Roxborough
Manayunk
Wissahickon
Historical
Society

Historical Maps 1843 < Previous > Back to Historical Map List < Next > 1843 - Phila County Source: URL: Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division https://www.loc.gov/resource/g3824p.la000784b/ Full Name: A map of the county of Philadelphia : from actual survey Visit the source URL to use zoom features, find additional formats, or download a high quality image.

Memorials of the 21st Ward < Back to Memorials List 21st Ward War Memorial (Gorgas Park) Address: 6300 Ridge Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19128, USA Visitors: The 21st Ward War Memorial is located within Gorgas Park. It is open to the public 24/7, has a paved path suitable for wheelchair access, and is well lit at night. However, inclement weather may make traversing the distance to the center of the park difficult. Dogs are permitted, but must be kept on a leash at all times and picked up after per city law. The images below are not to be reproduced or used without prior written authorization of RMWHS - contact us .

Historical Maps 1855 < Previous > Back to Historical Map List < Next > 1855 - Consolidated City of Phila Source: URL: Free Library of Philadelphia https://libwww.freelibrary.org/digital/item/11728 Full Name: New Map of the Consolidated City of Philadelphia, 1855, Map Visit the source URL to use zoom features, find additional formats, or download a high quality image.

Memorials of the 21st Ward < Back to Memorials List Revolutionary Soldiers Memorial (Leverington Cemetery) Address: 6075 Ridge Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19128, USA Visitors: The Revolutionary Soldiers Memorial is located within the Leverington Cemetery. While the cemetery is private property, access to it is available to the public during daylight hours only. Access to this memorial must be done on foot via a gravel path and across the cemetery grounds (grass). This could be a difficult route for anyone unsure of foot, and quite onerous for a wheelchair even in the best of weather conditions. Dogs are permitted in the cemetery but must be leashed and picked up after. Please be mindful of others in the cemetery who are there to mourn or pay their respects. The images below are not to be reproduced or used without prior written authorization of RMWHS - contact us .

Memorials of the 21st Ward < Back to Memorials List Korean & Vietnam War Memorial (Hattal-Taylor VFW) Address: 376 Lyceum Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19128, USA Visitors: This memorial is located outside the Hattal-Taylor VFW and can clearly be seen from the sidewalk and street. If you wish to gain closer access, contact Hattal-Taylor. The images below are not to be reproduced or used without prior written authorization of RMWHS - contact us .

Historical Maps 1847 < Previous > Back to Historical Map List < Next > 1847 - Phila & 10 Miles Around Source: URL: Free Library of Philadelphia https://libwww.freelibrary.org/digital/item/42118 Full Name: Map of the Circuit of Ten Miles Around the City of Philadelphia, 1847, Map Visit the source URL to use zoom features, find additional formats, or download a high quality image.

adec39c5-9300-4aae-add6-a3a632b147f2 Main Street Manayunk Historic District Manayunk Canal After incorporation, the Navigation Company began construction in both Philadelphia and Reading. In 1815, construction began on the Flat Rock Dam, designed to convert seven of the most dangerous miles of the Schuylkill into navigable water. The canal was constructed through a low-lying swamp area and known as “Dead Waters.” The quality of the original construction was poor, utilizing little formal engineering techniques, and much of the work had to be redone. Floods caused extensive damage during construction and the company had problems attracting working capital. The Manayunk section of the canal was completed on October 18, 1818 and opened for travel in 1822. The original lock system consisted of a single channel at the upper lock and triple channels at the lower lock. Describe your image The Manayunk section of the canal, is today a focus for recreational activity. The City, in the first step in realizing this concept, cleaned and dredged the waterway and constructed a boardwalk and tow path along the Main Street side of the canal. Describe your image This information has been posted by RMWHS with the permission of the Philadelphia Historical Commission. Sections: 1 Intro and Nomination Form 2 Description 3 Significance of Manayunk 4 The Schuylkill Canal 5 Schuylkill Navigation Company 6 Manayunk Canal 7 Economic Development 8 Manayunk Social Development 9 The Industry of Venice Island 10 Main Street Manayunk 11 Bibliography 12 Boundary Details 13 Map Top of page

Roxborough Manayunk Wissahickon Historical Society provides lists of books about the Roxborough Manayunk Wissahickon area (and our neighbors) that may be of interest to our website visitors, local history researchers, and students of history. Books About Our Area Historic Architecture in Philadelphia: East Falls, Manayunk, & Roxborough by Joseph Minardi "This photographic story of three dynamic neighborhoods in Philadelphia's twenty-first ward traces the evolution of each community as defined by its architecture.... Brimming with nearly 500 full color photographs and archival images, and supplemented by selected biographies of the featured architects and firms, this book will charm history buffs, lovers of vintage architecture, and Philadelphia enthusiasts." Victorian Roxborough: An Architectural History by John C. Manton "This potpourri of architectural data is seasoned with a pinch of cultural scenery and a dash of social background to enhance the flavor of Roxborough's Victorian years." Do you have a book to recommend about Roxborough, Manayunk, Wissahickon, or our general area? Let us know. Books by Arcadia A list of books that address the Roxborough, Manayunk and Wissahickon area and our closest neighbors is provided for your convenience. Follow the links to the Arcadia website for a peek inside the books or to purchase. Roxborough Manayunk Along the Wissahickon Creek Philadelphia's Fairmount Park Chestnut Hill Chestnut Hill Revisited Mount Airy Germantown in the Civil War Remembering Germantown Philadelphia's Pencoyd Iron Works Germantown, Mount Airy, & Chestnut Hill Laurel Hill Cemetery Lower Merion & Narberth

