‘We Can Do It! WWII’ opens in Mt. Lebanon
On the heels of its exhibit celebrating 100 years of the local fire department, the Mt. Lebanon History Center will host “We Can Do It! WWII.”
The Senator John Heinz History Center traveling exhibit makes its first South Hills appearance starting Dec. 1 and continuing through Jan. 29 at the headquarters of the Historical Society of Mount Lebanon, 794 Washington Road.
A round of renovations at the history center wrapped up in September, allowing the 90-year-old former physician’s residence to host “We Can Do It!” with an adequate amount of space and seasonal climate control.
“Because we knew that this was going to happen, we applied,” Jim Wojcik, historical society president, said about the process to bring the exhibit to Mt. Lebanon. “They came back to us and said, ‘Hey, we’d like you to host this, and also, would you be willing to partner with the other historical societies in the South Hills?'”
The result will be displays from Mt. Lebanon and surrounding communities as part of “We Can Do It!” Baldwin Borough, Bethel Park, Carnegie, Dormont and Green Tree also are participating.
Examples of items include “That We Might Have a Better World,” a book produced by Mt. Lebanon School District in 1946 to memorialize the 59 graduates of Mt. Lebanon High School who died during World War II; a U.S. Army mess kit and cup, along with a small metal “trophy” taken from a Japanese Zero fighter, on loan from the Bethel Park Historical Society; and a civil defense helmet from Dormont.
Visitors to the exhibit also will learn about the development of the Jeep, a major means of transportation during the war that first was produced by the American Bantam Car Company of Butler. Also featured are the iconic Rosie the Riveter, inspired by Westinghouse and emblematic of the women who went to work in defense production, and the Tuskegee Airmen from the region whose contributions helped to turn the tide of the war.
A lifelike Rosie museum figure is part of the exhibit, as are representations of Gen. George C. Marshall, a Uniontown native, Tuskegee Airman Lt. Carl J. Woods and Iwo Jima hero Sgt. Michael Strank.
The Historical Society of Mount Lebanon has invited local educators to arrange for their students to visit “We Can Do It!”
“They want to take advantage of this, because it’s such a great exhibit,” Wojcik said. “It’s Pennsylvania-focused, and it’s right here.”
The Mt. Lebanon History Center is open from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays. The exhibit is free and open to the public. For more information, call 412 329 8595 or email info@lebohistory.org.