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LOCAL NEWS
GREATER MONESSEN HISTORICAL SOCIETY NEWS Listed below are the events that the Greater Monessen Historical Society has scheduled for April:
Lusitania Dinner The Greater Monessen Historical Society (GMHS) will hold a Lusitania Dinner in memory of the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the luxury liner by the Imperial German Navy. Two Monessen residents, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas W. Agnew, perished on the voyage. Samuel Proudfoot, of Pricedale, was also a passenger on the liner. As 2015 is also the 20th anniversary of GMHS, the dinner will serve a dual purpose of commemorating our anniversary. The event will be held at Jozwiak Hall in the St. Vincent DePaul Society Building on Grand Blvd, on Saturday, May 30 at 5 p.m. Tickets are $25 each and feature a menu of dishes served on the Lusitania. The dinner consists of hors-d'oeuvres, roast beef, chicken, roasted potatoes, salad, dessert and a beverage. We encourage everyone to wear their Edwardian finery. Tickets are available by calling 724-684-8460. Limited tickets available.
Bells Across The Land The Historical Society is partnering with California University of PA and the Frederick Douglass Institute to take part in the nationwide event, “Bells Across the Land: A Nation Remembers,” on Thursday, April 9. GMHS is asking Mon Valley churches, schools, and public buildings to ring their bells at 3:15 p.m. on April 9, for four minutes, in remembrance of the symbolic ending of the Civil War at Appomattox Courthouse 150 years ago. The event is also a call for basic human rights in the world today.
Railroads in the Civil War Gary Strelick, GMHS Vice President, will speak at Donora Public Library on Saturday, April 11 at 11 a.m. on the history of the railroads in the Civil War.
Westmoreland County Day of Giving The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County will hold the Westmoreland County Day of Giving on May 5 from 6 a.m. until midnight. All donations will receive a pro-rated share of the match pool. The minimum gift donated per organization is $25. The match is capped at $1,000 per donor per organization. Remember the Greater Monessen Historical Society on this day!
Donation Week As spring cleaning kicks in, we are designating the week of April 15-18 as “Donation Week.” Look through your attics, cellars, closets, trunks, and storage places for items you wish to donate to the Greater Monessen Historical Society. Bring in your old photos, historic items and material that tell the story of the ethnic groups, businesses, and local history of southwestern Pennsylvania. Antique items needed for window displays.
Finnish Exhibit The Finnish Exhibit is open and available for viewing Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. or by advance scheduling for the evenings or weekends. The exhibit will be on display until the end of June. There is also a mini exhibit showcasing Monessen wedding photos from the archival collection. The Greater Monessen Heritage Museum will be closed on Good Friday and Holy Saturday, April 3 - 4.
April 2015 ——————————————————————————————————————————
Traveling Civil War Exhibit Housed in Donora Through April 28th The Heinz History Center’s traveling Civil War exhibit titled “The Civil War in Pennsylvania” has been a hub of activity in Donora. The 500 square foot exhibit is held in partnership with the Donora Public Library and is displayed in the lower level community room until April 28 – the timeframe of which coincides with the 150th anniversary of the ending of the Civil War. Knowing that this exhibit is bigger than Donora, neighboring historical societies as well as other individuals and groups from around Pittsburgh will be presenting stories about their favorite Civil War sons and daughters. Presentations will be held every Saturday and some weeknights. The exhibit and presentations are free but suggested donations will be accepted to help defray any expenses incurred. The exhibit will be available Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The exhibit will be closed on Sunday and Monday. The exhibit can be made available on any day at any time with an appointment. Please check our website www.DonoraHistoricalSociety.org and click on the “Civil War Exhibit” tab for pictures and descriptions of the exhibit and the schedule of events.
Cement City Home and Walking Tour in Donora Scheduled for Spring Due to the success of our fourth annual Cement City Home and Walking Tour held last October, we will be hosting two tours in 2015, the first of which will be held on Sunday, May 3 at 1 p.m. The other will be held in September or October. The tours start at the museum with a photo presentation on Donora’s National Historic District – Thomas Edison’s Cement City and shows the artifacts and original blueprints during the construction from 1916 and 1917. The presenter is Smog Museum curator and Cement City resident Brian Charlton, who 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." A walking tour follows in the Historic District to point out various architectural details. The walk concludes by touring the interior of two homes that have a couple of rooms restored to period. If you have any questions about Cement City or one of our Home and Walking Tours, please consult our website and click the “Cement City” tab, or call or email the historical society. If you would like to RSVP for either tour, please contact the historical society by phone or email to be added to the list. If you have additional questions about the subjects mentioned above, the society, museum, meetings or possibly volunteering, feel free to stop by or email us at DonoraHistoricalSociety@gmail.com or by calling 724-823-0364 and leaving a message. Or visit us on the web at www.DonoraHistoricalSociety.org.