1922 WB Record Almanac, Luzerne County in 1921
	“Luzerne County was fortunate during the year 1921 in not experiencing the 
effect of unemployment as much as elsewhere.  This comparatively satisfactory state 
of local conditions was due to the fact that the anthracite mines were kept going quite 
steadily and the miners received wages even higher than those of war time, they having 
been granted and additional advance in 1920.  A number of industries laid off employees
or reduced wages or went on part time, but on the whole business in the county was 
conceded to be better than in other parts of the country.
 	“During the latter part of the year there was considerable apprehension as 
to the possibility of a strike of the miners in the spring, on the expiration of the contract 
between the operators and the miners, but the formulation of demands by the miners 
was postponed until February.  The conference of Unemployment held in Washington 
in October discussed the problem in general, but the remedies suggested were indefinite.  
During the latter part of the year there were indications of a business revival, but nothing 
sudden or radical was expected.  Business depression was the result of post-war conditions 
affecting the United States and foreign countries.
	“Prohibition enforcement was a subject of intense interest during the year.  
The consensus of opinion was that in regard to Luzerne County, as in many other parts 
of the country, enforcement failed to accomplish the results anticipated at the beginning 
of prohibition.  In hundreds and thousands of homes brewing and distilling were carried on.  
Many carloads of grapes came into the county and were snapped up at high prices by foreigners.  
In practically all of the saloons liquor could be had by persons who were known, though the law 
permitted them to sell nothing stronger than one-half of one per cent, alcoholic content.  
	“Early in the year most of the breweries were closed by order of federal officers 
for sending out real beer and they were kept closed for a number of weeks.  They were
 permitted to reopen on the payment of heavy fines for the manufacture of near beer.  
During the remainder of the years the breweries observed the laws.  At the [beginning] 
of January session of court Judge Garman lectured the constables and the grand jury 
on observance of the law and demanded energy in suppressing bootlegging effect was apparent.
	“During the year scores of raids without the habit and in another and other 
evils but no noticeable were made on liquor in transport, mostly in motor trucks, either 
intended for local people or sent out of the county to distant points.  Some exiting 
incidents occurred.  In most cases the liquor was confiscated.  Occasionally revenue 
officers from other places came into the county and conducted raids on saloons and the 
cases were went to court, but comparatively few penalties were imposed, either because 
of congestion in the courts or for other reasons.
	“The Legislature in 1921 passed the Woner act as a substitute for the Brooks 
high license law.  The Woner act prohibits the sale of anything stronger than the beverages 
permitted by the federal Volstead act.  The cost of licenses is less than those of the former 
Brooks Stat law.  But it was evident that most of the saloons that were licensed for the sale 
of near beer sold whiskey and other intoxicants on the sly.  A great deal of the stuff sold was 
far more injurious than the old-time whiskey, because made from raw alcohol with coloring 
matter, and from other deleterious ingredients.  
	“The traffic in illicit liquor was stupendous.  It was said that many bootleggers suddenly 
became rich.  A prevalent custom was to take whiskey withdrawn from government warehouses 
and dilute it with several times the volume of water and alcohol and sell it around forty dollars a gallon.  
This kind of stuff was sold for about fifty cents a drink in the saloons.
	“In the spring session of License Court about as many applicants for licenses as before 
prohibition were filed.  The court refused all new applications and about forty old places; nevertheless
the number of licensed places was almost as large as before prohibition.  It was evident that a 
great many of them could not exist on the sale of near beer alone.
	“Prohibition enforcement officers acknowledged that the task of enforcement was 
stupendous.  There were no reliable statistics to show just the effect of prohibition upon crime 
and insanity, but many cases of drunkenness came to the notice of the police authorities.  
It appears[,] that for a number years[,]  at least the most beneficial effect of prohibition would 
be in training the youth away from the open saloon.  More people as they grew up would be [a] 
generation [in which] the best effects of prohibition would be apparent.
	“The weather of the year was extraordinary.  The winter was mild and there was a 
particularly early spring.  The first real cold spell was experienced January 18, when the thermometer 
in Wilkes-Barre registered three degrees above zero.  At that time the river was frozen over for the 
first time.  Though there were no prolonged cold spells, the ice crop was fairly abundant.  A heavy 
snowstorm on February 20 caused considerable inconvenience to the railroads and the traction 
system.  When spring came the watershed of the [Susquehanna] was comparatively free of snow 
and the ground was not frozen to a great depth.  There was, therefore, no serious flood.  On March 
10 the river rose to 19.1 feet and flowed free of ice.  Owing to heavy rains the river rose to 20 feet Nov. 30.  