Roxborough Manayunk Wissahickon Historical Society provides history and information on cemeteries and churchyards/graveyards in our area. However, we are not responsible for them. Please use this info to contact a local institution. Cemeteries & Churchyards CONTACTS: Vandalism/Crime - If you have witnessed a crime or see something that poses a danger, call 911. There isn't a cemetery or churchyard that will be upset about neighbors and residents helping keep our neighborhoods safe. Homeless - The homeless can be found throughout the year sleeping or camping out almost anywhere in the 21st Ward. Police ask that you do not approach or attempt to chase them off -- you should contact the 5th District Police instead. Burial Info - Always check Findagrave.com first . More info will be posted for each cemetery/churchyard when ready. Um, Cemetery or Churchyard? OR Roxborough Baptist Churchyard Use the RMWHS map below to determine if an issue you have witnessed and wish to report is in Leverington Cemetery or the old Roxborough Baptist Churchyard (owned by Epic Church). Then notify the appropriate contacts. Leverington Cemetery Memorial Day 2021 Click/tap on a spot on the map to magnify it. Some browsers/devices work better than others. These are 2 separate properties with 2 different owners but there is no visible, physical border between them. The burial spaces run nearly seamlessly against each other. Determining where one property ends and the other starts can be tricky. If you can't decide, contact both property owners AFTER you report the emergency to the police. Leverington Cemetery* Vandalism & Other Crimes Call 911 immediately After you call 911, alert Leverington Cemetery and include the date and details you reported to 911. Homeless in Leverington Cemetery Report it to 5th District Police 215-686-3050 After you call the 5th, alert Leverington Cemetery and include the date and details you reported it. *The owners of the Leverington Cemetery are unable to update their website with their new contact info. The RMWHS form provided sends your note directly to the owner -- we do not get involved. Epic Church/Baptist Churchyard Vandalism & Other Crimes Call 911 immediately Then inform Epic Church at 215-525-9193 Homeless in the old Baptist Churchyard Report it to 5th District Police 215-686-3050 Then inform Epic Church at 215-525-9193 Neighbors & witnesses must contact the police & property owners directly. RMWHS cannot address issues or report issues for you. Thank you for being a good neighbor.

Contact the Roxborough Manayunk Wissahickon Historical Society via mail or our online form. We are closed in Summer & Winter Closed Nov 15-Feb 15 Our volunteer archivist is on vacation. All research requests must wait. If you are a member of the press or have a truly urgent matter, put URGENT in the subject line of the form below. Have a safe & happy holiday season. CONTACT US Research Notice Privacy & Use - Your personal information will be protected in accordance with the RMWHS Privacy Policy. However, the research done by our volunteer archivists/genealogists is property of RMWHS and may be shared/discussed with other RMWHS members, visiting students, researchers, etc., at the discretion of RMWHS archivists/genealogists. Credit, Citation, & Copyright - You may also share/discuss the results of the research RMWHS provides but any credits, citations, and/or copyright notes on any materials we provided to you must remain intact, including third-party citations. Contact us if you have questions. Image Requests - We are happy to work with you to find the images you need. However, to avoid the RMWHS Image Collection being misused, everyone will need to sign a Photo Usage Agreement . This includes but is not limited to: RMWHS members, students, teachers, researchers, non profit organizations, businesses, press, etc. (Learn more.) RMWHS and its volunteer archivist and researchers reserve the right to decline any requests that would unduly tax our volunteers' time or are beyond the scope of RMWHS mission and/or resources. Donations for our efforts are very appreciated. Our volunteers work without pay and all monies donated will be used for continued preservation of the Archive and expanding/enhancing our efforts to share our history with the community. As of Nov. 1, 2025 we have a 2 month backlog of requests -- complete form to get in the queue. We will not share your personal contact information beyond the RMWHS team member or fulfillment partner that needs to address your inquiry or research request. RMWHS Privacy Policy. Full Name Email Phone Subject Your message Upload File Upload supported file (Max 15MB) Have an image or item you need identified? Making a digital donation? Sharing an old news clip? Something else? Upload it here and please explain any details we need to know in your message above. Thanks! Select all that apply: * Required This is feedback only - no response is necessary. Please send me membership info. Please contact me about making a donation. I would like research assistance. I have read the Research Notice and accept the terms. Submit Thank you for your interest in RMWHS

