Name/Title
The WissahickonEntry/Object ID
2013.34.1.32Description
The Edwin C. Jellett Series of Scrapbooks, Volume 1- The Wissahickon
Page 32 contains handwritten notes by Edwin C. Jellett. The notes were written on white, lined paper and affixed to the Scrapbook page.
The heading is "Wissahickon Turnpike". What follows is a transcript copied from a typed transcript made by John MCarthur Harris, Jr. on March 18, 1983). See notes for additional information. Following is the transcrpit of Jellett's handwritten notes:
"Fom Log Cabin to Ridge Road the present "drive" was only a cart road. (J.K.)
At the time the wooden mill was at Ridge Road, the road along the creek from Ridge Road to Rittenhouse Street was only a narrow dirt road, with "turn-outs" at convenient points, it for a greater part of the distance being only wide enough for a cart. (Fell)
Road about the same near Garsed's (?) Lane. (See Fell). At this time the entire road along the Wissahickon was narrow, and at convenient points "turN-outs" were cut so that wagons might pass. (Fell)
Some time in the "50 ties" (50's), a freshet washed out the Bridge and Pike at Gorgas Lane, and swept away Jake Heft's Dye House, and undermined the wall of the main mill to such an extent, that the gable from the bottom to the top parted, and had to be drawn together and bound with iron(s)(?). Heft brought suit against the Turnpike Co., because it's bridge did not properly (turn page over) provide for the accomodation of the water of the stream, obtained judgement, and the Turnpike Co. was forced to go into bankruptcy. To rescue himself Heft bought the Pike and placed two additional toll gates upon it, making 4 in all. The original toll gates were at "Wissahickon Curve" at Ridge Road, and at the bend in the creek near City Line Road. (Fell)
The cutting of the Wissahickon Turnpike from Rittenhouse Street north was performed by a gang of Irish laborers, under the direction and supervision of John Hartmann of Mt. Airy. (undecipherable word) to E.J.C. 6-4-1805.Collection
GHS Scrapbook CollectionMade/Created
Date made
1894 - 1925Notes
Creation Date: June 4, 1805