	“While the spring was early, there came several days of frost when the buds on the fruit 
trees were out.  Practically all of the fruit crop was destroyed.  Apples were so scarce that in October 
they were sold at five cents apiece on local fruit stands.  The apple crop was about ninety-five per 
cent[age] a failure.  There were no cherries.  
Easter Day, March 27, had a temperature of 83 degrees in Wilkes-Barre.
	“July was one of the hottest summer months on record, for days the thermometer registering 
close to 90 and above.  There was also a deficiency in the rainfall.  The heat and lack of rain injured 
crops considerably, particularly potatoes.  On the contrary, August was unusually cool for that month.
	“During the year Irem Country Club was chartered.  It secured an admirable site near Dallas 
and I it is intended to make the enterprise one of the big social and recreation features of the valley.
	“During the year several campaigns for the relief of suffering in other parts of the world were 
carried on.  Under the auspices of Herbert C. Hoover and intensive campaign was conducted for 
starving children of central Europe and a considerable sum of money was raised in Luzerne County.  
At a dinner given at Hotel Sterling in February the guests were served with a model meal, of the kind 
to be provided for the foreign sufferers, consisting of unbuttered bread, beans and hot chocolate.  
The guest aid the regulation hotel prices and the proceeds were given to the fund.
	“Owning to lack of rain for a couple of years crops in a large part of China were complete 
failure and it was estimated that thirty million people were doomed to starvation, many of whom could 
not be reached in time to save them even though the most energetic efforts were made.  The relief 
campaign was carried on with vigor and some thousands of dollars were sent out from this country.  
In November another Red Cross enrollment campaign was conducted. 
	“Later in the year drou[ght] and industrial disorganization caused intense suffering over a 
large part of Russia and an American Relief Commission was formed under the auspices of Herbert 
C. Hoover, who served as food administrator during the war.  The blight of Bolshevism was largely 
responsible for the industrial collapse in Russia, which was aggravated by adverse weather conditions.  
The plight of millions of people was desperate.  No local appeal for funds was made, but great quantities 
of food were sent over and distributed by the American commission from stores that had been accumulated 
for other relief purposes.
	“The Jewish residents of the country conducted a campaign among themselves for the relief of 
Jewish sufferers in the war districts of Europe and some thousands of dollars were collected.
	“During the year a federation of the charities of Wilkes-Barre and vicinity was effected through 
initiative of the Civic Bureau of the Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce.  The purpose was to make one 
campaign a year for the solicitation of funds, the total sum to be apportioned among the various institutions 
according to subsequent arrangements.  It was also hoped in time to establish a department to which each 
charity organization would report  its work, so that all other organizations could consult the filed records and 
thus avoid duplication.  The plan has been in existence in a number of other cities and has proved to be 
successful.  The general experience has been that more people contribute to charity support and that a much 
larger total sum is secured than by individual solicitation.  All but two or three of the leading charities consented 
to join the federation.  Plans had not been entirely perfected at the close of the year.
	“A permanent home for the blind of the county was established in Wilkes-Barre during the year on 
land on Union street donated for that purpose.  A building was erected with facilities for such work as the 
blind can do and with comfortable quarters for recreation.  A campaign for $50,000 to pay for the building 
and furnishings was conducted.  
 	“Orders were issued in April for the mustering out of all units of the Second Infantry, National Guard 
of Pennsylvania, which was organized during the war for emergency guard purposes.  The regiment had its 
headquarters in Wilkes-Barre and the colonel was Sterling E. W. Eyer.  Owing to comparative quiet in this 
region and throughout the State during the war, there was little work for the regiment to do.
	“A permanent local branch of the National Guard of Pennsylva[n]ia was organized, composed in 
large part of former members of the 109th Artillery, the local regiment that served in France during the war.  
The National Guard is organized under State auspices but has large measure of federal support, and in 
case of emergency is subject to federal duty.  The commanding officer of the local regiment is William S. 
