Springfield Township in Delaware County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

J. Edgar Thompson

(1808~1874)

Photographed by Keith S Smith, September 10, 2013

1. J. Edgar Thompson Marker

Inscription. Here was born the first chief engineer, Pennsylvania Railroad, 1847~52, and its third president, 1852~74. He was responsible for construction of the main line, Harrisburg to Pittsburgh, and for the system’s expansion to the Mississippi River.

Erected 1991 by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC), and the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) series lists.

Location. 39° 54.948′ N, 75° 20.239′ W. Marker is near Springfield, Pennsylvania, in Delaware County. It is in Springfield Township. It is at the intersection of Baltimore Pike and East Thompson Avenue, on the right when traveling west on Baltimore Pike. This marker is directly in front of a Wells Fargo Bank. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 880 Baltimore Pike, Springfield PA 19064, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Pennsylvania and in Greater Philadelphia.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

New Netherland,

and one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Caroline Burnham Kilgore (approx. 0.8 miles away); An Original Landscape (approx. one mile away); Benjamin West

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(approx. 1.1 miles away); World War II Memorial (approx. 1.2 miles away); Korean War Memorial (approx. 1.2 miles away); Vietnam War Memorial (approx. 1.2 miles away); Swarthmore in the World War (approx. 1.2 miles away); Springfield Friends Meeting (approx. 1.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Springfield.

Also see . . .
1. J. Edgar Thompson - Wikipedia. (Submitted on September 11, 2013, by Keith S Smith of West Chester, Pennsylvania.)
2. Explore PA History - Behind the marker. (Submitted on September 11, 2013, by Keith S Smith of West Chester, Pennsylvania.)

J. Edgar Thompson image. Click for full size.

Public Domain

2. J. Edgar Thompson

J. Edgar Thompson Marker - Roadside image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Keith S Smith, September 10, 2013

3. J. Edgar Thompson Marker - Roadside

Credits. This page was last revised on May 6, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 11, 2013, by Keith S Smith of West Chester, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 1,062 times since then and 31 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 11, 2013, by Keith S Smith of West Chester, Pennsylvania. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.