Editing Zelienople, Pennsylvania (section)

==History==
[[File:Dettmar Basse (1764 - 1836) by Anton Graff (1736 - 1813).jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.8|Dettmar Basse ([[Anton Graff]], c. 1792)]]
Zelienople was named for the eldest daughter of Baron Dettmar Basse (1762–1836), whose chosen name was Zelie (her given name was Fredericka) which she named herself after her favorite doll.<ref>{{cite news | title=History of Butler Co., PA | year=1895 | publisher=R. C. Brown Co. | url =http://www.rootsweb.com/~pabutler/1895/ | access-date = 2007-08-05 }}</ref> Baron Basse arrived in 1802 from [[Frankfurt am Main]], [[Germany]], and purchased a tract of {{convert|10000|acre|km2}} of land in Butler and Beaver counties.

He proceeded to lay out a village and build his own private residence, a three-story castle, complete with towers, turrets and battlements, named "The Bassenheim",<ref>{{cite news | title=Zelienople Borough, Chapter 27 | year=1895 | publisher=R. C. Brown Co. | url =http://www.rootsweb.com/~pabutler/1895/95x27.htm | access-date = 2007-08-05 }}</ref> which was destroyed by fire on July 29, 1841. At the time, Zelie was betrothed to Philip Louis Passavant, and was still in Germany. Extensive preparations were made by Baron Basse to establish the new home and town in America and prepare it for his daughter's arrival in September 1807.

Baron Basse sold {{convert|5000|acre|km2|0}} of his land to [[George Rapp]], a Bavarian [[Pietism|pietist]] religious leader, who founded the village of [[Harmony, Pennsylvania|Harmony]]. Baron Basse came to be known as "Dr. Muller". Whether the title of "Doctor" was given to him due to a knowledge of medicine, or conferred upon him as a degree, is unknown. He was regarded as an intelligent man, and during the [[Napoleon I of France|Napoleon]]ic era represented Frankfurt as an ambassador to [[Paris]]. Basse returned to Germany in 1818, leaving his business to his son-in-law, Philipp Passavant.

Philip Passavant opened the first store in 1807, and managed it for 41 years, until he gave it to his son, C. S. Passavant. By 1826, there were fifty houses in Zelienople, and three churches. The population in 1870 was 387, and in 1890, it had grown to 639. In 1879, the first passenger train arrived to the town, substantially increasing the growth and commerce. In 1880, the American Union Telegraph Company established an office in Zelienople. The [[Federalist Party|Federalists]] appointed Andrew McClure, a local tavern-keeper, as the first postmaster of Zelienople in the first decade of 1800. Christian Buhl was named the first justice of the peace in 1840.<ref>{{cite news | title=Postmasters and Justices | year=1895 | publisher=R. C. Brown Co., Publishers | url =http://www.rootsweb.com/~pabutler/1895/95x27.htm#postmasters | access-date = 2007-08-05 }}</ref>

Early Zelienople commerce supported the local agriculture community, as there was no viable means of transportation. In 1840 Zelienople was incorporated as a [[borough (Pennsylvania)|borough]]. In 1878 a railroad was built through Zelienople. From this time there has been moderate expansion of industry, residences, and local government. There has been a volunteer fire department since about 1850. A full-time Borough Manager was hired in 1994. The growth of Pittsburgh to the south, along with the building of Interstate 79, provides a challenge to Zelienople in coping with these changes through the 21st century.<ref>{{cite news | title=About Zelienople | publisher=Zelienople Historical Society | url =http://www.fyi.net/~zhs/about_zelienople.htm | access-date = 2007-08-05 }}</ref>

Zelienople was linked to [[Ellwood City, Pennsylvania|Ellwood City]], [[Evans City, Pennsylvania|Evans City]] and [[Pittsburgh]] in 1908 by the [[Pittsburgh, Harmony, Butler and New Castle Railway]], an [[interurban]] trolley line. The line closed on June 15, 1931, and the trolleys were replaced by buses. Zelienople is also known for its historical Eichholtz Building. 

The Eichholtz family played a pivotal role in the development of Zelienople. Arriving from Germany in the 19th century, the family quickly became influential figures, establishing businesses that contributed to the town’s economic growth.

Their entrepreneurial spirit not only fostered commerce but also laid the groundwork for community engagement and local governance. Members of the Eichholtz family participated actively in civic initiatives, enhancing the social fabric of Zelienople and promoting a strong sense of identity among its residents.{{cn|date=January 2025}}