Middletown Township near Media in Delaware County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
The Media Waterworks
Photographed By Carl Gordon Moore Jr., December 5, 2021
1. The Media Waterworks Marker
Inscription.
The Media Waterworks. . Originally a hunting and fishing ground and trading path of the Lenni-Lenape and Okehocking Indian tribes. In 1701 a gristmill and millhouse were erected here by early settlers. The area became known as Palmer's mill after Lewis Palmer, a Media merchant, acquired it and built a dam on Ridley Creek. The property was purchased by Media Borough in 1871 for erection of a waterworks. This water plant was rebuilt and expanded in 1938 and again in 1955. The site has grown to over 300 acres to protect and preserve this section of the Ridley Creek valley, The first environmental protection and pure water law in Pennsylvania history was enacted in 1871 to safeguard this water supply by prohibiting pollution of Ridley Creek above this point.
Originally a hunting and fishing ground and
trading path of the Lenni-Lenape and Okehocking
Indian tribes. In 1701 a gristmill and millhouse
were erected here by early settlers. The
area became known as Palmer's mill after
Lewis Palmer, a Media merchant, acquired it and
built a dam on Ridley Creek. The property was
purchased by Media Borough in 1871 for
erection of a waterworks. This water plant was
rebuilt and expanded in 1938 and again in 1955.
The site has grown to over 300 acres to protect
and preserve this section of the Ridley
Creek valley, The first environmental
protection and pure water law in Pennsylvania
history was enacted in 1871 to safeguard this
water supply by prohibiting pollution of Ridley
Creek above this point.
Erected 1984 by Media Borough Council.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Natural Resources. A significant historical year for this entry is 1701.
Location. 39° 55.024′ N, 75° 24.304′ W. Marker is near Media, Pennsylvania, in Delaware County. It is in Middletown Township. Marker can be reached from Baltimore Pike, on the right when traveling west. Memorial Park is on north side of road, just west of Ridley Creek,. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1301 E Baltimore Pike, Media PA 19063, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Photographed By Carl Gordon Moore Jr., December 5, 2021
2. The Media Waterworks Marker
The road in the background is Baltimore Pike. It is here not US 1, which, in northbound direction, goes onto Media bypass west of here.
Photographed By Carl Gordon Moore Jr., December 5, 2021
3. The Media Waterworks Marker
Photographed By Carl Gordon Moore Jr., December 5, 2021
4. The Media Waterworks Marker
Look west from park entrance.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 5, 2021, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. This page has been viewed 183 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos:1. submitted on December 5, 2021, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. 2, 3. submitted on December 6, 2021, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. 4. submitted on December 7, 2021, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
