti, of Wilkes-Barre, and Jerry Wall, of Dallas, stood in the Luzerne County Court House parking lot prepping the rubber duck. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/web1_duck-3-rezised.jpg</photo2><caption2>Rubber ducks were loaded onto a digger before they were dumped into the Susquehanna River. In this Times Leader file photo, Mary Ann Grandinetti, of Wilkes-Barre, and Jerry Wall, of Dallas, stood in the Luzerne County Court House parking lot prepping the rubber duck. </caption2><photoCredit2></photoCredit2></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta><p><strong>Editor&#8217;s Note:</strong> Every Thursday the Times Leader will reprint a photograph from our archives for the Throwback Thursday feature.</p></factboxMeta></div>

Throwback Thursday: Rubber ducks competed in the 1989 Wyoming Valley Duck Derby