Historic walking tours return to Aspinwall
Take a walk on the historic side with guided tours through Aspinwall offered by a local historian.
Explore the historic architecture of a bygone era and learn about the families who first settled in the borough, founded in 1892.
“Many people come here to shop, dine or visit one of the spas, yet they never stop to see the beautiful homes built by Aspinwall’s founding families, including the relatives of H. J. Heinz,” said Terry Nelson Taylor, Aspinwall resident, historian and volunteer tour guide.
Taylor is offering her time and knowledge to help raise money for a nonprofit striving to establish a proposed library and community center in the borough.
New this year are three secret garden tours and exploring pre-Aspinwall history.
“This year’s tours will include a focus on the Native America tribes, like the Seneca, who first settled in this area,” Taylor said.
Tours in 2021 raised about $300 and the proceeds helped to sponsor a new community garden this year, located at 215 Delafield Rd.
Aspinwall was founded with the purchase of 155 acres from the Aspinwall Land Company.
Mostly upper-middle class families then purchased lots from the 60 available home sites sold, and by 1890 the borough had 400 residents.
One building featured on the tour is the C. Fred Saurereisen home, located at 318 Third St.
Built in 1899, the grounds feature an extensive garden with walls made from ocean coral, a waterfall, pool and electrified windmill.
Taylor is a former Fox Chapel Area School District school librarian. Currently, she is a coach for the forensics program at Fox Chapel Area High School, a librarian at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Oakmont and at Redeemer Lutheran High School in Penn Hills.
In 1992, Taylor wrote a book detailing Aspinwall’s history, “Aspinwall: The Town That Pride Built.”
Aspinwall residents Amy and Christian Lima founded the non-profit Aspinwall Library Association in 2019, which is dedicated to establishing the proposed Aspinwall Library and Community Center.
“Hopefully over the next year, there will be opportunities for the library center/initiative to continue to grow,” Amy Lima said. “The history tours were popular and well received last summer.”
The one-hour tours are appropriate for all ages and are handicapped accessible.
Taylor, dressed in period attire, will take participants past the exteriors of the original businesses on Brilliant Avenue and through the new Delafield expansion and will include information on about 20 homes.
Post-tour refreshments of lemonade, wine and hors d’oeuveres, offered by Taylor at her historic Queen Ann Victorian home on Eastern Avenue, will conclude each tour.
“Last year we raised hundreds and this year we plan to raise a great deal more funds as people are eager to come out of their homes and enjoy life in the post-Covid era,” Taylor said.
To register call 412-480-0903 or email terryntaylor@verizon.net.
The cost for adults is $20 with advance purchase, $25 day of tour; $10 for children age 12 and under; free for children under 3.
Joyce Hanz is a native of Charleston, S.C. and is a features reporter covering the Pittsburgh region. She majored in media arts and graduated from the University of South Carolina. She can be reached at jhanz@triblive.com
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