Donora Historical Society and Smog Museum

Links

This is a list of various links to newspapers, groups, associations and companies that we've partnered with, to help make the Donora Historical Society successful.
NOTE: This list is not meant to be comprehensive and will be added to as additional links are provided or discovered.

DONORA INSTITUTIONS
Donora Public Library - this is the local library and proud partner of ours where they have a a dedicated history room with microfilm of older newspapers starting from 1905. On occasion we hold some of our presentations in the Community Room in the lower level to accommodate larger crowds.
Borough of Donora - this is our community's central location of most of the events happening within our town. This also contains the information needed to contact the Borough offices for a variety of questions or concerns.
Donora Fire Department - 1948 Smog - This story is a page about the 1948 Smog on the Donora Fire Department's website. The Fire Department was considered to be some of the first responders during the October Halloween weekend of the 1948 Smog.
Donora Military Banners - this is Donora's Military Banner Tribute Program. The application form can also be found on this site. The Donora veterans listing on this site does not appear to be complete. By clicking on each name, you can see the actual banner. This site does not give the location where the banner is displayed in town.

NEWSPAPERS
The Mon Valley Independent - our local Mon Valley newspaper.
The Herald-Standard - Mon Valley - based out of Uniontown, this paper has numerous articles dedicated to our local Mon Valley.
The Observer-Reporter - Mon Valley - based out of Washington, this paper has numerous articles dedicated to our local Mon Valley.
South Hills - Mon Valley Messenger - you can read about the latest Society news in this monthly newspaper for the Mon Valley area.

HISTORICAL SOCIETIES and GROUPS
WESTERN PA
Heinz History Center - this is the regional history center that specializes in Western Pennsylvania history in general and Pittsburgh history in particular. The Donora Historical Society has a few photos on display at this museum. We are also a member of the History Center Affiliates Program (HCAP).Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area - Rivers of Steel Heritage Corporation conserves, interprets and develops historical, cultural and recreational resources throughout western Pennsylvania, including the eight counties that comprise the Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area surrounding Pittsburgh. Rivers of Steel 2019 Year in Review YouTube video.Exploring the Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area - a blog article written by Rivers of Steel in 2020 mentions the Donora Smog Museum, the 1948 Smog and Cement City.
WASHINGTON COUNTYWashington County PA Historical Society - this is our parent historical organization at the county level.Washington County History and Landmarks Foundation - this is a private, non-profit educational organization which encourages the preservation of buildings, landmarks and structures of Washington County, PA.

PENNSYLVANIA
Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission - this is our grandparent historical organization at the state level.

LOCAL - Mon Valley
Monessen Historical Society - a neighboring historical society. Monessen is the town that lies almost directly across the Monongahela River from Donora in Westmorland County. Due to our similarities in steel heritages, we share a great deal with this Society.
Monongahela Historical Society - a neighboring historical society. Monongahela is the town just north of Donora on the Monongahela River in Washington County.
Charleroi Historical Society - a neighboring historical society. Charleroi is the town just south of Donora on the Monongahela River in Washington County.
Rostraver Historical Society - a neighboring historical society. Rostraver is the town just east of Donora on the Monongahela River in Westmorland County. Rostraver has a shared history with Donora related to the 1948 Smog and the Donora-Webster Bridge.
Brownsville Area Revitalization Corporation - a neighboring historical society and heritage center. Brownsville is a town south of Donora on the Monongahela River in Fayette County.
California Area Historical Society - a neighboring historical society. California is a town south of Donora on the Monongahela River in Washington County.

FOUNDATIONS:
Washington County Community Foundation, Inc. - this organization is responsible for a broad range of county wide philanthropy. The McBride-McMaster Fund grant that we received in 2010 kick-started our Bruce Dreisbach glass plate negative development project.
Washington County Community Foundation - Community Snapshot, - Donora Historical Society - in 2023, a new initiative was launched through the Washington County Community Foundation called Community Snapshot for all registered nonprofits of which the Donora Historical Society is one. We also participate in their Day of Giving in September.

PHOTOGRAPHY - GENERAL, GLASS PLATE NEGATIVES and MUSEUM
Bernie's Photo Center - this photo shop, on the North Side of Pittsburgh, is one of the few around that has the capability to handle and process glass plate negatives and helped us a great deal with our Bruce Dreisbach glass plate negative development project. They also operate a photography museum called Photo Antiquities (see below).
Photo Antiquities - owned by Bernie's Photo Center (see above) and located just two doors down on the North Side. This photographic history museum is a must for the photo enthusiast. The collection of photos and equipment they have on display is astounding. They boast having the world's largest Civil War photo collection, amongst others.

