The Borough of Tarentum began in the 1740's when Peter Chartiers arrived and started a trading post with the Delaware and Shawnee indians at the mouth of Bull Creek. Originally known as Chartiers' Old Town, the first settler arrived in 1776. Felix Negley built a home and mill along Bull Creek at what is now West Seventh Avenue, on some land of Judge H.M. Brackenridge. The streets were laid out in 1829 and Tarentum became a borough on March 7, 1842. Named for the ancient Greek city/state of Taranto.
In 1850, the Pennsylvania Salt Company established operations in East Tarentum (Natrona) and as part of the Pennsylvania Main Line Canal Western Division, Tarentum began to emerge as an industrial center in the 1880's with what is now the Creighton Works of PPG, Tarentum Paper mills and Tarentum Oil (along the banks of the canal bed in now East Deer Twp). In 1865, the PA Canal was abandoned & the West Penn Railroad constructed it's bed in 1866. In 1890, the borough had it's first telephone installed at Esler's Drug Store & in 1904, Tarentum became home to the Valley Daily News.
The Borough of Tarentum suffered a disasterous fire in 1885 and in 1886* the present day Eureka Fire Rescue was organized as the Independant Pump & Hose Company. Eureka Hose Company was chartered in 1907 with 35 members. The fire bell tower was located in the rear of Vogley's Market with the original "house" located in the old jail at the corner of Corbet St. and 3rd Ave (Physician's Pharmacy). In 1915, Eureka purchased a four cylinder Pierce Arrow touring car for $300.00 and with a little work, converted it into the first motorized fire truck in the valley.
*Some other events of 1886 include; Completion of the Allegheny County Jail. Karl Benz patents the first successful gasoline driven automobile. Dr. John Pemberton invented a carbonated beverage that would later be named Coca-Cola. Geronimo surrenders at Skeleton Canyon, AZ. The Chicago haymarket riot. President Grover Cleveland dedicates the Statue of Liberty. Ty Cobb was born. Al Jolson was born. President Chester A. Arthur died.
A lot of changes have taken place since then, including Eureka Community Ambulance Service, which began operations in 1936. (Primarily serving Tarentum, Brackenridge & Fawn Township)
Today, Eureka Fire-Rescue-EMS offers a wide variety of public safety services either as a primary provider in Tarentum with Highland & Summit Hose Companies or through mutual aid with neighboring departments throughout the Allegheny Valley to approximately 48,626 residents and 60 square miles.
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