1952 Wilkes-Barre Record Almanac 
Luzerne County in 1951

With the war raging in Korea and government restrictions hitting a wide variety of consumer items because of stepped-up defense production, Luzerne County residents at the year’s end found the cost of living still moving upward in an inflationary whirl. High taxes and increased living costs-which had reached the highest peak in the nation’s history-caused the dollar to shrink in size.
	The Wage Stabilization Board was trying its best to keep wages from creeping too high, but with the Office of Price Stabilization raising ceilings on many commodities, the demand for wage increases continued to be heard from many sources.
	Production of defense materials brightened the employment picture throughout the country, but in the Wilkes-Barre area unemployment continued a pressing problem. Lack of demand for anthracite in the warm months caused a temporary slump in the mined, but resumption of operations in the mining industry toward the year’s end, showed an improved condition.
	An estimated 15,700 men and women in the Wilkes-Barre labor market were unemployed at the beginning of the year and by the end, there were still approximately 13,000 unemployed, according to authorities. Textile industry was the most depressed.
	Wyoming Valley’s unemployment situation remained critical with community leaders attempting to bring in more industries. The unemployment situation in the Wilkes-Barre Hazleton Metropolitan area reached the U. S. Cabinet level when the President and his cabinet discussed it for one hour. This area was one of 14 in the country where a labor surplus existed, the government announced.
	U.S. Department of Commerce officials started a survey of idle and potentially-idle industrial capacity in this region as the first step in the program to obtain government defense contracts. Near the year’s end top priority was given Northeastern Pennsylvania in a new defense contract assignment.
	Revised 1950 census figures for Luzerne County revealed the population of the country dropped 4,9277 persons from 441,518 in 19+40 to 392,241. Figures indicated a loss of about 11 percent. Loss showed a decline in the number of young adults, and increase of about five years in the median age o f residents.
	Luzerne County Commissioners adopted and operating budget of $3,151,582 based on a tax levy of 8.2 mills-the same millage as during 1950.
	The commissioners granted 500 county employees wage increases. Regular employees receiving $250 and per diem workers 10 cents an hour. Two new courthouse passenger elevators, costing $52,788 replaced two 40-year-old lifts and reconstruction of a courthouse heating and ventilating system at a cost of $230,000 was completed at the year’s end. Luzerne County Institution District was considering taking over the City Contagious Hospital.
	Luzerne County Board of Assessment and Revision of Taxes fixed the county’s 1951 total valuation at $271,663,476-compared with $271,700,891 in 1950.
	Wyoming Valley Chapter Red Cross 1951 campaign for $116,294 was reached after a month-long campaign with contributors giving or pledging $127,000. It marked the 13th consecutive year the campaign goal was exceeded.
	The blood donor program fell short of the goal with only about one-half of the 13,000 pint goal being reached. Despite the need for blood for servicemen in Korea, the blood contributions fell behind. A similar condition prevailed throughout the nation.
	Volume of traffic in and out of Wilkes-Barre-Scranton Airport at Avoca continued to grow, but the long-promised administration building remained in the planning stage. Installation of a new instrument landing system at the airport, which facilitates landing of aircraft at lower limits, was completed. A radio transmitter, costing $100,000 was installed on East Archbald Mountain by CAA. To permit more efficient contact with airborne planes within a 200-mile radius of the airport.
	The state Highway Department spent several million dollars on highways and bridges in Luzerne County during 1951. Near the year’s end B. G. Coon Construction Company was completing construction of 3.95  miles of highway between Nanticoke and Wilkes-Barre, most of which was over the abandoned Nanticoke street car line. Repaving of 5.6 of highway on East End Boulevard to Bear Creek was completed at cost of $550,000. Bridge over Susquehanna River at Retreat costing $554,000 was dedicated on September 8, eliminating use of the ferry. Work on widening of North Street Bridge by four feet got under way in midsummer after steel arrived belatedly. State Highway Department also completed a survey of Route 309 from Ashley By-Pass to Mountain Top and said plans are under way to widen the stretch to three and four lanes.
	Wyoming Valley Community Chest volunteers raised $782,744 in cash and pledges or 85.5 per cent of the 1951 Community goal of $917,000. The amount was the highest ever raised in the 33-year history of the Chest. In 1950 the Chest drive netted $771,581 or 87.5 per cent of the goal.
	Luzerne County Farmers’ Night Market was opened in May at its new location on Pierce Street, Kingston. A new site had to be chosen because the old plot on the courthouse annex plot was found too small because of the overwhelming success of the venture during its first year in 1950.