TOURISM and TRAVEL BLOGSVisit Washington County PA - the Washington County Tourism Promotion Agency. For 2012 the Smog Museum was named as one of fifty reasons to visit Washington County, PA.Uncovering PA - a Pennsylvania travel blog written by Jim Cheney who visited the Smog Museum in April, 2014 and wrote about the Donora Historical Society and Smog Museum - Uncovering PA - Donora Smog Museum.Visit PA - Visit PA Travel site - Donora Historical Society and Smog Museum.
Trip Advisor - Trip Advisor Travel site - Donora Historical Society and Smog Museum.

MISCELLANEOUS
The Rust Belt - First Impressions - A video by Peter Santenello. Just south of Pittsburgh, PA is a region known as the Mon Valley in the heart of America's Rust Belt. It was once the epicenter of industry that built the country, a place where people from around the world came to find their opportunities. Steel and coal haven't entirely gone away, but the once-prospering towns of the Mon Valley have changed dramatically. Join the locals and Peter to better understand what happened to this once-vital region of America. (While Donora is part of the Mon Valley, it's not part of this video but the video is a good representative of what typical post-industrial towns are like now.)
Road Trip Through America’s Industrial Past - A video by Peter Santenello. Rural western Pennsylvania is known as a region for industrialization. Many of the towns out here had a significant role in developing America. But a large amount of industries have left the area, so what's it like now? Join me today for a surprising and unexpected journey, meeting the locals to hear their perspectives as we get lost in bygone towns with prosperous pasts and unknown futures. (It features Brownsville, Ligonier and Johnstown. While Donora is not of this video, it's a good representative of what typical post-industrial towns like Brownsville and Johnstown are like now.)

INTERESTING DONORA LINKS:
PODCASTS
Cement City Podcast - A limited-run, ten-episode docuseries hosted by award-winning journalist Jeanne Marie Laskas for Audacy Podcasts that goes inside a local election in the small Rust Belt town of Donora, Pennsylvania. "Cement City" tells the story of a broken-down town at a precipice. Donora’s population is 4,650. The town has no schools, no banks, no grocery stores, no gas stations. Laskas and producer Erin Anderson arrive at a pivotal moment: Donora has hit bottom, but there’s hope. For the first time since the steel mill left 50 years ago, something might be moving into town instead of leaving it – and there’s an unlikely cast of flawed heroes and rainy-day optimists who are determined to make it happen and save their town. Episodes 1 and 10 features the Donora Historical Society and Smog Museum.
Best Podcasts of 2024 - A 12/06/2024 New York Times article about the Cement City Podcast.
Uncovering the history of Cement City and clean air in Donora - A 12/02/2024 article and video about the Cement City Podcast for NEXTpittsburgh by Boaz Frankel.
Cement City captures modern life in a Rust Belt borough known for its tragic past - A 11/27/2024 article about the Cement City Podcast for the Pittsburgh City Paper by Matt Petras.
Professors immersed themselves in Cement City for podcast - A 11/18/2024 article about the Cement City Podcast for the University of Pittsburgh University Times by Marty Levine.
In a new podcast about Donora, Pa., small-town politics reflect the national stage - A 11/01/2024 article about the Cement City Podcast for the 90.5 WESA Pittsburgh NPR News Station by Priyanka Tewari and Susan Scott Peterson.
Donora, PA, Doesn't Even Have a Grocery Store—But Two Women Bought a Cement House There for Their Hit Podcast - A 04/26/2025 article about the Cement City Podcast for NEWSBREAK and Realtor.com by Snejana Farberov.
The ‘Cement City’ Podcast Tells Donora’s Story - A 05/25/2025 article about the Cement City Podcast for the May edition of the Pittsburgh Magazine by Cristina Rouvalis.
Cement City podcast examines Donora's past, present and future - A 07/28/2025 video about the Cement City Podcast for the CBS-Pittsburgh KDKA weekday afternoon show TALK Pittsburgh.

