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Some 85 years ago, Dupont was called the Smithville section of Pittston Township. Prior to incorporation, it was determined that another town in the Commonwealth was called Smithville, and so this section of Pittston township had to be changed. The name was changed to the Dupont section of Pittston township after a local industry in the area, The Dupont Powder Mill. Around 1914, an organization came about of dissatisfied township residents called, "THE INDEPENDENT CIVIC LEAGUE OF DUPONT". This organization was the forerunner of the group that was instrumental in incorporating the borough in 1917. They gathered together for better streets, a better tax collection system and other services that Pittston township officials were denying them. The organizers of the civic league were: Theordore Bielarski of Main Street Lawrence Kluck of Lincoln Street Lawrence Pliss of Church Street (Now Lackawanna Avenue) Paul Shubert of Main Street Stephen & John Lukasik of Church Street Albert Strucke of Chestnut Street John Sefchick of Smith Street After the organization was chartered in 1915, the group of members made plans to have all the property owners and taxpayers of the Dupont section of Pittston township sign a petition which was presented to the Luzerne County Court to separate themselves from Pittston township. In May of 1917, the first election was held in the independent Borough of Dupont, and Albert Strucke was elected the first Burgess, (now they are called Mayors), Paul Shubert was elected tax collector, and Joseph Lukasik, first Police Chief. Council members elected were: John Zaranick Andrew Naby John Fabian Jacob Newman Harold Friend Mike Redicka William Lis Anthony Martone School Directors elected were: Joseph Ziobro Martin Sedlak John Vida Joseph Shambe Charles Bellas I do not know who wrote this story of the beginning of Dupont, but most of the information contained in this letter has been verified by records of that time period. The only descrepancy I have found in the story, is how the name Dupont came into being. Some sources state that the Dupont Powder Mill did not come into being untill after Dupont already had its name. Those sources say that the name Dupont was actually arrived at by naming the borough after a Post- Master of the area, whose name was Dupont. The above letter of the history of incorporation hangs inside the Council chambers and is available for all to read. |