The Nesquehoning Historical Society holds its next event in a series of Local History Presentations as part of Carbon County & Nesquehoning’s America250 Celebration.

Local historian and author Vince Hydro will narrate a visual presentation entitled, “The Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company’s Summit Hill and Panther Valley Mining Operations 1818 to 1873” at 6 p.m. today at the historical society museum, 157 W. Railroad St.

In the 1840s, as part of plans to greatly increase production, the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Co. expanded its mining operations from Summit Hill down into the Panther Creek Valley. This expansion required extending the famous Mauch Chunk gravity railroad into the Panther Valley. The gravity railroad was known thereafter as “The Switchback.”

Following his presentation, Hydro will be signing copies of his book: “History of the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company’s Summit Hill and Panther Creek Operations and Switchback Railroad.” Copies of Hydro’s previous publications also will be available.

For those who would like to attend but cannot make the first showing, a second showing of this presentation will take place at noon on Oct. 3.

This event is open to the public free of charge, although donations to the historical society are appreciated, and enable the society to maintain the museum and presentation space.