REELS and VIDEOS
Donora Historical Society and Smog Museum - A Facebook reel from Donora native Sammy Kowall in 2023 showing the inside of the Smog Museum.
Cement City Home and Walking Tour - A Facebook reel from Donora native Sammy Kowall in 2023 showing a typical Cement City Home and Walking Tour.
Monongahela River Cleanup - A Facebook reel from Donora native Sammy Kowall in 2023 showing our Monongahela River cleanup with Allegheny CleanWays.
Donora Historical Society and Smog Museum and Cement City - A Facebook reel from Hope Perri for Washington County Tourism in 2025 showing the inside of the Smog Museum and Cement City.
Donora Smog - A Facebook reel from NEXTPittsburgh's Boaz Frankel on 11/27/2024 in front of the Donora Smog Museum.
The Former Donora High School and Donora Elementary Center - A video by Mon Valley Drone owner/pilot and Donora native Sammy Kowall in 2020 showing an aerial view of Donora High School, Legion Field and the Annex.
Donora PA - July 18, 2020 - Aerial view of downtown Donora - A video by Mon Valley Drone owner/pilot and Donora native Sammy Kowall in the summer of 2020 showing an aerial view of downtown Donora.
Donora, PA - Fall Colors - Aerial view of Donora - A video by Mon Valley Drone owner/pilot and Donora native Sammy Kowall in the fall of 2020 showing an aerial view of Donora.
Donora 2014 - Driving tour of Donora - A video by Holly Tonini in 2014 showing a driving tour of downtown Donora.
Life and Death in the Mon Valley- Donora, PA - A video by Jeff Cornish in 2015 showing a driving tour of downtown Donora.
Pennsylvania's Neighborhood: Washington County | Donora Smog Museum - A one-minute video by PCNTV in 2022 giving a preview of the full-length show about the Donora Smog Museum.
The Picture-Perfect Small Town In Pennsylvania That You’ve Probably Never Heard Of - A July 9, 2025, article by James Morgan for Family Destinations Guide about Donora, some of which has portions of the story older than 2015.

HISTORY
Sanborn Abbreviations - Sanborn Fire Insurance Map abbreviations.
Sanborn Donora - Oct 1902 - Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Donora, Washington County, Pennsylvania from October 1902.
Sanborn Donora - Oct 1909 - Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Donora, Washington County, Pennsylvania from October 1909.
Sanborn Donora - Nov 1914 - Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Donora, Washington County, Pennsylvania from November 1914.
Sanborn Donora - Sept 1921 - Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Donora, Washington County, Pennsylvania from September 1921.
Sanborn Donora - Sept 1929 - Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Donora, Washington County, Pennsylvania from September 1929.

Donora Golden Jubilee - 1951 - This is the original booklet from the Donora Golden Jubilee in 1951. This is a true time capsule of the way Donora was over 60 years ago. Includes a comprehensive history of Donora by teacher and writer John "Moon" Clark.
Donora Borough Code Ordinances - These are the original and historic Code Ordinance documents dating to 1901 when the Burgess was Bert W. Castner and the Borough Clerk was George W. Allen.
West Columbia - An article by Ron Paglia from 2014 on West Columbia on its bicentennial titled "Donora Historical Society program will recall genesis of West Columbia" - the village that existed before Donora in 1901.
Eldora Park - The most inclusive site dedicated to the history of Eldora Park by Mr. Richard Rockwell.
Donora-Webster Bridge - All the structural details about the Donora-Webster Bridge.
Jewish Families of Donora - Rauh Jewish Archives - part of the Senator John Heinz History Center.
Traces of Spanish anarchism in Donora - By Red Pittsburgh, March 25, 2023.
Silver Lining - by Philadelphia-area author Andy McPhee. This is a converted Blog of short stories about Donora as McPhee continues to uncover interesting topics during his exhaustive research for a larger project. McPhee proved to provide as much information to the Historical Society as we've provided for him.
Atlas Obscura - 5th Street Steps - by Andy McPhee. This story was shared from his Silver Lining Blog and is titled "5th Street Steps" and is dedicated to longtime historical society member Rose Marie Iiams, who is no longer with us.
Atlas Obscura - Cement City - by Andy McPhee. This story was shared from his Silver Lining Blog and is titled "Cement City".
Donora and Webster doctors in 1938 - Mon Valley Medicine - Area Doctors and Hospitals - 1938. Search on Donora and/or Webster.
James Breedlove Air Force - U.S. Air Force B-36 Peacemaker crashes at Fairchild Air Force Base, killing 15 airmen and injuring two 9including Breedlove) others on April 15, 1952.
Donora Historical Society - Cement City - A June 3, 2018, presentation by Donora Historical Society historian Brian Charlton on Cement City for the Bridgeville Historical Society.

