72 YEARS A NEWSPAPER
Oldest Business Institution
Back of the Mountain
HE DALLAS POST
TWO EASY TO REMEMBER
Telephone Numbers
ORchard 4-5656
OR 4-7676
EN AS
TEN CENTS PER COPY—TWENTY PAGES
Consulting Engineer Opens Second
Unit In Dallas Shopping Center
BERNICE AND JAMES BLACKMER
Monday morning will mark the
Grand Opening of the Dallas Clean-
ers in Dallas Shopping Center.
The store will be operated by
Mr. and Mrs. James Blackmer, East
Center Street, Shavertown, who have
5 ecently moved to the Back Moun-
tain from Mexico, where Mr. Black- |
mer planned and put into operation
the first steel forging plant.
A ‘graduate of Michigan State, Mr.
Blackmer holds a B.S. Degree. in
pietallurgical Engineering and was
a Free Lance Consulting Engineer
for heavy industry for several years.
His specialty was Steel Forging.
Before the twe-year residence in
Mexico, the Blackmers were located
in’ Chicago.
‘While none of his past experience
is a background for owning
operating a Dry Cleaning establish-
ment, Mr. Blackmer
throughout the country seeking the
business
most productive in his so-called re-
and |
traveled |
which he felt would be |
tirement years.
His selection of a Martenizing
Plant was only after paintaking re-
search of processes and plants that
produce fast, quality cleaning.
The public is cordially invited to
see the most modern dry cleaning
plant in operation and have de-
tails of the cleaning operation ex-
plained.
Bernice and James Blackmer, as
they hope to be known, want to
become active in Back Mountain
affairs and to eventually own a
home in the community.
Their son, D. Wayne lives next
door with his wife and ‘family of
three.
After the opening day celebra-
tion, "Mr. Blackmer promises one-
hour service anytime . . daily until
{3:30 p.m. at no extra cost.
|
| resident will operate the tailoring
| and alteration end of the business.
Forest Fire Forced Lee Tracys
To Pack Their Personal Goods
The destructive brush fires that |
raged through the Los Angeles sub- |
urban area last week destroying |
homes of several movie stars, gave |
Lee and Helen Tracy several an-
xious hours.
# During a long distaneevtelephpge
Beall Monday night their uacle and
aunt Mr. and Mrs.
20f Mr. Greenwood Road, learned |
®hat the couple had all of their pers- |
“onal belongings packed for two days |
in their car and Helen's father’s |
car ready to leave their home in
Pacific Highlands, north of Los Ang-
eles,/ on a moment's notice.
The flames came within a half
mile of their home and Lee used a
hose on the roof to extinguish burn- |
ing embers. Fortunately the fire
was extinguished when it reached |
Will Rogers Ranch Park, a half mile
from the city line.
The Tracys were of the opinion!
Robert Scott |
that the fire could’ have been
brought under control ‘earlier had
the city been willing to spend the
money to assist a neighboring com-
| munity.
They said the airplanes using
«chemical to «retard the fipp were
very effective but costly—-far less
costly, however, than the millions
in damage done by the fire.
Up until the fire, the Tracys had
been enjoying the peace and quiet
of the California countryside fol-
| lowing their first trans-continental
[ motor trip together. On the trip
| which they prolonged to six weeks,
they caught many salmon which they
have had canned as gifts for friends.
It was Lee's first real vacation in
| years He had never before stayed
overnight in a modern motel and is
| now convinced that there is no
| better way to see America than by
automobile.
Natona Installs 24
High Speed
Reading-Made Tricot Machines
As part of a half million dollar
‘improvement program, Natona Mills |
has just completed installation of |
“twenty-four of the latest model |
high-speed Tricot machines.
.. The new machines have replaced |
Wider slower models and have al- |
ready increased production assuring |
steadier and more secure employ-
ment for the Natona staff.
The plant modernization program
has also been extended to the fin-
ishing department at Glen Falls,
N.Y.
According to plant superintendent
Charles Gardner, the outlook is
bright at Natona and he looks for- |
ward to continued progress.
