Lansford's century-old coal cart monument was rededicated under a cloudy sky Saturday afternoon during Panther Valley's second annual Ethnic Festival.

Krajcirik's Automotive used its back roller to move the cart to Carbon Career & Technical Institute in Jim Thorpe, where carpentry and graphic design students worked for more than four months to reconstruct the monument.Using the original metal brackets, springs and finishes the students cut, sanded and fastened new red oak planks together before using over two gallons of black Rust-Oleum paint and a freshly designed logo.The monument was unveiled for the crowd during the afternoon sponsored by the town's new Coal Miner's Bar and Grill.Opening the festival, Lansford Alive's President Chris Ondrus addressed residents and community members with a touch of history and nostalgia."The monument is for our miners that built this town and struggled for little pay and terrible working conditions. It's a way to continue their legacy and keep their memory alive," he said."They found solace in a shot and a beer they used to wash down the coal dust," he said.Ondrus thanked donors who helped fund the project's material costs that reached upward of $1,500 and the students' donated time and labor."There was a lot of money that needed to be raised to make it happen," he said.CCTI carpentry instructor Jeff Hazelton said the students enjoyed their time working on the monument.Instructor's aide Walter O'Donnell called the refurbishing a "unique project.""When we took it apart we didn't know what we had gotten into."O'Donnell said the students took multiple measurements and photos to create a new blueprint of the cart's design."The main thing had to be not ruining it because we couldn't find replacement parts anywhere," he said."It is a 100-year-old cart," O'Donnell said."It was good for students and the school to give back to the community," he said.The cart had originally been salvaged by the Last of the Panther Valley Deep Coal Miners Club and placed in Kennedy Park. A memorial stone was engraved with the words of the original 1976 dedication and placed near the tracks the cart rests on: "This mine car is Lansford's lasting memorial to our nation's bicentennial dedicated July 1,1976, in memory of the men who died in coal mine mishaps."Ondrus and the Rev. Jeremy Benack, pastor of Grace Community Church and Lansford Alive board member, placed a patriotic-colored wreath near the cart before releasing the crowd to enjoy the food and craft vendors in the park.The M&J Big Band performed during the afternoon, and Rock-N-Horse closed the event around 8 p.m.Festival attendees waited to fill their bellies, forming long lines in front of the Coal Region Catholics for Change tent for the well-known "bleenies" that were served by Kathy Juna and Robert Soltis.Friends of the Lansford Pool sold picnic-style food and candy while St. John's Byzantine Church sold homemade baked goods including giant chocolate chip and peanut butter cookies along with haluski and pirohi, just to name a few.During last year's festival, the stone coal miners' monument was rededicated after 40 years. Both the monuments can be found in the center of Kennedy Park.All proceeds raised will be used to further improve the town's park.