About Us

Donora Historical Society and Smog Museum
 
Background
 
The Donora Historical Society was established in 1946 and incorporated in 1996 and is recognized as the oldest community historical society in Washington County of Pennsylvania.  We are a non-profit with 501(c)3 status and operate on a volunteer basis.  Our parent historical societies are the Washington Country Historical Society and the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.  The original charter members did yeomen's work with laying the foundation for preserving Donora's history.  The members that followed would continue that work for the next 70 years.  As a testament to all of their hard work and dedication, we have a plethora of artifacts and documents that we can use for research and presentation purposes.  In 2008, we opened our present facility to showcase our artifacts and call it the Smog Museum, thus our formal title is the Donora Historical Society and Smog Museum.  They are one in the same entity.
 
Please click on the YouTube videos below for an introduction to the Donora Historical Society (NOTE: we are only open on Saturdays from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and by appointment):
 

Introduction to the Donora Historical Society

 
as well as
 

Introduction to Donora Historical Society

 
These videos were created.by California University of Pennsylvania (Cal U) English Honors students as part of their "Digital Storytelling" class that was also sponsored by the Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh.
 
 
Partners and Supporters

The Donora Historical Society is proud to list these businesses and non-profits as partners and supporters of the Society.   Their help and contributions go a long way to the ongoing preservation of Donora history.
  
Acai Family                                                                                 Raleigh, NC
Barchemy                                                            65 East 1st Street, Donora
Beistel Machining                                            23 McKean Avenue, Donora
BPO Elks                                                                 Meldon Avenue, Donora
Max Chywski - State Farm Insurance                 Route 835, Monongahela
Colgan Insurance Agency Inc.                      537 McKean Avenue, Donora
CSC Insurance                                      4552 Route 51 South, Belle Vernon
Del Suppo, Inc.                                                 26 McKean Avenue, Donora
Delsandro Family                                                 Donora and Hampton, VA
Eastern Alloy, Inc.                                         1138 Meldon Avenue, Donora
Elliott Company                                            1250 Scott Street Ext., Donora
Gilmore Electric                                                      Meldon Avenue, Donora
Hanna Sales                                                    833 McKean Avenue, Donora
Donora Union Pharmacy                               642 McKean Avenue, Donora
JED Heating and Cooling, Inc.                      840 McKean Avenue, Donora
Sidney Mishkin                                                                     Indianapolis, IN
Rivers of Steel Heritage Area                623 E. Eighth Avenue, Homestead
Kathleen Shoop                                                                       Oakmont, PA
Washington County Community Foundation 331 S Main St, Washington
Washington County Tourism                   273 South Main St,, Washington
 

Funding
 
The costs of maintaining the museum and starting new projects are our biggest challenge.  With your help, these and other projects and programs can continue.  The Historical Society relies solely on the sale of our Merchandise, contributions and fund raising to maintain the day-to-day expenses of the museum.   Please invest in the Historical Society's efforts of preserving and promoting our town's history by making a special donation.
 
If you would like to donate to the historical society to keep the museum up and running and fund future projects, please make your check payable to:
 
    Donora Historical Society
 
and send it to:
 
    Donora Historical Society
    P.O. Box 522
    Donora, PA 15033
 
or

To Donate to the Donora Historical Society and Smog Museum, please use our PayPal option below:

If you would like to add a note along with your donation, please consider sending an email to:

NOTE:  Keep in mind your donation is tax deductible.

 
Grants Awarded To Date
 
2010 - Washington County Community Foundation - McBride-McMaster
           Historical Education Grant - used to develop glass plate negatives
           from our Bruce Dreisbach Collection.  (1)
2013 - Washington County Tourism - Marketing Grant - used to 
           update brochures and to purchase table covers.  (1)
2013 - Washington County Tourism - Capital Grant - used to purchase
           display cases.  (2)
2014 - River of Steel Heritage Area - used to develop glass plate
           negatives from our Bruce Dreisbach Collection.  (1)
2014 - Washington County Community Foundation - McBride-McMaster
           Historical Education Grant - used to purchase archival quality
           storage boxes.  (1)
2015 - FirstEnergy Foundation - used for the Civil War Exhibit.  (.5)
2015 - Washington County Chamber of Commerce / Tourism -
           Marketing Grant - used to create Cement City Home and Walking
           Tour brochures.  (1)
2016 - Washington County Community Foundation - Hart History Fund
           Grant - used to develop glass plate negatives from our Bruce
           Dreisbach Collection.  (1)
2018 - Washington County Community Foundation - Women of
           Philanthropy Fund Grant - used to replace 10 year old computer
           equipment.  (4) 
2019 - River of Steel Heritage Area - used to develop glass plate
           negatives from our Bruce Dreisbach Collection.  (2) 
2019 - Washington County Chamber of Commerce / Tourism -
           Marketing Grant - used to print Carnegie Science Center Cement
              City brochures and Museum signage.  (1.2) 
2020 - FirstEnergy Foundation - used for the WWII Exhibit.  (2)
2020 - equitrans Midstream Foundation - used for the WWII Exhibit     (2)
2020 - Elliott Group - used for the WWII Exhibit     (.5) (20.2)


 
Meetings
 
Our business meetings are not open to the general public.

