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By Mary Perrault
Jermyn Events Committee member
The Jermyn Events Committee’s Annual Community Events Dinner will be held on Saturday, Jan. 23, in Saint John’s Hall, Hill Street, Mayfield. Mrs. Katie Hosie, President of the Events Committee, has announced that Arthur N. Wilson will be the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award. This award is bestowed on a citizen who has achieved an outstanding feat, goal or accomplishment. Art Wilson has been involved in the history of Jermyn, both past and present, all his life. Anything relating to Jermyn immediately captures his attention. He is the first person to volunteer for any project in town no matter how big or small the task is.
Art is the youngest of three children born to Thomas and Florence Smallacombe Wilson. The eldest brother was Thomas “Clyde” and the middle brother was Robert “Donald.” His grandparents immigrated to America and landed in Jermyn/Mayfield because of the mines, the banking business, and their Wales Heritage. The family lines of so many residents of Jermyn are intricately connected, and their roots can be traced back to their original ancestors. Art never ceased to be interested and amused in discussing the various connections of people in town. His father came from a family of 8 and his mother, Smallacombe, from a family of 9.
Asked why he always gets involved in local organizations, and has given so much of his time through the years to this Jermyn, Art stated, “It started with Boy Scouts. My inspirations were Albert Winter and Elwood Allan, my Boy Scout Leaders. Those who inspired me in particular were my mom and dad, Dr. Roderick, Ben Friedman, Fred Gilbert, Al Winter, Professor R. J. Truscott, and Rev. Thomas of the Methodist Church.”
Art lived at 610 Lincoln Avenue, and he recalls that his close neighbor was the Dempsey family, who owned a large Philco radio. There was a very popular radio program entitled, “Amos & Andy,” which came on each evening at 7 p.m. Lincoln Avenue neighbors would sit on their own front porches and wait for Emmet Dempsey to turn on the neighborhood’s favorite program.
Mention a name of someone in Jermyn and Art has a story. One of the town’s well known characters was Dr. Richard Roderick, M.D. Everyone knew him and probably, at one time or another, had been a patient of his. He used Art as his bank depositor. “Every Tuesday, I met Doc at Snyder’s Restaurant on Main St. to go over the previous week’s receipts,” Art says. “Now, this was a little unusual, because Doc wore a money belt to hold his cash and check receipts. In Snyder’s, he would drop his drawers in the middle of the restaurant to get at his money belt, and then would say, ‘This is for Mr. or Mrs.’s boil or broken arm. Mark that down, Art.’ He then would proceed to take moldy and wrinkled bills out of various pockets to conclude the transaction. And I would go next door and make the deposit.”
“My dad always made sure he had something for us to do every day,” Art continues. “He kept us busy. In the summer, we played baseball three or four games a day in Crawford’s and Fowler’s fields. That kept us out of trouble. But we also learned our work ethic from dad. He worked in the mines all his life, and, a miner never got a vacation. He had to work everyday, and if he didn’t show up for a few days, he was canned. This is the way it was for every miner.”
The Wilson family was noted for their community involvement — starting with Art’s grandfather, John Wilson, who was Mayfield school director, and his father Thomas and brother Clyde who were Jermyn Borough Council members. Art followed in their footsteps by serving on the Lakeland School Board for 12 years as secretary. He also served on the Lackawanna CTC Board (formerly LC A.V.T.S.) as its secretary. While serving as Jermyn Borough auditor for 16 years, Art conducted the first-ever complete and thorough audit filed with the county and state Auditor General’s office of Pennsylvania. He relates auditing the financial statement with his cousin Philip Smallacombe, Patsy LaRosa, and Archie Martin, and they only received $25 each for their services.
Milton Friedman of Jermyn Mill and Grain offered Art a job and he stayed there for 24 years. “It was a good work environment,” Art remembers. “Ben Friedman was of the old school, and everything was right to the letter, starting at 7 a.m. every morning. I couldn’t wait to get to work. I was surrounded by loveable and laughable characters. I should have paid to work there.”
Art’s only other job was fiscal director of Northeastern Educational Intermediate Unit #19 for 17 years. He handled all the financial and purchasing aspects of NEIU — Special Education, Non-Public, IMS, Follow-Through, Day Care, and Curriculum Departments, which encompassed 20 school districts. Budget finances were between $30 to $40 million dollars annually.
