A hometown feeling can be described as a person's strong connection with the place he or she lived or was raised.
While some people just feel the connection, others like Lorraine Stanton show it.
The Frackville native spearheaded an effort to build a museum in her hometown to showcase the history and current happenings. In October, Stanton, 87, will be among many borough residents celebrating the Frackville Museum's second anniversary.
"We want to show what it was and what it is," she said of her hometown.
To celebrate the anniversary, an open house will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. Oct. 13 at the Borough Complex, 42 S. Center St. New items will be on display for the event, including wedding gowns from the early 1900s and souvenirs from stores that used to be in Frackville.
Stanton said everything in the museum is donated and includes items from more than 100 years ago. The museum's exhibits have pieces from Frackville schools, sports and former businesses. A large filing cabinet is full of documents and pictures including newspaper articles from the 1870s.
"Residents in Frackville are very generous in donating items," Stanton said.
Although open for two years, Stanton said she has been working on the project for the last four years. She approached borough council about the possibility of creating a museum with her own collection of memorabilia. She said the council members eagerly approved the proposal.
"That's how the ball got rolling," she said.
The museum had its official grand opening on Sept. 5, 2011. Many residents and dignitaries attended the ceremony, including state Sen. David Argall, R-29, county Commissioner George Halcovage and then-Schuylkill Haven Mayor Gary Hess.
Stanton said the museum committee tries to change the exhibits throughout the year. They try to coordinate the exhibits with special events in Frackville. For example, Stanton said if a church is celebrating an anniversary, the museum makes an exhibit based on that church.
One of the most prominent events featured at the museum is Frackville's centennial celebration in 1976. A display wall holds several pictures and memorabilia, and a floor display houses books and clothing items from the event. Many costumes are also on display throughout the museum.
It was a few years before that event in 1974 that Stanton said she was bitten by the history bug. This new passion led her to write the "Old Frackville Tales," which was published in the Shenandoah Evening Herald. The "Tales" ran from February 1975 to August 1976.
In addition to Frackville, Stanton expanded her interest to Schuylkill County history. In 1983, Stanton created an index for Schuylkill County and its residents. The reference material lists people from the county and books in which they can be found at the Pottsville Free Public Library.
"It is good for everyone to know background and genealogy," Stanton said.
Stanton said Frackville was always a residential town. While it had grocery stores and gas stations, most people went to Shenandoah and Pottsville to shop. At one time, the borough had a theater and community band. She said all the communities in the county had a positive identity back in the day.
"We were all successful and vibrant," she said.
Back at the Frackville Museum, a banner hangs over the entrance welcoming visitors. It reads "The Frackville Museum Preserving the Past for Future Generations." The banner, also used as the museum's logo, has a picture of Lehigh Avenue from 1997 with a portrait of Daniel Frack superimposed in front of it. The banner was created by Stanton's daughter, Deborah Janov.
The banner can be viewed as a mix of modern Frackville with its roots. That is the theme Stanton hopes to carry on through the museum.
Earlier this year, she took pictures of businesses in the borough. She wants to keep the museum current because she said today will be the past in 20 years.
She said the museum committee is currently putting together a collection of military uniforms.
"We would like to have a big exhibit on military in Frackville," Stanton said.
Although the museum is ever changing, there is one exhibit that will always stay the same. It is a cabinet featuring five generations of the Frack family.
By keeping that display, visitors will always understand how the borough was started and see Frackville's transition through time. Stanton said that's the goal and what she hopes people will gain from visiting the museum.
"The first thing is that it is lasting and people would appreciate it, she said."
The museum is usually open 1 to 4 p.m. the second Sunday of each month.