Our historical meetings are not held on scheduled basis.
 
For 2020, the presentation schedule is as follows:
          February 7th - Friday - at the Donora Public Library at 6:30 p.m.-
                                  WWII Exhibit - Opening Night reception - see
                                  schedule
          March 22nd - Sunday - at the Smog Museum at 1:00 p.m. -
                               Eldora Park Walking Tour - RSVP required
          April 4th - Saturday - at the Smog Museum at 12:00 p.m. -
                          Eldora Park Walking Tour - RSVP required
          April 7th - Tuesday - at the Donora Public Library at 7:00 p.m.-
                           WWII Exhibit - Closing Night reception - see schedule
          April 14th - Tuesday - at the Rostraver Historical Society at 6:30 p.m.-
                            Mid-Mon Valley Connections in The War of the 
                             Rebellion 
          April 18th - Saturday - at the Smog Museum at 12:00 p.m. -
                          Eldora Park Walking Tour - RSVP required
          May 2nd - Saturday - at the Smog Museum at 1:00 p.m. -
                          Cement City Home and Walking Tour - RSVP required
          May 3rd - Sunday - at the Smog Museum at 1:00 p.m. -
                          Cement City Home and Walking Tour - RSVP required
          May ??th - Saturday - in Donora from 10:00 a.m. to noon -
                            Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP) and
                            Venture Outdoors - The 1948 Donora Smog Disaster
          September ??th - Saturday - at the Smog Museum at 1:00 p.m. -
                                        Cement City Home and Walking Tour - RSVP
                                        required
          September ??th - Sunday - at the Smog Museum at 1:00 p.m. -
                                       Cement City Home and Walking Tour - RSVP
                                       required
          September 12th - Saturday - at the Cro Club at 6:00 p.m. - Donora
                                      Football Dragons - Part 2 - historical presentation
          November 21st - Saturday - at the Cro Club at 6:00 p.m. - Stan "The
                                      Man" Musial centennial birthday (1920-2020) - 
                                      historical presentation
          December 4th - Friday - no meeting - Christmas dinner at 6:30
                                    p.m. at Duke's Restaurant


 
Special Events - the Smog Museum will close early if an event occurs on a Saturday.
 
Saturday, February 8, 2020 at 12:30 p.m., we will be at the Donora Library for the WWII Exhibit when we present the Home Front. See the WWII Exhibit  page for more information.

Saturday, April 4, 2019 at 12:00 p.m., we will be having our fourth annual Eldora Park Walking Tour. See the Eldora Park Walking Tour  page for more information.

Saturday, April 18, 2019 at 12:00 p.m., we will be having our fourth annual Eldora Park Walking Tour. See the Eldora Park Walking Tour  page for more information.

On Saturday, May 2, 2020 at 1:00 p.m., we will be having our tenth annual Cement City Home and Walking Tour #3. See the Cement City  page for more information.

On Sunday, September ??, 2020 at 1:00 p.m., we will be having our tenth annual Cement City Home and Walking Tour #5. The Steelers game this day is scheduled at 4:15 p.m.  See the Cement City page for more information.


 
Membership
 
A $15.00 donation for an individual membership ($25.00 for family) is all it takes to officially join the Historical Society each year.  Stop in at the Museum and sign up today, send us an email to request a membership/donation form, or if you would like to join the historical society to fund future projects, please make your check payable to:
 
    Donora Historical Society
 
along with your contact information and send it to:
 
    Donora Historical Society
    P.O. Box 522
    Donora, PA 15033
 
NOTE:  Keep in mind your donation is tax deductible.
 

Museum
The Historical Society maintains our museum - the Smog Museum.  Please click on the Smog Museum page for more information.
 
 
Volunteering
 
Our work is being carried out by a talented and devoted group of volunteers and members who share the common goal of strengthening and advancing the mission of the society.  If you would like to volunteer, please stop by the museum, email or call us to discuss further. 

