Carol Anthony grew up in Carrick and remembers walking past the mansion overlooking Brownsville Road and wondering who lived in the big house and what their lives must be like.

"It took 50-some years, but I finally had my questions answered," said Ms. Anthony, a founding member of the Carrick-Overbrook Historical Society.

The historical group did research, raised money and has now erected a historical marker honoring John M. Phillips, the former owner of the mansion, which was called Impton and is now the site of St. Pius X Church.

"When we got involved in this and started putting it together, it was interesting to note how many people became educated through the process," said John Rudiak, a member of the historical society. "People would go to Phillips Park, but they didn't know why it was called that. Even the Game Commission largely forgot about his contributions."

Mr. Phillips was the creator of the State Game Lands, which were used as models for the rest of the country, Mr. Rudiak said. He also was one of the founders of Pymatuming State Park.

In addition, he helped start the first Boy Scout troop in the state, although he was never a Scout himself, Mr. Rudiak said.

Phillips Elementary School also is named after Mr. Phillips.

Born in 1863, Mr. Phillips was a conservationist, industrialist and engineer. He was president of Phillips Mining and Manufacturing Co. on the South Side.

The historical society received approval in July for the marker from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission but needed to raise about $1,350 to pay for about half the cost of the bronze piece.

Mr. Rudiak said that was achieved through individual donations, including about half from Mr. Phillips' descendents. Some of the Phillips family attended the Oct. 31 ceremony to unveil the marker.

"It was the first time many of them had stepped foot on the property for years," Mr. Rudiak said. "But they remembered being there as children."

"As we dug into the history, we became more and more impressed by what this one family was able to achieve," Ms. Anthony said. "We wanted to share what we were finding."

Julia Tomasic, another founding member of the historical society, said seeing old photos of the Phillips' mansion piqued her interest to find out more about the family.

"I mean this house and all the questions you might consider when seeing something that isn't there anymore kept me obsessed," she said. "I see Carrick as a typical city neighborhood with its typical issues, but I also see a gem in our rich history. It was forgotten, but I want it to live on and let the next 100 years of Carrick residents remember when things get rough here that this place is worth fighting for. It's worth saving."

Natalia Rudiak, a member of the historical society and city councilwoman-elect for District 4, believes the marker can offer hope to Pittsburgh's Carrick neighborhood.

"Many residents do not realize what wonderful history they have in their own backyards, and we hope folks are inspired by the past to feel confident in the future," she said. "This is not just a historical marker, but it was a foundation for our community."

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