East Falls, Philadelphia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
East Falls
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East Falls at Ridge Avenue and Midvale Avenue in September 2006 with the Twin Bridges in the background
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| Country |  United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Philadelphia County |
| City | Philadelphia |
| Area code(s) | 215, 267 and 445 |
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East Falls is a lively neighborhood in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It's also known simply as The Falls. This area is located on the east side of the Schuylkill River. Long ago, there were natural waterfalls here, which is how the neighborhood got its name. These waterfalls were later covered up when the Schuylkill Canal and Fairmount Water Works were built in 1822.
East Falls is surrounded by other neighborhoods like Germantown and Roxborough. The beautiful Wissahickon Valley Park is also nearby, separating East Falls from Manayunk, Philadelphia. The neighborhood stretches along Ridge Avenue, right next to the Schuylkill River. It's a great spot because it's close to Center City and has good public transportation, including the East Falls station.
The biggest shopping and business area in East Falls is the Falls Center. It has more than 18 businesses and even an apartment complex.
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What Makes East Falls Special?
East Falls is right on the banks of the Schuylkill River and next to Fairmount Park. This means you can enjoy walking, jogging, and biking trails all year round. The community often hosts street fairs and clean-up days. There are also many chances to volunteer and get involved.
The Arthur Ashe Youth Tennis and Education Center is in East Falls. It's a large facility with sixteen tennis courts. Young people in Philadelphia can learn to play tennis here. It was built with private money and works with the City of Philadelphia.
Famous People from East Falls
East Falls is famous for being the childhood home of Grace Kelly. She was a well-known actress who later became the Princess of Monaco. Her family home is at 3901 Henry Avenue.
Other famous people who lived in East Falls include:
- Arlen Specter, a former U.S. Senator.
- Chaim Potok, a famous author and scholar.
- Ed Rendell, who was once the Pennsylvania Governor and Mayor of Philadelphia.
Historic Places and Buildings
East Falls is home to the historic Laurel Hill Cemetery. Many important people from Philadelphia are buried there.
Two other places in East Falls are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These are the Thomas Mifflin School and the former Woman's Medical College.
There was once a large public housing project called Schuylkill Falls in East Falls. It was designed by architect Oscar Stonorov and built in 1953. The building was later torn down in 1996.
East Falls' Early History
East Falls gets its name from its location on the east side of the Schuylkill River. This was where the river dropped from higher ground to the flatter land of Philadelphia. Because of these "falls," it was the highest point on the river where boats could easily travel downstream. This made East Falls an important transfer point for goods. It connected river travel with old Indian paths that became roads like Ridge Avenue.
Before the War of 1812, two men, Josiah White and Erskine Hazard, used the power of the waterfalls for their factories. They had a foundry, a wire mill, and a nail factory. Their need for energy led them to learn how to use anthracite (a type of coal) for industrial heating. They also helped create the Schuylkill Canal and later founded the Lehigh Coal & Navigation Company. These efforts helped kickstart the U.S. industrial revolution in the early 1800s.
The original waterfalls disappeared when a dam was built downstream at the Fairmount Water Works. This raised the river level. However, you can still see rocks above the water that show where the natural falls used to be.
Before Europeans arrived, the Lenni Lenape Indians lived along the lower Schuylkill River. The Wissahickon Creek flows into the Schuylkill here. This creek separates East Falls from the Wissahickon neighborhood. Today, the creek area is part of Fairmount Park, with paths for walking and biking. The name "Wissahickon" comes from Lenape words meaning "yellow-colored creek" or "catfish creek." In the past, "catfish and waffles" was a popular meal at inns in the valley. A catfish weathervane still sits on top of the Free Library of Philadelphia Falls of Schuylkill Branch.
In the 1800s, the Dobson Mills textile factory was a very successful business in East Falls.
Education in East Falls
East Falls has several schools and universities.
Colleges and Universities
- Thomas Jefferson University has a large campus in East Falls. It was founded in 1884. The university offers many different degree programs for its students.
- The main campus of Drexel University College of Medicine is also in East Falls. This medical school combines the history of two older medical schools: Hahnemann Medical College (founded 1848) and Woman's Medical College (founded 1850).
Schools for Younger Students
Public Schools
The School District of Philadelphia runs the public schools in the area.
- The Thomas Mifflin School is a K–8 grade school. It is currently being updated with an $8 million renovation project.
Private Schools
- William Penn Charter School is a private day school. It was given its charter by William Penn himself in 1689. The school has been on its East Falls campus since 1925.
- St. Bridget's Elementary School operated for many years but closed in 2012. However, St. Bridget's Roman Catholic Church, founded in 1853, is still open.
Public Libraries
The Falls of Schuylkill Branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia serves the East Falls community. It is located at Midvale Avenue and Warden Drive.
Places to Worship
East Falls has several places of worship for different faiths:
- Baptist: Falls of Schuylkill Baptist Church
- Catholic: St. Bridget's Roman Catholic Church
- Episcopal Church in the United States of America: Memorial Church of the Good Shepherd
- Non-Denominational: METRO Church
- Presbyterian: East Falls First Presbyterian Church
Notable People from East Falls
- Grace Kelly, famous actress and Princess of Monaco
- Thomas Mifflin, the first Governor of Pennsylvania
- Ed Rendell, former Governor of Pennsylvania and former Mayor of Philadelphia
- Arlen Spector, former U.S. Senator
- Jesse Watters, a political commentator
