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51-609: Fayette Street begins at the Schuylkill River and is the main street of the Borough of Conshohocken . At 11th Avenue, the borough boundary, Fayette Street's name changes to Butler Pike, and it continues northeast along the boundary between Plymouth Township and Whitemarsh Township as part of State Route 3016 (SR 3016), a four-lane undivided road and an unsigned quadrant route . The road passes through residential areas and intersects North Lane, where SR 3016 ends and Butler Pike becomes

102-521: A common problem with northern canals. The success of these projects and the rosy promise of anthracite (a new wonder fuel in the day) to alleviate energy problems spurred canal construction for the next decade in the east, and commercial opportunities funded three decades of investment from Illinois to the Atlantic Ocean, including the ambitious 1824 Main Line of Public Works bill to connect Philadelphia with

153-407: A county road. After this intersection, Butler Pike becomes a three-lane road with a center left-turn lane and passes a mix of homes and businesses, coming to an junction with Ridge Pike in a commercial area in the community of Harmonville . The roadway narrows to a two-lane undivided road and heads through residential neighborhoods, curving slightly to fully enter Whitemarsh Township as it bypasses

204-535: A hit by tossing it into the Schuylkill River, noting, "There's a spot in the Schuylkill River everybody uses. If they ever send divers down there, they'd be able to arm a small country." The Schuylkill River has been a plot point in several episodes of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia . In the 2011 episode "Thunder Gun Express", Frank Reynolds , played by Danny DeVito , steals a tourist ferry and travels down

255-728: A partial interchange with the PA 309 freeway, with access to northbound PA 309 and access from southbound PA 309; the missing movements are provided via an interchange with Susquehanna Road. Past the PA 309 interchange, the road continues northeast through wooded residential areas and comes to a junction with Norristown Road in the community of Three Tuns . From here, Butler Pike passes more residential neighborhoods as it heads into Maple Glen , where it intersects PA 63 and crosses into Horsham Township . Butler Pike runs through wooded areas of homes and comes to its terminus at an intersection with PA 152 . The route

306-487: A route used in the Underground Railroad . For more than 20 years, George and Martha Maulsby Corson sheltered fugitive slaves in their house at the corner of Germantown and Butler pikes . The Underground Railroad stops were located 5 to 10 miles (8.0 to 16.1 km) apart, and under cover of darkness a conductor would escort the enslaved to the next stop. Two sections of Butler Pike were converted into turnpikes in

357-537: Is a river in eastern Pennsylvania . It flows for 135 miles (217 km) from Pottsville southeast to Philadelphia , the nation's sixth-largest city, where it joins the Delaware River as one of its largest tributaries. The river's watershed of about 2,000 sq mi (5,180 km ) lies entirely within the state of Pennsylvania, stretching from the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians through

408-782: Is an unincorporated community located in Montgomery County , Pennsylvania , United States. The community is in Upper Dublin Township , 2 miles (3.2 km) northeast of the Borough of Ambler and 3 miles (4.8 km) west of Horsham . Three Tuns is located at the intersection of Butler Pike and Norristown Road, approximately .45 miles (0.72 km) southwest of Butler Pike's intersection with Pennsylvania Route 63 and approximately .53 miles (0.85 km) west of Norristown Road's intersection with Limekiln Pike . Bean's 1884 History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania describes Three Tuns as follows: The village of Three Tons

459-456: Is filmed by the Schuylkill River and the adjacent neighborhood of Manayunk . The Schuylkill is shown in the beginning of the 2015 video for "Looking Out for You" by Philadelphia indie rock band Joy Again . The 2017 video for "Pain", from A Deeper Understanding by Philadelphia rock band The War on Drugs , features the band floating down the river while performing on a barge. Three Tuns, Pennsylvania Three Tuns (also Three Tons )

510-598: Is held on the river near Boathouse Row , as is the annual BAYADA Home Health Care Regatta, featuring disabled rowers from all over the continent, and in autumn the annual Head of the Schuylkill Regatta takes place in Philadelphia. Also, the Stotesbury Cup Regatta , the biggest high school regatta in the world, takes place there. The Chinese sport of dragon boat racing was introduced to the United States on

