A look back: May 18, 1949

Mr. and Mrs. Walter Duffy Jr. and family of East Mauch Chunk are grateful today for the gutter fronting their home on North Street, which prevented an 18-ton tractor-trailer loaded with 15 tons of coal from ramming into their home when it went out of control while attempting to descend the North Street hill between Third and Fourth streets.

The truck, owned by Frank Rudelitsch of Lehighton R.D., was ascending North Street en route to Lehigh Street and went out of control in reverse when the driver was unable to shift gears. The trailer jackknifed across the road, stopping at the gutter fronting the Duffy home, while the cab remained pointing uphill.