Ashton-Woodenbridge, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Ashton-Woodenbridge is a neighborhood in the Northeast
section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
. It is located on the eastern side of the Far Northeast, in the vicinity of Northeast Philadelphia Airport
, including Wooden Bridge Run west to Academy Gardens, and south to Pennypack Park
. Originally farm land, it was part of the holdings of Thomas Holme
, surveyor for Philadelphia's founder, William Penn
. The area was part of the former Delaware Township, until the 1854 Act of Consolidation incorporated it into the City of Philadelphia.
Holme emancipated his slaves upon his death and their descendants owned much of the area. Remnants of their community can still be seen near present-day Holme Circle, where stood a village formerly called Harrisburg. Their tiny Bethany A.M.E. Church, located on Ashton Road, at least unofficially rivals Mother Bethel A.M.E.
as the oldest African-American church.
"Woodenbridge" is from Wooden Bridge Run, a creek that flows in the northern portion of the area, a tributary of Pennypack Creek
. The name "Ashton-Woodenbridge" first came into use in the 1970s.http://www.phila.gov/phils/Docs/otherinfo/pname1.htm
Active farms dotted the area as late as the early 1960s and horse-drawn wagons frequently served as local transit during snowy weather, navigating the steep Ashton Road to take workers to the bus stop at Holme Circle.
The area has long been served by freight railroad and there was and is active industry in the area. Crown, Cork, and Seal
was a long-time anchor on Ashton Road, finally relocating their world headquarters further north on a large campus.
Northeast Philadelphia Airport
lies at the north end of Ashton Road at Grant Avenue. It began as a World War II
airbase, and now serves as a general-aviation reliever airport for Philadelphia International Airport
. Despite having no scheduled passenger service, it is the sixth busiest airport in Pennsylvania.
The area was settled in earnest by veterans of World War II during the dramatic expansion of the Northeast. The housing stock is primarily twins, row homes, townhouses and apartments.
Northeast Philadelphia
Northeast Philadelphia, nicknamed Northeast Philly, the Northeast and the Great Northeast, is a section of the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. According to the 2000 Census, the Northeast has a sizable percentage of the city's 1.547 million people — a population of between 300,000 and 450,000,...
section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
. It is located on the eastern side of the Far Northeast, in the vicinity of Northeast Philadelphia Airport
Northeast Philadelphia Airport
Northeast Philadelphia Airport is a public airport located just north of the intersection of Grant Avenue and Ashton Road in the Ashton-Woodenbridge neighborhood of Northeast Philadelphia. It is part of the Philadelphia Airport System along with Philadelphia International Airport, and is the...
, including Wooden Bridge Run west to Academy Gardens, and south to Pennypack Park
Pennypack Park
Pennypack Park is a municipal park, part of Philadelphia's Fairmount Park system, in Northeast Philadelphia in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. Established in 1905 by ordinance of the City of Philadelphia, it includes about of woodlands, meadows and wetlands. The Pennypack Creek runs through the...
. Originally farm land, it was part of the holdings of Thomas Holme
Thomas Holme
Thomas Holme was the first Surveyor General of Pennsylvania to actually serve, in which capacity he laid out the original plan for the city of Philadelphia.-Life:...
, surveyor for Philadelphia's founder, William Penn
William Penn
William Penn was an English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania, the English North American colony and the future Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He was an early champion of democracy and religious freedom, notable for his good relations and successful...
. The area was part of the former Delaware Township, until the 1854 Act of Consolidation incorporated it into the City of Philadelphia.
Holme emancipated his slaves upon his death and their descendants owned much of the area. Remnants of their community can still be seen near present-day Holme Circle, where stood a village formerly called Harrisburg. Their tiny Bethany A.M.E. Church, located on Ashton Road, at least unofficially rivals Mother Bethel A.M.E.
Mother Bethel A.M.E. Church
The Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church was founded in 1794 by Richard Allen, an African-American Methodist minister. The church has been located at the corner of Sixth and Lombard Streets in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, since that time, making it the oldest church property continuously...
as the oldest African-American church.
"Woodenbridge" is from Wooden Bridge Run, a creek that flows in the northern portion of the area, a tributary of Pennypack Creek
Pennypack Creek
Pennypack Creek is a creek in southeastern Pennsylvania in the United States. It runs southeast through eastern Montgomery County, lower Bucks County, and the northeast section of Philadelphia, before emptying into the Delaware River.-Name:...
. The name "Ashton-Woodenbridge" first came into use in the 1970s.http://www.phila.gov/phils/Docs/otherinfo/pname1.htm
Active farms dotted the area as late as the early 1960s and horse-drawn wagons frequently served as local transit during snowy weather, navigating the steep Ashton Road to take workers to the bus stop at Holme Circle.
The area has long been served by freight railroad and there was and is active industry in the area. Crown, Cork, and Seal
Crown Cork
The crown cork , the first form of bottle cap, was invented by William Painter in 1891 in Baltimore. The company making it was originally called the Bottle Seal Company, but it changed its name with the almost immediate success of the crown cork to the Crown Cork and Seal Company...
was a long-time anchor on Ashton Road, finally relocating their world headquarters further north on a large campus.
Northeast Philadelphia Airport
Northeast Philadelphia Airport
Northeast Philadelphia Airport is a public airport located just north of the intersection of Grant Avenue and Ashton Road in the Ashton-Woodenbridge neighborhood of Northeast Philadelphia. It is part of the Philadelphia Airport System along with Philadelphia International Airport, and is the...
lies at the north end of Ashton Road at Grant Avenue. It began as a World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
airbase, and now serves as a general-aviation reliever airport for Philadelphia International Airport
Philadelphia International Airport
Philadelphia International Airport is a major airport in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, and is the largest airport in the Delaware Valley region and in Pennsylvania...
. Despite having no scheduled passenger service, it is the sixth busiest airport in Pennsylvania.
The area was settled in earnest by veterans of World War II during the dramatic expansion of the Northeast. The housing stock is primarily twins, row homes, townhouses and apartments.