Dunmore, at that time rated either the second or third largest borough in the state in terms of population, celebrated its centennial in 1962, and it seemed like every person in town became an important part of the festivities.
I happened to be named to the press committee, and with it came an obligation to write something dealing with sports.
‘Probably the most conspicuous strides had been made on the high school level,’I said. ‘In baseball, the squads representing Dunmore Hgh had won a record six Lackawanna League championships under coach Tommy Silvano. The football teams had more than held their own against some of the state’s most formidable elevens, and within the past decade, Dunmore High had turned out a running back-linebacker who would be named to both All-America and All-Scholastic Teams.
The track and field and basketball programs also had performed well. In fact track and field had been at its height between 1920 and1930, attracting more attention than football by winning the High School Division of the Penn Relays in 1922, one year after having to settle for second place in the prestigious event in Philadelphia.
A huge swimming pool was opened in 1923 at Memorial Park, situated alongside South Blakely Street in Dunmore, to fill a huge void in the borough’s recreational program. Miss Mary Ann Walsh, a Dunmore resident, became an All-American swimmer and later joined a Roman Catholic order.
The thick program booklet is replete with information concerning Dunmore’s glorious history.