1948 SMOG
WQED Pittsburgh - The Donora Smog - U.S. disaster sparked environmental change - This short documentary from 2002 features rare interviews with those who experienced the tragedy, including Donora mill nurse Eileen Loftus, firefighter Bill Schempp, football player Tony Romantino, residents Jean Davis and Dr. Dimitri Petro. Also featured is Dr. Devra Davis, epidemiologist and author of "When Smoke Ran Like Water," a book that details one of the worst pollution disasters in history. On October 28, 1948, a smothering fog descended on Donora, Pennsylvania, a bustling mill town about an hour south of Pittsburgh. By October 31, thousands of local residents were sickened and 20 people died. In the following months, dozens more died from causes related to respiratory issues. The disaster was attributed to emissions from U.S. Steel's Donora Zinc Works, combined with an air inversion that trapped the fumes in the low-lying Monongahela River Valley.
Time - 1948 Smog - A 1967 TIME Magazine article on Ecology titled, "Menace in the Skies" about air pollution - three years before the first Earth Day.
National History Day Documentary 2013: The Donora Smog of 1948 - A 2013 video by Carmen Sawa of Belle Vernon's Bellmar Middle School for Nation History Day.
Donora Smog Incident 1948 - When Weather Changed History - Killer Smog - A 2013 4.5-minute preview video by The Weather Channel titled, "When Weather Changed History - Killer Smog."
IN THESE TIMES - 1948 Smog - A 2014 IN THESE TIMES article on the 1948 Smog titled, "Remembering the Deadly Donora Smog" - an interview with Charles Stacey in 2008.
KUER 90.1- 1948 Smog - A 2017 article from KUER 90.1 NPR from Utah about the 1948 Smog titled, "Smog Museum Has Lessons For Today" as part of the Society of Environmental Journalists National Convention.
Donora Historical Society - The Donora Smog of 1948 - A November 27, 2018, presentation by Donora Historical Society historian Brian Charlton on the 1948 Smog for the Bridgeville Historical Society.
The Incline - 1948 Smog - A 2018 article in The Incline about the 70th anniversary of the 1948 Smog titled, "70 years ago, deadly smog in Donora started a clean air movement".
Smithsonian Magazine - 1948 Smog - A 2018 article in the Smithsonian Magazine about the 70th anniversary of the 1948 Smog titled, "The Deadly Donora Smog of 1948 Spurred Environmental Protection—But Have We Forgotten the Lesson?".
Sons of Salk - 1948 Smog - A 2018 Sons of Salk article titled, "The Donora Death Fog".
Belt Magazine - 1948 Smog - A 2019 Belt Magazine article about "What the petrochemical buildout along the Ohio River means for communities in the region and beyond" titled, "Smoke in the Valley".
Blake Harper - 1948 Smog Comics - A Blake Harper CITY SURGEON #1 (1963) comic titled "True Medical Cases - Donora's Deadly Fog" depicting what took place on the Halloween weekend of 1948.
Lukasz Musial obit - Father of Stan Musial. The Pittsburgh Press December 20, 1948.
Betsy Chou's website on 1948 Smog - Concordia University (Shanghai, China) student - Betsy Chou's Environmental Issues class project. Betsy and her family in our Gallery tab.
Creative History - Little Known Stories from the Past - 1948 Smog - A 2020 online article about the "Pennsylvania Halloween Horror of 1948: The Sinister Story of the Deadly Donora Smog Disaster."
AccuWeather - 1948 Smog - A 2022 online article about the "Deadly smog event created week of terror in small steel town." AccuWeather provides weather forecasts and warnings and additional weather products and services, with clients worldwide in media, business and government, including more than half of the Fortune 500 companies and thousands of other businesses globally.
‘We’d Like to Forget, the World won’t let Us’: A Disastrous Event is Now Remembered for the Positive Outcome - A 2022 online article about the 1948 Smog by Isabella Sangaline of Rutgers University for Environmental Justice History IN AMERICA.
Air Pollution in Donora, PA - A summer of 2022 video about the 1948 Smog by Khrys Chorniy of Global Environmental Health at New York University.
The Disturbing Story of the 1948 Donora Death Fog - A 2022 video about the 1948 Smog by Mode of Horror.
“WHEN PIGS FLY” by Jason Baldinger - A July 19, 2023, online article in AS IT OUGHT TO BE Magazine about the 1948 Smog and Stan Musial. Jason Baldinger is a poet and photographer from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The Donora Death Smog - A Short Documentary - Fascinating Horror - "On the 27th of October 1948, a thick smog descended on the town of Donora in Pennsylvania, plunging the community into a state of semi-darkness..."
Nightmares on the Lost Highway - Episode 165 - Donora Death Smog - A June 22, 2024, podcast - Have you heard the story of one of the worst air pollution disasters in American history known as the Donora Death Smog? Minutes 3 to 26 discusses the 1948 Smog in detail.
Donora Death Fog - Book Review - A summer 2023 article in Pittsburgh Quarterly by Fred Shaw reviews author Andy McPhee's book "Donora Death Fog: Clean Air and a Tragedy of a Pennsylvania Mill Town."
The Donora Smog Incident of 1948 | The Disaster Diaries - A 2024 video about the 1948 Smog by The Disaster Diaries.
The Clean Air Act Has Saved Millions Of Lives — But Gaps Remain - A November 1, 2024, online article for Science Friday by Susan Scott Peterson.
‘People Realized Smog Could Kill’: The Story Behind The Deadly Smog Of Donora - An August 8, 2024, online article for The History Insider by Phyllis Brown.
The Donora Death Smog of 1948 - Donora Smog Museum - Donora, PA - The Birth Of Clean Air - A June 4, 2025, 4-minute video from inside the Smog Museum featured Donora Historical Society archivist Brian Charlton for Climate News Now by Sybil Drew.
Labor Heritage Foundation podcast - Donora’s Dark Air, Labor’s Bright Colors - An October 2, 2025, 55-minute Labor Heritage Power Hour podcast broadcasted on WPFW 89.3FM in Washington, DC and hosted and produced by Labor Heritage Foundation's (www.laborheritage.org) Chris Garlock who visited the Smog Museum in August 2025 to interview archivist/curator Brian Charlton about the six-day inversion in 1948 that trapped toxic fumes over a Donora and changed how the U.S. thinks about work, health, and accountability.