 

Heinz History Center Affiliation

In 2013, the Donora Historical Society joined the Heinz History Center's - History Center Affiliate Program (HCAP). Since then we've worked on numerous projects together, most of which are listed below:
  • October 2012 - Brian Charlton presented at the Heinz History Center as part of the Environmental Teen Town Hall & National Youth Summit on the Dust Bowl by Ken Burns with a live webcast with the Smithsonian Institution;
  • September 2013 - Brian Charlton wrote an article for the Heinz History Center's Western PA History magazine titled, "Cement City: Thomas Edison's Experiment With Worker's Housing In Donora."  The magazine can be found on our Merchandise page;
  • Fall of 2013 - HCAP sponsored program with Cal U of PA Honors English class titled "Digital Storytelling".  The result was the video found on our 1948 Smog page titled, "A Town Called Donora";
  • October 2013 - Heinz History Center helped organize and staff our first Environmental Conference titled, “Commemorating the 1948 Donora Smog Disaster -- a seminal moment in environmental history”;
  • March 2014 - we hosted a group of Heinz History Center docents for a special Cement City Home and Walking Tour, as well as lunch and a tour of the Smog Museum;
  • Spring 2014 - HCAP sponsored program with Cal U of PA Honors English class titled "Digital Storytelling".  The result was the video found on our Cement City page titled, "Cement City:  A Digital Story";
  • September 2014 - as part of the HCAP Affiliate Ambassador's series, Brian Charlton presented "Donora and the 1948 Air Quality Crisis" at the Heinz History Center that was filmed and aired by C-SPAN and can still be seen via our 1948 Smog page;
  • October 2014 - Heinz history Center helped organize and staff our second Environmental Conference titled, "1948 Smog:  Digital Storytelling";
  • Fall 2014 - HCAP sponsored program with Cal U of PA Honors English class titled "Digital Storytelling".   The result was the video found on our Cement City page titled, "Cement City:  The Initial Proposal";
  • March/April 2015 - hosted the Heinz History Center's traveling Civil War Exhibit for six weeks;
  • Spring 2015 - HCAP sponsored program with Cal U of PA Honors English class.  The result was editing this website;
  • August 2015 - Donora Historical Society and Smog Museum featured in Heinz History Center's Western PA History Magazine - Summer 2015 in their HCAP Spotlight article;
  • December 2015 - helped the Heinz History Center receive a national award from the American Association for State and Local History for the traveling Civil War Exhibit;
  • September 2016 - submitted a project application on "Digital Storytelling" with the Heinz History Center and Cal U of PA to the Appalachian Studies Conference to be held in 2017 at Virginia Tech University;
  • March 2017 - presented "Digital Storytelling" with the Heinz History Center and Cal U of PA to the Appalachian Studies Conference at Virginia Tech University in Blacksburg, VA.
  • March 2017 - awarded the Heinz History Center travelling WWII Exhibit for February 1 to April 7, 2020;
  • Fall 2017 - HCAP sponsored program with Cal U of PA Honors English class titled "Digital Storytelling."  You can read about it here in a Herald-Standard article titled, "Cal U honors students premier digital stories on regional historic sites.";
  • April 2018 - presented "Cement City" with the Heinz History Center and University of Pittsburgh's Osher Adult Continuing Education classes.
  • Fall 2018 - HCAP sponsored program with Cal U of PA Honors English class titled "Digital Storytelling."  Two class groups. WWII theme.
  • April 2019 - presented "Stan 'The Man' Musial" with the Heinz History Center and University of Pittsburgh's Osher Adult Continuing Education classes.
  • Spring 2019 - HCAP sponsored program with Cal U of PA Honors English class titled "Digital Storytelling."  One class group - two featured stories.
  • Feb/March/April 2020 - hosted the Heinz History Center's traveling WWII Exhibit for nine weeks;
  • March 2020 - presented "1948 Smog" with the Heinz History Center and University of Pittsburgh's Osher Adult Continuing Education classes.


