Camp Hill, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Camp Hill, Pennsylvania
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Battle of White Marsh (December 5–8, 1778).
Camp Hill (labeled "Sandy Run") is at upper left. |
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 Camp Hill, Pennsylvania
Location in Pennsylvania
Camp Hill, Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States of America |
| State |  Pennsylvania |
| County |  Montgomery |
| Township | Whitemarsh Upper Dublin Springfield |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP codes |
19034
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| Area code(s) | 215 |
Camp Hill is a community in Pennsylvania, USA. It is not a city or town by itself. Instead, it is part of three different townships: Whitemarsh, Upper Dublin, and Springfield. Camp Hill is located about three miles from Philadelphia. This area played an important role in the Revolutionary War.
Contents
History of Camp Hill
Revolutionary War Events
After the Battle of Brandywine on September 11, 1777, the British Army took control of Philadelphia. General George Washington and his 11,000 Continental soldiers set up camp on Camp Hill. They arrived on November 2, 1777. Two other nearby hills, Militia Hill and Fort Hill, were also used by Washington's troops.
The Battle of White Marsh happened below these hills from December 5 to 8, 1777. Even after three days of fighting, British General Sir William Howe could not defeat Washington's army. The hills gave Washington a strong advantage. General Howe eventually went back to Philadelphia. The name "Camp Hill" comes from the thousands of tents that covered the hill during this time.
Ten years later, Washington visited Philadelphia again. He was a delegate for the 1787 Constitutional Convention. He toured the White Marsh battlefield with his friend, Robert Morris.
The Great Train Wreck of 1856
Camp Hill was the location of a terrible train accident in 1856. It was known as the Great Train Wreck of 1856. This was the worst railroad disaster in the world at that time. Two passenger trains were heading towards each other on the same track. They crashed on a curve where the drivers could not see each other. About 60 people died, and over 100 were hurt. Many of those who died were children going to a Sunday School picnic.
Geography of Camp Hill
Land and Water Features
Camp Hill is on high ground surrounded by lower areas. This made it a popular spot for large country houses in the late 1800s. Dreshertown Road runs along the top of Camp Hill. You can find both custom-built homes and newer neighborhoods there. Camp Hill Road goes north and south over the hill. It also has many custom single-family homes.
Sandy Run (Wissahickon Creek) flows along the south side of Camp Hill. Pine Run flows along the north side. The Pennsylvania Turnpike passes just north of Camp Hill. The 309 Expressway is to the west.
Industry in Camp Hill
Local Businesses
McNeil Pharmaceuticals built its main office and factory on Camp Hill Road in the 1960s. McNeil makes well-known medicines like Tylenol and Motrin. McNeil is now part of Johnson & Johnson. The factory closed in April 2010.
Camp Hill shares the same ZIP code as Fort Washington, which is 19034.
Points of Interest
Here are some interesting historical places in and around Camp Hill:
- Scheetz Farm (1729): Located at 7161 Camp Hill Road in Springfield Township. The Scheetz family built a paper mill along Sandy Run in 1759. The mill later burned down and was removed in 1969.
- George Emlen House (1745): Found on Pennsylvania Avenue, in Springfield and Upper Dublin Townships. This house served as George Washington's headquarters from November 2 to December 11, 1777.
- "Camp Hill Hall," John R. Fell House (1882): Located at 709 Pennsylvania Avenue, in Whitemarsh and Upper Dublin Townships. This building is now the United States headquarters for WEC International, a missionary group.
- "Fairwold," T. Craig Heberton House (1888): On Camp Hill Road in Upper Dublin Township. The original architect was Wilson Eyre. It was greatly expanded in the early 1900s. Today, it is the Or Hadash Synagogue.
- "Hawkswell," Howard H. Henry House (1904): At Camp Hill Road and Pennsylvania Avenue, in Springfield and Upper Dublin Townships. This house was also designed by Wilson Eyre. In the 1970s, it was renamed "Copernicus House." It became the headquarters for the Copernicus Society of America.
- "Ridgewood Farm," William Frazier Harrison House (1909): Located at 511 Dreshertown Road in Upper Dublin Township. This large 250-acre property is now the Manufacturers' Golf & Country Club.
Images for kids
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George Emlen House
