Donora Historical Society to host annual Cement City walking tours

This year marks the 108th 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 scheduled its 14th annual fall edition Cement City Home and Walking Tours for noon Oct. 18 and 1 p.m. Oct. 19. While the Oct. 18 tour is sold out, there are spots still available for the Oct. 19 tour.

This marks the 108th year for Donora’s National Historic District, which completed construction in 1917 due to the rapidly growing workforce of the then anticipated expansion of the American Steel and Wire Company.

The company, in turn, sought out 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.

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

Following the presentation at the museum, the tours proceed by driving 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. The cost of the tour is $15 per person. Payment can be made at the door by cash or check. RSVPs are required. Choose a date and RSVP by phone message or email.

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

The Donora Historical Society and Smog Museum is located at 595 McKean Ave., or at the intersection of Sixth and McKean in the heart of Donora.

For more information, stop by the museum, email DonoraHistoricalSociety@ gmail.com or call 724-8230364 and leave a message.