Palmerton heritage center is getting a new look

With much of its history momentarily stashed away, the Palmerton Area Heritage Center isn’t quite clicking on all cylinders.

That will soon change once the museum-like facility wraps up its refresh project, according to Peter Kern, a member of the heritage center.

Kern said the work involves painting the walls, carpet cleaning, new display cases and other items.

“Since we are coming up on our 15th anniversary, we felt the front room needed to have a fresh look,” Kern said. “We painted the walls, put new lights up to increase the appeal of various displays and temporarily stored other displays, and will display them with a different visual appeal.”

Kern said the work will total about $5,000, and added the cost is underwritten through contributions to the society by members and friends.

“We’re very excited about the change,” he said. “The fresh look is something that will enhance the display of the various history of Palmerton.”

Kern said the heritage center — used as a resource to educate about the area’s rich history — will reopen in late spring.

“One of the more significant factors of any historical or heritage society is that it provides future generations with the significant information necessary for them to understand more about the community, the people who live here, and themselves,” he said. “We often get elementary school children at the heritage center who are unfamiliar with the role that the New Jersey Zinc played in the growth and development of Palmerton as a community.”

Kern said residents and members should continually want to learn about their community.

“The fact that New Jersey Zinc was in the forefront of so many social issues in the early 1900s is not well-known by today’s generations,” he said. “It’s important that today’s generations are familiar with the history of the community so that they can pass it onto their children and their children’s children.”