The former Connellsville High School, now Greater Connellsville Community Center, will be 100 years old in 2016.
Work is proceeding in Room 108 of the community center, which is being converted to hold the Connellsville Coker Museum and Visitors Center, according to Angie Hamman, who is coordinating the opening.
Cokers was the name given to the school teams and mascot from the era before the district merged with Dunbar Township High School to form the Connellsville Area School District. When that happened in 1966, the teams and mascot became the Connellsville Falcons.
Hamman said the community center and the Edwin S. Porter Theater Association are seeking volunteers who can catalogue memorabilia and arrange the items for display. Hamman said volunteers are needed to greet visitors and give them a brief history of the old Connellsville High School.
“Memorabilia for donation or on a loan basis is also being accepted,” Hamman said.
On a recent day, Hamman was joined by Ginny McDowell. They were sorting through stacks of memorabilia, including old school jerseys and stacks of newspapers.
Many former students still live in the area, according to Hamman.
McDowell said there are often visits to the building by those who have moved away and come back to see the former school building when they come home to visit Connellsville.
The women talked about the dedication of the museum room at 6 p.m. Oct. 23.
“I'm going to wear my old cheerleader's uniform,” McDowell said.
The community center is at 201 E. Fairview Ave.
Gary Barker, property manager for the building, said he is happy to see the museum take shape.
“It's a really good idea, a plus for the building,” he said. “It shows the history of not only the building, but the Cokers and the alumni who went there. It will also show people who want to find out about the Laurel Highlands area about this school.”
The website for the museum is http://heyevent.com/event/jb7f5ohfqqrnya/grand-opening-of-the-connellsville-coker-museum-and-visitor-center.
The website for the Greater Connellsville Community Center is: http://www.connellsvillecommunitycenter.net/
Karl Polacek is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at kpolacek@tribweb.com or 724-626-3538.
