Storms Strike RittenhouseTown

Featured from The Papermaker, the Newsletter of Historic RittenhouseTown
Volume 18, Number 3

On most days, the Monsohone Creek (the Paper Mill Run) is a small, tranquil waterway flowing through Historic RittenhouseTown and remains contained within its banks. Even during violent hurricanes, like Hugo several years ago, the creek stayed inside of its flood walls that were constructed during the Works Progress Administration nearly seventy years ago. However, not once, but on two occasions this past summer, the Monoshone poured over its banks and caused tens of thousands of dollars worth of damage. On August 1 and September 28, heavy rains dumped record amounts of water and flooded the entire Northwest Philadelphia Region. The creek overflowed into the yard of the original Rittenhouse Homestead forming a type of swimming pool several feet deep. Subsequently, the water forced its way into the building on both occasions. Anything that was on the structure's floor was ruined. Fortunately, there was nothing of historic value. The water managed to make a terrible situation even worse when the building's septic system also flooded the building.

As quickly as the water rose it subsided. However, the damage was done. The Rittenhouse Homestead required a professional floor removal service on both occasions and even today, heavy-duty fans and dehumidifiers are still churning within the building to try and dry it out. Debris of all types lined the area where the creek overflowed. In the Monoshone Creek itself, a new island of rocks and other debris formed when section of the banks collapsed. Throughout the site, sections of the roadway either washed out or formed huge gullies.

Over a month later, the damage is still being cleaned and repaired. A special thanks to Jeffrey Heese, Royden Rittenhouse, Catherine Browne and Andrew Zellers-Frederick for helping to clean up the destruction. Historic RittenhouseTown is also grateful to David Bower, and the Fairmount Park Commission, for addressing many of the major items and to the many students from William Penn Charter for providing countless volunteer hours. The Summer of 2004 is one Historic RittenhouseTown will remember for many years. You can help Historic RittenhouseTown make its necessary repairs by generously supporting this year's Annual Appeal whose funds will assist this effort.

The Papermaker is the quarterly newsletter of Historic RittenhouseTown and is sent to all members.