Frankford Creek
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Frankford Creek is a minor tributary of the Delaware River. The stream originates in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania where the place names Toxony and Tookany were used in historic times; the stream is still known as Tookany Creek in this region, where it flows southwest. After a sharp turn south the creek is called Tacony Creek; here it is considered the informal boundary separating Northeast Philadelphia from the rest of the city. The Philadelphia neighborhood of Olney is on the western side of the stream in this area. It continues to be called the Tacony at least until the smaller Wingohocking Creek merges with it in Juniata Park. Beyond Castor Avenue it is known as Frankford Creek until the stream's confluence with the Delaware River in the Bridesburg section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
By the Lenni Lenape Native Americans who lived within its watershed, the Frankford Creek was called Quessionwonmink, which means “Eel Skin River.” Some believe the word Tacony to be derived from another Lenni Lenape word meaning forest or wilderness.
Portions of its tributary Wingohocking Creek were converted to sewers between 1905 and 1915.
In 1934, the creek's path through Frankford was straightened as two horseshoe bends were removed. In 1956 the creek was diverted to meet the Delaware River at a more southerly point, cutting off the loop in its natural bed through Bridesburg past the Frankford Arsenal.
Much of Frankford Creek's watershed has been converted to storm sewers, as this map discloses.
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[edit] Quotations
- Frankford creek is formed by the union of three streams. One of these, now known as the Wingohocking, is so called in a patent to Griffith Jones, 1684. It is called Winconico in a patent to John Goodson, 1701, and Wincokoe in a patent to Griffith Jones of the same year. Wingohocking is defined by Heckewelder to be "a choice spot of land for cultivation, a favorite place for planting, fine land;" whilst Mr. Henry says it means "lands in a hollow or valley." In modern times, the Wingohocking has been called Logan's run, from the fact that it flowed through the grounds of the seat of James Logan at Stenton. The Wingohocking rises near Mount Airy, curves generally to the south, and passing through Germantown runs eastwardly until it unites with Tacony creek near Rowland's saw-mill. The Tacony rises in Montgomery County near Shoemakertown, runs south-west and south, crosses the line of the former Bristol township, and formed the boundary of Bristol and Oxford townships.--Rock run enters into the Tacony south-west of what was formerly Whitaker's factory.-- The Little Tacony rises near the Township-line Road between Dublin and Oxford, runs nearly south through Oxford township, and is joined by one or two brooks, and empties into the Frankford creek east of Frankford. The stream is now called Frankford creek from the junction of the Tacony and Wingohocking, and enters the Delaware near the U.S. Arsenal. Tacony is called Taoconik in a patent to Robert Adams, 1684; Toaconinck in a patent to Griffith Jones in the same year. Little Tacony is also called Tackawanna. Mr. Henry says Tacony is derived from Tekene and means "woods" or "an uninhabited place." Into Frankford creek near the Delaware empties a stream called Freaheatah. Frankford creek derives its name from the village of Frankford, adjoining. On Lindstrom's map it is called Aleskins Kylen, La Riviere des Anguilles Ecorchees (meaning "the river of skinned eels"), the origin of which can only be conjectured. A portion of the creek east of the junction of the Little Tacony is called Questioninck in a patent to Eric Cock and others, and Quissinuaminck in a patent to Thomas Fairman, 1688.
- "Changes in the Names of Streams In and About Philadelphia". Public Ledger Almanac: 1879. Pages 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, & 13. [1]