1930 and 1952 SMOGS
The Great Smog Crisis of The Meuse Valley (1930) - A July 17, 2024, YouTube video by Curious Caper. Discover the chilling story of the Great Smog of Meuse Valley, Belgium's deadly air pollution crisis of 1930. How did this environmental disaster unfold?
The Great Smog of 1952 - A Short Documentary - A September 28, 2021, YouTube video by Fascinating Horror. On the 5th of December 1952, an unusually heavy fog descended on London, England. It remained in place for five days, bringing the capital to a standstill.

DONORA STEEL MILL
INDUSTRY ON PARADE - New Aura in Donora! - A forty-one-minute video that features Donora and US Steel in the first four minutes in the 1950s. Extensive footage inside the mill, along with other footage featuring the downtown, town life, Donora football and the Clan Grant in a parade.
Andrew Posey Grave - An article by Donora native James McKenzie for Notre Dame Magazine about the steel mill accident that claimed the life of WWI veteran Andrew Posey. McKenzie is a Notre Dame alum and a retired English professor from the University of North Dakota.
Andrew Posey - Man of Steel - The mystery of Andrew Posey - Travel with a Beveridge by Webster resident and writer Scott Beveridge.

MONONGAHELA RIVER
Earthviews River 360 - A 360-degree view of the Monongahela River as recorded by Three Rivers Waterkeeper boat captain Evan Clark. The view starts in Donora and enables you to travel north or south.

THE REDWOOD
The Redwood - Leon Rongaus - A partial story about the one-time 5 Star restaurant in Donora called the Redwood as told through the story of Leon "Lee" Rongaus.
The Redwood - Leon Rongaus obit - A partial story about the one-time 5 Star restaurant in Donora called the Redwood as told through the obituary of Leon "Lee" Rongaus.

