Nesquehoning Historical Society’s museum at 157 W. Railroad St. is a collection of years gone by that include personalized barbershop shaving mugs, coal miners’ tools and hundreds of items that capture the rich history of the municipality.

These displays wouldn’t be possible without the help of the community and of the volunteers who put time and effort into collecting, categorizing and creating displays within the former First Baptist church.

A number of donations have come from the personal collections of Grace Gilkeson, the fourth generation of a coal mining immigrant family who settled in Nesquehoning in the 1800s. Many of the items are from her family’s estate, including her grandfather’s mandolin, a 1920 Philco floor-model radio, dozens of kitchen items and a bedroom set.

Gilkeson, who is 94 and is still an active member of the historical society, said recently that items like these are treasures that shouldn’t be lost to time.

She, as well as all of the society’s volunteers, urge families who have loved ones who passed away, or families who wish to pass along a family heirloom to donate items like a Nesquehoning class photo, military photos of veterans of long ago or anything that represents a time from early life in the town or from coal miners, to the historical society for preservation.

“The Nesquehoning Historical Society would like to remind all of our supporters that we are always looking for donations of historical artifacts,” the group said recently on Facebook. “If you happen to wander through your attic or basement and come across anything you would like to donate we would be more than happy to come and pick it up. Every artifact has a story behind it, and what better way to tell that story than for it to find a home at the museum.”

Items can be donated to the historical society by contacting any of the society’s members or reaching out to them on the group’s Facebook page.

The public is also invited to the society’s monthly meetings, which takes place at 6 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month at the society’s museum. The next meeting is this Tuesday.