Roxborough Manayunk Wissahickon Historical Society strives to preserve and promote local history, art, and culture. RMWHS a 501(c)(3) charity organization -- volunteer-run & donation funded. RMWHS Archive located at the Roxborough Free Library in Philadelphia, PA. Who Ya Gonna Call? Local Churchyards & Cemeteries: Emergencies & Information RMWHS offers details on who to contact if you witness a crime, want to report homeless activities, or seek burial records for a local churchyard or cemetery. FYI - RMWHS has provided a way to reach Leverington Cemetery. Read more ... WE NEED YOU - Join RMWHS and volunteer! We have projects big and small -- and you can choose how you help. Please consider joining. We need more hands to help with everything -- including: admin, events, preservation, genealogy & property research, and more. All Aboard!!! RMWHS needs images of local ... Trains/Trolleys (inside or out) Tracks/Rails Tickets/Tokens Stations/Stops Maps/Schedules An old family photo of someone taking a train or trolley ride Just about anything! Please Donate or Lend Your Photos to RMWHS If you have a photograph, old map, schedule, etc., we'd love to see it. You can donate photos & items or lend them to us and we'll scan and return them to you. Sharing your images with RMWHS will help with historical research, education & promotion, web articles, etc. Before the train tracks on Cresson were elevated, the tracks crossed Green Lane before continuing toward Main Street. Donating or lending us your old train/trolley/track/station images can help us provide more items like this! Contact Us About Donations RMWHS Treasures & Community Projects Presentation This video shares some of RMWHS new treasures and resources publicly for the first time and current community support efforts. Presentation includes: A very brief intro about RMWHS Historic books, maps, & deeds from the Leverington Cemetery - include some surprises and a mystery map. Antique and vintage bottles pulled from the Schuylkill as part of the Manayunk Canal Revitalization & Lock 68 rebuild efforts - all have been donated to RMWHS. Historic photos from the Hattal-Taylor VFW Museum that our president is helping to index, scan, restore, and research ... and her request for the public to help with identification of soldiers. And a bit about donations from Andorra (Manatawna) Church and Roxborough Baptist Church. Watch Replay ~27 mins You can help. Become a member & volunteer. $10 students/$20 individuals/$30 families Donate Old Photos -- Physically or Digitally Discovering an old photo like this one waiting for us in our email is the delight of an archivist's day -- and even more so when it's this undeniably cute. RMWHS thanks Ken Gilbert and family for the donation which was added to the RMWHS Archive Image Collection to preserve it for the future. If you have a photo (or a stack of photos) you think we should see, have, know about, contact us. We love digital or printed photos as well as slides, negatives, etc. We can scan most images and return the originals if need be. Local Landmark Featured in Mini Documentary The Epic Church and it's re-imagining of the former Roxborough Baptist Church building is featured in a new mini documentary by Joe Porter of Innovatory Films and now available for viewing . The ~5 min film includes interviews with RMWHS's own Linda Marie Bell, who grew up in the Roxborough Baptist church and served on their Board of Trustees, and Epic Church's Pastor Jake Rainwater. The completed film segment captures a lovely little piece of our local history and evolving community. Visuals include historic photos as well as drone footage outside of the church and cemeteries/neighborhood. And despite the fog — or maybe because of it — some of the aerial shots of the church, cemetery, and neighborhoods have an ethereal quality. The footage highlights the sanctuary with its gorgeous windows and gracefully curved pews and illustrates the care Epic took to preserve them and incorporate them into the revitalized building. Screenshots below are property of Innovatory Films. BELOW - Historic Roxborough Baptist Church images provided for film. Click to expand image. Watch Film Now >>>>> RMWHS & the community owe a great thanks to Linda Marie Bell for sharing her time and stories for the making of this film. Through her personal memories, Linda adds a great warmth and brings the history of this beloved landmark to life. Congratulations to Pastor Jake Rainwater & the Epic Church. And thank you for adding a new chapter to the history of the landmark and our community. PhillyVoice Interviews RMWHS on 1304 Steps of Roxborough, Manayunk, & Wissahickon In case you missed it, Michael Tannenbaum of PhillyVoice did a story on the 1304 steps of our area as the rebuild of a local wall and set of steps stirred up their interest. It's a quick read with some great old and new photos ... shines a spotlight on the RMWHS interactive map! Story & resources it references: 'Footpath highway': 1,304 steps in Roxborough and Manayunk have linked communities and generations (PhillyVoice) 1304 Steps Overview, Poster, & Interactive Map (RMWHS) Step back in time: 1304 Steps to 1880s (RMWHS) Thanks to RMWHS members Chip Roller and Virginia Buchanan for their participation in the interview. RMWHS Channel now on YouTube Original videos created by RMWHS will be posted on YouTube as they become available. There is no schedule. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel to be notified when something new becomes available. RMWHS only posts what we create. NOW AVAILABLE: Our first video takes you on a bike ride along the towpath from Shawmont Station to Lock St., featuring historic sites on the Schuylkill River and Manayunk Canal. The ~9 min video provides you with views of the waterways, murals, bridges, historic buildings, and more. RMWHS gets many inquiries from across the U.S. for the history along this 2.4 mile stretch and we thought those that can't visit it in person, might like to see it. YouTube.com/@RMWHS (Be sure to subscribe.) Want to help create content? Join RMWHS! Green Lane Bridge Rehabilitation Project While construction on the Green Lane Bridge is not scheduled to start until 2030, now is the time to learn about it, ask questions, and provide your input. For more, visit www.greenlanebridgerehab.com Photo by Michael Zosa 2024 DONATIONS REQUESTED RMWHS preserves local yearbooks, class photos , and school publications wit hin the 21st Ward. Our collection is used for genealogical and local history research ... and we need more to support our efforts. Yearbooks. Photos. Publications. School magazines. Athletic memorbilia Any School. Any Year. Any Condition. Contact us . Memorials of the 21st Ward RMWHS has launched a new web section -- Memorials of the 21st Ward -- which provides a listing of the 8 memorials within our area and includes a photo gallery of each. Each memorial page will be expanded in the months and years to come as images and newspapers clippings (both new and historic) are added. If you would like to contribute an image or information for any of the memorials, please contact us . Also, if we have missed a public memorial within the Roxborough Manayunk Wissahickon area, please let us know. Each of the memorials is open to the public and all visitors (including service animals) are welcome. We remind all visitors to be respectful not only to the memorial and grounds, but of the others who may be there remembering loved ones lost, for whom these special places were created to honor. Explore the Memorials of the 21st Ward. RMWHS thanks all who have served. RMWHS Note Cards To share a bit of local history and raise funds to help support our preservation and outreach activities, RMWHS is offer a set of 8 note cards for $10. The back of each card features facts or info about the photo or its significance. Each note card set contains 8 envelopes and 2 copies of each of the following 4 images: American Stores Co on Green Lane Empress Theater on Main Street Historic Staircase Between Rox & Mynk Henry Avenue Bridge & Wissahickon Creek Each note card is approximately 4.25 x 5.5 inches, was printed on a high quality not card stock to ensure a clear image, and is blank inside. If you are interested in getting note cards, look for the RMWHS tent at the next community event or send us an email if you don't want to wait to get them -- we'll let you know were you can pick them up!

