Editing West Pittston, Pennsylvania (section)

==History==
[[File:Pittston-1.jpg|thumb|left|240px|1892 panoramic map of Pittston and West Pittston; West Pittston is visible on the left]]
West Pittston was settled in the 1770s. On July 1, 1778, during the [[American Revolutionary War|Revolutionary War]], Fort Jenkins (a [[Patriot (American Revolution)|patriot]] [[stockade]] in present-day West Pittston) surrendered to the [[Kingdom of Great Britain|British]] (under Major John Butler). It was later burned to the ground. On July 3, the [[Battle of Wyoming]] was fought only several miles outside of West Pittston. It was incorporated as a borough in 1857. The West Pittston Police Department was also established that same year.  West Pittston was the home of Company D, 1st Battalion, 109th Infantry Regiment, which is part of the [[U.S. 28th Infantry Division|28th Infantry Division]].

Two bridges were constructed over the [[Susquehanna River]] connecting [[Pittston, Pennsylvania|Pittston City]] and West Pittston. In 1914, the Penn Bridge Company constructed the [[Firefighters' Memorial Bridge (Pittston)|Water Street Bridge]]. Today, the Water Street Bridge (Firefighters’ Memorial Bridge) is illuminated by [[fiber-optic cable]]. The colors of the lights can be changed manually to reflect holidays and local sporting rivalries.

In 1928, a parallel bridge (the Fort Jenkins Bridge) was constructed north of the Water Street Bridge. The Fort Jenkins Bridge, which was later renamed the Dale J. Kridlo Memorial Bridge, is part of [[U.S. Route 11]]. U.S. 11 runs through the heart of West Pittston.

In June 1972, [[Hurricane Agnes]] was responsible for massive flooding in and around the [[Greater Pittston]] area. From 1974 to 1989, alleged [[Smurl haunting|ghost hauntings]] took place in the home of Jack and Janet Smurl in West Pittston; it inspired the 1991 film ''[[The Haunted (1991 film)|The Haunted]]''.

On September 8, 2011, the Susquehanna River, spurred by heavy rains from [[Tropical Storm Lee]], crested at a record {{convert|42.66|ft}}. It flooded more than a quarter of the town. This was considered to be a historic flooding event which displaced thousands of people and caused millions of dollars in damages to businesses and homes. Following record flooding, the non-profit organization [http://www.westpittstontomorrow.com/ West Pittston Tomorrow] was founded. Its purpose was to improve the damaged community. It expanded the public library and created community gardens.<ref>{{Cite web| url=http://www.timesleader.com/news/local-news/500128/W-Pittston-volunteers-eye-next-emergency| title=W. Pittston volunteers eye next emergency| publisher=The Times Leader| access-date=May 14, 2013}}</ref>
<gallery mode=packed heights=150>
Pittston, Pennsylvania (4111301389).jpg|[[Firefighters' Memorial Bridge (Pittston)|Firefighters' Memorial Bridge]] facing West Pittston
Pittston, Pennsylvania (4111301775).jpg|Specialist Dale J. Kridlo Memorial Bridge ([[U.S. Route 11]]); West Pittston is on the left
West Pittston Library LuzCp PA.jpg|West Pittston Library
</gallery>