February 2016 News from the Donora Historical Society and Smog Museum

Last Updated on Friday, 29 January 2016 14:53

The Donora Historical Society recently announced upcomomng events.

Game Films

The Donora Historical Society is taking orders for copies of basketball games from 1978 and 1979 that feature Mon Valley Catholic against Frazier, as well as some other teams. Originally on 16mm film, the games are in the process of being converted to DVD.

The full list of basketball and football games can be found on the website under the “Game Films” tab.

Calling All Volunteers!

If you have an interest in history, research, archiving, fundraising, working with students of all ages, working on some amazing projects, or working with people from all over the world, we may have an opportunity for you at the Donora Historical Society. We are always on the lookout for individuals who can help promote and advance the Society.

Past Progresses and Future Endeavors

Some of the special events that we completed in 2015 are as follows:

displayed new rotating exhibit – honoring Donora war veterans (January)
presented “Greetings From Donora” – history of Donora thru postcards (February)
hosted the Heinz History Center’s travelling Civil War Exhibit at the Donora Library for six weeks – supplemented with 21 presentations held on Saturdays for over 1,000 visitors that included close to 500 school students (March/April)
presented “1948 Smog” at the Mount Lebanon Historical Society (March)
presented “1948 Smog” at the South Park Historical Society (March)
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 new rotating exhibit - display of the Donora-Webster Bridge (May)
presented “Donora-Webster Bridge” to recognize its upcoming razing (June)
presented “Stan ‘The Man’ Musial” during History Enthusiasts Lunch and Learn at the Mon Valley YMCA (July)
hosted Donora High School alumni for their reunion presentations -- “Class of 1953 remembers” and “Class of 1965 – 50^th Anniversary” (August)
hosted Attorney Michael Jacks 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)
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 (October)
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)
Christmas Party at Duke’s Café (December).

While remembering and respecting our past, the Donora Historical Society is looking forward to new projects and programs. Some of our anticipated events and projects for 2016 include:

conduct our third annual membership and donation drive fundraiser (January)
continue our football/basketball game film transfer to DVD and fundraiser (October)
complete our 2015 Wash County Tourism Grant for Cement City brochures (February)
host the West PA Paranormal Society on plans for a ghost hunt fundraiser (February)
schedule various historical presentations throughout the spring and fall months following Historical Society meetings
present Cement City during a West Overton Village parlor talk (April)
conduct our Sixth Annual Cement City Home and Walking Tours (May and October)
submit a 2015 Washington County Community Foundation Grant to continue to have our Dreisbach glass plate negatives developed into actual photos (June)
present Cement City during History Enthusiasts Lunch and Learn at the Mon Valley YMCA (July)
celebrate the 70^th Anniversary of the Donora Historical Society
visit South Park Historical Society and present “Stan ‘The Man’ Musial” (Sept)
coordinate special displays and programming around Donora hosting the 2016 Veteran’s Day Parade (November)
continue our annual Christmas Wreath and Garland fundraiser (November)
continue to participate in Heinz History Center Affiliate Program (HCAP) events
enhance and advance the historical society and Smog Museum.

If you have additional questions about the subjects mentioned above, the society, museum, meetings or possibly volunteering, feel free to stop by or email us at DonoraHistoricalSociety@gmail.com or call 724-823-0364 and leave a message. Or visit us on the web at www.DonoraHistoricalSociety.org.