Special Events and Projects completed in 2019
  • provided “1948 Smog” images to Picture Windows Productions of GA on their environmental series “EcoSense For Living” that featured the Clean Air Act and Donora native Devra Davis (January);
  • provided “1948 Smog” images to PBS Harrisburg – WITF Media Center on a documentary on Pennsylvania’s Environmental History (January);
  • purchased new computer equipment using a Washington County Community Foundation - Women of Philanthropy Giving Circle computer grant (January);
  • participated in Heritage Tourism Summit at W&J as a Collections panelist (February);
  • conducted our third annual Eldora Park Walking Tours (March/April);
  • presented “Stan ‘The Man’ Musial” at the University of Pittsburgh for an Osher Adult Continuing Education class sponsored by the Heinz History Center (April);
  • presented “1948 Smog” at Rostraver Historical Society (April);
  • printed Smog Museum “Clean Air Started Here” T-shirts designed with a Point Park University Graphic Design student thru their Wood Street Comm group (April);
  • submitted and completed a Washington County Tourism grant to print Carnegie Science Center’s Miniature Railroad & Village “On Track” brochures that featured our Cement City project from 2018 (April);
  • recognized in Rossilynne Skena Culgan’s book “100 Things to Do in Pittsburgh Before You Die” (April);
  • partnered with the Heinz History Center's and Cal U of PA's "Digital Storytelling" Honors English on their class project – theme Eldora Park and Stan Musial (April);
  • conducted our ninth annual Cement City Home and Walking Tours - Spring and Fall editions over three weekends – six total tours (April, May and October);
  • partnered with GASP (Group Against Smog and Pollution) and Venture Outdoors on two Smog Hike tours of the Donora Zinc Works and “1948 Smog” (May/November);
  • hosted a “Donora Football Living Legends” at the Donora Library (May);
  • presented “Stan Musial” at the Residence of Hilltop assisted living facility (June);
  • presented “Stan Musial” at Greene County Historical Society– Waynesburg (Jul);
  • hosted Shell Polymers Monaca Site’s Environmental Team for day-long workshop on the “1948 Smog” and air emissions (August);
  • presented the “1948 Smog” to the Washington, PA - Daughters of the American Revolution (September);
  • provided information and photos to authors for research on the “1948 Smog”, Eldora Park and Cement City for future books, Blogs and websites;
  • provided info and photos to documentary researchers on the “1948 Smog” and Cement City for Wild Travels TV (Chicago), Archive Masters – Concrete Inventions documentary (England/UK), Mark Dixon – Inversion (Pittsburgh);
  • provided research info on the “1948 Smog” and Cement City for professors and students from various universities such as: Harvard, Georgia, Kansas State, Pittsburgh, Cal U of PA, Washington & Jefferson, Temple, Point Park;
  • helped school groups and teachers from various middle and high schools, both local and out of state on “1948 Smog” research;
  • participated in the Washington County Community Foundation – Day of Giving (September);
  • prepared for the Heinz History Center’s travelling WWII Exhibit for 2020;
  • completed our Christmas Wreath fundraiser (November);
  • organized a Donora football game shirts fundraiser (November);
  • provided info to newspapers and magazines such as Mon Valley Independent, Herald-Standard, Observer Reporter, The Incline, Belt Magazine (thru the year);
  • submitted and completed a River of Steel grant for Dreisbach glass plate negative and 8/16mm film development (December).
 

Special Events and Projects completed in 2018
  • conducted our second annual Eldora Park Walking Tours (March and April);
  • presented "Stan 'The Man' Musial" at the Residence of Hilltop assisted living facility (March);
  • presented "1948 Smog" at Friendship Village of South Hills Senior Living (April);
  • presented Cement City at the University of Pittsburgh for an Osher Adult Continuing Education class as sponsored by the Heinz History Center (April);
  • conducted our eighth annual Cement City Home and Walking Tours - Spring and Fall editions over two day weekends – four total tours (April and October);
  • presented “1948 Smog” at Greene County Historical Society – Waynesburg (April);
  • conducted a custom Cement City Home and Walking Tour for Passport to Pittsburgh touring group as part of their larger day-long tour (August);
  • worked with Rivers of Steel and their Explorer floating classroom boat and their STEM based curriculum that featured Donora and the "1948 Smog" (August);
  • worked with Sidney Mishkin on handling his book, "Memories of Donora - Growing up Jewish in a Western Pennsylvania steel town" (September);
  • participated in the Washington County Community Foundation – Day of Giving (September);
  • presented “Donora-Webster Bridge” at Rostraver Historical Society (September);
  • submitted a Washington County Community Foundation - Women of Philanthropy Giving Circle computer grant (August), awarded (October);
  • hosted visiting professors from China Petroleum University through W&J College (October);
  • submitted a Rivers of Steel matching grant to further our Dreisbach glass plate negative development (October);
  • conducted a custom Cement City Tour for Carnegie Science Center’s Miniature Railroad & Village docents in conjunction with our joint project (October);
  • presented Donora Football Dragons 1904-1945 at the Donora Cro Club (October);
  • hosted WQED for the showing of their documentary on the “1948 Smog” at the Donora Library for the 70th Anniversary of the 1948 Smog (October);
  • presented the “1948 Smog” at the Smog Museum for the 70th Anniversary (October);
  • printed new “Donora Dragon – Forged in 1901” orange T-shirts (November);
  • completed our Christmas Wreath fundraiser (November);
  • presented the “1948 Smog” to the Bridgeville Historical Society (November);
  • worked with Carnegie Science Center's Miniature Railroad & Village to create seven Cement City homes as the featured addition for their train display (November);
  • worked with California U of PA library with loaning WWII artifacts as part of their hosting of the Heinz History Center's travelling WWII Exhibit (August to November);
  • worked with a Point Park University Graphic Design student through their Wood Street Communications group on a new Smog Museum logo and signage (September to December);
  • partnered with the Heinz History Center's and California U of PA's "Digital Storytelling" Honors English on their class project – helped two groups – theme WWII (December);
  • Christmas Party at Duke’s Café (December);
  • provided information and photos to authors for research on the “1948 Smog”, Cement City, Stan “The Man” Musial for future books, Blogs and websites;
  • provided research info on the 1948 Smog and Cement City for professors and students from various universities such as: China Petroleum University, Brown, Arizona, Georgia, North Carolina, Kansas State, Pittsburgh, Cal U of PA Digital Storytelling, Penn State-Beaver, Point Park, and Washington and Jefferson;
  • helped school groups and teachers from various middle and high schools, both local and out of state on research;
  • provided info to newspapers and magazines such as Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Tribune-Review, Mon Valley Independent, Herald-Standard, Observer Reporter, The Incline (thru the year);
  • submitted a 2019 Washington County Tourism grant for Cement City brochures and museum signage (December);
  • worked with Picture Windows Productions of Georgia on their environmental series called "EcoSense Living" that featured a show on the Clean Air Act and Donora-native Dr. Devra Davis (Dec);
  • worked with PBS Harrisburg - WITF Media Center on a documentary on Pennsylvania's Environmental History that included a segment on the 1948 Smog (December);
  • continued our project with the Donora Public Library for an addition to the library for a future home for the Donora Historical Society and Smog Museum.


