KILBUCK TOWNSHIP

Kilbuck Township was named after Lenape Chief Killbuck, also known as Gelelemund and John Killbuck, Jr., who supported the colonists against the British during the Revolutionary War. The township was carved out of Ohio Township in 1869 and included access to the Ohio River and tributaries Toms Run, Lowries Run and Spruce Run. These waterways created a source of transportation and allowed for the development of grist mills and saw mills. In the mid-1800s, the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne and Chicago railroad lines were laid along the Ohio River; further growth and settlement occurred as a result. Subsequently, the boroughs of Ben Avon (1892), Emsworth (1896) and Ben Avon Heights (1913) were incorporated, which reduced the size of Kilbuck Township.

The Western Pennsylvania Hospital Department for the Insane (later known as Dixmont State Hospital) opened in the township in 1862 and provided care for the mentally ill for the next 122 years. The main building, Reed Hall, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981. Dixmont State Hospital closed in 1984 and most of the buildings were later demolished.

Camp Horne, a summer camp for Horne’s Department Store employees, was established in 1907. At first the camp served the boys and girls who worked at Horne’s providing them with a free vacation in the fresh country air. Later it included the families of Horne’s employees. That property along Camp Horne Road is now home to the Avonworth Community Park and boasts a swimming pool, entertainment centers, baseball fields, picnic groves and a Kids Kingdom playground.

Toms Run Nature Reserve was founded in 1977. It provides 369 acres of mature trees, streams and hiking trails for the public. It is located along Tom’s Run Road off Route 65, and has a community of large ant hills built by the Allegheny mound builder species on the higher elevations. In 2022, the Hollow Oak Land Trust acquired Vinegar Hollow, an undeveloped greenspace adjacent to Plumer Avenue, with over 2 miles of trails on 46+ acres as a conservancy for public enjoyment. Another park, Avon Park, is located within Kilbuck Township. It is leased by Ben Avon Borough and is located on Perrysville Avenue. This park has tennis courts, a picnic area, basketball court, a walking trail and a playground. Kilbuck Township continues to preserve its natural beauty through these parks and reserves.