Across the Pennypack Creek at Lower Rhawn Street Bridge flows a legacy. This isn’t just any bridge. These two closed-spandrel concrete arches silently watch over Pennypack Creek. They’ve seen a lot since their construction in 1930. They stand as silent witnesses to the creek’s long history.
Pennypack Creek itself whispers tales of centuries past. Its Lenape name pennepèkw means “downward-flowing water” or “deep dead water”. Early settlers and cartographers struggled with its spelling. Names like Pennishpaska and Pemipacka appeared on old maps. Thomas Holme even called it Dublin Creek.
Imagine the Swedish colonists who settled the Pennypack valley before William Penn arrived in 1682. They lived here alongside the creek. Penn himself ordered the first bridge built across the creek in 1697. That bridge on Frankford Avenue still stands a testament to early ingenuity. It’s the oldest stone bridge in continuous use in the United States.
Pennypack Creek wasn’t just a pretty waterway. It powered industry. Several mills thrived along its banks. Penn’s Pemmapecka Mill built in 1701 was one example. These mills served local farmers. They offered a closer market than Philadelphia itself. Fetter’s Mill a later addition is now on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Industrial Revolution changed everything. Steam power replaced water power. Many mills closed. By 1905 Philadelphia acquired the land around Pennypack Creek. It became Pennypack Park. Today the creek flows through both this park and Lorimer Park in Montgomery County.
Look closely at the Lower Rhawn Street Bridge. Notice its design. It’s a sturdy structure reflecting the engineering of its time. But it’s more than concrete and steel. It’s a link to Philadelphia’s past. It’s a silent observer of the creek’s journey from its beginnings in Bucks and Montgomery counties. It continues its flow to the Delaware River.
So next time you cross the Pennypack Creek at Lower Rhawn Street Bridge. Take a moment to appreciate its history. It’s not just a bridge. It’s a story waiting to be discovered. A story carved into the very landscape of this city.