Panther Valley’s mascot is the panther. But before the school district unified in 1964, that mascot belonged to Lansford High School.

A new display at the Lansford Historical Society Museum celebrates the former high school.

Admission to the museum is always free. The museum is holding a special open house on Sunday, just in time for Panther Valley’s graduation.

“The most popular school in the valley was Lansford High School. I think there’s little doubt about that,” said Bruce Markovich, of the Lansford Historical Society.

The museum has assembled yearbooks, band uniforms, class sweaters, and even grade books dating back to the turn of the century.

Lansford High School opened in 1897. It had one student. The next year, it closed due to lack of funds. The year after that, it reopened, and soon after, it had more than 700 students.

In the early years, female teachers weren’t allowed to be married, and they made less than their male counterparts.

And the work wasn’t easy.

“You had to be there in the morning to light your fire in your classroom, then you had to stay afterward to clean the place. I think that was very trying for a lot of people,” Markovich said.

The actual Lansford High School building opened in 1914. It is still standing at Bertsch and Tunnel streets, but has fallen into disrepair.

The annual Thanksgiving game between Lansford and Coaldale would attract thousands of attendees. The stadium was sold out weeks before the game. If Lansford won its games, the marching band would parade down Ridge Street.

The school’s gym was located in the basement, and known as the pit. It’s known that the Dorsey Brothers, whose father was the band director at the school, played some of the dances. It’s believed that during at least one of those dances they were joined by a young singer who would become famous in his own right — Frank Sinatra. In the late 1950s, the Everly Brothers, known later for “All I Have To Do Is Dream,” stopped to play a show there while they were in town to play Lakewood Ballroom.

The Lansford Historical Society Museum is open Thursday nights 6 to 8 p.m. and Fridays noon to 4 p.m. as part of Fridays in Lansford.

The open house will take place on Sunday noon to 4 p.m. Admission is free, and refreshments will be served.