The Roxborough Manayunk Wissahickon Historical Society's website was launched in December 2020 and built to extend our group's presence beyond the meetings at Journey's Way and the Archive nestled in the Roxborough branch of the Philadelphia Free Library. (as of May 8, 2024) Web Visitors from Near & Far While Roxborough Manayunk Wissahickon Historical Society is a small organization located within Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, we've got web visitors from across the U.S. and around the world. Want to Contribute? If you would like to contribute images, or content, or have ideas for the RMWHS website, please contact us . CANADA British Columbia New Brunswick Ontario Quebec MEXICO CENTRAL AMERICA Guatemala SOUTH AMERICA Brazil CARIBBEAN Cayman Islands EUROPE England France Greece Ireland Italy Netherlands North Macedonia Norway Poland Portugal Russia Scotland Serbi a Sweden Ukraine AFRICA Kenya Togo MIDDLE EAST Isreal ASIA Bangladesh China India Indonesia Japan Philip pines Thailand Vietnam AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND VISITORS FROM 48 STATES (+DC) ... so far Alabama Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Missouri Mississippi Montana Missouri Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington DC Wisconsin Wyoming (We've yet to have visitors from Alaska and Nebraska.)

Roxborough Manayunk Wissahickon Historical Society strives to preserve and promote local history, art, and culture. RMWHS a 501(c)(3) charity organization -- volunteer-run & donation funded. RMWHS Archive located at the Roxborough Free Library in Philadelphia, PA. Images of Our Neighborhoods 2023 Yearbook Yearbook Project 2022 Year book The following images were donated by members of the community, visitors, former residents, and those who have roots in the area. These images are now a part of the RMWHS digital image collection. Share your local photos with us - send photos to rmwhsarchvies@gmail.com with your name and the location/event/subject of image (if it's not obvious). Mouse over any image below for details / Click on an image to enlarge

​​The Archive is located within the Roxborough branch of the Philadelphia Free Library at 6245 Ridge Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19128. Street parking only. Admission to the RMWHS Archive is free -- but it is open by appointment only. Please contact us to make an appointment. Archive is Open for Research by Appointment Only The Archive is open at the discretion of the archivists. No food, drink, or pets are permitted All children must be accompanied by adult Visitor Limit - Due to limited space, the Archive can only accommodate 2 visitors at a time. Masks - Our volunteer may ask you to wear a mask in the Archive. It is a small, tight room and there is little personal space. Please understand our volunteers give time, energy, and skills to help the public and a request to mask up keeps them safe and it is a small kindness you can pay them if they ask. Thank you! No Wheelchair Access - While the main Library entrance is wheelchair accessible, the Archive is not. Location & Parking - The RMWHS Archive is inside the Roxborough branch of the Philadelphia Free Library located at 6245 Ridge Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19128. Free street parking is available -- Hermitage Street recommended. Donations for our efforts are appreciated and will be used to digitize, preserve, expand, and improve our collection.