SPORTS
Griffeys and Stan Musial - A 2016 The Seattle Times article prior to Ken Griffey, Jr. being inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame titled, "Donora, birthplace of the Griffeys and Stan Musial, is a dying town clinging to its sports history".
Stan Musial at the 1944 All-Star Game - A 2024 Pittsburgh Tribune Review article by Tim Benz about the impact of WWII on Major League Baseball, Pittsburgh Pirates All-Star Frankie Zak and St. Louis Cardinal Stan "The Man" Musial titled, "Frankie's Fairy Tale: 80 years later, the story of Pittsburgh's forgotten All-Star game and the Pirates' anonymous All-Star player".
Lee Sala - A YouTube video of Donora native and boxer Lee Sala with actually fight footage. With a record of 76 wins with only 7 losses and 48 KOs, Lee Sala was one of the better middleweights of his time. WARNING: Music lyrics may be offensive for some.
Donora High School Legion Field - A 2014 TribLive article about the opening football game at Legion Field mentioning the bleacher collapse in 1930 titled, "Carroll Twp. woman recalls rocky opening at Donora stadium".
Arnold "Pope" Galiffa Throwback Jersey - 1949 Army Black Knights Galiffa #16 football jersey from Ebbetts Field Flannels.
Ebbets Field Flannels - the Seattle, WA based company that makes our 1938 Donora High School baseball throwback #16 Stan Musial jerseys. See the jerseys in our Merchandise tab.
Frances (Gorn-Sobczak) Kaszubski - born in Donora, but raised in Cleveland, Ohio. Competed in the 1948 Olympics in London in track and field (discus and shot put) and placed 11th in the discus. Kaszubski participated with the Polish Falcons in Cleveland. Kaszubski received a bronze medal in the 1951 Pan-American games in Argentina in the discus.
Meet Mark Gorscak - Pittsburgh Steelers - Donora-native, Ringgold High School football player and Class of 1975 graduate, and Pittsburgh Steeler's scout discusses 40-yard dash instructions at an NFL Combine.
Mark Gorscak - 40-yard dash instructions - Donora-native, Ringgold High School football player and Class of 1975 graduate, and Pittsburgh Steeler's scout discusses 40-yard dash instructions at the 2010 NFL Combine.
Mark Gorscak - Talks Quarterbacks & NFL Scouting with Quarterback School - Donora-native, Ringgold High School football player and Class of 1975 graduate, and Pittsburgh Steeler's scout discusses Quarterbacks & NFL Scouting with Quarterback School.
Mark Gorscak - retirement from scouting with the Pittsburgh Steelers - Donora-native, Ringgold High School football player and Class of 1975 graduate, and Pittsburgh Steeler's scout discusses his retirement and how he got started heading the NFL Combine's 40-yard dash.
Ulice Payne - encyclopedia.com - Donora-native, Ringgold High School Class of 1973 graduate and his role in law, and collegiate and professional sports.
Tom O'Lenic - Immaculate: How the Steelers Saved Pittsburgh - Donora-native and nephew of Stan "The Man" Musial. Immaculate: How the Steelers Saved Pittsburgh is a passion project for Tom, who has long held the opinion the community of Pittsburgh steeled itself through its deindustrialization transformation with the galvanizing presence of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Roberto Clemente Museum - Docent Art Rodriguez, son of Donora-natives Archie and Angie Rodriguez, discusses the Roberto Clemente Museum and his connection to Donora, the home of Stan "The Man" Musial.
Steve Turkovich - A letterman's Sun Devil legacy - Steve Turkovich is a family man and a Sun Devil — and the two parts of his life are often inseparable. Recruited by Frank Kush straight out of Donora, Pennsylvania, Turkovich came to Arizona State University in 1960 and never looked back. A true Sun Devil fan, he and his family have been season ticket holders since 1965. Turkovich supports the team's current football players with advice and guidance, and he can often be found in the Pat Tillman Tunnel rooting on the ASU Sun Devils. A Herald-Standard article from 2018 also featured Steve Turkovich - Donora’s Turkovich started in football for Sun Devils.
Chrysta Rands-Evans - Donora-native Chrysta Rands-Evans represented Team USA on Day 3 of the Speed Skating - World Cup Session in Tomaszow, Poland in 2025. The video is 3 hours and 4 minutes long. Rands-Evans can be seen at the 2-hour 1- minute mark through the 7-minute mark.
Wayne Stewart - Local author contributes to Library of Congress recognizing, preserving Bill Mazeroski's 1960 homer - A May 27, 2025, Tim Benz article and Breakfast With Benz podcast of the Tribune-Review with Donora-native Wayne Stewart.

ARTISTS and ENTERTAINERS
Cy Gavin - Art World - August 17, 2017 - How Maverick Artist Cy Gavin Painted His Own Way From Bermuda to the Rubell Foundation.
Cy Gavin - Columbia Magazine - Spring 2019 - Donora native and up and coming artist inspired by spending his free time at the Donora Library as a youth.
Cy Gavin - Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh - Winter 2019 - Donora native and up and coming artist inspired by spending his free time at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh as a youth.

Anni Matsick - Donora native and artist. One of the featured artists at the Heinz History Center's "My America" exhibit in 2025 and 2026 in honor of the nation’s 250th anniversary.

Lorenzo (Renzo) R. Rutili - Furniture City History - Renzo Rutili was born in Donora in 1901. After graduating from Donora High School in 1919, he studied design at Carnegie Institute (Carnegie Mellon University) and in then in Europe. He was a designer of Mid-Century Modern and Neoclassical furniture for Johnson Furniture Company of Grand Rapids, Michigan, who claimed they were the first to produce a complete line of Modern furniture in the United States. Rutili served as head of design from 1933 into the 1960s. He was also a lecturer and past president of Grand Rapids Furniture Designers Association. After Johnson Furniture, for the last three years of his career, he was a designer with Tomlinson of High Point, North Carolina. Rutili passed away May 26, 1966. Examples of Renzo Rutili's Mid-Century Modern furniture can be seen here.

Earl Beal of the Silhouettes - born in Donora, but raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Sang with the Doo Wap group The Silhouettes who performed their hit song "Get a Job" on as American Bandstand in 1958.

