PAGE 4 THE POST Sunday, August 27, 2006 MOMENTS IN TIME ® On Sept. 2,1666, the Great Fire of London breaks out in the house of King Charles II's baker. When the fire finally was extinguished four days later, it had engulfed 13,000 houses and nearly 90 churches. An estimated 100,000 people were left homeless. Miraculously, only 16 people were known to have died. ® On Sept. 3,1777, the American flag is flown in battle for the first time, during a Revolutionary War skirmish at Cooch'’s Bridge in Mary- land. According to legend, Philadelphia seamstress Betsy Ross de- signed the new canton for the Stars and Stripes, which consisted of a circle of 13 stars and a blue background, at the request of Gen. Ge- orge Washington. Historians have been unable to conclusively prove or disprove this legend. e On Aug. 31,1899, a Stanley Steamer, driven by F.O. Stanley, be- comes the first car to reach the 6,288-foot summit of Mount Wash- ington, N.H. The steam-powered cars not only climbed mountains, but often beat larger, gasoline-powered cars in races. * On Aug. 29,1949, at a remote test site at Semipalatinsk in Kazakh- stan, the USSR successfully detonates its first atomic bomb, code name "First Lightning." According to legend, the Soviet physicists who worked on the bomb would have been executed by the Soviet government if the bomb had failed to detonate. ® On Sept. 1,1959, Elizabeth Taylor signs with 20th Century Fox to make “Cleopatra” for a salary of $1 million. By the time she was 10, Taylor had signed with MGM and made her first picture, “There's One Born Every Minute.” e On Aug. 30,1980, Willie Nelson's “On the Road Again” enters the charts. The song would eventually reach No.1and become an Amer- ican classic. e On Aug. 28,1996, after four years of separation, Charles, Prince of Wales and heir to the British throne, and his wife, Princess Diana, formally divorce. STRANGE BUT TRUE The History Channel e We all know that when Apollo Tl landed on the moon in 1969, the first person to set foot on the lunar surface was Neil Armstrong, followed shortly thereafter by Buzz Aldrin. Ever wonder why Arm- strong went first, and therefore went down in history as the first man on the moon? Reportedly, it was because he was the closest one to the door. * Wine seems to be the "in" beverage these days. If you're among the hordes racing to the wine shops and spending ever-increasing amounts of money in search of the perfect bottle, consider this: In 1985, a single bottle of wine was sold for $160,000. And nobody even got to enjoy it - less than a year after it was purchased, the cork slipped down the bottle’s neck and into the wine, ruining it. e |t's reported that in parts of England, some people still believe that swallowing a spider will cure a cold. | think Id rather suffer through the cold. ¢ Business Week magazine had its first cover featuring a woman back in 1954; Brownie Wise was the lucky lady. Don't remember her? Well, if you grew up in the '60s or "70s, you probably felt her influen- ce, even if you don't recognize her name. She's the one who came up with the idea of the Tupperware party. * Those who study such things report that Earth is gaining weight - six tons every day, in fact. The weight gain is evidently due to the accumulation of dust and debris as the planet travels through space. It begs the question: How do they weigh the Earth to begin with? ® Coca-Cola was originally green. [XN J Thought for the Day: "Our bombs are smarter than the average high-school student. At least they can find Afghanistan." - A. Whitney Brown AMERICAN LEGION INSTALLS OFFICERS E The Dallas American Legion Post 672 recently held its installa- tion of officers. The officers for the year are: Clarence J. Michael, commander; John Emil Sr., senior vice commander; Richard Tyi- ra, adjutant; James Baloga, finance officer; Ted Diamond, sec- ond vice commander; Steve Batory, service officer; Joseph Dwinchick, chaplain; Ted Wright, historian; Robert Hines and Chester Kunigonis, sergeant at arms. Members of the executive committee are Ed Buckley, Charles Kishbaugh, Joe Kelley and John Zarno. The next meeting will be held at 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 8 at the Post Home on Route 415. All members are invited. The legion is also observing MIA Month. Above, Michael presents Emil Sr. with a plague in honor of his service as commander dur- ing the past three years. Tae POST TIMES® LEADER Community Newspaper Group 15 N. Main St., Wilkes-Barre, Pa. 18711 ® 570-675-5211 thepost@Ileader.net Richard L. Connor