Research assistance is provided by volunteer archivists who are available by appointment only. Detailed research assistance is available for a nominal fee that supports the preservation of the RMWHS Archive. ALWAYS check findagrave.com , Ancestry.com , and FamilySearch.com for records FIRST. Virtual Research Consult RMWHS may be able to provide you with resource guidance for your local history, property, or genealogical questions/projects -- however, our volunteer Archivists cannot take on an entire research project for you. There is a limit to how much time they can spend on any one request. Our volunteers reserve the right to decline any requests that are not within our focus or demand more time then they can personally give. They offer their knowledge & time as a kindness -- please keep that in mind. To request a consult with an Archivist, please fill out our contact form. We always have a backlog of requests and you must use the contact form to get in the queue. Be sure to check voicemails and emails for our initial response -- we obviously can't help you if we can't reach you. Depending on the current backlog and the nature of your request, a final response can take several weeks/months. We run on volunteers and if you can't wait for the free assistance, please consider hiring a professional genealogist. Image Requests We are happy to work with you to find the images you need. However, to avoid the RMWHS Image Collection being misused, everyone will need to sign and comply with a Photo Usage Agreement (PUA) . This includes RMWHS members, students, teachers, researchers, non profit organizations, businesses, press, etc. A fee based on file resolution and intended use may apply. This applies to: all images -- including RMWHS photos, slides, maps, film, video, etc. -- as well as those already posted on our website. all intended uses -- including but not limited to: personal/private use (such as genealogies), academic research, educational presentations, publication of any kind, use on website, local publicity, non profit use, etc. Failure to properly credit an RMWHS image, posting it on any online forum/social media/genealogy site/etc., and any use or treatment not detailed on the form is a violation of the Photo Usage Agreement. Donations for the volunteers efforts are appreciated and will be used to preserve, expand, digitize, and improve our collection.

0692a89b-d1a7-4821-a817-38c373e30e1a Main Street Manayunk Historic District Schuylkill Navigation Company The Schuylkill Canal was not a continuous canal, but a series of waterways constructed to bypass unnavigated sections of the river. The Schuylkill navigation system covered a distance of 108 miles; 62 miles by canal and 46 miles by slack water navigation created by dams in the river. The system included 92 locks to overcome a 9,588' difference in elevation. Locks were typically 75' to 80' long and 8' to 17' wide. By 1828, the Schuylkill Canal provided safe passage the length of the river. In the early years, there was no effective competition to the canal and rates were high. As a result of this monopoly, the State Legislature authorized construction of the Reading Railroad. Describe your image On January 13, 1842, the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad was opened to Pottsville in direct competition to the canal and by 1844, it carried more coal than the canal. To meet the railroad competition, the canal was enlarged, and costs were lowered. Tonnage increased as a result and the period 1850-1860 marked the Golden Age of the Canal. During this period, the canal showed the greatest profit and carried the greatest tonnage, peaking at 1.7 million tons. Rail transportation assumed increasing importance during the Civil War; after the war, railroads continued to grow, and canal transportation declined. On June 23, 1870, the Reading Railroad signed an agreement to lease the canal and from this time on commercial use of the canal virtually ceased. Describe your image This information has been posted by RMWHS with the permission of the Philadelphia Historical Commission. Sections: 1 Intro and Nomination Form 2 Description 3 Significance of Manayunk 4 The Schuylkill Canal 5 Schuylkill Navigation Company 6 Manayunk Canal 7 Economic Development 8 Manayunk Social Development 9 The Industry of Venice Island 10 Main Street Manayunk 11 Bibliography 12 Boundary Details 13 Map Top of page

Historical Maps 1982 < Previous > Back to Historical Map List < Next > 1982 - Manayunk Canal (Part 2) Source: URL: Free Library of Philadelphia https://libwww.freelibrary.org/digital/item/48042 Full Name: Manayunk Canal, 1982, Map 2 Visit the source URL to use zoom features, find additional formats, or download a high quality image.

