Tag Archives: book

Dunmore Fire Department History to Inspire New Book

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fireThere have been 13 fire companies that have served the Borough of Dunmore since 1875. Over the last several years, Joseph Klapatch, a local fire department historian, has been researching the department’s history with a book due in the near future.

A number of local residents, as well as the Dunmore Historical Society, have assisted him in gathering the history. Over five three-inch binders of research have been compiled so far. As the project begins to wrap up, the author invites anybody that might have historical items that may be included in the history to contact him. Items that may be helpful include photos, articles, scrapbooks and any other memorabilia, as well as older issues of the Dunmorean newspaper and photos of past Dunmore fire chiefs.

The items would be copied, with originals staying with the owners, and those whose items are used will be credited in the book. The book is tentatively scheduled to be released by the end of this year or early 2019.

This will be Klapatch’s third book. Currently, his other books, “The History of the Carbondale, PA Fire Department 1843-2015” and “The Scranton Fire Department, 1854-Present, Including the Minooka Hose Company” are available.  Anyone can contact Joe at 570-702-5603 or email him at sendem39@aol.com.

Longo Authors New Book on Italian-American History

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Stephanie Longo bookThe Saint Ubaldo Society, a regional non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and preserving the culture and traditions of La Festa dei Ceri in Jessup, will host author Stephanie Longo for an event celebrating the release of her forthcoming book, “The Italians of Lackawanna County,” on Saturday, March 10, beginning at 6 p.m. at the Saint Ubaldo Society Cultural Center, located at 310 Third Avenue in Jessup.

“The Italians of Lackawanna County” focuses on the county’s modern Italian-American history and includes photos and stories from the area’s main Italian ethnic enclaves, as well as anecdotes from families. Linda Anelli, the Saint Ubaldo Society’s corresponding secretary and public relations director, supplied most of the photos of La Corsa dei Ceri, as well as the book’s front cover photo.

Stephanie Longo is known locally as an expert on the Italian American history of northeastern Pennsylvania and has authored previous works on the subject, including “Italians of Northeastern Pennsylvania” and “Dunmore.”

Stephanie LongoThe founder of SIAMO, the Italian American Heritage Society of Northeastern Pennsylvania, she has made it her mission to continue to preserve the history that her ancestors brought to the United States from Guardia dei Lombardi, Italy.

Through her work, the City of Scranton, the Borough of Dunmore, and Guardia have been named sister cities. A dual citizen of the United States and Italy, she resides in Dunmore and is presently the director of marketing and communications at the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce.

 

Dunmorean Publishes Book on Fallen Military Members

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bookJason Amico of Adams Avenue, Dunmore, has published a book entitled “Lackawanna County’s Fallen 56: The Stories of the 56 Military Personnel Killed or Missing During the Vietnam War.”

His book studies the lives, military careers, and deaths of the 56 servicemen from Lackawanna County who fell in Vietnam, five of whom were from Dunmore.

The Dunmore fallen heroes include Anthony Battista, Carol Ann Drazba, Tommy Malloy, Karl Rynearson, and Thomas Wharton.

One of the stories involves Malloy, a tall, fun-loving jokester. After a brief stint in college failed, Tommy did some soul searching and eventually turned to the military. Soon after his enlistment, he was sent to Vietnam where he was killed while trying to assist a wounded comrade during an attach.

“I became interested in this topic while walking in Dunmore Cemetery and I stumbled upon the grave of Sgt. John Henry Wilson of Scranton. This led to a search for all from the county that fell overseas,” explains Mr. Amico.. “I was never in the military, although family members were., and I decided to write this book to keep the stories of these 56 heroes alive.”

Amico received a  bachelor degree at Penn State University and a masters degree in history at the University of Scranton. Currently, he works for Scranton School District. In the past, he has worked for the National Park Service, Pennsylvania State Archives, and the National Archives.

In his  free time, Amico likes to read, spend time with his  dog, and workout.

Books are available only through Amico at 570-877-7847 or JAmico33@yahoo.com.