In 1999, the town of Jermyn celebrated the 100th anniversary of the founding of First Aid. It was started in Jermyn, and people wanted to celebrate and recognize this historic event. Art was asked to serve on the events planning committee, and he eventually served as treasurer and chairman of the memorial history and ad book. Art and his committee created a unique and informational book which people would cherish for many years.
Art’s father directed him to take business in school. He wanted him to go to college, but financially it was not possible. All his father could afford was two years at Lackawanna Business College. In 1950, Art was drafted into the Army, serving in the Ranger Unit, because of the Korean War. He was stationed in Korea and later in Japan. Art states, “No matter where I was stationed, he always sought to find a school to take a course or two.” Later in Japan, he took a business management course where the text was one side Japanese and the other side English. After the army, he enrolled at the University of Scranton under the GI Bill of Rights and received a bachelor of science in business/accounting. He is very proud of the fact that he received his four-year degree in four years while working at a full time job.
Art was involved throughout his life as a former Boy Scout Troop leader, U.M.C. church auditor and chair of the finance committee, board of trustees for approximately 20 years, Lakeland School Director for 12 years, during which Lakeland High School was built, and served on the LCAVTS Executive Committee during the building of its two Vo-Tech Schools (currently CTC of Lackawanna County), a member on the panel for Distressed State School District Supervisory Panel for Olyphant and Fell Township School Districts, 1999 First Aid Centennial Treasurer/Historical Ad Book Chair, DAV Van Driver, Red Cross Blood Transport Driver, P.A.S. R. Legislative Chair. He is currently a member of Hyde Park Lodge 339, Keystone Consistory, and Irem Temple Shrine, Jermyn Events Committee, Jermyn Historical Society, and Associate member of the Jermyn Shade Tree Commission.
Art is married to the former JoAnne Wlostowski. They have three children — Stuart Wilson, with wife Bambilinn and grandchildren Christian and Ashley; Clifford Wilson; and Amber Wilson.
The Annual Community Dinner will feature a social hour to be held between 5 and 6 p.m., with family-style dinner served at 6 p.m. Tickets are $30 per person and may be obtained at Avery’s Florist Shop, Debbie’s Flower Boutique, or by calling 570-876-0525.
By Mary Perrault
Jermyn Events Committee member
The Jermyn Events Committee’s Annual Community Events Dinner will be held on Saturday, Jan. 23, in Saint John’s Hall, Hill Street, Mayfield. Mrs. Katie Hosie, President of the Events Committee, has announced that Arthur N. Wilson will be the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award. This award is bestowed on a citizen who has achieved an outstanding feat, goal or accomplishment. Art Wilson has been involved in the history of Jermyn, both past and present, all his life. Anything relating to Jermyn immediately captures his attention. He is the first person to volunteer for any project in town no matter how big or small the task is.
Art is the youngest of three children born to Thomas and Florence Smallacombe Wilson. The eldest brother was Thomas “Clyde” and the middle brother was Robert “Donald.” His grandparents immigrated to America and landed in Jermyn/Mayfield because of the mines, the banking business, and their Wales Heritage. The family lines of so many residents of Jermyn are intricately connected, and their roots can be traced back to their original ancestors. Art never ceased to be interested and amused in discussing the various connections of people in town. His father came from a family of 8 and his mother, Smallacombe, from a family of 9.
Asked why he always gets involved in local organizations, and has given so much of his time through the years to this Jermyn, Art stated, “It started with Boy Scouts. My inspirations were Albert Winter and Elwood Allan, my Boy Scout Leaders. Those who inspired me in particular were my mom and dad, Dr. Roderick, Ben Friedman, Fred Gilbert, Al Winter, Professor R. J. Truscott, and Rev. Thomas of the Methodist Church.”
Art lived at 610 Lincoln Avenue, and he recalls that his close neighbor was the Dempsey family, who owned a large Philco radio. There was a very popular radio program entitled, “Amos & Andy,” which came on each evening at 7 p.m. Lincoln Avenue neighbors would sit on their own front porches and wait for Emmet Dempsey to turn on the neighborhood’s favorite program.