The machines were manufactured
in Reading and were purchased by |
the Natona management because |
they | were Pennsylvania made A
| competing machine is manufactured
in Germany. About nine months
| were required for installation. Robert
Milne is in charge of the depart-
ment.
‘Hawaiian Night
| Arab Patrol and Hawaiian Night
| will be the feature attraction at the
|Irem Temple Country Club on
| Saturday evening. Chairman of the
l'affair, to which Potentate Thomas
| E. Lehman III, has invited all mem-
| bers. their wives and guests, is Wil-
liam Jones assisted by the co-chair-
man, C. Everrett LaBarre.
| Another evening of ‘entertain-
| ment has been arranged and danc-
| ing will follow. Dinner will be served
| in the dining room commensing at
6:30 and continue until 8 pI m.
Joe Bond, another Back Mountain |
|
|
|
|
|
MORE THAN A NEWSPAPER, A COMMUNITY INSTITUTION
Postmaster Has
Suggestions For
Christmas Mail
Avoid Lines, Stock
Up On Stamps And
Mail Cards Early
“It's time to start planning your
Christmas card and gift mailings.”
Postmaster Joseph [Polacky said
yesterday as he launched his 1961
“Mail Early For Christmas” Cam-
paign.
Looking ahead to what may be
the biggest Christmas season ever,
the Postmaster said further, “Here
are the things to watch to help in
getting every Christmas card and
package delivered before Decem-
ber 25.
CHECK your Christmas card and
gift lists carefully. Be sure each
address is complete with full name,
street and number, city, zone and
state. Avoid abbreviations of city
and state names.
FOR YOUR GIFT PACKAGES,
secure heavy wrapping paper, stur-
dy corrugated cartons, strong cord
and adhesive tape. Remember,
also, that you can include your
Christmas card or letter inside your
gift packages if you will add the
appropriate First Class mail stamp
to the postage for the package it-
self.
STOCK UP ON POSTAGE
STAMPS — By doing this soon,
you'll save lots of time that might
be spent standing in line later on.
When you go to the Post Office,
ask for a supply of labels which
read, “All For Local Delivery” and
“All For Out of Town Delivery,” so
that before you mail your Christmas
cards you can sort
groups, with the addresses all facing |
one way, thus expediting delivery.”
The Post Office will help you plan
your Christmas mailings. Get a copy
of Pamphlet No. 2, which gives full
information about proper —
and wrapping of parcels.
First Class Postage Is Best we
mailing your Christmas cards. All
cards sent by 4c postage may in-
clude a personal handwritten mes-
sage, and they'll be forwarded ‘or
returned, if that becomes necessary.
Be sure to put your return address
on your Christmas card envelopes.
It's socially correct to do this, and
eribleg both# yan “andi our
to keep your mailing lists up-to-
date.
Heads Legion Party
BERNARD REHILL
Commander Edward Buckley has
appointed Bernard Rehill chairman
of Daddow-Isaacs Post’s annual
Turkey Party which will he held
this Sunday evening at 8 at the
Legion Home.
Rehill, an’ employee of Linear
Inc, and a former resident of
Philadelphia, has announced that
his committee invites all local Leg-
ionnaires to help.
Profits from the Party will be
used to carry on the Post’s com-
munity program which has been
recognized by the State and Nation-
al Legion as outstanding.
Dallas Rotary Entertains Dallas Football Team
them into two Further to the right on the lower floors of the
long building are the rocker yards and scrub houses.
Upper floors are the lofts where hides are hung
for drying and curing by forced hot air after tanning.
Upper floor of the first right angle building to
he right is the roller room for final finishing of hides.
fiends
Mountain,
vide power and light.
heating and drying hides.
and beam house where green hides
floors of the buildings extending at
This is an air view of the Noxen Tannery, one
of the most modern tanneries in America.
is toward the south-east from the vicinity of Schooley.
