News from The Donora Historical Society And Smog Museum

Last Updated on Saturday, 27 August 2016 23:46

The following events were announcd by the Donora Historical Society And Smog Museum.

Game Nights with Our Game Films

Due to the excitement generated from our ongoing game film project, we are planning on having “Game Nights” to show and relive those games with former coaches, players, cheerleaders, band members and fans. We now have enough games converted, thanks to former players, to make this happen. Look for future announcements of “Game Night” activities when we show a couple of football games to an audience at a venue in Donora that can also accommodate food and drinks.

While most of the films that we have converted show mostly game footage, there are games that show brief and extended footage of cheerleaders, majorettes, band members and parents during senior night. Those games that contain that content is noted on our website.

If you have any interest or have questions on exactly which games we have and which games have been converted, please consult the Historical Society by voice mail or email listed below, or see the full list of games on our website under the “Game Films” tab.

Eldora Park Presentation at The Mon Valley YMCA

One of the many benefits of urbanization and industrialization was the development of leisure time for the laboring masses. Wage laborers, working timed shifts, found themselves with two things they never had before: free time and discretionary income.

This newfound leisure did not go unnoticed by enterprising entrepreneurs who realized providing service to fulfill wants of this new class meant big business. One of the more interesting combinations of service and entertainment was the trolley park.

As the urban landscape expanded, mass transportation became a necessity in moving people from place to place. In an effort to increase ridership, provide a rural escape from urban living, and tap into discretionary income by selling entertainment, the trolley park was born.

Opening in 1904, Eldora Park followed in the pattern of Kennywood, Luna, West View and dozens of others across the United States and was located three miles north of Donora along a rail line that cut across the horseshoe bend in the Monongahela River. Compared to the more famous trolley parks, the amusements were relatively meager: a gravity roller coaster, a carousel, a “bamboo” slide, and games of chance and skill. Just as important were the picnic pavilions, the bandstand and dance pavilion (converted into a roller rink in the winter), an “Electric Theater, and a restaurant. Still, this tiny, out-of-the-way trolley park was able to attract world renowned speakers and performers.

This presentation was held as part of the Donora Historical Society outreach program in July at the Mon Valley YMCA for History Enthusiasts in front of 46 people. Please contact the Mon Valley YMCA for future History Enthusiasts Days.

Cement City Home And Walking Tour Planned for October 2

We are near capacity for our next Cement City Home and Walking Tour that will be held on Sunday, October 2, 2016 at 1 p.m. If you have an interest in this tour or a future tour, please call or email the Society. If you have questions about the tour, please call, email or consult out website and under the “Cement City” tab.

Christmas Fundraiser – Get Your Wreath Orders In

The Donora Historical Society is now taking orders for Christmas wreaths, garland or roping, candy canes and crosses. The wreaths, candy canes and crosses 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. The garland or roping is made of long needle white pine, measure 30 feet and sell for $12. Call 724-379-5693 or 724-379-6999 to place your order by October 31th. Pickup will be at the Donora Smog Museum and Historical Society during Thanksgiving week – November 24th, 26th and 27th. Note: the prices above could be subject to a slight increase.

Ken Griffey, Jr. Fan Visits Donora

It's not uncommon for Stan Musial fans to visit Donora and the Historical Society from around the U.S., but in July we hosted our first Ken Griffey, Jr. fan as Ellie Miller visited us from Seattle on her way back from Cooperstown, NY after the Hall of Fame induction ceremonies of her all-time favorite player. That night she also took in the Pirates and Mariners baseball game at PNC Park. We expect Griffey other fans to follow.

Additional Info

If you have additional questions about the subjects mentioned above, the society, museum, meetings or possibly volunteering, feel free to stop by on Saturdays or by special appointment (with at least 72 hours-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.”