Special Events and Projects completed in 2017

  • presented “African-Americans of Donora” during Black History Month and for a History Enthusiasts Lunch and Learn at the Mon Valley YMCA (February);

  • presented our project on “Digital Storytelling” with the Heinz History Center and Cal U of PA at the Appalachian Studies Conference at Virginia Tech (March);

  • conducted our first annual Eldora Park Walking Tour (March);

  • worked with producer and KDKA storyteller Dave Crawley on a mini-documentary for WQED featuring the Smog Museum and Cement City (April);

  • conducted our seventh annual Cement City Home and Walking Tour - Spring and Fall edition over two days:  Saturday and Sunday (April/October);

  • accepted the Heinz History Center's invitation to host their travelling WWII Exhibit that will be held at the Donora Public Library in February to April of 2020 (April);

  • Acquired additional Donora and Ringgold Basketball game films (April);

  • conducted a custom Cement City "Bus" Tour for the Residence of Hilltop (June);

  • presented "Stan 'The Man' Musial" at the West End Carnegie Library (June);

  • hosted the Air Quality Program group of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) with a museum tour and all-day forum (August);

  • hosted the Washington County Community Foundation’s Women of Philanthropy Circle for their quarterly meeting and Dreisbach photo presentation (August);

  • worked with Blink Publishing of London, England with their companion book for the award winning Netflix series, “The Crown” (August);

  • presented “Cement City” at the South Park Historical Society (September);

  • presented our Donora Football Game Film Event at the Donora Cro Club (Sept);

  • presented “1948 Smog” at the Residence of Hilltop assisted living facility (October);

  • hosted the Society for Environmental Journalists (SEJ) fieldtrip to Donora as part of their five day annual conference in Pittsburgh (October);

  • conducted a custom Cement City Home and Walking Tour for the Laurel Highlands Antique Auto Club from Ligonier (October);

  • helped students during the 2017 Multimedia Workshop on a film project sponsored by Point Park University's Environmental Journalism Program (November);

  • hosted visiting Fulbright Scholar professors from Japan and China (November);

  • printed new “Donora Dragon – Forged in 1901” T-shirts (Nov);

  • completed our Christmas Wreath and Garland fundraiser (Nov);

  • partnered with the Heinz History Center's and Cal U of PA's "Digital Storytelling" Honors English on their class project (Dec);

  • Christmas Party at Duke’s Café (December);

  • provided research to award winning author Kathleen Shoop and other authors for research on the “1948 Smog” and “Stan ‘The Man’ Musial” for future books, Blogs and websites;

  • helped school groups and teachers from The Neighborhood Academy (Pittsburgh), Jefferson-Morgan (High), Montour (High), Charleroi (Middle), Belle Vernon (Middle), Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP) Summer Campers;

  • provided research info on the 1948 Smog for various groups and publications:  for professors and students from various universities such as: Cal Berkley, Villanova, Environmental Engineering students at St. Francis (Loretto, PA), Princeton, Johns Hopkins, Pittsburgh journalism class, Carnegie Mellon Post Natural History class, Cal U of PA Digital Storytelling, W&J environmental class, Radford, Harvard, Columbia, Louisville, Arizona and Montana;

  • hosted professional groups:  US Steel Law, Michael Jacks Law, Allegheny County Health Department;

  • provided info to newspapers and magazines such as Pittsburgh Parenting Magazine, MV Independent, Herald-Standard, Observer Reporter;

  • continued our project with the Donora Public Library for an addition to the library for a future home for the Historical Society;

  • displayed new rotating exhibits:  women’s history, Donora football, Donora/Webster Bridge, Christmas (thru the year).