561-461: Is known to have been on fire more than once throughout history, for example in November 1892 when the surface film of oil that had leaked from nearby oil works at Point Breeze , Philadelphia, was ignited by a match tossed carelessly from a boat, with fatal results. Silt and coal dust from upstream industries, particularly coal mining and washing operations in the headwaters, led to extensive silting of

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612-464: Is situated in a fine fertile section of country, at the intersection of Norristown Rd and Butler Pike, the latter being turnpiked to Ambler, two and a half miles distant. It contains a store, hotel, school-house, several mechanic shops and five or six houses. The post-office was established here in 1858; T. G. Torbert, postmaster. The Union Library of Upper Dublin is kept here, over the store of E. T. Comly, and now contains about two thousand volumes. It

663-771: The Erie people west and northwest through the gaps of the Allegheny in eastern Ohio and northwestern Pennsylvania (between the upper Allegheny River and Lake Erie), as well as the Five Nations of the Iroquois , another Amerindian confederation eastwards from the right bank of the Genesee River through the Finger Lakes region of upper New York down the St. Lawrence . The Lenape had settlements on

714-559: The Grays Ferry section of Philadelphia , overlooking the Schuylkill River. In 2007 Beth Kephart published Flow: The Life and Times of Philadelphia's Schuylkill River , a series of poetic ruminations about the river. Philadelphia on the Fly , published in 2005, and Small Fry: The Lure of the Little , published in 2009 contain essays by Ron P. Swegman describing the experience of fly fishing along

765-635: The Industrial Revolution : the Lehigh Coal Company and the Lehigh Coal & Navigation Company. Following White's plan, the latter company improved down river navigation on the Lehigh River , using his Bear Trap Locks design to deliver over 365 tons of anthracite to Philadelphia docks by December 1820, four years ahead of promises to Stockholders. The success, along with the pending opening of

816-561: The Pennsylvania Railroad were vital shipping conduits from the second decade of the 19th century through the mid-20th century. The rise of trucking capabilities and state & county development of road and highway networks progressively took increasing amounts of business away from both competing transport industries. By the mid-1930s the canals inflexibility and a geographically limited pool of customers steadily shifting energy usage away from anthracite doomed most eastern canals, so

867-683: The Piedmont to the Atlantic Plain . Historically the Schuylkill lay within the territory of the Susquehannock and Lenape peoples. In 1682, William Penn founded the city of Philadelphia between the Schuylkill and Delaware rivers on lands purchased from the Lenape Indian tribe. The Schuylkill River became key in the development of the city and the surrounding region. While long used for transport,

918-646: The Plymouth Friends Meetinghouse , and reaching an offset intersection with Germantown Pike in Plymouth Meeting . Butler Pike continues northeast along the boundary between Plymouth Township to the northwest and Whitemarsh Township to the southeast as a two-lane undivided road, passing industrial parks and heading under Norfolk Southern 's Morrisville Line (formerly the Pennsylvania Railroad 's Trenton Cutoff ). The road passes near residential development and intersects Plymouth Road/Flourtown Road in

969-530: The Schuylkill Expressway was completed in 1959. Industrial pollution and mining silt plagued the river in the 19th and 20th centuries. Early concerns over water quality led to the creation of Fairmount Park in 1812. Protections came with the 1972 passing of the Clean Water Act , and the Schuylkill was designated as the first Pennsylvania Scenic River in 1978. Water quality has largely recovered in

1020-464: The Schuylkill River Trail . There are efforts to extend both rail and trail farther upriver than they currently reach. The Schuylkill River Trail continues upriver from Norristown to Mont Clare , and designers plan to connect it to sections above Pottstown. SEPTA Regional Rail service currently does not go farther upriver than Norristown. Visions of resuming commuter rail service farther up