PUBLISHER David C. Konopki EDITOR Trish Roe ADVERTISING ld animals. They gathered for the final program of the Back Mountain Memorial Library's summer reading program. good seat can be hard to find. That's what prompted this boost up to the nose-bleed section usually reserved for the hushed, plush Registration approaching for Storytimes at library It’s time to register for fall Sto- rytimes at the Back Mountain Memorial Library. Beginning at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 6, parents and caregivers may call the library at 675-1182 to register their children. Groups for 3-5-year-oldps will meet from 9:45 a.m. to 10:45a.m. and 11 a.m. to noon Wednesdays; and from 10-11 a.m. Thursdays. Toddlers will meet from 11-11:30 a.m. Tuesdays. The toddler pro- gram could move to 10 a.m. when the Family Place program concludes. Storytimes will begin the week of Oct. 1 and run until the week of Dec. 3. Janet Bauman, children’s librarian, is in need of a person who would like to con- duct an evening storytime. Inter- ested persons are asked to call the library as soon as possible. Parents and caregivers may al- so register for Family Place: A Parent /Child Workshop. Family Place will be held from 9:45- 10:45 a.m. Oct. 3, 10, 17 and 24. This program, geared toward children ages 1-3 years of age, consists of a play group coupled with visits from resource profes- sionals dedicated to child devel- opment issues. After about 45 minutes, the play group is followed by a short “circle time” with finger plays, songs and a short story. It is a wonderful opportunity for new parents to meet and talk, have questions answered about child development and just have fun with their toddler. A limited number of “Kinder- garten, Here I Come!” calendars are available for parents and ca- regivers of children who will at- tend kindergarten in 2007. Stop by the library or call to reserve one. The participants of the Young Adult Book Discussion will read and discuss their last book of the summer, Inkheart by Cornelia Funke at 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 28. (NN J The Slightly Read Bookshop will resume its regular hours beginning Wednesday, Sept. 6.The bookshop hours are 1-7 p.m. Mondays; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. : Wednesdays; and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays. For more infor- mation, call the library at 675- 1182. 70 YEARS AGO Aug. 28,1936 LOCAL SCHOOLS READY FOR OPENING School bells will ring for tens of thou- ) sands of youngsters, and young men and women in this area next week as local school districts begin their 1936- 37 term. Already faculty members are reporting, many of them return- ing from summer sessions at col- leges throughout the east, and last-minute repair work and cleaning at buildings is being rushed preparatory to the arriv- al of the first day of school. The following schools will open on the following days: Dal- las Township, Sept. 1; Lehman Township, Sept. 8; Monroe Township, Aug. 31; Lake Town- ship, Sept. 1; Dallas Borough, Sept. 2; and Kingston Township, Sept. 8. ONLY YESTERDAY A group of Dallas Township Republicans this week tried to disprove the old political adage “To the victors belong the spoils” by stopping a Fernbrook WPA project, which was em- ploying far more Democrats than Republicans. A number of conflicting stories were told concerning what happened on Monday on Terrace Street in the Fernbrook section of Dallas Township, but all sides agreed that the Democrats were still ad- ministering the project when the smoke cleared. The difficulty began when Re- publicans began complaining that there were twice as many Democrats as Republicans working being employed on the road-building project. 60 YEARS AGO Aug. 30, 1946 LEHMAN SCHOOLS FILLED TO LIMIT For the first time in the histo- ry of the township, enrollment is expected to exceed 500 when Lehman schools open on Wednesday. Schools will open at 8:45 a.m. and close at 2:30 p.m. The cafeteria will be open the first day. Supervising principal Ho- ward Hendricks has announced that 33 beginners, the largest number on record, will enter the first grade. “Other elemen- tary grades are completely fil- led to the limit permissible if our traditional high standards are to prevail,” he said. Hendricks said Lehman has found it necessary to turn away tuition pupils seeking to be en- rolled in the elementary school; but that tuition students who have attended Lehman in previ- ous years will be permitted to continue in attendance. The future of Jive Junction, a Dallas teenage center, hangs in the balance after a meeting last Sunday afternoon between members of the Adult Commit- tee of the Center and represen- tatives of Oneida Lodge 1.0.0.F The purpose of the meeting was to hear reports on last year’s activities, learn present and future plans of the organiza- tion and determine whether the building might be put to better community use if it were turned back into the Odd Fellows and then let out to other community functions. Representing the teenagers were Mrs. Harry Ohlman, presi- dent of the adult committee; Gerald Dettmore, treasurer; Henry Peterson, Mar. Steven Sedler, Lawrence Peirce and David Joseph. 