2021 Events and Projects


Special Events and Projects completed in 2021
  • started a Rivers of Steel grant for panoramic photos, Dreisbach glass plate negative development and 35mm slide transfer (January).
  • secured the historical Gilmore Cemetery internment books from the 1870s from the Gilmore family (January).
  • received the Carnegie Science Center’s book - A Love Affair: The Miniature Railroad & Village that features Cement City and Donora-native Carl Wapiennik (January).
  • hosted curators from the Carnegie Museum of Art who were doing research for their upcoming 58th Carnegie International exhibit in 2022 (February).
  • awarded a Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission - Historical & Archival Records Care Grant for home movies/game films, 35mm slides, glass plate negatives, blueprints, microfilm, archival boxes and dehumidifiers (March).
  • awarded a Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) application for a Stan “The Man” Musial roadside marker (March).
  • helped book author Kathleen Shoop launch her book – The Magician (April).
  • reopened the Smog Museum by appointment while following CDC guidelines (June).
  • provided “1948 Smog” images to Chicago artist and visiting University of Pittsburgh professor Lindsey French for her book - Olfactory Art and the Political in the Age of Resistance (June).
  • launched the Stan Musial Plaque Event publicity and fundraising effort (July).
  • as the keynote speaker, presented the “1948 Smog” to the California University of PA – National Rural Social Work Conference – Contemporary Challenges in Rural & Small-Town Industrial Communities (July).
  • selected as one of fifteen sites for the Heinz History Center - HCAP – “Civic Empathy through History” Project (August).
  • reopened the Smog Museum with normal Saturday hours while following CDC guidelines (August).
  • provided “1948 Smog” images to American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers - course - Ventilation and Indoor Air Quality (September).
  • presented “1948 Smog” at the McKeesport Historical Society (September).
  • expanded the Smog Museum display to the old pharmacy window space next door (September).
  • participated in the Washington County Community Foundation – Day of Giving (September).
  • conducted our eleventh annual Cement City Home and Walking Tours - Fall edition over a two-day weekend – two total tours (October)
  • helped musician and Donora-native Spencer James with his group Special Images’ music video “Donora” (October).
  • provided “1948 Smog” images to Population Education of Washington, DC for their middle school air quality around the world lesson plan (October).
  • partnered with the Heinz History Center's and Cal U of PA's "Digital Storytelling" Honors English class on their digital project (December).
  • upgraded the Donora Historical Society and Smog Museum’s website (December).
  • expanded the Smog Museum display to the old Shoe Shoppe window space next door (December).
  • provided research info on the “1948 Smog” for professors and students from various universities such as: Carnegie Mellon University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Slippery Rock University, Kenyon College (OH), Penn State Behrend and West Virginia University.
  • helped school groups and teachers from various middle and high schools on “1948 Smog” research, both local and out of state.
  • provided information and photos to authors for research on the “1948 Smog”, and general Donora history for future books, podcasts, blogs and websites.
  • provided information and interviews to news channels and newspapers such as New York Times, Mon Valley Independent, Observer Reporter (thru the year).