A lot has changed inside the former First Baptist Church on West Railroad Street since the Nesquehoning Historical Society took ownership in 2018.

While the exterior looks much like it did before it was donated by the families that remained in the parish, the inside is now filled with treasures from the past that show the rich history of the town.

Recently, a 95-year-old high school pennant found its way home to the historical society, where it joined several other school pennants of later years.

Mary Helen (Sniscak) Rehatchek, who graduated from Nesquehoning High School in the 1950s, donated the 1927 maroon and navy pennant that was once her aunt Eva Scholl’s.

Historical Society secretary Rick Morgans pointed out that each pennant is a different color combination, none of which are the colors of Nesquehoning High School.

The reason, he said he was told by his mother, was that each pennant’s colors represented that year’s class colors.

The 83-year-old Rehatchek said that Scholl stayed in the area after graduating from Nesquehoning High School, becoming a housekeeper at the Jim Thorpe Hotel before moving to Philadelphia and then Ambler with her husband and children.

Scholl was the youngest of nine children in the family, and was the only one of the nine to graduate high school.

She passed away at the age of 95.

Rehatchek said she received the pennant, after her aunt passed away, from her nephew, who was turning 90 earlier this week.

She put the pennant in a drawer to keep it safe until she could donate it to the society and decided now was the time to do so.

“I feel it’s part of Nesquehoning because that was where I was born and raised,” Rehatchek said.

The historical society thanked Rehatchek for the donation and explained that donations are always welcome and cherished by the society.

Lois Kuba, president of the society, said that anything related to Nesquehoning, no matter how small it is, is much appreciated.

She added that if a family member doesn’t want to donate the item, they can loan the society the item for a certain amount of time and then receive it back after that time period.

Looking at the walls and cases filled with items, the society’s collection spans well into the late 1800s, from coal mining, to an old-fashioned bedroom and living room, a handmade train, military and school uniforms and pictures.

Morgans, who is a lifelong resident of Nesquehoning and a former Panther Valley High School teacher, has been working at fleshing out the coal mining display, and the society hopes to some day bring school groups in to learn about local history.

“Growing up in a coal family I was taught the values of hard work, to have pride in your town and to serve your neighbor,” he said, noting that he received a word of advice from Monsignor Agnello Angelini years ago.

He told him, “Diamonds are a chunk of coal that did their job.”

Morgans equates that statement to the work the historical society is doing to preserve the history of this coal town.

The society also is currently working on a military uniform display for Memorial Day and is looking for donations of full-body mannequins. Anyone who has any and would like to donate them can contact any historical society member or stop by the museum at 157 W. Railroad St. between 9 a.m. and noon on Saturday.

Kuba also recommends the public visit the group’s Facebook page for updated information and for upcoming events.

Want to become a member?

Nesquehoning Historical Society is currently holding a membership drive to increase its volunteers.

To become a member of the society, anyone interested can attend the group’s upcoming meeting at 6 p.m. on Tuesday at the society museum at 157 W. Railroad St.

There are many things you can do, including developing displays, doing research, fundraising and more.

Tours of the museum are also available from 9 a.m. to noon on the first Saturday of the month or a private tour can be set up by contacting any historical society member.