1071-553: The War of 1812 , the two took delivery of an ark of anthracite coal which was notoriously difficult to combust reliably and experimented with ways to use it industrially, providing the knowledge to successfully begin resolving the ongoing decades long energy crises around eastern cities. The two then heavily backed the flagging effort to improve navigation on the Schuylkill, which efforts date back to legislation measures as early as 1762. By 1816, needing energy resources and disenchanted with

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1122-541: The Wissahickon Creek and enters the borough of Ambler , where the name changes to West Butler Avenue. The roadway heads east-northeast through commercial areas before it crosses SEPTA 's Lansdale/Doylestown Line at-grade north of Ambler station . At this point, West Butler Avenue heads into the commercial downtown of Ambler. At the Main Street intersection, the road becomes East Butler Avenue and runs through more of

1173-536: The 1860s Iron works, foundries, manufacturing mills, blast furnaces, rolling mills, rail yards , rail roads, warehouses and train stations sprang up throughout the valley. Tiny farm villages grew into vibrant company towns then transitioned into small cities as a major industry and supporting businesses transformed local economics and populations swelled. Restoration of the river has been funded by money left for that purpose in Benjamin Franklin 's will. The river

1224-650: The Lehigh, Delaware and Schuylkill Canals all ceased operations during the Great Depression years. The zooming rise of automobile ownership post-World War II, the development of suburbs, and dispersal of industrial buildings into far flung parks serviced by the government supported highways and new Interstate Highways doomed intercity rail transport; even as Interstate Commerce Committee regulations required railway operating companies to maintain passenger rail services past its economic viability—which costs further imperiled

1275-698: The Schuylkill River. In Jerry Spinelli 's 1990 young adult novel Maniac Magee , the protagonists's parents die when their commuter train plunges into the river. Much of the story takes place along the river in Two Mills, a fictionalized version of Norristown . The Schuylkill River is also the setting of the fictional estate White Acre in Elizabeth Gilbert 's 2013 novel The Signature of All Things , based on The Woodlands . The main protagonist in Ta-Nehisi Coates ' 2019 novel The Water Dancer first arrives in

1326-497: The Schuylkill in 1983, and two major dragon boat regattas are held there in June and October of each year. Water skiing, swimming and other aquatic sports are also common outside of Philadelphia city limits. The Schuylkill River Trail , which generally follows the river bank, is a multi-use trail for walking, running, bicycling, rollerblading, and other outdoor activities. The trail presently runs from Philadelphia, through Manayunk to

1377-406: The Schuylkill valley (" Schuylkill Valley Metro ") have yet to become reality. The Schuylkill Expressway ( Interstate 76 ) and the U.S. Route 422 follow the course of the river from Philadelphia to Valley Forge to Reading. Above Reading, Pennsylvania Route 61 continues along the main river valley to Schuylkill Haven, then follows the east branch to Pottsville. U.S. Route 209 continues along

1428-601: The Schuylkill's eastern branch is in heavily mined land, one ridgeline south of Tuscarora Lake along a drainage divide with the Little Schuylkill River , about a mile east of the village of Tuscarora and about a mile west of Tamaqua , at Tuscarora Springs in Schuylkill County . Tuscarora Lake is one source of the Little Schuylkill. The West Branch starts near Minersville and joins the eastern branch at

1479-486: The Schuylkill, noting that it is "the depository of all the unsolved crimes and murders in Philadelphia". In the 2013 episode "Mac Day", Mac , played by Rob McElhenney , films a stunt video that makes it look like he jumped into the river, after which his cousin Country Mac, played by Seann William Scott , shows him up by actually jumping into the river. The 2005 video for "Doesn't Remind Me" by hard rock band Audioslave

1530-710: The Township Line Road intersection becoming the boundary between Whitpain Township to the northwest and Whitemarsh Township to the southeast. The road runs through wooded residential areas before it comes to an intersection with PA 73 in an area of businesses in the community of Broad Axe . Following this intersection, Butler Pike continues northeast through a mix of fields, woods, and homes. The road curves east-northeast to fully enter Whitemarsh Township before it heads northeast into Upper Dublin Township and crosses Morris Road as it heads into forested areas. The road crosses