e2fdb1c2-e111-4669-a416-3309a17b7819 Ridge Ave Roxborough Historic District Early Roxborough Roxborough was officially recognized as a township by 1706, but it remained sparsely populated throughout the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, as the following chart shows. 34 Describe your image Until significant transportation and industrials advances in the 1820s, Roxborough remained a linear village with pockets of development located on and very near Ridge Road. The only significant developments off Ridge Road were several mills, which, by necessity, were located along the watercourses, the Wissahickon and its tributaries. Very few people lived to the west of Ridge Road, on the steep slopes down to the Schuylkill. Most Roxborough residents made their livings in agriculture, milling, selling stone, timber, and other building materials, or providing services to the wagoners and others who travelled along Ridge Road. As noted earlier, at least three taverns serving travelers stood on Ridge Road by the end of the eighteenth century, the Leverington Hotel of 1731 (Figure 14), the Plough Tavern of 1746, and the Sorrel Horse Tavern of 1785. Describe your image Although Ridge Road is and has been Roxborough’s primary thoroughfare since its establishment in the first years of the European settlement of the area, other roads were laid out and opened in the eighteenth century, especially to access mills on the Wissahickon. Typically, these roads were first laid out informally, and then later formally surveyed and opened by the Court of the Quarter Sessions, after they had been in use for a while. Most of the early secondary roads in Roxborough ran east from Ridge Road to mills along the Wissahickon and then on into Germantown, the nearest population center. No roads were officially opened from Ridge Road west to the Schuylkill until the early nineteenth century. School House Lane, which marked the southeastern boundary of Roxborough and still runs on its original line from Ridge Road to Germantown Road, was constructed about 1702, but not officially opened until September 1765.35 School House Lane and Ridge Road are the only two roads in Roxborough depicted on the Scull & Heap Map of Philadelphia and Parts Adjacent of about 1750 (Figure 8). Township Line Road, now known as Wissahickon Avenue, which marks the boundary between Roxborough and Germantown, was officially opened on the east side of the Wissahickon Creek in December 1763.36 The extension of Township Line Road on the west side of the Creek, in what is now called Andorra, from Wise’s Mill to Ridge Road, was officially opened four years later, in September 1767.37 A road on the line of Roxborough Avenue in Roxborough and Kitchen’s Lane and Carpenter Lane in Mt. Airy ran from Ridge Road, across the Wissahickon, and on to Germantown Road as early as 1761.38 Gorgas Mill Road (now Gorgas Lane and W. Mt. Airy Avenue), which ran east off Ridge Road, across the Wissahickon, and up to Township Line Road (now Wissahickon Avenue), was opened in December 1764.39 Rittenhouse Lane, which connected Ridge Road to the Rittenhouse Paper Mill, partially along the current line of Walnut Lane, was officially opened in December 1767.40 Shawmont Road (now Avenue), from Ridge Road to Wise’s Mill, was opened in June 1786.41 Although probably laid out about 1738, Spruce Mill Road, now known as Thomas Mill Road in Chestnut Hill, was officially opened from Ridge Road to Germantown Road in June 1793.42 That same month, Manatawna Road was opened, running east from Ridge Road.43 The roads that crossed the Wissahickon Creek at dams and small bridges were often swept away during flooding.44 Early tax rolls for Roxborough Township provide unique insights into the wealth, occupations, and numbers of the residents. The rolls for the 1769 proprietary tax list 91 taxpayers for Roxborough Township, 40 of which were landowners. The taxpayers include only one woman, Elizabeth Levering. The landowners owned an average of 68.9 acres. William Levering was the largest landholder, with 250 acres. The smallest holding was but one acre. Of the 91 taxpayers listed in 1769, 26 were associated with occupations, including four grain millers, two paper millers, two millers, two butchers, two coopers, two tanners, two weavers, and one of each of the following: flour miller, ferryman, taylor, innholder, cordwainer, smith, ropemaker, sadler, stonecutter, and hatter. Most of the remaining taxpayers were presumably farmers. The 91 taxpayers owned 119 horses and 148 head of cattle, but several persons owned neither horses nor cows. Only eight servants were listed among the 91 households. The 1774 provincial tax rolls list 105 taxpayers in Roxborough Township, 14 more than five years earlier. The 1774 rolls list very few occupations, but they do include a joiner, an occupation not noted in 1769. The 1779 effective supply tax rolls list 106 taxpayers in Roxborough Township.45 Real estate and other advertisements offer insights into eighteenth-century life in Roxborough. For example, the plantation of Jacob Cook was auctioned in June 1763 to pay his creditors. It was located “in Roxborough Township, Philadelphia County, about eight Miles from the City, on the great Road leading to Plymouth, and about one Mile from Schuylkill.” The property included: upwards of 14 Acres of Upland and Meadow, … a Dwelling-house, two Stables, a Smoke-house, Coopers Shop, an exceeding good Stone Vault, and a Well of excellent Water, also a Run of Water, with a never-failing Spring, a young bearing Orchard, with Apple, Peach, Quince, Cherry and Pear Trees, a good Flower and Kitchen Garden paled in, and a young Nursery of Apple and Pear Trees; about one Half the Premises Woodland; it is in good Repair, and well fenced in, pleasantly seated on high Ground, and very suitable for a Gentleman’s Country Seat, or a Store. The same advertisement offered for sale “a Mare, a Cow, two Hogs, a Plow and Harrow, a Cart and Gears, and sundry Implements of Husbandry.”46 Most households in eighteenth-century Roxborough were largely self-sufficient, raising their own food and selling or trading excess production with neighbors or in Germantown and Philadelphia. A similar advertisement in the Pennsylvania Gazette in 1755 announced the sale of recently deceased Henry Shellenberg’s dwelling house and mill in the Township of Roxborough. In addition to the buildings and property, Shellenberg’s heirs offered for sale household furnishings, “two guns,” horses, cows, sheep, swine, various miller’s tools and supplies, “a young likely Negro man, a likely young Negro woman, [and] two or three Dutch mens times of servitude.”47 Slave and indentured labor worked the mills and fields in Roxborough. Two years earlier, in 1753, Benjamin Levering of Roxborough Township offered a 20-shilling reward and expenses for the return of a “Dutch servant lad, named Michael Haun, a taylor by trade, about nineteen years of age,” who had “run away.”48 Indentured servants were not the only ones fleeing in eighteenth-century Roxborough. In 1783, Jacob Amos gave public notice “that my wife Elizabeth has eloped from me, therefore I forwarn all persons from lending her or letting her have any thing on my account, as I will not pay any debts for her from the date hereof.”49 In 1758, Isaac Cook offered a 40-shilling reward for the return of stolen goods and an additional 40 shillings for apprehending the thief. He explained that, during the night of 30 June 1758, his house “was broke open, and robbed” of numerous items including garments, bed linens, table linens, a pair of gloves, and a large pewter teapot with feet.50 A real estate advertisement published in 1788 offered a large property in Roxbourough, “on the road leading from Philadelphia to Reading, about 9 miles from the city, containing 248 acres and 137 perches.” The advertisement is especially