Holmesburg, Philadelphia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Holmesburg
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Saint Dominic Roman Catholic Church, on Frankford Avenue, was established in 1849
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| Country |  United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Philadelphia County |
| City | Philadelphia |
| Area code(s) | 215, 267, and 445 |
Holmesburg started as a small village within Lower Dublin Township, Pennsylvania. Today, it is a neighborhood in the Northeast part of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. The area was named after Thomas Holme, who was Pennsylvania's Surveyor General and a mapmaker.
Holmesburg is surrounded by different areas. To the west, it borders Brous Avenue, Ryan Avenue, Sandy Run/Pennypack Creek, Holme Avenue, Holme Circle, Ashton Road, and Willits Road. The Delaware River forms its eastern border, and Cottman Avenue is to the south. The border with Torresdale to the north follows Welsh/Willits/Academy Road and then Linden Avenue. Holmesburg's ZIP code is 19136.
Contents
A Look Back in Time
The land around Holmesburg was first home to the Lenape people. In 1683, William Penn bought this land from the native people. It was located between the Pennypack and Neshaminy Creeks. In 1682, Thomas Holme received a large piece of land from Penn to create Wellspring Plantation. Later, in 1790, his family divided the land, and a small part of it became known as the Village of Holmesburg.
To connect his home with the new city of Philadelphia, William Penn had the King's Highway Bridge built over the Pennypack Creek in 1697. Downstream from this bridge, Peter Dale and John Holme built a grist mill, which used water power to grind grain. Over time, other mills were added, like a sawmill and a textile mill. These mills helped Holmesburg grow.
In 1756, the first stagecoach service began between Philadelphia and New York. Since the trip took three days, people needed places to rest. A blacksmith shop and an inn, called The Green Tree, opened in Holmesburg. Roads were improved, and in 1803, Holmesburg even got its own toll-house to help pay for road upkeep.
Later, in 1834, the Philadelphia and Trenton Railroad opened, making travel easier. By 1895, trolley service was established, and the main road became known as Frankford Avenue.
Many important people have lived in Holmesburg. George A. Castor, a successful businessman, built a large mansion called "Stoneyhurst" overlooking the Pennypack Creek. Today, this site is home to the Missionary Servants of the Most Blessed Trinity, a group of Roman Catholic women. The congregation was founded by Father Timothy A. Judge, for whom Father Judge High School is named.
Famous Shakespearean actor Edwin Forrest also owned a large country estate in Holmesburg. After he passed away in 1872, his estate became the Forrest Home for retired actors.
How Holmesburg Became Part of Philadelphia
Around 1701, an area called Lower Dublin Township was created. In 1853, about half of this township was separated to form Delaware Township, which included Torresdale and Holmesburg. However, this new township didn't last long. The very next year, in 1854, a law called the Act of Consolidation, 1854 brought Holmesburg and many other towns into the city of Philadelphia.
Learning and Libraries
The Thomas Holme Library was finished in 1906. It is the smallest of Philadelphia's branch libraries. The money to build it came from a gift by industrialist Andrew Carnegie. The land for the library was given by the local Lower Dublin Academy, which had received money from the Holme family for education. The community and trustees agreed that a library would be a great way to help people learn. The Thomas Holme Branch was designed in the Beaux Arts style. The Free Library of Philadelphia runs the Holmesburg Branch.
Schools in Holmesburg
The School District of Philadelphia operates Joseph H. Brown Elementary School in Holmesburg. This school opened in 1895. After elementary school, students usually go to Meehan Middle School, and then to Abraham Lincoln High School.
Holmesburg is also home to several religious schools:
- Saint Dominic Roman Catholic church and grade school.
- Father Judge High School, established in 1954.
- St. Hubert High School for Girls.
- Holy Family University plans to build new facilities in the area.
Other private schools include Holmesburg Christian Academy, which is connected to Holmesburg Baptist Church. It has a preschool, elementary school, and middle school.
Prisons in Holmesburg
Holmesburg Prison first opened in 1896. The Philadelphia Prison System is located in Holmesburg. It includes several facilities like the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility, the Detention Center, and the House of Correction. Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility is named after Patrick N. Curran and Robert F. Fromhold, who were wardens at the old Holmesburg Prison. Holmesburg Prison was used until 1995 but has since reopened.
Holmesburg has one of the oldest continuous African-American communities in the country. It was started by runaway slaves before and during the Civil War.
The historic Pennypack Theatre building is also in Holmesburg. It was built in 1929 in the Art Deco style and designed by William Harold Lee.
The Frankford Avenue Bridge and Joseph H. Brown School were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988 because of their historical importance.
Parks and Getting Around
Holmesburg has many places for fun and relaxation. These include Holmesburg Recreation Center, James Ramp Memorial Playground, Pennypack Park, and Pennypack on the Delaware.
Getting to Center City Philadelphia is easy with SEPTA's Trenton Line commuter train. It takes about 25 minutes. Holmesburg is also served by several SEPTA bus routes (28, 66, 70, 84, and 88), which connect to other parts of Northeast Philadelphia and nearby areas. Interstate 95 is also close by, making it easy to drive downtown.
Holmesburg's main road, Frankford Avenue (U.S. Route 13), has been used for hundreds of years. The Frankford Avenue Bridge over Pennypack Creek, built in 1697, is the oldest stone arch bridge in the country that is still used today.
Holmesburg in Movies
Holmesburg Prison has been used as a filming location for several major movies. These include:
- Up Close & Personal starring Robert Redford and Michelle Pfeiffer.
- Animal Factory starring Willem Dafoe, Mickey Rourke, and Edward Furlong.
- Law Abiding Citizen starring Jamie Foxx, Gerard Butler, and Colm Meany.
- Parts of the movie Fallen were also filmed here.
Notable People
- George Castor - A member of Congress.
- John Gibbon - A General during the Civil War.
