Crum Creek
Encyclopedia
Crum Creek is a creek in Delaware County
and Chester County, Pennsylvania
, flowing approximately 24 miles (38.6 km), generally in a southward direction and draining into the Delaware River
in Eddystone, Pennsylvania
. It begins in a swamp (formerly a lake, dammed out) near Newtown Square, Pennsylvania along which several mills were established in the 19th century. Right afterward it crosses under Pennsylvania Route 29
and winds one and a half miles (1.5 miles (2.4 km)) downstream until it hits the hamlet
of Crum Creek. It later flows into the Delaware River
near Philadelphia
.
Two notable landmarks along the creek's course are high trestles: a trolley trestle about 30 feet (9.1 m) high runs across the creek in Smedley Park in Nether Providence Township; this trestle carries the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority
's 101 trolley
line from Media, Pennsylvania
across the creek. About a mile (1 miles (1.6 km)) south, a 1000 feet (304.8 m), 100 feet (30.5 m) trestle carries SEPTA's Media/Elwyn Line
commuter railroad line across the creek, which by now winds through a deep valley. The trestle is half in Nether Providence Township (west of the creek) and half in Swarthmore
borough
(east of the creek).
Baltimore Pike also crosses the Crum by Smedley Park in Nether Providence Township. A stone bridge carrying the highway was erected in 1924 with a 70 feet (21.3 m) arch commemorating the 282 men and 2 women from Delaware County who died in World War I. See photograph. This arch was demolished in 1958 when the highway was widened. The memorial tablets were moved to the nearby entrance of Smedley Park.
Crum Creek was dammed in 1931 near Pennsylvania Route 252
to fill Springton Lake (also known as Geist Reservoir), an approximately 391 acres (1.6 km²) drinking water reservoir maintained by Aqua America
.
Delaware County, Pennsylvania
Delaware County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 558,979, making it Pennsylvania's fifth most populous county, behind Philadelphia, Allegheny, Montgomery, and Bucks counties....
and Chester County, Pennsylvania
Chester County, Pennsylvania
-State parks:*French Creek State Park*Marsh Creek State Park*White Clay Creek Preserve-Demographics:As of the 2010 census, the county was 85.5% White, 6.1% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American or Alaskan Native, 3.9% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian, 1.8% were two or more races, and 2.4% were...
, flowing approximately 24 miles (38.6 km), generally in a southward direction and draining into the Delaware River
Delaware River
The Delaware River is a major river on the Atlantic coast of the United States.A Dutch expedition led by Henry Hudson in 1609 first mapped the river. The river was christened the South River in the New Netherland colony that followed, in contrast to the North River, as the Hudson River was then...
in Eddystone, Pennsylvania
Eddystone, Pennsylvania
Eddystone is a borough in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,442 at the 2000 census.-Early history:The area at the mouth of Ridley Creek was first called "Tequirassy" by Native Americans. The land was owned by Olof Persson Stille, one of the early settlers from New...
. It begins in a swamp (formerly a lake, dammed out) near Newtown Square, Pennsylvania along which several mills were established in the 19th century. Right afterward it crosses under Pennsylvania Route 29
Pennsylvania Route 29
Pennsylvania Route 29 is a 118 mile long north–south state highway that runs through most of eastern Pennsylvania. The route currently exists in two segments, a southern segment and a northern segment. The southernmost terminus of the designation is at U.S. Route 30 in Malvern...
and winds one and a half miles (1.5 miles (2.4 km)) downstream until it hits the hamlet
Hamlet
The Tragical History of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, or more simply Hamlet, is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1599 and 1601...
of Crum Creek. It later flows into the Delaware River
Delaware River
The Delaware River is a major river on the Atlantic coast of the United States.A Dutch expedition led by Henry Hudson in 1609 first mapped the river. The river was christened the South River in the New Netherland colony that followed, in contrast to the North River, as the Hudson River was then...
near Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
.
Two notable landmarks along the creek's course are high trestles: a trolley trestle about 30 feet (9.1 m) high runs across the creek in Smedley Park in Nether Providence Township; this trestle carries the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority
Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority
The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority is a metropolitan transportation authority that operates various forms of public transit—bus, subway and elevated rail, commuter rail, light rail, and electric trolley bus—that serve 3.9 million people in and around Philadelphia,...
's 101 trolley
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
line from Media, Pennsylvania
Media, Pennsylvania
The borough of Media is the county seat of Delaware County, Pennsylvania and is located west of Philadelphia. Media was incorporated in 1850 at the same time that it was named the county seat. The population was 5,533 at the 2000 census. Its school district is the Rose Tree Media School District...
across the creek. About a mile (1 miles (1.6 km)) south, a 1000 feet (304.8 m), 100 feet (30.5 m) trestle carries SEPTA's Media/Elwyn Line
Media/Elwyn Line
The Media/Elwyn Line is a SEPTA Regional Rail line running from Center City Philadelphia west to Elwyn in Delaware County.Originally known as the Media/West Chester Branch, service was truncated on September 19, 1986 from West Chester to its current terminus at Elwyn. Service expansion beyond Elwyn...
commuter railroad line across the creek, which by now winds through a deep valley. The trestle is half in Nether Providence Township (west of the creek) and half in Swarthmore
Swarthmore, Pennsylvania
Swarthmore is a borough in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. Swarthmore was originally named Westdale in honor of noted painter Benjamin West, who was one of the early residents of the town. The name was changed to Swarthmore after the establishment of Swarthmore College...
borough
Borough
A borough is an administrative division in various countries. In principle, the term borough designates a self-governing township although, in practice, official use of the term varies widely....
(east of the creek).
Baltimore Pike also crosses the Crum by Smedley Park in Nether Providence Township. A stone bridge carrying the highway was erected in 1924 with a 70 feet (21.3 m) arch commemorating the 282 men and 2 women from Delaware County who died in World War I. See photograph. This arch was demolished in 1958 when the highway was widened. The memorial tablets were moved to the nearby entrance of Smedley Park.
Crum Creek was dammed in 1931 near Pennsylvania Route 252
Pennsylvania Route 252
Pennsylvania Route 252 is a north–south route that connects at its northern terminus Pennsylvania Route 23 in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania to Pennsylvania Route 320 in Nether Providence Township, Pennsylvania at its southern terminus.-History:...
to fill Springton Lake (also known as Geist Reservoir), an approximately 391 acres (1.6 km²) drinking water reservoir maintained by Aqua America
Aqua America
Aqua Americas utility services reach 2.8 million residential customers in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, Texas, New Jersey, Indiana, Virginia, Florida, North Carolina, Maine, Missouri, New York and South Carolina.-Acquisitions:...
.