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FRANKFORD CREEK
What It Used To Be and What It Is Today.
(By Edward Miller) Franklord Creek which has of late been called Taeony Creek (this should not be as Tacony is three miles away) has teen kn6wn as Frankford creek for over one hundred years, named after the town through Which it flows. Following is a brief history of this watercourse as far back as fifty years up to the present time This creek was utilized for pleasure as well as commercial purposes. We herewith present a list of the factories that operated mill races to obtain the water-power for their plants; some of these races can be seen yet today; they also maintained wharves for boats to unload, also for coal yards. The course of this once beautiful stream runs beyond Willow Grove and flows through the beautiful hills and valleys of Montgomery County, crossing the Old York Road at Ogontz. Bosler's flour mill here had a mill race to develop power. It then takes a northerly course and rosses the Aahbourne road, then thru the property of Rowland's shovel works at-Ohelt.eiiham; this mill-race exists today. The creek then flows south from this point through Cre.scentville; here was a weaving mill which was abandoned, but purchased by Finley & Co. and opcrated as a rope walk. Next is Wan. D. Whitaker's Cedar Grove mill; this race is still there. Further down the old mill stream, we encounter Rowland's Shovel Works at Rowlundvllle; this race can yet be seen. Then comes Pauls' Woods, the home of the Wingohocking Tribe of Indians which inhabited the section along the banks of the creek and had a winding course around to Whitaker's Franktord plant. This old mill-race Is still there; upon the right thank is the old Frogmore Mill (now the Phila. Felt Co.) who use the mill-race today as a waterway. From here down we come to Solomon Wilde's mill, over 100 years old, built In 1827. Later on C. S. & J. P. Jones built a 43 story stone mill on this ground. Next we come to Rohner's lot where James Bromiley's plant stands today. The writer recollects Ice from 4 to 10 Inches thick being cut at this spot by ShZ Gratch ahd -JobM Frlisch, rewera on Penn street near Adams avenue.

hen we come down, to Teddy Hamilton's where ten row boats were for hire at 15 cents per hour: Down this stream a Iittj furthor w th Old Grist Mill driven by water power ana operated by Myers & ifrvins. Next was Rowland's coal yard where coal arrived by boat at tide-water: the gran. Ite stone to build St. Joachim's Church was 'brought to this wharf on boats from Maine some 52 years ago. Nearby was Green & Linehan's Foundry wharf; on the right was Paxton's, Flemming & Lloyd's lumber yard (now Foerderer's Leather Works occupies this site.) All the lumber was brought to their yard on rafts and at this time It was the only lumber yard In the Northeast above Norris street, Kensington. We follow along to Wm. & Harvey Rowland's steel works which also had a wharf, and then came Richard Garsed's wharf. It was quite usual to see two-mast schooners come to this wharf. The next wharf was that of Sheble& - Kiem's fork faiuihtne11tt Iii this city. On the left was the farm of Jacob Bault; this was an excellent gunning grounds for red rail birds and snipe. Then we arrive at Orthodox street where Samuel Hilles' coal yard was located. Next was Baldwin's steel works wharf. On the right was the beautiful pine woods. The next wharf encountered was Granges' fruit jar glass house; schooners from Salem, N. J. brought salt hay to this plant for packing glass jars. Then we come to the horseshoe 'bend In the creek. Here was Vanhorn's saw mill now occupied by Smedley Bros. Company. On the corner at Bridge street was the coal yard of Harry Allen who resided on Paul street below Orthodox street (the present home of Post 211, .4.iner!ean Legion.) Next was Wiser's sliphere were kept 15 row boats and 3 sail boats for hire. The next wharf was that of R. T. Moorehouse which was used for coal. -14 The Frankford Arsenal wharf which Is still there had two beautiful sail boats called "Pauline" and "Bullet." On the right is the wharf of Charles Len!nig, - chemical works. Here is where the creek flows into the Delaware River. About 50 years ago there was a great freshet In this stream which we have Just described, when the ice broke up, and combined with heavy rains, it flooded every factory from Crescentyule to Bridesburg; the water flowed over at Kensington and Frankford avenues and was twenty feet deep in places in the creek where now is only recorded a scant depth of a foot. This creek will soon be in its grave! In the near future it will be replaced with a boulevard to reach from Kensington avenue to Castor road and Wyoming avenue. When those who have passed their boyhood days in Frankford when this once beautiful stream was in all its glory and grandeur, think of reminiscences of the past, their hearts will ache realizing that this old familiar water-course has entirely disfamiliar water-course has been turned into an open sewer.