History, architecture and scandals outlined in Tarentum walking tour

Tarentum native Evelyn Nesbit made her mark in New York City as a model and chorus girl at the turn of the 20th century before becoming the object of a deadly love triangle between wealthy entrepreneurs.

Her story and many others will be the focus of a Tarentum walking history tour hosted by the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation on July 13.

“There is so much history in this town, it’s unbelievable,” said Cindy Homburg, who runs a social media site dedicated to Tarentum.

She’ll lead the two-hour walk, sharing tidbits and little-known tales along the way. The tour starts at Central Presbyterian Church, which was built in 1914 at the corner of East Fourth Avenue and Allegheny Street.

“It’s hard to whittle it down for these events,” Homburg said. “I tried to pick the most exceptional things.”

Established in 1829, Tarentum is named for an ancient Greek city in southern Italy.

It is among several Allegheny River communities whose fortunes have followed the evolution and downfall of industry.

Tracy Myers, education coordinator for the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation, said it’s important for people to understand that although many towns have been challenged by deindustrialization, they still have a lot to offer.

“Historic preservation can play a big role in revitalizing them,” Myers said. “That’s why our motto is ‘Renewing Communities; Building Pride.’ ”

The foundation has been linked to Tarentum since the early 2000s. It was scheduled to lead a tour of the borough in 2020 but the pandemic nixed that.

“We’re looking forward to returning and seeing what’s changed since 2015, when we last visited,” Myers said. “I did a little reconnaissance trip earlier this year and the town looked great.”

The walk will include 22 points of interest.

At Central Presbyterian Church, clerk David Rankin will talk about the stunning stained-glass windows that envelop all four sides of the building.

“The age of the church building and the unique style of its Akron Plan architecture make it a good example of a well-kept gem, deserving its landmark status,” Rankin said.

Down the street at Eureka Fire-Rescue-EMS, participants will visit a second-floor museum where Chief Brad James will share photos of antique fire engines, helmets and other rescue equipment. Next door, Homburg will point out a blue home that was built in 1873 and referred to locally as the Kennedy House.

“Charles Preston Howe, the founder of the Valley Daily News, was born there on Feb. 27, 1883,” Homburg said. “The house was built by his grandfather, John Kennedy Sr.”

On Fourth Avenue, Homburg will show the TribLive building, which recently celebrated 120 years of printing the local newspaper.

A few steps away, at the corner of Lock Street, officials from the Masonic Lodge will talk about the group, which was founded in the late 1800s.

The Pollock Lodge is a three-story brick building with a shooting range in the basement. The Masonic Lodge is one of few buildings in town, other than the churches, still used for its original purpose, Homburg said.

“I think people will be surprised to learn about Evelyn Nesbit, as she was the pretty lady on the original Coca Cola trays,” Homburg said. “People might remember her but not know her story.”

Tarentum-born in 1884, Nesbit’s sordid adventures were made into a 1955 movie, “The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing,” starring Joan Collins.

Homburg believes it’s the perfect time to shine a light on the town, thanks to newly increased revitalization efforts.

“We’ve had our ups and downs, but we’re on our way up again,” she said.

“We have a lot to show. There’s beautiful architecture and things happening here. People need to come and check it out.”