To the far left is the dual purpose power plant,
a big consumer of anthracite coal. Its’ generators pro-
Exhaust steam is used
Immediately behind the
power plant in the long building are the hair house
prepared for tanning in the yards on the lower
The view
A Sad Picture For The Back Mountain Country
Concrete building to the far right is the ship-
ping department.
foreground is the office.
The small building below it in the
Pools at center top are for
disposal, of tanning liquors and extracts. Row of
for
are fleshed and
right angles.
persons.
homes top right. were constructed by the Armour
Company for employees..
The plant was completely destroyed by fire dur-
ing World War I and for some time there was doubt
that it would ever be rebuilt.
Company kept all of its employees on payroll doing
clean-up jobs and finally the thrilling announcement
came that Westinghouse,Church, Kerr of New York
City had been awarded the general contract for one
of the finest tanneries in the
started in 1918 and was completed in 1919.
At its peak in 1941 the plant employed
However, the Armour
world. Construction
Seventy Year Qld Plant of Armour
The Back
fered a severe economic blow this
week with thé announcement by P.
Win Renon, Williamsport, ‘general
manager of the Sole Leather Division,
a few weeks and the buildings will
be offered for sale.
The announcement was not com-
pletely unexpected for employees of
the big tannery have been appre-
hensive for several weeks since the
firm first began laying off employ-
ees in the beam house and later
throughout the other operations.
Mr. Kenyon said generally de-
pressed conditions in the entire
leather industry are responsible for
the decision to close the plant.
He said he wanted to stress the
cooperative spirit of the employees,
the outstanding workmanship, and
the high quality of the product
said there has been practically no
labor trouble and only depressed |
conditions in the industry were
Mountain Region suf-|
that Noxen tannery of the Armour |
Leather Company will close within |
produced at Noxen. Mr. Kenyon |
| to close
will be affected—=most’ of them men |
Some of these, a very few, may be
able to obtain similar employment
in the company’s other planfs at
Williamsport and Westover, West
Virginia, but Williamsport is now
working with a complete staff.
Sohe to be pensioned
Mr. Kenyon said some of the men
will come under the company’s
pension plan which pays $2 per
month times years of employment,
and many of them will be entitled
to social security. All others will
receive some form of terminal pay.
The Noxen plant had an average
annual payroll of about $700,000
and paid local taxes of $9,732. Of
| this amount $6,396 were for school
| taxes.
|" When working "at capacity, 660
domestic hides were put to soak
daily. About eight weeks were re-
Charles B. Gates
Dies Suddenly
Spontaneous grief was the reac-
tion of the Back Mountain when!
residents learned that Charles Gates
of Dallas had died suddenly Friday |
night. “Chuck” was a friend to |
everybody, kindness personified in |
all his dealings, quick to lend a
sympathetic ear. He and his wife,
denied children, were singularly de- |
voted to each other.
Fern Knoll, Rev.
officiating at services from the Wil-
liams Funeral Home. Pallbearers
were Richard Oliver, Earl Roberts,
Earl Themayne, Delbert Hughes, Mil-
ton Hughes, and Jack DeWitt.
He had been battling what seemed
to be a cold for a week before ad-
mission by Dallas = ambulance to
Nesbitt Hospital Friday night. Placed
under oxygen immediately, he died
an hour after admission. Fifteen
years ago he had suffered a coron-
ary, and followed a schedule of
Mr. Gates was buried Monday at |
Russell Lawry, |
pastor of Dallas Methodist Church, !
® quired for the hides to go through
the yard and tanning process which
{ has been shortened by improved
methods during recent years.
Tanned hides were rolled at Nox-
I en, but the sole cutting and finish-
ing processes were completed at
| Williamsport, sole cutting depart-
‘ment having been transferred from
| Williamsport, in 1913.
Franklin ~ Patton, -president of
| Noxen Local, Fur & Leather Work-
[ers Union, said that the announce-
‘ment was a blow to the men who
were just now on the verge of
| negotiating a new contract. He was
shocked by the news, and has called
| ing purposes.
| Noxen to Newberry, a suburb of | NZ purpose
ning.
