2014 Events and Projects

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 (August).
  • 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 (September/October).
  • 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 (November).
  • acquired Donora Dragons leather helmet from the 1930's (August); Stan "The Man" Musial framed autographed jersey (November).