Nanty-Glo is celebrating its 100th anniversary this summer and local history buffs want to celebrate the borough’s future and honor its past by upgrading a museum.

The Tri-Area Museum & Historical Society is raising money to remodel the museum on Shoemaker Street. They want to raise money to replace the museum’s doors and windows before the centennial festival in July.

“Make it more presentable from the outside because all of our funds have been concentrated on the inside of the museum,” said Suzette Shay, the Tri-Area Museum & Historical Society Secretary.

Shay was born and raised in Nanty-Glo, just like her father, Edward Scaife.

“He was a coal miner and he built his home here. We live here in my parents home,” said Shay.

Tri-Area Museum & Historical Society President Marty Sebitich wants his sons, grandchildren and great-grandchildren to know his hometown’s history.

“They know that we were coal miners at one time. They didn’t realize before that, there was a logging industry, then coal mining, and steel working,” Sebitich said.

85-year-old Janet Toth wants others to see what she did growing up.

“It was such a close community, that everybody helped everybody else, no matter what,” said Toth, the groups treasurer.

What started as a $1.3 million fundraising goal is now down to just $69,000. However, the museum still needs major upgrades, including the heating system and to make the building handicap accessible.

Shay doesn’t know when they’ll raise the rest of the money needed to officially open the museum, but she’ll be thinking of her dad when they finally do.

“He loved this town and I know he’d be proud to see that museum finished,” Shay said.

The Tri-Area Museum & Historical Society is selling memory books with old photographs of Nanty-Glo.

The group is also holding an Ethnic Dinner fundraiser on Saturday, April 14 from 12-5 p.m. at the Liberty Cafe located on Roberts Street.

You can check out the Tri-Area Museum & Historical Society Facebook page and the Nanty-Glo Centennial Facebook page.