Historical Flashback: Cement City, Donora
Courtesy of Donora Historical Society
Smoke billows from the zinc works in Donora in this photo that’s included in a video produced at California University of Pennsylvania about the killer 1948 smog.
Courtesy of Donora Historical Society
Donora photographer Bruce Driesbach and his wife, Lulu, in their apartment in Donora in the early 1900s.
Photo courtesy of Donora Historical Society
Cement City as it appeared when construction was completed in 1917.
While Donora isn’t located in the South Hills, it is going to be the topic of discussion at a March 27 Bridgeville Area Historical Society event. “Cement City, Donora, PA” will be presented by Brian Charlton, curator/archivist of the Donora Historical Society and Smog Museum. The talk will be held at The Chartiers Room, located at the Bridgeville Volunteer Fire Department on Commercial Street. We dug into the Observer-Reporter’s archives to find some historical images – notably of the pollution that was responsible for the 1948 Donora Smog Disaster, and one of the “Cement City” homes upon their completion.
For more information on the Bridgeville Area Historical Society talk, call 412.221.4052 or visit bridgevillehistory.org.