World War II exhibit in Donora ending next week

By KRISTIE LINDEN

klinden@yourmvi.com

Donora Historical Society and the Donora Public Library have announced that the World War II exhibit on loan from the Heinz History Center will remain open to visitors through Tuesday before closing Wednesday.

The exhibit, known as “We Can Do It! WWII,” opened at the end of January and was expected to close in early April, but the pandemic forced those plans to change.

Visitors are asked to call ahead at 724-379-7940 to let the library know when they plan to stop by between 11:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday. Visitors are limited to four at a time and face masks are required. 

The Heinz History Center will begin to dismantle the exhibit at 9 a.m. Wednesday, four months after it was intended to end in Donora and return to Pittsburgh. The Heinz History Center closed at the same time the library did due to COVID-19 restrictions and there weren’t any employees to take down the pieces of the elaborate presentation.

Several of the final events associated with the exhibit were canceled, including a speaking event with Holocaust survivor Judah Samet and a Veterans Breakfast Club event planned at Donora American Legion Post 212. 

Historical society volunteer Mark Pawelec has said he doesn’t know when those events can be rescheduled as future plans are still uncertain. Veterans Breakfast Club organizers initially said they would aim for a fall event, but nothing has been arranged.

The display remains in the library’s basement as it was originally set up by Heinz History Center employees in January. 

The exhibit offers visitors a chance to meet several World War II heroes up close. Wax figures of four Western Pennsylvanians stand and sit throughout the space. 

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