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DUPONT


The borough of Dupont was originally called Heidelberg and later the Smithville section of Pittston township. Prior to separating from Pittston township it was discovered that another town in the state was already named Smithville. There are two stories about how the Dupont name was chosen. The first, and most likely, contends the town is named after an assistant postmaster by the name of Dupont. The other, more widely told, holds that the town is named for the DuPont powder mill and the family that owned it.
A group residing in the area became dissatisfied with a lack of services being provided to them. Around 1914 the group was called "the Independent Civic League of Dupont". Members included: Theodore Bielarski, Lawrence Kluck, Stephen & John Lukasik, Lawrence Pliss, Paul Shubert,and Albert Strucke. This group was a forerunner to the group that went on to incorporate the borough in 1917. After this group was chartered they planned to have the property owners sign a petition which was presented to the Luzerne county court to separate themselves from Pittston township.
First election in the borough of Dupont was held in May 1917. The first mayor, or Burgess as he was called at the time, was Albert Strucke. The first police chief was Joseph Lukasik; tax collector was Paul Shubert.
During the first half of the twentieth century mining was the largest employer in the town. The Butler breaker was located in the area where the Pittston Plaza is currently situated. Heidelburg was near the bridge that crosses the railroad tracks at the end of the Pittston By-pass. Hillside was bought by Pa. Coal Co. and was located by what is now the Wilkes-Barre Scranton International airport. The Florence Breaker burned down in 1928. This area is currently the site of the town's little league field.
The Erie railroad ran through the town and a trolley ran to Pittston. Later the state put Rte. 315 along the Main Street in the borough.
Initial focus of the borough was upon the laying of streets and light posts. Police were hired to protect the citizens of the borough. A school and firehall were built. Despite being contacted by the Department of Health in the 1930's about outbreaks of Typhoid in the area; sewers were not installed throughout the borough until the 1980's.
There are two churches in the borough. Sacred Heart of Jesus is a Catholic church which has it's own school and cemetery. The Holy Mother of Sorrows is a Polish National church. It also has it's own cemetery.
The following are lists of previous Dupont borough council officials. The borough officials held their organizational meeting on 14 May 1917. These names are spelled as they were written in books which hold the minutes of council meetings:
14 May 1917
John Fabian, Maryan Jakubowski, Tony Martone, Andrew Nagy, Jacob Newman, Michael Redika, John Zarnik
7 Jan 1918
John L. Fabian-resigned Oct 1920, Michael Lis, Tony Martone, Andrew Nagy, Jacob Newman, Michael Redica
1 Oct 1920
Placido Chiciletti, Henry J. Davis-resigned Mar 1922, Andrew Galik, Albert Mihalka, Jacob Newman, Anthony Pasquarillo, Barney Toborowski
7 Apr 1922
Henry Brown, Placido Chiciletti, Andrew Galik, Andrew Mihalka, Jacob Newman, Anthony Pasquarillo, Barney Toborowski
7 Jan 1924
John Bartosewicz, Charles D. Bellas, Placido Chiciletti, Andrew Galick, Jacob Newman, Anthony Pasquarello, Barney Toboroski, Michael Wasko
1 Aug 1924
John Bartosewicz, Charles Belles, Placido Chiciletti, Andrew Galick, Jacob Newman, Anthony Pasquarello, Joseph Poplawski, Barney Toborowski
4 Jan 1926
Charles Bellas, John Boyarski, John Dobrowski, Stanley Dudzik, Louis Just, Michael Lokuta, Anthony Pasquariello, Barney Toborowski, Joseph Ziobro
8 Oct 1926
John Boyarski, John Dombrowski, Stanley Dudzik, Michael Just, Michael Lokuta, Joseph Minutes, Pasquale Rosato, Barney Toborowski
3 Feb 1927
Belles, Boyarski, Dombrowski, Dudzik, Just, Lokuta, Pasqueralla, Toborowski, Ziobro
2 Jan 1928
Michael Aksterawicz, John Boyarski, John Dombrowski, Stanley Dudzik, Louis Just, Joseph Kalamen, Michael Lokuta, Barney Snopkowski, Joseph Ziobro
Sep 1928
Michael Aksterawicz, John Boyarski, John Dombrowski, Stanley Dudzik, Joseph Kalamen, Louis Just, Michael Lokuta, Barney Snopkowski, Joseph Ziobro
7 Jan 1929
Aksterawicz, Boyarski, Dudzik, Dombrowksi, Just, Kalamen, Lokuta, Snapkowski, Ziobro
16 May 1929
Arterowicz, John (Lello) Daley, Dombrowski, Frank Fritz, John Grabiec, Kelaman, Edward Kotula, Barney Snopkowski, Frank (Tom) Zigmond
4 Jan 1932
John (Lello) Daley, Mike Exterowicz, Frank Fritz, John Grabiec, Joseph Kalamen, Edward Kotula, Antonio Pasquariello, Barney Snopkowski, Frank (Tom) Zigmond
8 Jan 1934
Cebula, Mike Exterowicz, John Grabiec, Joseph Kalamen, Edward Kotula, Antonio Pasquariello, Barney Snopkowski, Emery Wasko, Frank Zigmunt
6 Jan 1936
John J. Cebula, John Grabiec, Edward Kotula, Michael A. Lokuta, Patrick Patte, Michael Pello, Emery Wasko, Frank Zigmond
6 Jun 1936
John J. Cebula, John Grabiec, Edward Kotula, Michael A. Lokuta, Patrick Patte, Michael Pello, Emery Washko, Frank Zigmond
3 Jan 1937
Albert Fritz, Michael J. Kosik, Michael Kosnoski, Michael A. Lokuta, Patrick Patte, Frank Regula, John Robbie, Joseph Szumski, Emery Wasko
8 Jan 1940
John Cebula, Albert Fritz, Michael Kosnoski, Panuski, Patrick Patte, Frank Regula, Pete Romanko, Joseph Szumski, Emery Wasko
3 Jan 1944
Albert Fritz, Michael Kosnoski, Stanley Novalany, Patrick Patte, Pete Romanko, Barney Snopkowski, Emery Wasko, Joseph Vida, Zawacki
7 Jan 1946
John Cibula, Joseph Francis, Fritz, Albert Lesko, Novalany, Patte, Snopkowski, Frank Zigmont, George Ziobro
5 Jan 1948
John Cebula, Joseph Frances, Albert Fritz, John Galick, Albert Lesko, Stanley Navalany, Anthony Pasquarello, Frank Zigmond, George Ziobro
2 Jan 1950
Joseph Francis, Albert Fritz, John Glaick, Alex Leskowicz, Stan Navalany, Anthony Pasquarello, Michael Pramick, Frank Zigmont, John Zondlo

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