EVANS CITY — A large monument and four smaller plaques link the borough and a groundbreaking horror movie forever.

The historical marker designating Evans City as the filming location of the 1968 cult classic movie “Night of the Living Dead” was unveiled on Friday afternoon on the public library’s property by Russ Streiner, a star of the movie; its screenwriter, Jack Russo; and borough council Vice President Kim Armstrong.

Armstrong and council President Lee Dyer were the proponents of finally erecting a marker connecting the borough and the film.

Gary Streiner, an Evans City resident and the film’s sound engineer, organized the first Living Dead Festival in 2008 with resident Rick Reifenstein.

Streiner said their plan was to call the event the Evans City Living Dead Festival, but he met resistance from borough officials who were reluctant to welcome zombie fans to town.

He said working with the current council was a bonding experience.

“Smart people finally said ‘Hey, maybe we should tap into this thing,’” Streiner said.

Dyer said the scores of “Living Dead” fans who have visited the borough to see filming locations have never caused a problem, and have supported the town’s businesses.

“It makes sense to utilize every resource you have to bring people to town,” Dyer said.

The monument, which was partially funded by the Evans City Rotary and made possible by donations from several local businesses, is surrounded by four smaller plaques containing key scenes and descriptions of the movie.

Bob and Sandy O’Rourke of Chicago were thrilled to be attending the marker’s unveiling, which served as the kickoff to Living Dead Weekend in the borough.

“We’re huge fans of the movie, and we are proud to see Evans City embrace it as part of the borough,” Sandy O’Rourke said.

The couple has traveled to Evans City at least a dozen times, and seen the movie more than 100 times.

“I have fond memories of seeing it when I was a kid, so there’s nostalgia about it,” Bob O’Rourke said.

Borough resident Anne Daily said she and her family are fans of zombies, which were originally introduced in “Night of the Living Dead.”

“We came to show our support for the borough,” Daily said. “The people who put this together are wonderful.”

Ella Mae Smith still lives in a house near a filming location. Smith and her late husband played ghouls in the movie, and are pictured in a scene on one of the plaques.

Smith never imagined at that time that the film would gain a worldwide following and remain popular 47 years later.

“When we did the movie, we were just having fun,” Smith recalled. “It was something to do in our neighborhood.”

Before the unveiling, Smith posed for pictures with the Streiners, Russo, Dick Heckert, who played a posse member, and local radio and television personality “Chilly Billy” Cardille, who also appeared in the movie.

Russo said he is thrilled with the marker.

“I always thought Evans City should be the Roswell of zombies, and I think this moves us a little closer to that.”

More information on activities at the Living Dead Weekend is available at www.evanscity.us.