Leather Company To Close At Noxen
considered in making the decision |a meeting of the Local for next
Wednesday at the Veteran’s Hall in
One Bundred and eight employees Noxen.
“In the meantime”, he said, “we
in the upper age brackets who have have set up chairmen and com-
devoted their lives to the plant. | mittees
bring a new industry into Noxen,
but there is nothing now in sight.”
Much Speculation
There is considerable speculation
as to what type of industry could
use the buildings other than a tan-
nery or chemical company. Some
have suggested light wood working
or a furniture industry.
Buildings are in good condition
and there is an exceptionally fine
power plant.
In discussing possible future use
of the buildings, Mr. Kenyon said
some of the machinery now housed
at Noxen will be shipped to Will-
iamsport. Little or none will be sent
to the Parsons plant.
Lumberings Last Outpost
The Noxen tannery which is one
of the last vestiges of the once
thriving lumber industry in North-
eastern Pennsylvania, was estab-
lished more than seventy years ago
in 1889 by the late G. K. Mosser
of Allentown.
At that time there were vast
quantities of hemlock bark available
close at hand, and good water sup-
ply of proper temperature for tan-
Over the years bark
became a decreasing factor in tan-
The long bark sheds and
grinding mills disappeared, replaced
by ‘extracts and chemicals shipped
in. by tank car.
Three generations of Mossers
(Continued on Page 3 A)
i Dr.
| sixteen years of service, both due to
to exert every effort to
VOL 78, NO. 46, THURSH
Dallas School .
Directors Plan
Farewell Dinner
Will Welcome Two
New Members, Bid
Goodbye To Eight
Dallas School Board plans a Hail
and Farewell dinner Saturday, Dec-
| ember 9 at The Castle, strictly Dutch
{ Treat, a final get-together for re-
tiring members, and a welcome
to the two mew members, both of
them women.
The face of the board, after re-
organization meeting scheduled by
law for the first Monday in Decem-
ber, will be entirely changed, with
retirement of many of the stalwarts
{ who have battled through the
rough times of the original five-way
jointure leading to formation of the
present Union District.
Retiring from Dallas Township are
Philip Cheney and Francis Ambrose.
From Kingston Township, James
Hutchison and William Clewell. From
Dallas Borough, Walter Mohr and
Lewis LeGrand. From Franklin
Township, Henry Hess and Don
Hislop.
New members are: Mrs. Thomas
Vernon, elected member-at-large;
and Mrs. Louise Steinhauer, Frank-
lin Township. Kingston Township,
Dallas - Township, and Dallas Bor-
ough, according to the pattern of
eventual reduction of the Union Dis-
trict school board to seven members,
one from each municipality and
three at large, elected no members.
Mrs. Vernon, Kingston Township,
ran as candidate for member-at-
large.
Jim Hutchison has been on the
Kingston Township list of directors
for twelve years, Bill Clewell was
elected to the board to replace the
late Stanley Henning, and has serv-
ed since January of 1954.
Retiring from Dallas Borough dir-
ectors, Lewis LeGrand has been
a director for twelve years, after
serving as secretary of the board,
and as auditor for many years.
Walter Mohr is completing a short-
er term, elected to fill the vacancy
caused by the death of Harry Ohl-
man, in September of 1956.
Remaining ag Dallas directors are
old-timyrs IL. IL, Richardson: and
Robert Bodycomb, each with
retire in 1963. Younger in point of
service is Earl Philips, who suc-
ceeded D. T. Scott Jr. Bodycomb
and Richardson will retire in 1963.
In Franklin Township, Donald
Hislop is finishing out the unexpired
term of George Dymond. With his
retirement and that of Mr. Hess,
the Franklin Township - board is
reduced to two old members, Mr.
Sickler and Mr. Mitchell, plus the
newly elected Mrs. Steinhauer. Mr.
Hislop has been with the board
since December, 1960. Mr. Hess was
elected in November 1955.
Remaining on the Kingston Town-
ship roster are Charles Mannear,
president of the Board; William
Davis, and Walter Phillips.