Special Events and Projects completed in 2016

  • conducted a game film project with Ken Griffey, Sr. for basketball and football games from 1968 and 1969 (January);

  • provided photos and info for Stan Musial book by Don Korte (Feb);

  • acquired additional Donora football and Mon Valley Catholic basketball game films (March);

  • participated in the "Voices of the Mon Valley:  Oral History and Local Resources" exhibit a the Cal U of PA Manderino Library (March/Apr);

  • presented "Cement City" at the West Overton Village and Museums in Scottdale, PA (April);

  • completed our 2015 Washington County Tourism Grant for "Cement City Home and Walking Tour" brochures (April);

  • conducted our sixth annual Cement City Home and Walking Tour - Spring edition (April);

  • displayed a new rotating exhibit titled "Donora Baseball" in recognition of the HOF induction of Ken Griffey, Jr. (June);

  • created the Donora Historical Society and Smog Museum Facebook page (June);

  • provided research info to award winning author Kathleen Shoop for research on the "1948 Smog" and "Stan 'The Man' Musial" for future books (June);

  • presented "War of the Rebellion and local Civil War veterans" during History Enthusiast Lunch and Learn at the Mon Valley YMCA (Jun);

  • presented "Eldora Park" during History Enthusiasts Lunch and Learn at the Mon Valley YMCA (July);

  • hosted Ellie Miller - Ken Griffey, Jr. fan from Seattle, WA (July);

  • submitted and accepted a 2016 Washington County Community Foundation - Hart History Fund grant to develop Bruce Dreisbach glass plate negatives (August);

  • submitted a project application on "Digital Storytelling" with the Heinz History Center and Cal U of PA for the Appalachian Studies Conference to be held at Virginia Tech in March 2017 (September);

  • presented "Stan 'The Man' Musial" at the South Park Historical Society (September);

  • launched a project with the Donora Public Library for an addition to the library for a future home for the Historical Society (September);

  • conducted our sixth annual Cement City Home and Walking Tour - Fall edition (October);

  • hosted Terry Necciai who presented "Wildflowers:  The Nellie Sickels Album" a story about West Columbia and the early days of Donora (October);

  • hosted W&J Professor Dr. Robert East and his environmental class at the Smog Museum (November);

  • presented "Cement City" at the Lawrenceville Historical Society (November);

  • displayed a rotating exhibit - honoring Donora war veterans (Nov);

  • presented "Remembering Donora Veterans" during the Veterans Day parade festivities (November);

  • displayed a vintage Christmas exhibit at the Donora Library (Nov);

  • completed our Christmas Wreath and Garland fundraiser (Nov);

  • hosted Tom Norris of the Air Quality Program of the PA Department of Environmental Protection (EPA) with a museum tour and to discuss future projects (December);

  • Christmas Party at Duke’s Café (December);

  • provided research info on the 1948 Smog for various groups and publications:  Landisburg Lions Club of Perry County for an Earth Day presentation;  Air quality curriculum for North Carolina HS science programs;  Ringgold MS Gifted Architectural Project;  Belle Vernon MS History Day entrant on 1948 Smog --State Champ;  Fourth Grade student from Kirkwood, MO on Stan Musial;  Scope Magazine, Scholastic, Inc. New York;  Northeast Wisconsin Technical College Smog Data.


