Since 1929
Ninety-seven winters
Along River Road in the Port Blanchard section of Jenkins Township is the headquarters of Milazzo Industries. The name has been known in business here since 1929, when Carmen Milazzo sold fruit and vegetables from a horse-drawn buggy on the streets of Browntown.
Five generations later, the company still makes what it sells, on the same river, in the same township.
1929
Founded
A produce buggy in Browntown, Pittston Township.
Five
Generations
Still family run, still on River Road.
Three
Rebuilds
Flooded in 1972 and 2011, burned to the ground in 1984 — and back each time.
The long version
Five generations on one river
1929
A horse-drawn buggy in Browntown
Carmen Milazzo sells fruit and vegetables from a horse and buggy in Pittston Township. He is known for being honest and dependable, which is the part the family keeps.
1943
The largest hardware store in Pittston
Paint, carpentry supplies, everything for the handyman. A mainstay of the town until it closed in 1970.
1950s
Bagged coal, then charcoal
Carmen's son Joe hauls bagged coal, opens a coal-bagging plant to keep up with demand, and a chain of gas stations across Luzerne County. He invents Instant Light Charcoal.
1969
Qik Joe Ice Melt
Sam Milazzo turns the company toward manufacturing and introduces the product it is still known for.
1972
The Agnes flood
Agnes ravages the Wyoming Valley and takes no exception to Milazzo Industries. They dig it out and rebuild.
1984
Back inside a year
Fire decimates the manufacturing facility. Within twelve months they are in full production again.
2011
Tropical Storm Lee
The water comes back and they rebuild a third time, in three months.
Today
River Road, Jenkins Township
Five generations on. Led by Nadine Milazzo Wesolowski and John Wesolowski, still making what they sell.