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1948 Smog - 70^th Anniversary Events

As we approach the upcoming 70^th Anniversary of Donora’s infamous 1948 Smog, the Donora Historical Society has two events on the schedule for October.

Doora's infamous "Smog Event"

Tuesday, October 23 at 6:30 p.m., WQED Producer and Monongahela-native David Solomon will present his mini-documentary “Our Water, Land & Air,” portions of which tell the story about the 1948 Smog. A “Question and Answer” discussion will follow with Solomon and a panel of survivors and local experts. This event will take place in the downstairs Community Room at the Donora Public Library located at 510 Meldon Avenue.

Saturday, October 27 at 1:00 p.m., the Donora Historical Society’s Brian Charlton will present the “The 1948 Donora Smog Disaster” at the Smog Museum. This presentation has been given numerous times in Donora and around the Pittsburgh area, and was also filmed by CSPAN at the Heinz History Center. At the conclusion of the presentation, attendees will have a firm understanding of the impact of the smog tragedy over the Halloween weekend of 1948.

Donora Football Dragons – 1904 To 1968 – (Part One)

Due to the enthusiasm generated from our ongoing game film project and last year’s successful “Game Film Event” at the Donora Cro Club, we will host another football event titled “Donora Football Dragons – 1904 to 1968” to present a comprehensive history of Donora Dragons football from the opening kickoff in 1904 to the final whistle in 1968. Part One includes the years 1904 to 1945. Part Two will include the remaining years from 1946 to 1968 and will be held on a date that has yet to be determined.

The event will consist of a presentation using numerous photos, newspaper articles and film footage, most of which came from the archives of the Donora Historical Society, as well as the Coach Jimmy Russell collection donated by his daughter in 2013, dovetailed with stories told by Smog Museum archivist and curator Brian Charlton, who will take you all the way back in time to 1904 when Donora was known as the Orange and Black, wore leather helmets and played by the Mon River on Gilmore Field, when organized football wasn’t so organized. Hear stories about Coach Russell and players Jake Kovalcik, Arnold “Pope” Galiffa, “Deacon” Dan Towler, Lou “Bimbo” Cecconi, Bob Rosborough, Bill Urbanik, Larry Crawford, Malcolm Lomax and many others, that made Donora the “Home of Champions,” as well as Donora’s football ties to the likes of Knute Rockne and Vince Lombardi.

Because of the volume of historical information, this event will be presented in two parts. “Donora Football Dragons – 1904 to 1945 – Part One” is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. Saturday evening, October 20 at the Croatian Club (Cro Club) in Donora located at 329 Castner Avenue with food and drinks available for purchase from the Cro Club. Former coaches, players, cheerleaders, band members and fans from any era are encouraged to attend.

Christmas Fundraiser

The Donora Historical Society is now taking orders for Christmas wreaths, candy canes and crosses that are made of frasier fir, come with a waterproof red velvet bow and are dipped in an anti-transparent to preserve needle retention. The Wreaths measure two feet in diameter and sell for $15. The candy canes and crosses are very full and sturdy and sell for $17. Call 724-379-5693 or 724-379-6999 to place your order by October 31. If delivery is not arranged, pickup will be at the Donora Historical Society and Smog Museum during Thanksgiving week – November 21, 23 and 24. Note: the prices above could be subject to a slight increase.

Additional Info                    

If you have additional questions about the subjects mentioned above, the historical society, museum, presentations or possibly volunteering, feel free to stop by on Saturdays or by special appointment (with at least a week’s notice), email us at DonoraHistoricalSociety@gmail.com, call us at 724-823-0364 and leave a message, visit us on the web at www.DonoraHistoricalSociety.org, or follow us and Like Us on Facebook at “Donora Historical Society and Smog Museum.”

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