2017 Events and Projects

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 (September).
    • 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 (November).
    • completed our Christmas Wreath and Garland fundraiser (November).
    • partnered with the Heinz History Center's and Cal U of PA's "Digital Storytelling" Honors English on their class project (December).
    • 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).