Richie Merritt - Ain’t No Big Thing is the inspiring story of Richie Merritt, a young black man growing up in the 50’s in the in the steel town of Donora, Pennsylvania who against all odds developed his God-given vocal talent from performing in local Pittsburgh clubs and bars to the national level of performing on Las Vegas stages. He is known as lead vocalist in such brand name groups as The Clovers (Love Potion #9), The Marcels (Blue Moon), The Drifters (Under the Boardwalk) and J.T. Carter’s Crest (16 Candles) and has shared the stage with such legendary artists as Little Richard, Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, The Flamingos, Johnny Maestro, Lavern Baker, Smokie Robinson and many more.

"Donora" by Special Messages - 2021 - Donora native Spencer James and his band Special Messages and their music video "Donora."
Spencer James of Special Messages on Blowing Smoke with Twisted Rico Podcast - 2021 - Donora native talks about the song "Donora" and the Donora PA Smog Museum.
"Donora" - Pittsburgh City Paper - 2021 - Donora native Spencer James and Special Messages singer remembers hometown environmental tragedy with “Donora” song and music video.

"I Think I Like You" by Donora - 2010 - a Pittsburgh group named Donora created their music video "I Think I Like You" on location in Donora at the old Link's Dari-Delight.
"Donora" by The Stone Eye - 2023 - a Philadelphia Rock group named The Stone Eye created their music video "Donora" after seeing our town on their travels and hearing about our smog event. They thought the name Donora and the smog event would tie into the atmospherically dreary theme of the lyrics for the song.
"Donora, PA" by Perversion 4 Profit - 2023 - a Massachusetts Rock group named Perversion 4 Profit created their heavy metal song about "Donora" after hearing about our smog event. One of their members, David O'Toole, has ties to Donora.

DIGITAL STORYTELLING - CAL U OF PA and HEINZ HISTORY CENTER
Cal U Digital Storytelling - All Cal U of PA Digital Stories since inception - Fall 2013.
Huhra!" for Industry in Donora - Fall 2018 - Donora in WWII - created by Jahneek Fant, Blaine Hill-Banks, Jensen DeCarlo and Chris Girardi.
Diversity of the Mill - Fall 2017 - Donora Steel Mill - created by Timber Newhouse, Sarah Martin and Garrett Smyth.
A Man | Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area - Fall 2017 - Homestead Steel Mill - very well done - created by Maggie Rose Cave, Alyssa Haskell and Ben Sterling.
The Grandparents' Era - Fall 2022 - created by Douglas Keznor.
Next to Yours: Donora, PA - Fall 2024 - created by Aubri Higgs-McCune.
Intro to Donora Historical Society and Smog Museum - Fall 2013 - created by Rachael Fawley and Corrine Dowlin.
Intro to Donora Historical Society and Smog Museum - Spring 2014 - created by Rachael Fawley, Rachel Costantini, Corrine Dowlin, and Sydney Priester.
Intro to Donora Historical Society and Smog Museum - Fall 2017 - created by Timber Newhouse, Sarah Martin and Garrett Smyth.
Intro to Donora Historical Society and Smog Museum - Fall 2018 - created by Jahneek Fant, Blaine Hill-Banks, Jensen DeCarlo and Chris Girardi.
Intro to Donora Historical Society and Smog Museum - Fall 2018 - created by Maria Dovshek, Destiny Ortiz and Emily Sloan.

MISCELLANEOUS
Christina Gavin - United Federation of Teacher - Sept 2019 - Donora native and school librarian at the Herbert H. Lehman High School Campus in the Bronx, New York. inspired by spending her free time at the Donora Library as a youth.
Duckpin bowling is a 1950s time capsule in Donora Cro Club - An article By Scott Beveridge for the Washington Observer-Reporter from April 28, 2017, about the Donora Croatian Club's duckpin bowling alley.
Brown Street Clock - The history and mystery of the Brown street clock that stood in front of the Brown Jewelry Store in Donora, PA between 6th and 7th Streets on McKean Avenue.
Life and Death in the Mon Valley- Donora, PA - A tour through Donora around 2010.
The Alley on Main - A Donora inspired restaurant in Murfreesboro, Tennessee by former Donora boy Shawn Hackinson who named the restaurant after the location of the Donora home where he grew up. Read the history of The Alley on Main - History and Inspiration.
Donora PA Aerial Photo Map 2015 - Modern day aerial photo of Donora.
Pioneer Productions - the London, England based documentary company who is working with The Weather Channel on a documentary on the 1948 Smog. See the film crew in our Gallery tab.
Donora UFO Sighting 1956 - National Archives - Department of Defense. Department of the Air Force. Air Force Systems Command. Foreign Technology Division. Project Blue Book Office. (7/1/1961 - 12/17/1969) - Location: Donora, Pennsylvania - August 1956.
Forgotten Coal Mines of Monongahela Pa - Coal mining history of Monongahela and surrounding areas like Webster and West Columbia/Donora.

