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 Societyas well as Introduction to Donora Historical SocietyThese 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) 2020 - Mon Valley Alliance - used for the WWII Exhibit. (.25) 2020 - PNC Charitable Trust - PNC Foundaton - used for the WWII Exhibit. (1.5) 2020 - Washington County Community Foundation - Hart History Fund Grant - used to purchase archival quality boxes.and frames (1) 2021 - River of Steel Heritage Area - used to develop glass plate negatives from our Bruce Dreisbach Collection, copy panoramic photos and 35mm mill slides (1) (23.95) 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:
Special Events and Projects completed in 2020
Special Events and Projects completed in 2019
Special Events and Projects completed in 2018
Special Events and Projects completed in 2017
Special Events and Projects completed in 2016
Special Events and Projects completed in 2015
Special Events and Projects completed in 2014
Special Events and Projects completed in 2013
Special Events and Projects completed in 2012
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