“Images of America: Zelienople” is being produced by Arcadia Publishing.

ZELIENOPLE — Tom Nesbitt has been working on a personal project for nine months to educate people and spark interest in the borough’s history.

Nesbitt is authoring a photographic history book called “Images of America: Zelienople.” He is creating it for the borough historical society, to which he belongs.

“What I’m hoping this will do is increase the public’s awareness of the history of the town,” he said.

Nesbitt said he’s had the idea for a history book for several years after retiring. What got him started this year was the borough’s 175th anniversary.

Since January, he has gathered information and photographs from numerous sources to create the 128-page book. He searched through collections by the historical society, former historian Blair Zeigler and other contributors.

The book also will feature 222 black and white photographs with captions. Photographs will include schools, churches, industries, town organizations and older homes among other facets of community history.

Important people and places will be documented, including the Passavant family, the Bassenheim Castle and the Buhl family.

“Some of the older homes and organizations I’ve never even heard of until I got going through all the files the historical society had,” he said.

The last history book written about Zelienople was published 75 years ago in 1940. It only featured about half a dozen pictures.

About 1,000 copies will be made of Nesbitt’s book. Arcadia Publishing, which Nesbitt has been collaborating with on the book, also will have some copies available via online.

Nesbitt has signed over his royalties to the historical society, which has already bought 400 books to sell for fundraising.

“Images of America: Zelienople” is expected to be available by October.

“We’re way ahead of schedule,” Nesbitt said. “It’s perfect timing.”