Donora, PA
Music connected to Donora
About Donora
- • Arnold Palmer, the legendary golfer, was born in Donora in 1929.
- • The "Million Dollar Infield" of the Pittsburgh Pirates partially originated in Donora.
- • Zinc production from the Donora Zinc Works heavily polluted the air, leading to its notoriety.
- • A deadly temperature inversion in 1948 trapped smog, killing 20 and sickening thousands.
- • The 1948 smog disaster led to landmark air pollution legislation.
- • Donora combines the names of its two founders, William Donner and Andrew Mellon, in 1901.
- • With under 5,000 residents, it's a fraction of its peak population.
- • At 761 feet, Donora sits higher than many towns along the Monongahela River.
- • Healthcare and social assistance are now prominent industries in the region.
- • A palpable sense of history and resilience hangs in the air.
- • The Pittsburgh Steelers, a short drive away, boast six Super Bowl titles.
- • Donora High School won the WPIAL basketball championship in 1936.