McLean, Jr.  The name was changed from the [Third Regiment to the One hundred and Ninth Field Artillery.]  
The regiment embraces battery units in Wilkes-Barre, Pittston, Nanticoke [and Plymouth. A new armory is to] 
be erected in Kirby Park, on the west side of the river.  The county has made an appropriation of $200,000 
and the State Armory Board is to provide the remainder of the funds.  It is intended to have one of the largest 
armories in the State, with drill ground and accommodations for horses and artillery equipment.
	“During the year the bodies of many local soldiers who perished in France in 1918 were brought 
home and buried in family plots.  By October practically all of the bodies whose families desired to have them 
had been transferred from the cemeteries in France.  All were buried with military honors.
	“In September a squad of federal officers appeared in Wilkes-Barre for the purpose of examining 
and registering service men in Wilkes-Barre and vicinity who had been crippled in the war or were suffering 
from the effects of gassing or disease and who had been promised treatment or [ -- those whose cases had 
not previously been attended to.  About three hundred were examined.]  There was a good deal of criticism 
of the government’s neglect in not fulfilling its promises more promptly.  A vocational school was opened in 
Scranton and other schools and hospitals elsewhere were available for those who needed training or treatment 
and by the end of the year there were prospects that more speedy and satisfactory work would be done.  
The purpose of the academic and vocational training was to fit disabled soldiers for occupations in which 
they could earn a living. 
	“A good deal of interest was occasioned during the year by the publication, on authority of the 
government, of what were termed slacker lists – the names of men who, it was alleged, failed to respond 
to the draft call.  Several lists containing names of Luzerne County boys were published in local papers.  
In a few instances it was found that men designated as slackers had actually served with distinction in 
France and others were improperly included.  In some cases the men had enlisted under other than their 
right names.  In many cases where names had been properly enlisted it was found that the men had left 
home either before or after the draft call upon them and could not be located, according to their relatives.  
The government offered a reward of fifty dollars for information [and] arrest of draft evaders.
	“During the year consolidation of the boroughs of Kingston and Dorranceton was effected by 
petition present to councils and by a vote of the people on July 18.  The campaign preliminary to the voting 
was most intensive.  It was complicated by the fact that effort had been made by a number of residents of 
Dorranceton to have that borough consolidated with Wilkes-Bare.  This part of the campaign was carried 
with great fervor, pages of advertising being inserted in the local newspapers.  The Wilkes-Barre consolidation 
movement was advocated by a number of former residents of Wilkes-Barre who had moved to Dorranceton, 
and by a number of Wilkes-Barre people who argued that the Greater Wilkes-Barre project was a movement 
necessary in order to give Wilkes-Barre the prestige of increased population, as a better indication to business 
men and investors, on the outside of the industrial importance of the community of which Wilkes-Barre is the hub.  
In recent years much of the surplus population of the city moved to the suburbs, because of the restricted and 
overcrowded territorial area of the city.  If Dorranceton had consented to come in it was the purpose to make 
similar efforts in regard to other adjoining boroughs and townships.
	“For various reasons a good part of the Dorranceton population objected to consolidation with the 
city, and it appeared that a number of people voted in favor of the union with Kingston in order to defeat union
with Wilkes-Barre.  The Dorranceton-Kingston project was carried by a much larger majority in Kingston than 
Dorranceton.  The new borough takes the name of Kingston, the older of the municipalities.  According to the 
1920 census it starts out with a population of 15, 286, the sixth municipality in the county in point of population.  
However, the individual names of the two boroughs were retained for informal designation.  After the vote 
steps were taken to effect consolidation of councils and school boards and other municipal machinery.
	“The most notable tragedy in point of crime was the burning to death at Pond Hill of Rev. Felix Nowak, 
his wife and three children in July.  It was alleged that the former priest, and possibly his wife and children had 
been murdered before the house was set on fire.  A neighbor was tried and convicted of murder in the first 
degree.  The case had not finally been disposed of on appeal when the Almanac went to press.
	“In charging the August grand jury Judge Fuller referred to increase of crime in the county, 
especially among juveniles, part of what appeared to be a general tendency.
