POTTSVILLE, SCHUYLKILL COUNTY- The Republican Presidential nominee -- Arizona Senator John McCain will be in Schuylkill County Monday. People in Pottsville spent Sunday preparing for Monday's political visit, but seeing a presidential hopeful is nothing new for this part of the coal region.

Dozens of people inside Martz Hall prepare for thousands of Senator John McCain's supporters. Head Custodian Thomas Sippel said, "You don't see it every day, this is big-time for Pottsville."

Sippel has been working for the Pottsville School District for nearly 20 years, and says no event he's seen could top this. "It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see a Presidential hopeful."

While people in Pottsville are excited about a potential future president coming to town, some are focusing on the past.  Legend has it that President John F. Kennedy walked into the Garfield Diner and sat in this stool and had a donut and some coffee.

Jack Jones has lived here his entire life and remembers October 28, 1960, when JFK stopped in Pottsville while campaigning for president. "It was worse than a mad house. Everyone was jammed together like sardines," he said.

The Garfield Diner sits along Market Street.  Restaurant owner Bill Kontogiannis says people have pointed themselves out in this picture.  Sippel was in grade school at the time. "I remember Kennedy was in at the Garfield Diner in Pottsville.  I remember seeing pictures of it.  I wasn't allowed to go," he said.

Fast-forward 48 years, and people in Pottsville hope John McCain, like John F. Kennedy, stops by the Garfield Diner, marking the place in history once again.

Whether or not McCain makes the trip from the school to the square, Jones and Sippel both expect a huge turnout on Monday.  "I bet it'll be tough to get down Market Street," said Jones.

Both anticipate thousands will wait for the Martz Hall doors to open at 4:30pm.  The pre-program starts at 5:30, and Senator McCain is expected on center stage by 6:30.

And McCain's running mate, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, is scheduled to make a campaign appearance at Penn State on Tuesday evening.