50 YEARS AGO Aug. 31, 1956 STREET NAMES CAN BE CONFUSING With the rapid expansion of the Back Mountain area, confu- sion arises in Dallas Borough, Dallas Township, Trucksville and Shavertown over the dupli- cation of street names. Postal authorities, as well as business- men, physicians, ambulance drivers and firemen find this a distinct handicap in quickly lo- cating a home. For example, there is a Sun- set Street in Goss Manor and a Sunset Avenue in Dallas Bor- ough; a Ridge Street in King- ston Township, Fernbrook and Dallas Borough; a Shaver Ave- nue in Fernbrook and Shaver- town; and an Orchard Street in Trucksville, Shavertown and Dallas Borough. The Rev. Paul Clemow, Dal- las, will mount the pulpit this Sunday, serving Maple Grove, Loyalville and Meeker United Methodist churches as supply pastor. The Rev. Harold C. Bucking- ham, Wilkes-Barre district su- perintendent, announced the appointment on Monday. The previous supply pastor, “the Rev. Arthur Williams, who succeeded the Rev. Albert Hill- ard, is taking a leave of absence. 40 YEARS AGO Aug. 25, 1966 NOXEN FIRE CO. AUCTION A SUCCESS The Noxen Fire Company’s annual auction enriched the coffers of the volunteer compa- ny by $1,300 last weekend. Much merchandise went over the block and odds and ends ta- bles were filled once again. Cus- tomers kept the refreshment booth busy and the Bowman's Creek Lions Club, who manned it, sent out several times for more supplies. Items went for very low pric- es. A Wedgewood plate went for 80 cents and was bid on by Er- nest Gay, who also purchased several pieces of pressed glass. Charles Womer bought a 21- inch used TV set in excellent condition for $15.50, while men’s new shirts went for $1.50 and $2. The new Dallas Post Office will be formally dedicated on Saturday, Oct. 22 at 2 p.m., ac- cording to word received by postmaster Buckley. No details have yet been re- ceived as to what dignitaries will attend or what social func- tions will revolve about dedica- tion proceedings. Ground was broken for the of- fice on Lake Street on Dec. 12, 1964, with Congressman Daniel J. Flood turning over the first shovel of dirt. Personnel of the office moved to their new loca- tion on Memorial Highway, ps where the old Lehigh Valley Freight Station used to stand. 30 YEARS AGO Aug. 25, 1966 DALLAS EMPLOYEES VOTE TO BE ORGANIZED An overwhelming ior the 82 eligible non-professional employees of the Dallas School District voted in favor of becom- ing organized and recognized by the Pennsylvania State Labor Relations Board at an election held at the Dallas Junior High School. The employees voted 49-24 with nine abstaining from vot- ing in favor of becoming the Dal- las School Service Personnel As- sociation. All secretarial, clerical, custo- dial, maintenance, housekeep- ing and cafeteria employees — with exception of a few designat- ed as management level — will be represented by the association. 20 YEARS AGO Aug. 27, 1966 LATE BUS RUNS DENIED AT LAKE-LEHMAN @ Lake-Lehman students who participate in after-school activ- ities are still going to have to find their own transportation home, despite arguments presented to the school board by taxpayers, teachers and students at its monthly meeting. The board stood firm by its re- cent decision to eliminate the post-practice bus runs in order to save approximately $18,000. The post-practice bus runs had been in existence over a period of many years. The runs have allowed stu- dents participating in extra-cur- ricular activities to have a means of transportation home at night. The inaugural Luzerne Coun- ty Fair Open Horseshoe Pitching Tournament will be held Satur- day and Sunday at the fair- grounds. Class A and B players will compete for money and prizes. Association rules will be fol- lowed during the tournament. ri ’ National Horseshoe pitch x4
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers