Historian expands walking tours to benefit local nonprofit in Aspinwall

Aug. 10—Aspinwall resident and historian Terry Nelson Taylor has revamped her informative historical public walking tour of Aspinwall.

New this tour season has access to two secret gardens, one on Third Street and the other on Eastern Avenue.

The 2023 program also focuses on the life of the woman who originally owned the land that became Aspinwall, Annie Ross Aspinwall, a wealthy socialite who inherited 3,000 acres from her late grandfather Pennsylvania Sen. James Ross.

Taylor, originally from Oakmont, has lived in Aspinwall 40 years and conducted a personalized walking historical tour of the borough in 2021.

"Aspinwall has many things to offer like three parks for our residents," Taylor said. "I just jump at the chance to offer my services and lead these historic tours throughout our town so that others can understand the treasures that are here right in Aspinwall."

Taylor is offering two tours on Aug. 13 and Sept. 10 with proceeds benefiting Aspinwall Neighbors, a nonprofit of neighbors working together to support a thriving Aspinwall community.

Annie's home which is no longer standing, was utilized as a baby incubator on the grounds of the former Luna Park, which occupied an area near what is now North Oakland, according to Taylor.

Luna Park was an amusement park on 16 acres and operated from 1905 to 1909.

"It was a type of child care for when women rode the amusement rides and a mixture of hospital and carnival show for premature newborns. Her home was used as the baby incubator until the park closed down and the home was dismantled," Taylor said.

Taylor is promoting the tour to attract folks from all over to learn about Aspinwall, incorporated in 1892.

"I'm reaching a more diverse group in the community," said Taylor of her customers since she partnered with Aspinwall Neighbors.

Aspinwall Neighbors President Sarah Shaffer said the tours have been well received by the public.

"We were really excited that Terry selecting us and any additional funds will be invested back into Aspinwall Community through our programming," Shaffer.

Programs include a soup delivery and annual snow angels program in the winter for senior citizens to safely clear their walkways.

"I have heard a lot of great feedback about the tour and there is a lot of rich history and it's exciting for people to learn about Aspinwall," said Shaffer, a resident since 2006.

Taylor is a retired Fox Chapel Area School District librarian. She wrote "Aspinwall: The Town That Pride Built" in 1992.

Tours last about an hour, encourage Q&A, feature numerous stops outside of local family homes, including relatives of H.J. Heinz and the wife of J. Robert Oppenheimer, known as the father of the atomic bomb, who grew up in Aspinwall after she immigrated from Germany.

Kitty Oppenheimer graduated from the former Aspinwall High School in 1928.

Annie's personal sorrows and tragedies included the death of her mother when Annie was 6 and the death of Annie's five children with wealthy husband George Aspinwall.

"People say they never really knew anything about Aspinwall and they were surprised to learn that Annie didn't want any attention to herself. She was perpetually in mourning. She had a series of horrible things."

The standard tours are offered through October and custom tours are available by appointment.

Every tour culminates with a gathering at Taylor's home that includes light refreshments.

"I feel a responsibility to help preserve the history of Aspinwall. Once you know the history it invokes a sense of preserving the architecture and land itself," Taylor said.

Joyce Hanz is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Joyce by email at jhanz@triblive.com or via Twitter .