interesting because it provided several suggestions for the development of the property, providing a glimpse into the commercial activities in Roxborough. The advertisement highlighted the parcel’s proximity to Germantown as well as Plymouth Meeting’s “sundry lime-kilns”; suggested that the timber on the property was valuable and, if the timber was harvested, the cleared land would be excellent for farming; noted that the “Wissahickon Creek, running through this tract, affords an excellent mill-seat; its being situate on a road leading into one of the best wheat countries on the continent”; and even promoted the notion of shipping the processed wheat to market down the Schuylkill, which ran along the western edge of the property.51 An advertisement in the Pennsylvania Gazette in 1754 pointed to another industry in Roxborough. It announced that John Stanaland, stone cutter, had removed from his freestone quarry in Roxborough to a shop in Philadelphia, where “all persons may be supplied with various kinds of freestone work … both in regard to cutting and setting; such as steps for doors, window cases, door cases, battlements, pediments, &c.” The advertisement noted that, despite Stanaland’s departure for the city, Edward Harding continued to operate the quarry in Roxborough.52 With a small population, few institutions were established in eighteenth-century Roxborough. On 1 April 1748, William and Hannah Levering donated to the township a parcel of land on the west side of Ridge Avenue, south of the current Monastery Avenue, for the construction of Roxborough’s first school building.53 A one-story stone school building, known as the Roxborough School, was erected on the site that year. An 1895 newspaper article on the history of the school explained: This structure being the only public building in the vicinity, met all of the demands of the place for fifty years, not only for school purposes, but also for public meetings, elections and religious services. In it the Baptist people of Roxborough held services from 1754 until October 24, 1790, the Roxborough Baptist Church having been organized in the school house on August 23, 1789. In 1776 an enthusiastic patriotic meeting was held there to secure volunteers for the American Army. 54 The school building was enlarged with a second story for an additional classroom and a wing for the school master in the 1790s (Figure 15).55 The first church in Roxborough, the Roxborough Baptist Church, was officially organized by 32 residents in August 1789. The group had met informally for religious services at the Roxborough School since 1754. In October 1789, the church was officially received into the Philadelphia Baptist Association. Nathan and Sarah Levering donated a parcel of land for a church building on the east side of Ridge Road, about 500 feet north of the school, and a small church building was erected. The church building burned down on 17 January 1830 and a new church was erected by September of that year (Figure 16).56 The second Roxborough Baptist Church was replaced by a third church building in 1870. The third church building burned in 1876 and was replaced by the fourth, which still stands today, but has been significantly altered. Describe your image The Plan of the City of Philadelphia and Environs by John Hills, a detailed map of Philadelphia County 10 miles out from the city’s center, indicates that Roxborough remained sparsely settled in 1808. Only three roads, unnamed on the map, ran west from Ridge Road toward the Schuylkill River; they were Green Lane, Hipples Lane (now Fountain Street), and Ship Lane (now Port Royal Avenue). No development or roads were shown along the Schuylkill River in what is now Manayunk. The Roxborough School, Baptist Church, Sorrel Horse Inn, a few unnamed mills, a few property owners, and a soap stone quarry along the Schuylkill at the county line were called out on the 1808 map. No neighborhood names were called out on the map. This information has been posted by RMWHS with the permission of the Philadelphia Historical Commission. Sections: 1 Intro and Nomination Form 2 Boundary and Description 3 Statement of Significance 4 Native Americans 5 Patent Holders and Early Settlers 6 Ridge Road 7 Early Roxborough 8 Georgian and Colonial Architecture 9 During the Revolutionary War 10 Federal Architecture 11 Development of Manayunk 12 Greek Revival Architecture 13 Early 19th Century 14 Gothic Revival Architecture 15 Italianate Architecture 16 During and After the Civil War 17 Second Empire Architecture 18 Queen Anne Architecture 19 Turn of the Century 20 Conclusion and Bibliography 34 Road Docket, June 1706, vol. 2, p. 31. Population data taken from Jones, The Levering Family, Appendix A, 189; and John Daly and Allen Weinberg, Genealogy of Philadelphia County Subdivisions (Philadelphia: City of Philadelphia, Department of Records, 1966), p. 94. 35 School House Lane, Germantown Road to Ridge Road, September 1765, Road Dockets, vol. 3, p. 337. 36 Township Line Road (Wissahickon Avenue), December 1763, Road Dockets, vol. 3, p. 312. 37 Township Line Road from Ridge Road to Wise’s Mill, September 1767, Road Dockets, vol. 3, p. 378. 38 Kitchen’s Lane (Roxborough Avenue), Ridge Road to Cresheim Road or Germantown Road, December 1761, Road Dockets, vol. 3, p. 278. 39 Gorgas Mill Road (Gorgas Lane and W. Mt. Airy Avenue), Ridge Road to Wissahickon Avenue, December 1764, Road Dockets, vol. 3, p. 333. 40 Rittenhouse Lane (Walnut Lane) from Ridge Road, December 1767, Road Dockets, vol. 3, p. 389. 41 Shawmont Avenue, Ridge Road to Wise’s Mill, June 1786, Road Dockets, vol. 4, p. 175. 42 Spruce Mill Road (Thomas Mill Road), Ridge Road to Germantown Road, Road Dockets, June 1793, vol. 4, p. 303. 43 Manatawna Avenue from Ridge Road, June 1793, Road Dockets, vol. 4, p. 301. 44 Thomas’ Mill Road, Livezey Mill Road, and Rittenhouse Road are located within present day Wissahickon Park. Joseph D. Bicknell, “The Wissahickon in History, Story and Song,” paper read before the City History Society of Philadelphia, October 10, 1906, in Philadelphia History: Consisting of Papers Read before the City History Society of Philadelphia (Philadelphia: City History Society, 1917), 6. 45 William Henry Egle, ed., Proprietary, Supply, and State Tax Lists of the City and County of Philadelphia for the Years 1769, 1774, and 1779 (Harrisburg: State Printer of Pennsylvania, 1897). 46 The Pennsylvania Gazette, 9 June 1763, p. 1. 47 The Pennsylvania Gazette, 17 April 1755, p. 3. 48 The Pennsylvania Gazette, 30 August 1753, p. 3. 49 The Independent Gazetteer, 19 April 1783, p. 4. 50 The Pennsylvania Gazette, 6 July 1758, p. 3. 51 The Pennsylvania Gazette, 29 October 1788, p. 1. 52 The Pennsylvania Gazette, 23 May 1754, p. 2. 53 William and Hannah Levering and Andrew and Elizabeth Wood donated two additional parcels for the school’s use on 30 March 1771. 54 “Levering School and Its History,” Inquirer, 3 February 1895, p. 7. 55 See Franklin Davenport Edmunds, The Public School Buildings of the City of Philadelphia (Philadelphia: 1913), p. 5-7; “The New Levering School,” The Times, 28 July 1895, p. 4; “News and Gossip of the Schools,” Inquirer, 8 March 1896, p. 7. The school was renamed the Levering School in 1847. The school building was badly damaged by a tornado on 12 April 1856 and replaced with a new school building in 1857. That building was in turn replaced in 1895. A large annex to the 1895 school building was constructed in 1929. 56 Rev. David Spencer, The Early Baptists of Philadelphia (Philadelphia: William Sychelmoore, 1877), p. 147-148; “A Century and a Decade of Life for Roxborough Baptist Congregation,” The Times, 24 August 1899, p. 2. The 1830 church building was enlarged in 1846. A new church building was begun in 1868 and completed in 1870. It was lost to a fire in 1873. A new church building was completed in 1878. Top of page