1581-571: The citizens in funding an iron bridge over this river, before abandoning " pontifical works" on account of the French Revolution . Over the next few decades, industrialists Josiah White and protege and partner Erskine Hazard built iron industries at the Falls of the Schuylkill during the Jefferson's administration , where White built a suspension bridge with cables made from their wire mill. During

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1632-563: The community of Cold Point . From here, Butler Pike passes more homes and curves northwest to fully enter Plymouth Township as it bypasses Cold Point Hill, while Cold Point Hill Road continues northeast along the township line. Butler Pike makes a sharp turn to the east before curving back to the northeast, recovering its path along the township line and passing under the Pennsylvania Turnpike ( Interstate 276 ). The road continues through wooded areas of homes and commercial development, at

1683-419: The downtown area. The road heads northeast past more businesses before it runs through residential areas. On the eastern border of Ambler, the road comes to an intersection with Bethlehem Pike . Upon crossing Bethlehem Pike, Butler Pike leaves Ambler for Upper Dublin Township and passes through residential areas, coming to an intersection with Susquehanna Road in the community of Rose Valley . Butler Pike reaches

1734-588: The east branch of the river to its head in Tuscarora . In Philadelphia, Kelly Drive (formerly East River Drive), and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive (formerly West River Drive) flank the river. The Schuylkill River is popular with rowing , dragon boat , and outrigger paddling enthusiasts. The Schuylkill Navy was established on the riverside adjacent to the city of Philadelphia to promote amateur rowing in 1858. The Dad Vail Regatta , an annual rowing competition,

1785-464: The first operable sections of New York's Erie Canal spurred stockholders of the Schuylkill Canal to finally fund the works. A project which had languished for over a decade got capitalized and began operations in 1822—the same year the Lehigh companies combined into the Lehigh Coal & Navigation Company, having had to raise additional funds for repairs due to badly ice-damaged improvements,

1836-493: The lack of urgency found in other investors to accelerate the anemic and underfunded construction rate of the Schuylkill Canal, the two jumped to option the mining rights of the Lehigh Coal & Navigation Company , which disenchanted stockholders were giving up on. They then waited until a charter to improve the Lehigh went delinquent, resulting in two groups of investors forming two complementary companies in 1818 that jump-started

1887-719: The lands down along the Chesapeake Bay to the left bank Potomac River across from the Powhatan Confederacy when traders first stopped in the Delaware River and settlers arrived in the first decade of the 1600s. With ample tributary streams, the Schuylkill was ground zero during the early years of the Beaver Wars , during which the Lenape tribe became tributary to the victorious Susquehannocks. The Susquehannocks were an Iroquoian people also often in contention with their relatives:

1938-619: The mid-19th century—the Whitemarsh and Plymouth Turnpike, which improved the road between Germantown Pike and Conshohocken, and operated from 1849 to 1896; and the Upper Dublin and Plymouth Turnpike, which improved the road between Germantown Pike and Limekiln Pike , and operated from 1855 to 1896. The entire route is in Montgomery County . Schuylkill River The Schuylkill River ( / ˈ s k uː l k ɪ l / SKOOL -kil , locally / ˈ s k uː k ə l / SKOO -kəl )

1989-509: The native name for the river was Ganshowe-hánne , meaning "roaring stream". The river was also sometimes called the Manaiunk in European sources, which derives from a Lenape place-name meaning "place to drink". This name appears on a Swedish map of 1655 in the form Menejackse Kÿl . The mighty Susquehannock confederation claimed the area along the Schuylkill as a hunting ground, as they did to

2040-672: The newly emerging states of the Northwest Territory via the Allegheny & Ohio valleys at Pittsburgh and to Lake Erie — leveraging the wide-ranging branches of the Susquehanna River in the state's center. In the 1830s railway technology and new railroads grew in leaps and bounds, and the Schuylkill Valley was at the heart of these developments, as well as the new Anthracite iron and mining industries. From 1820 to

