- Last Updated on Monday, 29 December 2014 18:52
The next presentation at the Donora Historical Society is scheduled for Saturday, February 7 at 1 p.m., weather permitting, and is titled "Greetings from Donora." It will showcase vintage postcards of Donora and the stories behind them.
Plans are still coming together for the Heinz History Center's traveling Civil War exhibit and we are continuing to add interested presenters and groups who want to participate during the six-week event. The 500-square foot exhibit will be held in partnership with the Donora Public Library and will be displayed in the lower level community room from March 20 through April 28, 2015 – the timeframe coincides with the 150th anniversary of the ending of the Civil War. Six weeks of activities are being planned with the exhibit, such as local Civil War displays, presentations, round table discussions, book signings, etc.
School groups and other social group are strongly encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity. If any individuals or groups are interested in participating in any capacity, please contact the Historical Society. Also, if any individual or company would like to be a sponsor to help fund additional events during this exhibit, contact the Historical Society for sponsorship opportunities. Please check our website www.DonoraHistoricalSociety.org and click on the "Civil War Exhibit" tab for a description of the exhibit and the schedule of events as it continues to unfold.
Due to the success of our 4th annual Cement City Home and Walking Tour held in October, we will be hosting two tours in 2015, the first of which will be held on Sunday, May 3at 1 p.m. The tours start at the museum with a photo presentation on Donora's National Historic District – Thomas Edison's Cement City, as well as the showing of artifacts and original blueprints during the construction from 1916 and 1917. The presenter is Smog Museum curator and Cement City resident Brian Charlton, who authored a related article in the fall 2013 edition of the Western Pennsylvania History magazine. A walking tour follows in the Historic District to point out various architectural details. The walk concludes by touring the interior of two homes that have a couple of rooms restored to period. Please consult our website and click the "Cement City" tab, for more information, or call or email the historical society. If you would like to RSVP for either tour, please call or email.
Once again the Donora Historical Society will present at the Heinz History Center Affiliate Ambassador's Speaker Series, held once a month on Saturdays. The Donora Historical Society is a Heinz History Center Affiliate member. On Saturday, June 13, 2015 we will be presenting Stan "The Man" Musial. The presentation is free with paid admission to the museum. Danish and coffee is served.
The Historical Society is currently selling the book of Donora native Dr. Susan F. Hirsch titled Mountaintop Mining in Appalachia: Understanding Stakeholders and Change in Environmental Conflict. Dr. Hirsch currently lives in Washington, D.C. and is a Professor of Conflict Resolution and Anthropology at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA. The book can also be found on our website under the "Merchandise" tab.
We feel very fortunate to have received a framed and autographed replica of a Stan Musial St. Louis Cardinals jersey donated by Mr. Ross Verbisky, who is a California, PA native and made his career in Missouri. Verbisky was back in the area and made the donation in person at the museum. The jersey will be one of the centerpieces of our growing Stan "The Man" Musial exhibit.
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.
