Wooden Nickles, And Other Play Money

Wonderful!

Very nice!

Truth!

Indeed!

Nice example!

I also received this wooden nickel in August at the American Numismatic Association 2023 ( ANA) World's Fair of Money (WFOM) convention in Pittsburgh, PA, specifically at The Elongated Collectors (TEC) club booth.

In 2015, I wrote an article for the PATCO Journal (Pennsylvania Area Token Collectors Organization) about the strange history of the Donora Zinc Works factory in Washington County, PA.




The Donora Disaster

The city of Donora, PA (in Washington County) celebrated its 40th Anniversary in 1941, having been incorporated in 1901. The year 1941 also marked the 25th year of operation for the Donora Zinc Works, which began operations as a branch of the American Steel & Wire Co. in 1916. Consequently, the Donora Chamber of Commerce decided to recognize both anniversaries by issuing a commemorative wooden nickel, specifically the thin flat balsa wood variety of wooden nickel which was very popular in the 1940's.
The 2 ½ by 4-inch wooden nickel prominently featured at least nine smoke stacks spewing chemicals from the city's major employer. In addition to the "ONE WOODEN NICKEL" inscriptions, the obverse also contained the words "DONORA ZINC WORKS / AMERICAN STEEL & WIRE CO. / M.M. NEALE, SUPT. / 1916 25TH ANNIVERSARY 1941."
The reverse stated "THIS CERTIFICATE is issued as a souvenir by the DONORA CHAMBER of COMMERCE for DONORA'S FORTIETH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION. It is redeemable in coin of the United States of America if presented on or before Friday, September 19th, 1941, at 2 P.M. at the UNION NATIONAL BANK IN DONORA. M.J. Sweeney, Burgess of Donora. G.B. Johnston, Pres. Chamber of Commerce."
But little did the celebratory citizenry of Donora realize that in just seven years, the usual hydrogen fluoride and sulfur dioxide emissions from the Donora Zinc Works would suddenly cease harmlessly floating away up into the atmosphere. An unusual temperature inversion event occurred on October 27, 1948, where warmer air aloft trapped pollution in a layer of colder air near the surface. According to Wikipedia, the pollutants in the air mixed with fog to form a thick, yellowish, acrid smog that hung over Donora for five days.
The eight doctors in town were soon making door-to-door house calls, providing oxygen and other assistance, until the American Red Cross set up an emergency treatment center in the town hall. It wasn't until Halloween Day that plant operators met with town officials and an agreement was reached to temporarily shut down the plant until the smog cleared.
The following morning, rain helped to alleviate the smog and, as agreed, the factory powered back up again. But in the meantime, the emergency claimed the lives of 20 people and approximately 800 animals.
Over sixty-five years later, the town still hasn't recovered from the ecological disaster, either economically or in its ever-dwindling population.

Thank you, sir!