Mention a name of someone in Jermyn and Art has a story. One of the town’s well known characters was Dr. Richard Roderick, M.D. Everyone knew him and probably, at one time or another, had been a patient of his. He used Art as his bank depositor. “Every Tuesday, I met Doc at Snyder’s Restaurant on Main St. to go over the previous week’s receipts,” Art says. “Now, this was a little unusual, because Doc wore a money belt to hold his cash and check receipts. In Snyder’s, he would drop his drawers in the middle of the restaurant to get at his money belt, and then would say, ‘This is for Mr. or Mrs.’s boil or broken arm. Mark that down, Art.’ He then would proceed to take moldy and wrinkled bills out of various pockets to conclude the transaction. And I would go next door and make the deposit.”
“My dad always made sure he had something for us to do every day,” Art continues. “He kept us busy. In the summer, we played baseball three or four games a day in Crawford’s and Fowler’s fields. That kept us out of trouble. But we also learned our work ethic from dad. He worked in the mines all his life, and, a miner never got a vacation. He had to work everyday, and if he didn’t show up for a few days, he was canned. This is the way it was for every miner.”
The Wilson family was noted for their community involvement — starting with Art’s grandfather, John Wilson, who was Mayfield school director, and his father Thomas and brother Clyde who were Jermyn Borough Council members. Art followed in their footsteps by serving on the Lakeland School Board for 12 years as secretary. He also served on the Lackawanna CTC Board (formerly LC A.V.T.S.) as its secretary. While serving as Jermyn Borough auditor for 16 years, Art conducted the first-ever complete and thorough audit filed with the county and state Auditor General’s office of Pennsylvania. He relates auditing the financial statement with his cousin Philip Smallacombe, Patsy LaRosa, and Archie Martin, and they only received $25 each for their services.
Milton Friedman of Jermyn Mill and Grain offered Art a job and he stayed there for 24 years. “It was a good work environment,” Art remembers. “Ben Friedman was of the old school, and everything was right to the letter, starting at 7 a.m. every morning. I couldn’t wait to get to work. I was surrounded by loveable and laughable characters. I should have paid to work there.”
Art’s only other job was fiscal director of Northeastern Educational Intermediate Unit #19 for 17 years. He handled all the financial and purchasing aspects of NEIU — Special Education, Non-Public, IMS, Follow-Through, Day Care, and Curriculum Departments, which encompassed 20 school districts. Budget finances were between $30 to $40 million dollars annually.
In 1999, the town of Jermyn celebrated the 100th anniversary of the founding of First Aid. It was started in Jermyn, and people wanted to celebrate and recognize this historic event. Art was asked to serve on the events planning committee, and he eventually served as treasurer and chairman of the memorial history and ad book. Art and his committee created a unique and informational book which people would cherish for many years.
Art’s father directed him to take business in school. He wanted him to go to college, but financially it was not possible. All his father could afford was two years at Lackawanna Business College. In 1950, Art was drafted into the Army, serving in the Ranger Unit, because of the Korean War. He was stationed in Korea and later in Japan. Art states, “No matter where I was stationed, he always sought to find a school to take a course or two.” Later in Japan, he took a business management course where the text was one side Japanese and the other side English. After the army, he enrolled at the University of Scranton under the GI Bill of Rights and received a bachelor of science in business/accounting. He is very proud of the fact that he received his four-year degree in four years while working at a full time job.
Art was involved throughout his life as a former Boy Scout Troop leader, U.M.C. church auditor and chair of the finance committee, board of trustees for approximately 20 years, Lakeland School Director for 12 years, during which Lakeland High School was built, and served on the LCAVTS Executive Committee during the building of its two Vo-Tech Schools (currently CTC of Lackawanna County), a member on the panel for Distressed State School District Supervisory Panel for Olyphant and Fell Township School Districts, 1999 First Aid Centennial Treasurer/Historical Ad Book Chair, DAV Van Driver, Red Cross Blood Transport Driver, P.A.S. R. Legislative Chair. He is currently a member of Hyde Park Lodge 339, Keystone Consistory, and Irem Temple Shrine, Jermyn Events Committee, Jermyn Historical Society, and Associate member of the Jermyn Shade Tree Commission.
Art is married to the former JoAnne Wlostowski. They have three children — Stuart Wilson, with wife Bambilinn and grandchildren Christian and Ashley; Clifford Wilson; and Amber Wilson.
The Annual Community Dinner will feature a social hour to be held between 5 and 6 p.m., with family-style dinner served at 6 p.m. Tickets are $30 per person and may be obtained at Avery’s Florist Shop, Debbie’s Flower Boutique, or by calling 570-876-0525.