In Dallas Township, remaining
members will be William Wright and
Alton B. Whittaker, both of whom
will retire in 1963; and Jack Stan-
ley, whose term will end in 1965.
Phil Cheney has served on the
board twice, but not consecutively.
He is currently finishing out the
term of R. E. Neal, taking office in
1960. \
Red Ambrose, for some time
chairman of the five-way jointure
which antedated the Union District,
leaves after having entered the
calm waters, after stormy sessions
during jointure upheavals.
Mrs. Vernon has attended every
meeting of the school board for
many months as spectator, acquaint-
ing herself with procedure, gather-
ing valuable background material.
Dallas Lions Hosts At Inter-Club Meeting
NOVEMBER 16, 1961
As Principal Of
Evening School
Cafeteria Manager
Selected, To Start
Work November 27
Resignation of Alfred M. Camp
as principal of Dallas ‘Adult Evening
School was accepted Monday night
by Dallas School directors, who met
in the high school library one day
earlier than usual.
Thomas F. Carr, holding certifi-
cation for an. evening school princ-
ipal’s position, took on Mr. Camp's
duties November 8, Mr. Camp's res-
ignation having taken effect Nov-
ember 3 for reasons of health. Mr.
Camp will continue with his regular
daytime schedule.
Henry Welch, long-time custod-
ian at Dallas Borough School, will
retire December 31,
Cafeteria Manager
A cafeteria manager has been
procured after months of interviews
with prospective managers. Frank
Hemingway of Swoyersville, present-
ly manager of the cafeteria at West
Side Central Catholic High School,
and an expert baker, will start work
November 27. He is the unanimous
choice of committee members.
Thomas Jenkins, assistant to Princ-
ipal W. Frank Trimble, will con-
tinue to oversee the finances of the
cafeteria, but will be relieved: of
supervision of its mechanics.
Commencement Speaker
Joseph 'W. Hobbs, superintendent
of schools of Mason County, 1,
will speak on “Assignment Tomor-
row” at graduation exercises sched-
uled for June 12, 1962. Mr. Hobbs,
superintendent of schools since 1943,
presents a daily radio program,
Mason County Review, over Station
WSIV, Pekin, Ill. He is a graduate
of Bradley University, where he ob-
tained his Master's in Education.
Water Is Satisfactory
Each week, samples of water used
in the high school are sent to Kirby
Health Center for analysis. The re-
port is that it is approved.
Repairs to water mains, broken
by settling of the ground following
excavation and grading, has been
done, plumbers working overnight
and far into the next day to cor-
rect the damage. As Dr. Rober:
A. Mellman explainsd in his super-
intendent’s report, ‘it’ costs far too
much to close the school for re-
pairs, estimated in terms of cancel-
led bus service, spoiled food in the
cafeteria, etc.
Languages
Spanish will be offered in Grade
9, beginning in September. In the
meantime, conversational Spanish
will be offered to grades 7 and 8 for
| the remainder of the school year.
It was brought out in course of
the discussion that directors who
had read George Jacobs letters
from the Philippines in the Dallas
Post were impressed by his feeling
that Spanish should be one of the
favored subjects.
Dx. Mellman pointed out that
any student going to a foreign
country “is handicapped by not
knowing the language, that the
same argument could be made for
study of Freach and German, but
that Spanish is probably the eas-
iest foreign language to learn, and
is mused in many countries. With
elimination of requirements in Lat-
in for entrance to most colleges,
he said, modern languages are ad-
visable.
Retiring Members
A number of school board mem-
bers were attending their last of-
ficial board meeting. Reorganization
will take place in. December, with
eight members dropping out, two
joining the board. :
Retiring are: James Hutchison
and William Clewell, Kingston Town-=
ship; Lewis LeGrand and Walter
Mohr, Dallas Borough; Francis Am-
brose and Philip = Cheney, Dallas
Township; Henry Hess and Donald
Hislop. :
Mrs. John Vernon and Mrs. Lou=
ise Steinhauer will be sworn in at
the December meeting, Mrs. Vern-
jon as director-at-large and Mrs.
| Steinhauer as director from Frank-
lin Township.
