August 2018 News From the Donora Historical Society and Smog Museum

Last Updated on Sunday, 29 July 2018 14:35

Donora-Webster Bridge Presentation in Rostraver

Donora and Rostraver have a shared history that goes back to the early 1800s.

Old Donora-Webster Bridge

Rostraver settlers would sometimes bury their deceased loved-ones across the Mon River on a plot of land just north of the now extinct village of West Columbia that existed before Donora was founded in 1901. In the 1870s, this burial ground formerly became known as the Gilmore Cemetery.

Other shared history between Donora and Rostraver includes the 1948 Smog, when residents from both sides of the Mon River perished that Halloween weekend, and the Donora-Webster Bridge that spanned the Mon River to link the two communities for over 100 years.

In the first of a series of presentations for both Donora and Rostraver residents, or anyone interested in Mon Valley history, Brian Charlton of the Donora Historical Society will visit the Rostraver Historical Society on Tuesday, September 11th at 6:30 p.m. at the historic Fells Methodist Church at 800 Fellsburg Road in Rostraver to present “The First Toll Free Bridge across the Monongahela River: Building the Donora-Webster Bridge, 1908.”

1948 Smog - 70th Anniversary Events
As we approach the upcoming 70th Anniversary this October of Donora’s infamous 1948 Smog, the Donora Historical Society has a number of events on the schedule to remember this event. They will be explained in more detail in future articles.

On Tuesday, October 23rd 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 a panel of survivors and local experts. This event will take place in the downstairs Community Room at the Donora Public Library.

On Saturday, October 27th 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 countless times in Donora and around the Pittsburgh area, and was also filmed by CSPAN.

Fall Cement City Home and Walking Tour Dates Set
Our fall Cement City Home and Walking Tours and your next chance to see Thomas Edison’s solution for worker housing created in 1917 is scheduled for Saturday, September 22nd and Sunday, September 23rd at 1:00 p.m. The Steelers play Monday night football on September 24th. The cost of the tours are $13/person and space is limited. It’s encouraged to call or email to get your name added to a RSVP signup list to be contacted when the tour date gets closer. If you have any questions about Cement City or one of our Home and Walking Tours, please consult our website and click the “Cement City” tab, or contact the historical society.

Donora Football Dragons
On Saturday, October 20th at 6:00 p.m., the Donora Historical Society will present “Donora Football Dragons – 1904 to 1969 – Part One,” a historical look at the evolution of football in Donora. Part One actually only includes the years 1904 to 1945. Part Two will include the years 1946 to 1969 and will be held on a future date. This event will take place at the Donora Cro Club. The time of this event may change.

Eldora Park Walking Tour
Next year’s third annual tours are already being planned for two Saturdays in either late March or early April at noon in the wooded footprint of the original park on the old Wickerham Farm to see where people once picnicked and enjoyed all the amenities of an amusement park over a century ago. The cost of the tours are $12/person and space is limited. It’s encouraged to call or email to get your name added to a RSVP signup list to be contacted when the tour date gets closer. We already have quite a few RSVPs for 2019.

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.”