The Zelienople Historical Society maintains a museum in Passavant House of many of the original articles brought by Zelie. Growth. Early Zelienople commerce supported the local agriculture community as there was no viable means of transportation. In 1840 Zelienople was incorporated as a Borough. In 1878 a railroad was built through Zelienople. The growth of Pittsburgh to the North along with the building of Interstate 79, provides a challenge to Zelienople in coping with these changes through the 21st Century. Organization. The voters of Zelienople elect a Mayor and a 7-person Borough Council for staggered terms. The Council is responsible for planning for the future, enactment of ordinances, establishing local tax rates and the budget, providing an oversight of the current needs of the community, and hiring a Borough Manager, who in turn, is responsible for the direction and administration of the Borough's 20+ employees.
Baron Dettmar Basse (1762-1836), a German of culture, held a diplomatic post in Paris during the Napoleonic wars. With changes that occurred after that war and the death of his wife, he decided to come to the New World. After considerable travel, in 1802 he purchased 10,000 acres at 25 cents each, in what is now known as the Zelienople-Harmony area. He planned a town and named it after his eldest daughter, Zelie. In anticipation of building his home, establishing an iron foundry business, and bringing his children here Basse sold 4,000 acres to Johann George Rapp who, in turn, established what is now the town of Harmony. He returned to Germany to bring Zelie and her brother to their new home. When he arrived there, Zelie was betrothed to Philipp Louis Passavant; they were married in June 1807. Extensive preparations were made to establish their new home and town in America where they arrived in September 1807.