Evening Chorus Concert
Dr. Mellman asked support for
the free concert to be offered by
| members of the Mixed Chorus of
the Dallas Evening Extension School
Monday evening, December 18, in
the new auditorium. William Wright,
life which’ permitted him to keep |
on with his occupation as special |
agent for American Credit Indem- |
nity Company, but took into ac- |
count his heart condition. He re-
tired four years ago. |
For thirty years he lived in Dal-
las, moving from Shrine View to
Split Rail Lane some years ago.
He was born in Kingston, son of
| the late Frank R. and Loretta Barney
| Gates.
He was a member of Dallas Metho-
one of the members of the chorus,
reported that rehearsals have been
going well since evening classes
opened early in October, and that
the concert would embrace a wide
variety of offerings.
Roof Repairs
Parry and Company have the con-
tract for roof repairs at Dallas
Township and Dallas Borough, to
correct damage caused by a spring
hailstorm. The amount is $1,724, fol-
Clark, is seen in a place of honor at)land, and Joseph D. Law.
Dallas Rotary Club entertained
v { ] AAs 3 lowing specifications. Bids were
members of the Dallas Foot- | the head table. Mr. Alexander presided, intro- dist Church. Masonic affiliatiops in- : REL ; opened October 27.
ball Team Thursday night at Seated in the front’ row, left to | ducing Rev. McClelland, who gave | cluded King Hiram Lodge 721 F&AM, Dallas Lions Club was host to an Deputy District Governor Wilbur Shown above at the speaker's Church League
the Fourteenth Annual Old Shoe | right, are Fred Jennings, James the invocation. Earl Phillips, din-| Caldwell Consistory, and Irem Temp- | Inter-Club meeting Tuesday night Shorts and Zone Chairman Edward | table are: standing, Dr. Herman M. Back Mountain Church Basket-
Trophy dinner, when team mem- | Alexander, Jim McCarthy, Earl W.|ner chairman, was toastmaster. le. He belonged to the Franklin|at Irem Temple Country Club. Papciak conducted the Induction Aqua, Rev. Francis Brennan, Joe ball League was authorized to use”
. bers invited their mothers and | Phillips, Dr. Robert A. Mellman, Ww. | Guest speaker McCarthy, from | Club. In attendance were members of | Ceremony welcoming new Lions. Yeager, Osmand (Casterline; seated, the gymnasiums Saturday evenings
coaches to a smorgasbord at Irem | Frank Trimble, and Thomas H.|NBC, spoke of the value of sports His only survivor is his wife, Dallas, Noxen, Luzerne and Larks- Guest speaker was Dr. Jay A.|Edward A. Papciak, Zone Chair- specific dates to be determined 1
Country ‘Club. Jenkins. to American youth." the former Cora {Jones of Scranton. | ville Clubs. Young, Dallas, chairman of the De- | man; Wilbur Shorts, Deputy Dist- Thomas ‘Jenkins and John: Rosser:
The Old Shoe Trophy, piven to| Standing aré George Dombick, | Wilkes-Barre Rotary Dixieland | Mrs., Gates has with her for the Opening remarks were by Club | partment of, Chemistry at King's|rict Governor, James C. Thomas, Permission: Granted
the winner in the annual Lake-Léh- | Edward - Brominski, Merton Jones, | Band entertained. next two weeks her niece, Mrs. | Presidents James Thomas, Dal- | College, who spoke on “Fall Out and | Jay A. Young and Richard O. My- To Dr. Mellman to attend the
las; Osmand Casterline, Noxen and
Dr.
Franklin Brutzman, who flew up Radioactivity.” ers,
from Atlanta Georgia.
W. B. Jeter, Rev. William McClel- |
man and Dallas conflict, following a
inaugurated by Donald |
custom
photo by Kozemchak Herman Aqua, Luzerne,
(Continued on Page 8 A)