Wingohocking Creek facts for kids
The Wingohocking Creek was once a big stream in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It flowed into another stream called Frankford Creek, which then emptied into the Delaware River. Today, you won't find Wingohocking Creek on most maps because it's completely hidden underground. It was turned into a giant sewer system in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
It can be confusing to look at a modern map. The Tacony Creek seems to suddenly change its name to Frankford Creek. This happens near where the Wingohocking Creek used to join the Tacony Creek. What was once a busy stream with many mills and factories is now gone from sight. Only city sewer maps still show where it flows. The main exit for the Wingohocking sewer is huge, about 24 feet (7.3 meters) high! You can see parts of it near the Juniata neighborhood and a nearby golf course.
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What Does "Wingohocking" Mean?
The name "Wingohocking" might come from the Lenape people, who were the first inhabitants of this land. It could mean "favorite land for planting" or "crooked water." Another story says the stream was named by James Logan. He supposedly named it after Chief Wingohocking. They traded names as a sign of friendship and respect, which was a tradition among some Native American groups.
Where Did the Creek Flow?
Today, the Wingohocking Creek flows as a combined sewer. This means it carries both rainwater and sewage. It runs under Belfield Avenue and close to Wingohocking Street in the Logan neighborhood. The creek had two main parts, or branches. The bigger one, called the West Branch, reached all the way to the Mount Airy neighborhood.
In the 1860s, city engineers planned to turn many of Philadelphia's smaller streams into sewers. The Wingohocking Creek was one of the first to be changed. Work began in the 1880s, and the last parts of the stream were covered by 1928. This covered about 21 miles (34 kilometers) of streams!
A Hidden Problem: The Logan Redevelopment Area
Unfortunately, some mistakes were made when the creek was covered. In the Logan neighborhood, many houses had problems with their foundations. This was because the ground underneath them was not filled properly when the stream was buried. The city bought many of these homes and tore them down. This area is now called the Logan Redevelopment Area. Today, you can still see the empty streets where houses once stood. The city plans to build new businesses there in the future.
The Creek's Path and Its Branches
Before it was covered, the Wingohocking Creek flowed west from where it met Tacony Creek. It followed paths that are now streets like Ramona and Cayuga. It also ran near Greenmount Cemetery. If you look closely in the lowest parts of this area, you might even see sewer manhole covers that show where the old creek used to be.
The Wingohocking Creek system had two main branches that met under Belfield Avenue. The southern branch, called Wingohocking Creek itself, followed the path of today's SEPTA Chestnut Hill East Line train tracks. The northern branch was known as Mill Creek. It started in Mt. Airy and followed the path of Mansfield Avenue. Mansfield Avenue was actually built right on top of Mill Creek after it was covered over.
A Small Piece of the Past
Even though most of the creek is hidden, a tiny part of Wingohocking Creek has been uncovered. You can see it at the Awbury Arboretum. This is the only place where the Wingohocking Creek flows above ground today!
The creek may be gone from sight, but its name lives on. You can still find Wingohocking Street in Philadelphia, reminding everyone of the stream that once flowed there.
Images for kids
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Roberts' Mill, circa 1870. Roberts' Mill (built 1680s, demolished 1873), was on Mill Creek, at Church Lane.
