Today's backward glance at Yesteryear is in response to numerous requests for a familiar look at This Day in History.
70 YEARS AGOMonday, Aug. 7, 1944
Second Lt. William J. Zeli of Belle Vernon has been awarded the Air Medal for meritorious service while participating in bombing attacks on industrial and military targets in Nazi-occupied countries in Europe. Zeli is a bombardier on a B-24 Liberator at an Eighth Army Air Force base. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Vincent Zeli.
Speers upset the Page Starlettes 17-6 in a women's mushball exhibition game at City Park in Monessen. Speers pitcher Helen Green struck out 11 and helped her own cause by collecting six hits in six trips to the plate. Dorothy Zalaska had five hits and Mary Kowalczyk belted a home run and a double for the winners, while Fern Ermlick looked best for the Starlettes with three hits.
60 YEARS AGOThursday, Aug. 7, 1954
Downtown Monessen shoppers were treated to a “water show” when a main line let loose, throwing water almost 100 feet into the air. For 10 minutes, the water sprayed high above a building at 418 Donner Avenue before it was brought under control.
Pvt. Jordan (Kaiser) Vincentich of Stockdale is playing baseball for a U.S. Army Engineers unit in Stuttgart, Germany. Vincentich, the son of Mr. and Mrs. M.J. Vincentich of Stockdale, is a graduate of Charleroi High School, where he played baseball for Coach Pete Garnic. He also played on district sandlot teams including Stockdale, Long Branch and Keystone. He was employed by the Pennsylvania Railroad before entering the Army in November 1952.
Charleroi Supply edged Wolf's 2-1 to even the best-of-three Junior League championship series at the Stadium. Southpaw Carl Witmyer pitched a three-hitter – all singles – and struck out 11 to best Don Zelinski in a mound duel. Ralph Bryner had two hits for the winners.
50 YEARS AGOSaturday, Aug. 7, 1964
District drivers won two races at the Pittsburgh International Dragway. Bill Palmer of Belle Vernon paced the Middle Eliminator competition by running his Chevrolet powered dragster at 130.24 miles per hour in 10.7 seconds. Tom Monack of Charleroi won Top Stock honors in a G stock 1963 Chevy with an elapsed time of 15.87 seconds at 87.04 mph.
Disc jockey Jerry Matson will spin the records at a teen dance tonight from 8 to 11 at the Monongahela Valley Catholic High School gymnasium.
Ronald Novak, head of the mathematics department at Elizabeth Forward High School, has been appointed instructor in mathematics and assistant football coach at Bloomsburg State College. A native of California, he is a graduate of California Community High School and California State College and received his master of education degree at the University of Pittsburgh.
39 YEARS AGOThursday, Aug. 7, 1975
Monessen officials issued a stern warning that the 62-year-old Reed Avenue Viaduct is closed to all vehicular and pedestrian traffic. The span is in deteriorating condition and will be demolished by Fank Irey Jr. Inc. as part of the city's community development program.
Anthony Massafra of Donora was elected chairman of the Monongahela Valley Hospital Inc. Advisory Committee at an organizational meeting at Belle Vernon Holiday Inn. Other officers of the new group are Gwen Simmons, Monongahela, first vice chairman; the Rev. Richard Richards, California second vice chairman, and Virginia Niccolai, Charleroi, secretary.
Laurie Hixenbaugh of Belle Vernon took top honors in the 26th annual Tri-State Baton Twirling Tournament at Kennywood Park and was crowned Miss Tri-State Majorette. Her sister, Vernie, was second and Janie Ritsko of Fayette City third in the Class B (junior high) Division. Kim Keefer of Fayette City finished first in the 4-5-6 grade class.
30 YEARS AGOTuesday, Aug. 7, 1984
Jennifer Paro, 18, will reign as Miss Personality at the annual Donora Community Picnic tomorrow at Kennywood Park. The daughter of Connie Paro of Donora, Jennifer is a 1984 graduate of Ringgold High School, where her activities including being a cheerleader and a member of the track team.
Rostraver Township residents want a traffic light installed at the busy intersection of Route 51 and Fellsburg Road. Amy Strenske, representing the group, presented a petition signed by some 470 residents to the township commissioners calling for a study by the state to determine if a traffic light is warranted.
Gaudio's men's store in Rostraver (one mile north of Hills Department Store) is having an “Unbelievable Clearance Sale” offering “Fantastic, Beautiful Name Brand” suits, sports coats and dress pants at reductions of 25 percent to 50 percent and more.
20 YEARS AGOSaturday, Aug. 6, 1994(Aug. 7 was a Sunday)
Republican Lt. Gov. candidate Mark Schwieker said transportation infrastructure is a key to economic revitalization but he failed to endorse the Mon/Fayette Expressway while speaking before a group of the project's greatest supporters at a meeting of the Mon Valley Progress Council at the Main Course restaurant at Cedar Creek golf course.
Former Ringgold High School and Notre Dame standout Anthony Peterson is listed as the No. 2 inside linebacker on the San Francisco 49ers' depth chart behind Ken Norton. Peterson was a sixth-round draft choice.
Another Ringgold graduate, quarterback Scott Zolak, threw his first touchdown pass of the pre-season for the New England Patriots when he hit Bernie Leggette on a seven-yard toss in a 24-6 win over New Orleans.
Dr. Robert Pecarchik of Monessen was appointed by the Westmoreland County Commissioners to fill a vacancy on the Board of Trustees of Westmoreland County Care Management and Supports, Inc.
10 YEARS AGOSaturday, Aug. 7, 2004
The future of North Belle Vernon's major sewer line project may be going down the drain. Nearly 70 percent of the sewer separation project is complete, yet residents haven't been able to connect their property to the new lines. Borough council said it is conducting a “full-out investigation” into what went wrong and where to go from here.
President George Fugo conducted the monthly meeting of the Fayette City Golden Agers at Center On The Hill. “Travel Lady” Stella Kroskie reported on upcoming trips to Lake George and New Seneca in New York.
Rostraver's season ended with a hard-fought 5-3 loss to Bud Murphy's in the Fayette County League playoffs. Ryan Russell homered for manager Dan Palm's Rostraver club.
Ron Paglia is a freelance writer for Trib Total Media.
