Donora Historical Society to host annual Cement City walking tours

This year marks the 107th year for Donora’s National Historic District.

For the MVI

Cement City, one of the most venerable facets of Donora’s long and storied history, will be the focus of another special program this fall.

The Donora Historical Society will host its 14th annual fall edition Cement City Home and Walking Tours starting at noon Oct. 5 and 1 p.m. Oct. 6.

This year marks the 107th year for Donora’s National Historic District that completed construction in 1917 due to the rapidly growing workforce of the then anticipated expansion of the American Steel and Wire Co., who in turn sought out the design ideas from the most prominent person associated with the concrete housing movement at the time and inventor of the light bulb: Thomas A. Edison.

The tours start at the Donora Smog Museum with an in-depth photo, blueprint and artifact presentation. The photos were taken during the construction in 1916 and 1917 by Donora’s original photographer, Bruce Dreisbach, on glass plate negatives. Participants will get a firsthand look of how they built continuously poured concrete houses over 100 years ago.

Smog Museum curator, archivist and Cement City resident Brian Charlton will be the presenter for the event. Charlton authored an article in the fall 2013 edition of the Western Pennsylvania History magazine published by the Heinz History Center titled “Cement City: Thomas Edison’s Experiment with Worker’s Housing In Donora.”

Following the presentation at the museum, the tours proceed by driving up to Donora’s first planned housing community for the walking tour portion, pointing out various original architectural details and touring the interiors of two homes where rooms are restored to the period.

Participants should allow at least 2 1/2 hours for the entire presentation and tour. Space is limited. The cost of the tour is $15 a person and can be paid at the door by cash or check.

RSVPs are required. Organizers expect attendees to visit from all over southwestern Pennsylvania and have already been accepting RSVPs since last year’s tour. Choose a date and RSVP via email at DonoraHistorical-Society@gmail.com or call 724-8230364 and leave a message.

For more information about Cement City, go to www.donorahistoricalsociety. org and click on “Donora History” and then “Cement City” for more detailed information, or stop at the museum.