2091-466: The railroad's profits leading to a widespread collapse of the industry in the 1960s and 1970s. Rail freight still uses many of the same valley rights-of-way that the 19th-century railroads used. Passenger and commuter rail service is more limited. Today, the old rail bed rights-of-way along the river between Philadelphia and Norristown contain SEPTA 's Manayunk/Norristown Line , formerly Reading Railroad and

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2142-629: The river has improved much over the past decades. A fish ladder to support shad migration has been constructed at the Manayunk dam. Mayfly hatches (signifying good water quality) now occur yearly along the Montgomery sections of the river. The Schuylkill River valley was an important thoroughfare in the eras of canals and railroads. The river itself, the Schuylkill Canal , the Reading Railroad , and

2193-462: The river through the early 20th century. The river was shallow and filled with extensive black silt bars. By the early 20th century, upstream coal operations contributed over 3 million tons of silt annually to the river. In 1948, led by then governor James H. Duff , a massive cleanup effort began. Twenty three impounding basins were excavated along the river, to receive dredged silt. The 1945 Desilting Act helped begin this cleanup task. The quality of

2244-651: The river was made fully navigable via the Schuylkill Canal in 1825, followed by the construction of the Reading Railroad Main Line in 1838 and the Schuylkill Branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1884. Through these corridors, millions of tons of anthracite coal flowed down the Schuylkill from the Coal Region to its north in Northeast Pennsylvania . The canal was abandoned in 1931, while

2295-568: The river, including Nittabakonck ("place where heroes reside"), a village on the east bank just south of the confluence of Wissahickon Creek, and the Passyunk site, on the west bank where the Schuylkill meets the Delaware River. > American patriot paper maker Frederick Bicking owned a fishery on the river prior to the American Revolution , and Thomas Paine tried in vain to interest

2346-547: The site of the former Philadelphia Navy Yard , now the Philadelphia Naval Business Center, just northeast of Philadelphia International Airport . The Schuylkill's name derives from the Dutch words schuilen , meaning to hide, and kil , meaning stream, apparently because of the "retired and hidden situation of its mouth". According to John Heckewelder , a missionary who worked among the local Lenape Indians ,

2397-403: The town of Schuylkill Haven . It then combines with the Little Schuylkill River downstream in the town of Port Clinton . The Tulpehocken Creek joins it at the western edge of Reading . Wissahickon Creek joins it in northwest Philadelphia. Other major tributaries include: Maiden Creek , Manatawny Creek , French Creek , and Perkiomen Creek . The Schuylkill joins the Delaware River at

2448-527: The urban Schuylkill River in the 21st century. In several episodes of Cold Case , a CBS television series based on the Philadelphia Police Department that aired from 2003 to 2010, various members of the Cold Case squad mention finding "a floater in the Schuylkill". In the 2019 film The Irishman , mob hitman Frank Sheeran , played by Robert De Niro , disposes of a gun he just used in

2499-458: The village of Mont Clare , the latter of which are the locations of the last two remaining watered stretches of the Schuylkill Canal . There is also a section of trail starting at Pottstown and running upriver toward Reading. Plans are under way to complete the trail from the Delaware River to Reading. Jules Verne 's 1904 novel Robur the Conqueror starts out in Philadelphia on the banks of

2550-528: The years since. The Schuylkill River above Fairmount Dam has been a major rowing venue since the founding of the Schuylkill Navy in 1858. In recent decades the Schuylkill River Trail cycle and foot path has been constructed along the river. The Schuylkill Heritage Corridor was designated a Pennsylvania Heritage Park in 1995 and a National Heritage Area in 2000 to promote the river's historic, environmental, and recreational significance. The source of

2601-458: Was laid out in 1712 by Simon Butler (1684–1764), a Bucks County miller and justice of the peace, for whom the road was later named. It provided access to the Schuylkill River at Matson's Ford (Conshohocken), and facilitated communication among the Quaker meeting houses in Plymouth Meeting , Upper Dublin , Horsham , and central Bucks County. In the early 19th century, Butler Pike became part of

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