Special Events and Projects completed in 2015

  • displayed a new rotating exhibit honoring Donora war veterans (Jan);
  • presented "Greetings From Donora" - history of Donora thru postcards (February);
  • provided photos and info for a Stan Musial book by James Giglio titled: "Stan Musial:  Baseball Hero" that is part of the "Notable Missourians" series (February);
  • hosted the Heinz History Center's travelling Civil War Exhibit at the Donora Public Library for six weeks - supplemented with 21 presentations held on Saturdays for over 1,000 visitors that included close to 500 school students, teachers and chaperones.  Raised funds for the Donora Public Library and Donora Historical Society (March/April);
  • helped graduate student from Wesleyan University, Connecticut on "1948 Smog" research;
  • presented "1948 Smog" at the Mount Lebanon Historical Society (March);
  • presented "1948 Smog" at the South Park Historical Society (Mar);
  • presented "Donora Historical Society Events" for the Charleroi Golden Agers luncheon (April);
  • conducted our fifth annual Cement City Home and Walking Tour - Spring edition (May);
  • displayed a new rotating exhibit - display of the Donora-Webster Bridge (May);
  • presented "Donora-Webster Bridge" to recognize its upcoming razing (June);
  • hosted Wild Travels TV from Chicago, a travel series who were interested in filming a program on the events of the "1948 Smog" (June);
  • hosted Steve Schaeber of the Mobile Air Conditioning Society Worldwide (MACS) near Philadelphia, on his article for the ACtion Magazine on the parallels between our current Air Conditioning emissions and the 1948 Smog (June);
  • submitted and were awarded a Washington County Chamber of Commerce/Tourism Marketing Grant for Cement City brochures (July);
  • presented "Stan 'The Man" Musial" during History Enthusiasts Lunch and Learn at the Mon Valley UMCA (July);
  • hosted Jerry and Cindy Rombach - Stan Musial fans from Kenai, Alaska (July);
  • In the Summer 2015 edition of the Heinz History Center's Western PA History magazine, the Historical Society was featured in their "Spotlight on HCAP" that highlights one of the History Center Affiliate Program's (HCAP) members (August);
  • hosted Alan Lockwood, M.D., Emeritus Professor of Neurology and Nuclear Medicine at the University of New York at Buffalo and author of "The Silent Epidemic:  Coal and the Hidden Threat to Health."  Lockwood and his family were interested in the "1948 Smog" (Aug);
  • provided research info on the 1948 Smog for various publications:  The Wall Street Journal, EPA Alumni Association Magazine, Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP) - Pittsburgh Chapter, and the Kentucky Division of Air Quality;
  • hosted Donora High School alumni for the reunion presentations - "Class of 1953 Remembers" and "Class of 1965 - 50th Anniversary" (August);
  • hosted Attorney Michael Jacks from WV for his presentation on his research of the "Zinc Works Remediation Study" (September);
  • conducted our fifth annual Cement City Home and Walking Tour - Fall editions - Saturday and Sunday (October);
  • launched our football and basketball game film transfer to DVD and fundraiser (October);
  • hosted Monessen native and author Ralph E. Stone on his reading and book signing of "Diary of a First Street Rambler" (October);
  • presented "1948 Smog" at the Lawrenceville Historical Society (Oct);
  • displayed a Donora Historical Society and Smog Museum display at the Donora Smog Race at the start/finish line at the Donora Skating Rink (October);
  • presented "Donora-Webster Bridge - Redo" (November);
  • complete our annual Christmas Wreath and Garland fundraiser (November);
  • acquired additional Donora Dragons football game films from the 1960's to be transferred to DVD (November);
  • held our annual Christmas Party at Duke's Cafe (December);
  • Acquired Stan "The Man" Musial letters during his minor league and WWII Navy days (December).
 
 
Special Events and Projects completed in 2014 
  • helped doctorial students from Stanford, Mercyhurst and Wisconsin Eau Claire;  helped undergrad students from Cal U and Drexel;  helped middle and high school "History Day" students from CA, KY, PA, TX and OH with "1948 Smog" research;
  • presented "The Founding of Donora."  Celebrated the bicentennial of the town that existed before Donora - West Columbia founded in 1814 (February);
  • hosted a group of Heinz History Center docents for a special Cement City Home and Walking Tour, as well as lunch and a tour of the Smog Museum (March);
  • worked with the St. Louis Cardinals baseball club on Stan Musial memorabilia (March);
  • completed Rivers of Steel grant used for Dreisbach glass plate negatives (March);
  • hosted Tom Crespo for his presentation on the Donora Southern Railroad (April);
  • visited Monessen's Genealogical Meeting to present Donora's favorite photographer -- Bruce Dreisbach (April);
  • hosted Jim Cheney, a PA travel blogger, for his website http://www.uncoveringpa.com/ for an entry on the Donora Historical Society and Smog Museum (April);
  • hosted Donora High School alumni for their presentation -- "Class of 1953 Remembers the 1948 Smog" (May);
  • partnered with the Heinz History Center's and Cal U's "Digital Storytelling" Honors English class for the creation of Cement City videos (May/December);
  • attended the Heinz History Center Affiliate Program (HCAP) all-day meeting held in McKeesport (June);
  • submitted and were awarded a Washington County Community Foundation -- McBride-McMaster grant for archival quality storage boxes (June);
  • updated our 501(c)3 non-profit paperwork and status (June);
  • hosted former pro baseball players Ron Necciai (Gallatin) and Ken Barbao (Donora) to discuss their careers and growing up in the Mon Valley (June);
  • displayed a Dan Towler and 1944/1945 football teams exhibit at the Donora Borough building for the "Deacon" Dan Towler street dedication (August);
  • presented "Donora in the 1950's" for Donora's Class of 1953 (Aug);
  • hosted Scott Frederick who presented the Cincinnati Mine disaster (September);
  • awarded the Heinz History Center's traveling Civil War exhibit for 2015 (September);
  • presented "Donora and the 1948 Air Quality Crisis" at the Heinz History Center that was filmed and aired by C-SPAN (Sept/Oct);
  • conducted our fourth annual Cement City Home and Walking Tour - 45 attendees (October);
  • conducted our second annual Environmental Conference in partnership with Cal U and the Heinz History Center on Digital Storytelling for area students - 137 attendees (October);
  • presented the making of "Digital Storytelling -- A Town Called:  Donora" (October);
  • presented "1948 Smog" for Westmorland County Book Club and Lawrenceville Book Club (November);
  • displayed a new rotating exhibit that featured a comprehensive display to honor Donora war veterans for Veteran's Day (November);
  • presented "Surprises From the Archives" (November);
  • completed our Christmas Wreath and Garland fundraiser (Nov);
  • aquired Donora Dragons leather helmet from the 1930's (August);  Stan "The Man" Musial framed autographed jersey (November).
 