	“Luzerne County in the September primaries voted against the proposition to call a convention 
for the revision of the State Constitution.  It was also defeated throughout the State.  A special commission 
appointed by the Governor had gone over the subject and recommended changes to be made.  The Legislature 
had given the Governor power to appoint twenty-five delegates to the regular convention, the rest to be elected 
by the people.  The Governor was given authority supposedly to enable him to appoint the embers of the 
commission that had made a preliminary draft and had acquired valuable experience.  A good many people 
thought that this was an unwise delegation of authority – it would have a tendency to impose the Governor’s 
autocratic will upon the convention, even though his appointees would form only a small minority of the whole 
convention.  There were other objections.  Farmers and union labor members opposed revision in fear that 
a new Constitution would interfere with their interests and some people opposed it in fear that Sate aid might 
be granted to sectarian institutions.  On the contrary, many good reasons in favor of the revision were advanced.  
The vote in the State was 518,889 against and 419,191 for revision.  In Luzerne County it was 27,635 against 
and 16,004 in favor of revision. 
	“Considerable uneasiness existed during the latter part of October owing to the announcement by 
the railroad chiefs that they would carry into effect a strike vote which had been taken by the employees.  
A strike was declared for October 30.  The men protested against the reduction of 12 per cent[age] in wages 
which had been in effect for several months by order of the United States Labor Board, and against certain 
changes in working conditions, also ordered by the board.  They also decided upon the strike as a warning 
to the railroad executives that they must not issue an order for a further decrease in wages, as appeared to 
be their intention.  There was also dissatisfaction with the working of the United States Labor Board.  
The public had difficulty in understanding just why a strike should be inaugurated [months] after the wage 
reduction, and explanations by the union officials did not fully clear the situation. 
	“There was much anxiety as to a possible shortage of food and fuel, and government official were 
seriously concerned.  There was talk of impressing the motor trucks and automobiles of the country into 
service for the transportation of necessaries.  Some of the railroad executives stated it as their opinion that 
the strike order was in effect a plan to bring about government ownership and control of the railroads, or a 
vague effort to prevent disruption of the railroad unions, which the executives claimed was not their intention.  
A few days before the strike was to go into effect the union chiefs recalled the order, on assurance by the 
United States Labor Board that a possible appear by the railroad executives for a further reduction in wages
 would not be considered for a number of months owing to press of other business, and on further assurance 
that the board would take up immediately consideration of the rules. There was also the prospect that if a strike 
occurred the board would declare it illegal, in view of the board’s jurisdiction over disputed questions, and 
therefore, the strike would be in reality against the government.  The whole  project was without public sympathy.
	“Armistice Day, November 11, was observed throughout the country in a most solemn manner.  
The day was made a legal holiday by act of Congress and by act of the Pennsylvania Legislature.  Services 
were held in a number of the churches and parades and special exercises marked the [commemoration] in 
a number of towns.  In Wilkes-Barre there was no parade but a mass meeting was held in the evening in the 
high school building under the auspices of the Central Labor Union.  Nationally, the day was particularly 
noteworthy because of the burial in Arlington Cemetery of the body of the “unknown American soldier” brought 
over from France.  The President, members of the Cabinet, the great men of the nation of all departments of
influence and activity, paid signal honor to the hero who typified the sacrifice offered up by a host of American 
heroes.  Never before in the history of the country had there been ceremonials so solemn and universal as those 
that attended the burial of the nation’s unidentified son.  In view of the lessons of Armistice Day and of the sacrifice 
of the nation’s heroes, and in view of the convening of the great conference on armament in Washington on the 
morrow, President Harding requested that from the stroke of 12 noon until two minutes thereafter the nation 
cease its activities and offer prayer to God for his blessing upon the nation and upon the world and for the 
success of the conference.
	“In the November election the citizens of Luzerne County by an overwhelming majority voted for a 
county hospital for victims of tuberculosis.  There are about 326 deaths a year from tuberculosis in the county.  
The regular hospitals will not take such cases and the State sanitariums are constantly crowded.  The argument 
was put forth that since tuberculosis spreads by reason of the fact that so many victims remain in their homes, 
to infect other member of their families, a county hospital would be the means of saving many lives.  The saving 
of the people in the reduction of the cost of poverty and labor inefficiency would make up in large part for the 
cost of a hospital.  The hospital is to be managed by a board of trustee to be appointed by the court.”

Transcribed by Edwina H. Ward, January 16, 2009.