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The Flow of History Along the Chester, Ridley and Crum Creeks

Apr 07

Walt Cressler

Walt Cressler, PhD will present his program “The Flow of History Along the Chester Ridley and Crum Creeks” at the Spring Meeting and educational lecture of the Chester-Ridley-Crum Watersheds Association (CRC) on Sunday, April 7. The meeting begins at 2:00 PM at the historic Old Mill at Rose Valley located off of Rose Valley Road, 9 Old Mill Lane (across from the Hedgerow Theater). The meeting is free and open to the public.

Dr. Cressler, Science Librarian at West Chester University and CRC Board Member, is creating an informational web site that tracks the environmental history of our local watersheds, including those of the Chester, Ridley, and Crum Creeks.  During his program, he will give a virtual tour of the natural and cultural features of the watersheds through space and time. Learn about the importance of the “fall line,” the Lenape, Swedes, and Dutch, and the rich agricultural and industrial past, early industrial pioneer Thomas Leiper and early William Penn land grantee Caleb Pusey, the Chester Creek mills, including Glen Mills, Ivy Mills, the cotton mills of John P. Crozer and Samuel Riddle, and Newlin Grist Mill. Dr. Cressler will also touch on Sycamore Mills, the Colonial Plantation, and the Rose Valley utopian Arts & Crafts Community, early commercial crossroads as Historic Sugartown, and some of the early estates like Hunting Hill, the Dixon Mansion (Community Arts Center), and Oakbourne Mansion.

Following Dr. Cressler’s presentation, there will be an optional short guided hike of the Saul Wildlife Sanctuary led by Conservation Biologist, Dr. Roger Latham.

Refreshments and socializing begin at 1:30 PM. Advance registrations are appreciated. Please RSVP to CRC at crc@nni.com or call (610)359-1440. Walk-ins are also welcome.