Special Events and Projects completed in 2013 
  • hosted 17 Environmental Engineering and Chemistry students from St. Francis University (Loretto PA), to discuss the 1948 Smog (Jan);
  • became a Heinz History Center Affiliate Program (HCAP) member (Feb);
  • presentation on Donora Women for Women’s History Month (March);
  • hosted Root Sports for a feature on Stan Musial shown on April 17th broadcast of St. Louis vs. Pittsburgh on MLB Network and Root Sports of St. Louis (April);
  • hosted Charlie Talbert - history of the Monongahela Cemetery 150th Anniversary (April);
  • hosted Joshua Scully - story behind the D.L. Clark Candy Co (May);
  • submitted and accepted 2013 Rivers of Steel matching grant (May);
  • hosted Rich Rockwell - the history of Eldora Park (June);
  • hosted “Try Again Homes” - a non-profit corporation from Washington, PA who provides safe nurturing places for children for healthier communities through adoption and foster care programs (June);
  • submitted and accepted 2013 Washington County Tourism Grant (June);
  • discussion/book signing at the library on new Donora book of historical fiction titled, “Steel Town Showdown” written by David Lonich (Sept);
  • Heinz History Center's Western PA History magazine “Cement City” article by Brian Charlton (Sept);
  • hosted 20 tourists at the Smog Museum as part of a larger seven day tour organized by Sports Leisure Vacations from Sacramento, CA titled, “Fall Foliage with the Famous in Pennsylvania” (Oct);
  • hosted the Westmoreland County Community Book Club to review “After the Fog” -- a novel of historical fiction about the 1948 Donora Smog (Oct);
  • organized a Town Hall conference titled;  “Commemorating the 1948 Donora Smog Disaster -- a seminal moment in environmental history” that focused on education, awareness, communication and the commemoration of that infamous Halloween weekend in 1948 which forever linked the town of Donora with the modern environmental movement.  Scholars from Carnegie Mellon, W&J, Cal U, and Chatham University; a Natural Gas representative from Consol Energy; and members of the Heinz History Center contributed.  The day concluded with a screening of “Rumor of Blue Sky,” a primary source documentary by filmmaker and Art Institute of Pittsburgh professor Andrew Maietta (Oct);
  • Third Annual Cement City Walking Tour – 33 attendees (Oct);
  • hosted local student Carmen Sawa who presented her award winning film on the 1948 Smog used for the 2013 Pennsylvania History Day Competition (Oct);
  • hosted Dennis Ballas- history of 1918 Flu and impact on Mon Valley (November);
  • worked with Cal U Honor students on a “Digital Story Telling” class documentary.  The class was sponsored by the Heinz History Center.  Donora’s documentary was considered best in show and featured a poem on the 1948 Smog written in 1950 by a young German poet named Guenter Kunert who went on to be one of the most versatile and important contemporary German writers (Dec).
 
Special Events and Projects completed in 2012 
  • African-American history in Donora – Part I and II (Feb and March);
  • launched the Donora Historical Society website (May);
  • St. Dominic’s Church historical presentation (June);
  • booth at the Whiskey Rebellion Festival in Washington, PA (Aug);
  • book signing - “After the Fog” -- a novel of historical fiction by Kathleen Shoop (Sept);
  • Brian Charlton presented at the Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh as part of the Environmental Teen Town Hall & National Youth Summit on the Dust Bowl by Ken Burns with a live webcast with the Smithsonian Institution (Oct);
  • Second Annual Cement City Walking Tour – 26 attendees (Oct);
  • hosted Pioneer Productions from London, England for the Weather Channel documentary series “When Weather Changed The World” (Nov);
  • Palmer Park and the Legion Field historical presentation with Ron Paglia (Nov);
  • Shutterbug Magazine – December issue on our Bruce Dreisbach glass plate negative collection (Dec).

Our Mission:

The mission of the Donora Historical Society and Smog Museum is to preserve, research, interpret and promote Donora history through cooperative continuing educational relationships with individuals and institutions; focusing on causes and effects of the 1948 "smog" tragedy and its impact on global environmental concerns and issues.