The RMWHS poster "1304 Steps of Our Town" is available to download as a PDF and as an interactive Google Map for those wishing to personally explore them. The 1304 Steps of Our Town The original "1304 Steps of Our Town" display had been a favorite of visitors to the RMWHS Archive for decades. It showcased photos of more than a dozen staircases that adorn the steep terrain of our area and knit our neighborhoods together. (Read "Step back in time: 1304 Steps to 1880s " to learn more about the steps.) Sadly, the beloved display was not aging gracefully and it needed an overhaul. So in early 2020, as part of the RMWHS Archive digitization project, the old display was dismantled and a new poster was created. In order to share the new poster with as many members, neighbors, and visitors to the area as possible, RMWHS is offering a downloadable/printable version for personal use. But wait -- there's more! Taking things one step further -- pardon the pun -- the same information was used to create an interactive Google Map. This map can be accessed via smartphone to enable users to take a self-guided tour of the 1304 Steps of Our Town. All step trekkers should be mindful some of these steps are steep, old, and could be slippery in certain weather conditions. Also, there are 1304 of them, so don't over do it. Finally, remember to wear a mask and keep a socially-responsible distance from other trekkers. Happy trails! Download the poster (PDF) Take a Hike! Access the interactive map on Google Maps Take a Hike (The map is subject to the limitations of Google's mapping features.)

Roxborough Manayunk Wissahickon Historical Society strives to preserve and promote local history, art, and culture ... and we need your help to do it. Share your memories -- tell us about it! Tell Us About It ... Philadelphia Land Usage Map 1942 - Courtesy of Free Library of Philadelphia Port Royal Riding Stables The 30 images below are only a sample from the collection of nearly 200 photos of the Port Royal Riding Stable (aka Port Royal Farm). The stable was located at 8229 Ridge Ave where the Woodmere Apartments in Roxborough stand today. from 1940 White Pages The majority of the photos were taken in the 1940s-1960s and feature horse trainers, riders, and jumpers, as well as competitions. Other photos show horse teams being trained, a dog that rides horseback, and even some farm frivolity -- or dare we say it -- horsing around. We believe the man shown training the horses may have been owner Harry C. Rose, but we can't be certain. That's why we need your help identifying the people in the photos and/or learning more about the Port Royal Riding Stables you can share. Mail Tell Us About It Click Map to Enlarge Do you have local images (photos, portraits, paintings, film, etc) that you think should be preserved with our local history? If so, we'd love to see them! RMWHS can scan and return original images.