DONORA AREA CEMETERIES DONORA
Schwerha/Macik Funeral Home - Donora - old burial records from the original Schwerha Funeral Home, later to become the Macik Funeral home are still housed at the House of Jackson Funeral Home owned by Karl Jackson - 546 Thompson Avenue - 724- 379- 5420 or karljacksononly@yahoo.com. Genealogists are welcome.
Rabes's/Lawson-Rabe Funeral Home - Donora - old burial records from the original Rabe's Funeral Home or Lawson-Rabe Funeral Home are still housed at the Exquisite Funeral and Cremation Services.
Gilmore Cemetery - Donora - this cemetery predates Donora by a hundred years. This is a "Find A Grave" site whose records are NOT complete. This cemetery is not maintained and is not easy to navigate. St. Dominic Cemetery - Donora. This is a "Find A Grave" site whose records are NOT complete. This cemetery is not managed locally anymore and is managed by the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh. If you contact them, they are very helpful, but the research could take time. St. Michaels Cemetery - Donora / Carroll Township. This is a "Find A Grave" site whose records are NOT complete. This cemetery is managed by St. Michael's Church. If you contact them, the research will take time. Mon Valley Memorial Cemetery - Donora / Carroll Township. This is a "Find A Grave" site whose records are NOT complete. This cemetery has a cemetery office.

CARROLL TOWNSHIP and MONONGAHELA Ohav Sholom Cemetery - Carroll Township (Eldora section). This is a "Find A Grave" site whose records are NOT complete. A small group of Jews chartered Donora Hebrew Congregation Ohav Sholom on August 24, 1903 and established a cemetery in Carroll Township in 1904. The Orthodox congregation was among the first in the mid-Monongahela River valley and initially drew congregants from the nearby towns of Monessen, Monongahela, Charleroi and Belle Vernon.
Monongahela Cemetery - Monongahela. This is a "Find A Grave" site whose records are NOT complete. This cemetery has comprehensive online records and can be found below. This cemetery has a cemetery office. Monongahela Cemetery Site - Monongahela. This is the Monongahela Cemetery's online site. This cemetery also has comprehensive online records at the cemetery office. They are very helpful in person or on the phone.
Sacred Heart Cemetery - Monongahela. This is a "Find A Grave" site whose records are NOT complete. This cemetery has comprehensive online records at the cemetery office. NOTE: These cemeteries links are NOT inclusive of all graves, which means that just because your relative is buried there, doesn't mean you will easily find them on these sites.

HEALTH RELATED RESEARCH LINKS
The Mesothelioma Center - Steel Mill Workers - Provided by the Public Outreach Department of Asbestos.com. Those who work in steel mills (or other occupations) are at risk of asbestos exposure and developing mesothelioma, a rare cancer that can take 20-50 years to develop. Because asbestos was used in steel mills as a common insulation material from the 1940s to 1970s, workers were exposed to this toxic material while performing their daily tasks, and those risks exist even today. In general, this site offers extensive information on asbestos and free support and services for individuals seeking local doctors, treatment centers and support groups.
The Mesothelioma Center - Guide to Asbestos in the Home - Provided by the Public Outreach Department of Asbestos.com. Homes built before the 1980s could expose homeowners, their families and others to asbestos possibly hiding in cement, floor tiles, insulation, walls and pipes. Our Guide to Asbestos in the Home can help protect you and others from exposure.
Mesothelioma Hub - Education. Treatment. Legal Advice. Hope. - More than 3,300 people are diagnosed with mesothelioma each year. This rare cancer is caused by exposure to asbestos, but it can take years to develop. Although the prognosis for mesothelioma has historically been poor, new treatment options are offering patients renewed hope. Mesothelioma Hub connects you to a treatment information, legal advice, and the country's top mesothelioma specialists.
Lung Cancer Center - Provided by the Engagement Team of LungCancerCenter.com. Learn More About Lung Cancer - Lung cancer is the second-most common form of cancer diagnosed in the United States that affects both men and women, with more than 228,000 cases estimated for 2020. However, not every case is caused by cigarettes or tobacco. Many people who work or have worked in shipyards, factories, demolition, or even near old warehouses could have been exposed to carcinogens outside of their control. If you believe this applies to you or a loved one, then click on link to learn more about lung cancer and your options.
Mesothelioma Veterans - Serving Those Who Serve Us - United States veterans make up 30% of all mesothelioma diagnoses. Mesothelioma is a rare cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. Learn more about the different forms this disease may take. Speak with an advocate today to learn more about the latest medical treatments, how to file a claim, and ways to receive compensation.

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