Wissinoming in Philadelphia in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Wissinoming: A Green Retreat
1884
The first European to settle here was a Swedish farmer named Peter Cock in 1675. Back then, forest covered the land and tangles of wild grape grew along Wissinoming Creek.
Later, factory workers from Fishtown and Kensington were drawn to the greenery of Wissinoming. They founded the Wissinoming Mutual Land and Improvement Association in 1884 to build houses "in the pure air away from the congestion and contamination...." There were only sixty-nine houses in the area in 1887. By 1909 there were nine hundred, plus seventy new businesses and four churches.
What is now Wissinoming Park was once the estate of Robert Cornelius who settled there in 1852. Cornelius, a wealthy manufacturer of lighting fixtures, planted hundreds of exotic trees on his estate—some of which remain. As a young man, he helped perfect early photographic techniques and opened one of the first photo studios.
[Caption:]
Made in 1839, this self portrait by Robert Cornelius is one of the earliest photographs of a person.
Erected by Philadelphia Parks & Recreation; Delaware River City Corp.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Colonial Era
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Location. 40° 0.776′ N, 75° 2.979′ W. Marker is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia County. It is in Wissinoming. Marker is on K&T Trail just east of Devereaux Street, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 5200 Devereaux St, Philadelphia PA 19135, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Recreational Boating on the Delaware (here, next to this marker); Bald Eagle (within shouting distance of this marker); Bringing Back the River / One Site, Many Ecosystems (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Lardner's Point Pumping Station (approx. 0.2 miles away); Tacony-Palmyra Bridge (approx. 0.2 miles away); Industry Along the River (approx. 0.2 miles away); Kensington and Tacony Railroad (approx. 0.2 miles away); Lardner's Point (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Philadelphia.
Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2024. It was originally submitted on January 30, 2024, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 44 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 30, 2024, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
