Greenwood Colliery, Minooka

Greenwood Colliery, Minooka

Monday, July 22, 2013

Minooka Mine Fire - 1965





Contributed by Cindy Davis

Minooka Motors


Contributed by Cindy Davis

Scranton Woolworth's





Contributed by Jamie Petrone

Markowski Bar - Cedar and Elm, Scranton




I (Gene Markowski) was born and raised in South Scranton, lived 26 years on the corner of Cedar and Elm, over the bar. The building was my Mom's homestead, owned by the Konopka Family, which moved into the building from Minooka. Also posted is a picture of Joseph Konopka, year of picture unknown. Joseph passed at a young age in the mid-fifties, I never met him. For those older than me....Please note these pictures are owned by me (originals), and I release all rights for copy. Have at it, if you wish. 

Contributed by Gene Markowski

Minooka High School Diploma


Contributed by Barb Cianfichi


Minooka Gun Club - Newpaper Article



Contributed by Barb Cianfichi


Thursday, March 7, 2013

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Scranton Area Breaker



A replica of the Auchinsloss (sp?) breaker.

Contributed by Jamie Petrone.

Saturday, February 9, 2013

25 High School Students on Strike - Ca. 1938

 Harold Joyce is actually Michael (M.J. Lydon).*

25 High School Students on Strike at Minooka**
Early Return to Classes Forecast; Group Had Refused to Take Exam


Twenty-five of the 29 senior commercial students at Minooka High School have been "locked out" from classes since Tuesday, they said yesterday, because they refused to take what they termed an unfair examination.

Vincent Dunleavy, principal, last night declared the misunderstanding was straightened out, and that the class will return to school today.

According to John Lydon [Sharkey Lydon] and Shamus Corbett, student spokesmen, the trouble had its inception more than a week ago, when the class was notified that it would have to take an examination in shorthand, failure in which would result in loss of senior ranking. Members of the class refused to take the test, they said, because each student in the commercial course had passed the requirements for junior shorthand and had earned credits in that subject. Upon their refusal to take the examination, the student spokesmen continued, Miss Grace Powell, commercial teacher, refused to conduct classes. Tuesday, they added, members of the group attended school as usual, but were denied instruction in all courses. They said teachers refused to conduct classes on Principal Dunleavy's orders.

Wednesday and yesterday, they declared members of the class reported to the school as usual, but were denied entrance to the building.

NOT ALLOWED TO RETURN

"We're not on strike," Corbett said. "We want to go back to school, but the school authorities won't allow us to until we agree to take the examination.

"We're not against taking the test, but we are against taking junior shorthand again, if we fail in the examination, because we all passed it once, and have credits for it," he added.

Mr. Dunleavy said the students version of the difficulty was grossly exaggerated, and pointed out that the question was wholly whether or not a teacher had the right to give examinations to the students.

MATTER OF DISCIPLINE

"The whole matter is strictly one within the school," he said.

"The misunderstanding has been straightened out, and the students will return to classes tomorrow. Their account of the controversy is greatly exaggerated. The test was merely a routine review, given by the teacher, and they refused to take it. The question is whether or not a teacher has the right to examine her pupils. They are coming into school tomorrow, and they are coming back under my conditions. There are two or three in the group who are causing all the trouble," he said.

A student committee met with Mr. Dunleavy yesterday afternoon, in an effort to reach an agreement. Despite the principal's statement that everything was settled, student leaders last night insisted they would not return to classes until they had received assurance that the proposed examination would have no effect upon credits they have thus far earned.

Miss Powell, the teacher, refused to comment.

Contributed by Michele Heenan

*According to Dr. Joe Lydon (Sharkey Lydon clan), M.J. Lydon gave his name as Harold Joyce, the Latin teacher.
*Reader Jerry Higgins believes the student (third from the left) is Bobby Murray.


Rosey Posy of South Scranton



Couldn't Be Lonely with 10Cats and 23 Chickens, She Says
From the Scranton Times (no date given)

Rhoda Ann Thrope Lewis, better known to Scrantonians as Rosey-Posey, has succumbed to the pranks of the weatherman and despite her 82 years is going to bob her hair.

"It's just too hot. Besides, everybody is doing it," said Mrs. Lewis with a shrug of her shoulders. She is youthful in many of her views and thinks her age should be no detriment to her comfort.

