GNA CAMPUS – In an effort to strengthen the bond between the Greater Nanticoke Area School district with the City of Nanticoke, students involved in the National Honors Society decided to set up a display case in the main hallway.

GNA’s law studies teacher, Mr. Litch, and secondary math teacher, Ms. Warman, reached out to NHS students Cassidy McDonald, Addie Bugdonovitch, Jake Middleton, and Sarah Vick to create a display representing the history of Nanticoke.

The project was named “Nanticoke by the Numbers” and presents a timeline of important historical facts about the city. The display case contains several pictures and artifacts of Nanticoke throughout the 1900s. The timeline includes photos of miners throughout the 1900s and includes a list of facts about those who worked hard “in the mines.” Nanticoke was known to be a major coal-mining center back in the day, so presenting this information allows students to get a better understanding of the significant effect coal mining had on the city.

The timeline also incorporated important businesses that still run today, such as Sanitary Bakery. The bakery opened back in 1920, making it 100 years old and one of the oldest bakeries in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Along with the bakery, Nanticoke is known for the multiple pizza restaurants that are located in the township. Throughout the city, there are nine pizza places that can be found on the streets, allowing local residents to order pizza as they please, as they have been for decades.

Maps of the city, as well as pictures of the aerial view, are also displayed in the case. The photo of the aerial view of Nanticoke happened to be taken in 1960. Looking at Nanticoke from afar gives students a different perspective of the small town, and shows its growth of it over the decades.

The purpose of the display case is to show how history teaches students about their community. Locations and objects in each community, sometimes things as common as names of pizza places, can reflect the long heritage of past generations where citizens live. Studying history helps us understand and offers answers to questions and dilemmas by examining how the past has shaped (and continues to shape) local relationships between societies and people. This overview of Nanticoke helps to give current generations an insight into the history and form of the city in the past, as well as to connect students with their community.