For fifty-one years, Rosey-Posey has made her home in a shack along the Laurel Line tracks. It is difficult to reach and getting to it necessitates a walk of almost two miles through the woods, by rather indistinct paths, and over culm piles. It is a small dwelling, one floor, one room and two fairly well sized closets. Unless the location of the house is known, it is almost impossible to find it. Completely circled by trees and high shrubs, it cannot be seen  ten feet away.

Contributed by Barbara Cianfichi


Greenwood Colliery


Contributed by Jamie Petrone

Sauquoit Silk Mill


Contributed by Barbara Cianfichi

Bootleg Coal Hole - South Scranton 1947


Contributed by Bill Gaughan

House Collapse - 2500 Pittston Avenue


Contributed by Bill Gaughan

St. John the Evangelist


Contributed by Irene Nunnari

Barbara Gallagher's 2nd Grade Class - Woodrow Wilson - 1958

Bottom Row, L to R; Patty Prendergast, Joe Conaboy, Blanche Patachnick, Leona Karwaski, Cathy Corbett, Billy Bauer, Richie Walsh, Therese O'Donnell. Middle Row; Paul Calvert, Donny Williams, Christine Baranowski, Mary Ellen McLane, Patti St. John, Nancy Lowry, Frankie Alberts, John Powell, Jimmy McIntyre, Ned Coyle. Top Row; Richie Liebold, Robert Medved, Eddie McGraw, Jamie Corbett, Rich Scheller, Gerard Joyce, Delores Kane, Mary Theresa Cusick, Kevin Calpin, Bobby Calpin.

Contributed by John Joseph Conaboy

Mrs. Gothier's 2nd Grade Class - Woodrow Wilson - 1958


Jean O'Donnell(?),Mary Eleanor Barrett,Cindy Thomas,Joe Mahaer,Mike Kevlin,Peggy O'Shea,Joe Manley. 2nd:John Connelly,Jay(?) Mary Jane Kookalo,Genette St. John,Christine Grogan,Mike Coyle,Pat Laffey,Tom Calpin,Kathy Doyle,Tina Connors,Ann Marie Joyce,3rd row: Mary Ellen Ward,Tom Gilhooley,Bill West,Tom Cawley,Gail Tobias,John McIntrye,(?)Don Hart,Georgeanne Chimchick,Jim Frye


Contributed by Kathy Andreoli

Two Perish in Burning House

Scranton, Pennsylvania (Special) - Mrs. Patrick Joyce and her granddaughter, Mary Sweeney, lost their lives in a fire which destroyed the Joyce home in Milnooka [sic], near here. Michael Sweeney and his wife, parents of the child, and Martin, Thomas, Peter, John and Mamie Joyce, children of Patrick Joyce were seriously burned and are in a hospital. Patrick Joyce and his daughter Bettina were the only persons in the house to escape injury.

Contributed by Barbara Cianfichi

Haunted Well in MInooka

December 20, 1901

Minooka, near Scranton, has a sensation in a "haunted well" located in a little grove near the town. Sometimes it appears in a brown garb, at other times in white, and when pursued it glides away among the trees with an airy, swaying motion like a toy balloon tied to a string. It always manages to keep at the same distance ahead of the parties following it, but doubtless this is due more to the fear of the pursuers than the fleetness of spectre.

Contributed by Barbara Cianfichi


Collapse of Temperance Hall - 1885

November 29, 1885

"While 500 people listened to John Connolly's temperance lecture in a hall at Minooka Friday night, the floor gave way and 200 of the audience were precipitated into the cellar, 8 feet below. When all were got out it was found that a daughter of Peter Mullen had a broken leg and many were bruised and scratched, but no one was serious injured."

Contributed by Barbara Cianfichi

Death Notices - 1898

July 18, 1898

On Tuesday, the remains of the six-year-old son of Thomas Judge, who died Saturday, were interred in Minooka Catholic Cemetery yesterday.

The funeral of the late Maria McDonough, whose death was mentioned in Saturday's Tribune, will take place this morning at 9 o'clock. A requiem high mass will be solemnized at St. Joseph's Catholic church. Interment will be made in the funeral plot in Minooka Catholic cemetery.

Contributed by Barbara Cianfichi